“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
~ Anne Lamott
Leadership is not for the faint of heart. As we close out 2024, the demands on leaders have never been greater. Navigating relentless change, balancing the complexities of human dynamics, and shouldering the weight of competing priorities are all part of the job. From my experience as a coach, I’ve seen how these pressures stretch leaders thin, leaving many feeling depleted as the year ends. Yet, within these challenges lies the opportunity to reset, refocus, and lead strong into the new year.
As we prepare for 2025, consider giving yourself these five gifts—investments in your well-being, effectiveness, and growth for the year ahead.
1. The gift of Energy Management
Energy is a finite resource, and how you manage it has a ripple effect on your leadership and your team. When we’re running on empty, our decisions, interactions, and ability to inspire others suffer. Managing your energy isn’t just self-care; it’s a leadership strategy.
In Why Managing Your Energy Makes You a Better Leader, I share how setting boundaries and prioritizing rest is essential. This includes saying no to overcommitting, practicing mindfulness, and embracing “proper selfishness”—the idea that taking care of yourself allows you to show up better for others.
What’s one small change you can make to manage your energy better this year?
2. The Gift of Letting Go
Before you can organize your time and focus, you need to declutter. Letting go of tasks, projects, or commitments that no longer serve you creates the space to focus on what truly matters. Leaders often feel they must take on everything, but doing so only leads to being overwhelmed and missed opportunities for impact.
In Declutter Before You Organize, I explore how prioritizing isn’t just about doing more—it’s about doing less. By shedding the unnecessary, leaders can focus their energy and time on high-value priorities aligned with their goals.
What’s one task, habit, or commitment you can let go of to make space for what matters most?
3. The Gift of EMpowering Others
Effective leaders know they can’t do it all—and they don’t try to. Delegation isn’t just about lightening your load; it’s about developing and empowering your team. When done well, delegation builds trust, confidence, and capability in others while freeing you to focus on strategic work.
In Mastering Delegation, I discuss how letting go of control and trusting your team is key to leadership growth. Delegation isn’t “dumping work”; it’s giving meaningful responsibilities with the right support. This builds a culture of learning and ownership—gifts for you and your team.
How can you empower your team through delegation in 2025?
4. The Gift of Self-COmpassion
We need feedback to learn and grow as leaders, but not all feedback is helpful. To extract the value, we need to navigate feedback with discernment, accepting what helps us grow while rejecting what doesn’t align with our goals or values. This requires self-compassion and trusting our instincts.
In How to Own Feedback Without Losing Yourself, I share how the way we process feedback shapes our growth. You have the power to decide what feedback serves you and what doesn’t. This balance of openness and self-trust is a gift that protects your confidence while fostering growth.
How will you practice self-compassion and discernment when receiving feedback?
5. The Gift of Storytelling
Your experiences hold incredible lessons—for you and for those you lead. By reflecting on and sharing your stories, you connect with your team on a human level, inspire them with your insights, and create a lasting impact. Stories engage both heart and mind, making your leadership relatable and memorable.
In Leaders as Storytellers, I outline the five elements of a great story: setting, problem, action, result, and connection. When leaders share authentic stories that tie to their vision, they build trust and motivate their teams to achieve more together.
What stories from your leadership journey will you share to inspire your team?
As you reflect on these five gifts, consider how they can strengthen your leadership and also make your work more meaningful and sustainable. Which gift will you commit to giving yourself as you step into the new year?
When you invest in yourself, you invest in everyone you lead.
