Before the Planning, The Pause: A Leader's Guide to Personal Reflection

The end of the year is a blur. We’re sprinting to finish Q4 goals, budget planning for next year is in full swing, and the pressure is on to end strong. In the middle of this chaos sits this late-November pause—a brief, collective exhale before the final push.

The temptation is to use this quiet moment to get ahead on strategic plans or team reviews. But what if the most impactful thing you could do as a leader right now has nothing to do with your team or your business, and everything to do with you?

Sustainable leadership isn't born from relentless forward motion. It’s built on moments of intentional pause and honest self-reflection. Before you can guide your team into the new year, you need to reconnect with yourself. A leader running on empty cannot refuel anyone else.

During this upcoming break, give yourself permission to set aside the spreadsheets and to-do lists. Instead, find a quiet moment to sit with these questions. This isn't a performance review; it's a personal inventory, offered without judgment.

A Personal Reflection for the Leader

1. On Energy and Alignment:

• When did I feel most energized and in flow this past year? What was I doing, and who was I with?

• What work felt less like a task and more like a true expression of my purpose?

• Conversely, which responsibilities or situations consistently drained my energy the most?

2. On Personal Cost and Growth:

• What did I have to let go of this year to meet my professional demands? (e.g., hobbies, time with family, health routines)

• What boundary, if I had held it firmly, would have made the biggest positive difference in my well-being?

• What challenge pushed me out of my comfort zone, and what did I learn about myself in the process?

3. On Looking Forward with Intention:

• As I look toward next year, what do I personally need more of in my life as a leader?

• What do I need less of?

• What is one small, sustainable practice I can commit to that would protect my own energy and prevent burnout in the coming year?

Answering these questions won't just give you clarity; it will replenish the inner resources you need to lead effectively. It ensures that when you do step back into the rush of year-end, you are leading from a place of intention and self-awareness, not just momentum and fatigue.

This week, the greatest gift you can give your team is a leader who is rested and reconnected to their own purpose. Start with yourself.

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Christine Lloyd-Newberry is a leadership coach and the founder of Emerge Empowered, a practice dedicated to helping leaders prevent burnout and build resilient, high-performing teams. If you're ready to lead with more energy and less stress, take the next step.

Visit emerge-empowered.com to book your complimentary discovery call.

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