Leadr Pulse | The leadership skill December demands

There’s something unique about this stretch of December.

The deadlines are still real. The goals still matter. The work hasn’t slowed down.

But the people doing the work?

They’re human. They’re tired. And they’re carrying a full year’s worth of effort into the final few weeks.

That’s why I’ve been thinking a lot about something leaders don’t always talk about:

How we help our teams transition well.

Not just across projects or quarters, but across seasons.

Because how a leader guides their team into a new year often matters more than what’s written in the plan.

You can tell a lot about a team by the way they finish:

Some teams finish anxious. Some teams finish burnt out. Some teams finish scattered and just hoping January feels different.

And then there are teams that finish steady.

They don’t sprint in panic.

They don’t drop the ball in exhaustion.

They finish with a sense of closure, clarity, and trust.

Here’s the difference I’ve seen again and again:

Those teams have leaders who create space, not pressure.

Space for people to name what felt heavy.

Space to recognize what went well.

Space to reset expectations instead of dragging old confusion into the new year.

Space to close out unfinished conversations so January doesn’t feel like a cold start.

So here’s one question I’m asking leaders this week:

“What kind of January are you setting your team up for?”

A January where people feel behind before they even begin?

Or a January where they walk in knowing they’re supported, aligned, and not alone?

That kind of transition doesn’t happen by accident.

It happens when leaders slow down just enough to guide their people intentionally through the final stretch.

Not by adding more meetings.

Not by rewriting plans.

But by being present, listening well, and helping your team close the year with confidence instead of unfinished business.

If you want a simple way to support your managers as they navigate this season, we built something to help: The Ultimate Manager’s Toolkit.

It’s full of practical tools that make these conversations easier to lead and easier to repeat.

Here’s to finishing the year steady, clear, and together.

Lead on,

Matt Tresidder, Leadr CEO