As 2024 winds down, I’ve got two things on my mind. First, I’m reflecting on some end-of-year leadership insights. There are many opportunities to see where I got it right and could applaud myself, but there are also ample opportunities to see where I got it wrong and needed to adjust my strategy. I encourage you to take your own look inward!

Second, the holiday season is upon us, and, as beautiful as it is, we all know it comes with some stress and hectic moments. With that in mind, I thought I would take a look at a few key points to help you start off the new year strong. After all, a New Year’s resolution is only as meaningful as it is on the last day of the year.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at how you can make it through the holidays and into the new year as your best self.

Understanding Holiday Dynamics in the Workplace

You might think it should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: It’s not a good look to drink too much, get out of control, and lose your focus, especially if you are in a leadership position. I’m willing to bet that some of you reading this have lost respect for someone in a management position as the result of a choice they made at an office party.

It’s important for leaders to behave as role models and set a good example in the workplace at all times. Do we ever get to let our hair down? Absolutely—in private or with our families and personal friends.

Holiday office parties are a time for you to appear approachable, friendly, and, more than anything, human. My personal approach is to have a single beverage (I know my heart doctor would be dismayed to hear this!), take it slow, make sure I have food with it, and then focus on being there to be of service to everyone else. This is a chance to get to know everyone else as they let their hair down.

Oftentimes, great leaders are also great speakers. But the really great ones are even better listeners. I encourage you to be the ear for people who are lonely, stressed, or who just need to feel like they are connected with someone. Remember, you are the lighthouse, not the weathervane—if there’s one error I have seen leaders indulge in regularly during the holiday season, it’s giving into stress and frustration, only to whip wildly out of control in just about every direction. You don’t want that to be you.

Key Leadership Approaches for Holiday Motivation

I’m not going to lie; I look forward to the Christmas season all year long. It’s my favorite time of year, hands down. I love everything about it, especially spending time with my loved ones around good food, good fun, and a beautiful Christmas tree.

That said, while I do look forward to this time of year, I work hard until it’s finally time to quit. Like a sprinter running a race, I run through the finish line to make sure I don’t lose precious opportunities to keep growing and succeeding on behalf of my team.

It can be hard to maintain that kind of motivation, but I like to keep my focus on servant leadership, and that gets me through. When I see myself in service of the team, I remember to come in early, stay late, and work harder than everyone else. I remember that I’m the backbone that helps keep the office body upright, and if I quit early, everything else turns into a puddle of goo.

When I see myself as integral to my team’s success, when I realize that it’s me who is there to serve them and meet their needs during this stressful time when they might want to quit early, I find the ability to give more of myself than I ever thought possible.

And isn’t giving more of ourselves what the holiday season is all about?

Techniques to Boost Team Morale and Engagement

One trick I have learned to help keep people motivated and focused during the holiday season is to give them more responsibility. That might not sound right, but hear me out.

When I offer other people more responsibility, when I encourage them to step up and be servant leaders to others, they tend not to let me down. This might be due to the season, and wanting to give more than we take, but I find that people love helping others during this time of year, and it gets everyone in the spirit when they feel an extra ounce of importance has been added to what they do every day.

Another thing I feel passionate about around the holidays is offering my team personalized recognition and awards. This helps everyone realize that I do watch for their goodness and their team mentality, and I do want to remember and recognize them for it.

You can recognize individual contributions through awards or shoutouts. The key is to make it personalized and meaningful, showing specific appreciation for each person’s contributions. That also sets the tone to help the team realize that service to one another is the whole goal.

The last thing I like to do for my teams at the end of the year takes place at the beginning of December. I like to send personalized messages to my team members to remind them of their assets, wins, and my appreciation of their hard work.

A little recognition can go a long way for people. I know that if you implement the same technique, you, too, will see a change in people’s motivation and dedication.

Handling Challenges and Nurturing Resilience

Now, it’s just a fact: While the holidays are a heartwarming time of year, they are also the most stressful. It’s important to be prepared for challenges before they show up on your doorstep. You want to be rested, nourished, and focused so that if something does happen on your watch, you are clear and able to make decisions quickly.

The important thing to remember about challenges is not to let them cause you to quit or give up. My mantra used to be, “If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me.” That helped me realize that I was the one who was in charge of steering the ship back in the direction of success, even when I wanted to go overboard and wash up on a tropical island all by myself. When you’re the leader, it’s up to you to steer that ship.

I wrote another blog about adversity and how it can help you win. If you reframe your understanding of how adversity can work in your life to grow you, and use it to prove to yourself that you are capable beyond your wildest imagination, then you will understand its true power. You have to be the one to remember this when times get tough: all adversity is just something else for you to overcome and move beyond. I believe you can do it, and you should too

Looking Ahead

As we conclude another year, take a moment to reflect and acknowledge all you’ve accomplished and recognize the valuable growth opportunities that lie ahead. Maybe even tell me in a comment something you’re particularly proud to have accomplished this year—I’d love to hear it!

The holiday season provides a unique chance to build connections, offer constructive feedback, and appreciate your team members for their dedication.

By focusing on resilience and continuous improvement, we set the stage for a productive and rewarding upcoming year. Remember, fostering a positive, engaged team environment now will fuel your success in the months to come. Here’s to a new year filled with growth, motivation, and meaningful achievements!

I’ll see you at the top!