At the pace of Winter

You know you’re gonna feel it, that pressure to make up for “lost” time. Despite preparing for the Winter break (see our December 2024 article), it always feels like you’re behind before the year has even started. This however, shouldn’t be the norm. You and your business deserve spaciousness and time to ease into the new year. Let’s explore ways we can set a gentle pace for the Winter.

Ground in the Present

We’re still deep into Winter. The season calls for reflection and restoration. Now is the time to take inventory of all the was accomplished in the previous year, what is still left to complete, and what to prioritize for the next few months. This is where you can get creative. How do you like to capture your thoughts?

This exercise often reveals more than what one expected. This can be both positive and negative, each equally important. Acknowledge the wins, identify the improvements, and be grateful for all that was achieved by your team. Most importantly, take a deep breath!

Set a Gentle Pace

This is a wonderful time to set the pace for the year. You want to think long term and how to keep your team engaged sustainably. Take the time to process your findings and how you will incorporate them into this year’s planning. Making sure folks are ready and equipped with what they need to start the work, is crucial.

Remember, you need to create a space to allow for this gentle rhythm. Be sure the organization is not preventing your team from getting themselves situated. Communication is key so be sure to openly share with your teams and folks in your ecosystem to ensure expectations are aligned.

Honor the Systems

Things will ramp up. When they do, you’ll have a satiated team ready to be in flow. Now be sure there are systems in place ready to support their efforts. Use proven processes and software tools that make repeatable tasks execute flawlessly.

Your organization has now experienced the power of Winter. Even in the slowness, the important work got done at nature’s rhythm.