December doesn’t need more hustle — it needs a reset.
In Episode 31 of 12MinuteLeadership, I share 12 simple leadership reset practices to help you finish the year well—without exhausting yourself or your team.
Year-end pressure doesn’t create momentum... CLARITY, CLOSURE, and CONNECTION do!
In this episode, you’ll learn how to:
- Name what truly matters (and clearly say what won’t happen this year)
- Reduce mental clutter with a “Not Now” list
- Reflect in ways that actually change behavior
- Close lingering loops and simplify what’s grown heavy
- Model healthy boundaries that give your team permission to do the same
These are small, intentional resets you can apply right now—so December becomes a month of focus instead of fatigue.
Listen to Episode 31: 12 Leadership Reset Practices to Finish the Year Well
If today's episode was helpful, share it with another leader who's navigating year-end pressure and be sure to subscribe to this podcast so you never miss an episode.
Then, go to my website to check out ways that we can support your leadership goals.
From executive retreats to customized training and coaching, my team of experts will help you level up your leadership and accelerate your results...go to www.eliseboggs.com for more info.
Follow on Instagram: @12minuteleadership
Order my book, Lead Anyone!
Episode Transcript
Welcome to the 12-Minute Leadership Podcast,
where in 12 minutes or less,I'll share small things that you
can put into immediate practicethat will make a big difference
in your leadershipeffectiveness.
I'm your host, Elise BoggsMorales, leadership professor,
consultant, and coach.
For the last 17 years, I havehelped thousands of leaders
(00:25):
level up their influence andachieve remarkable results.
If you want to trade compliancefor true commitment and create
your dream team, you are in theright place.
Get ready for a quick hit ofpractical wisdom to increase
your team's engagement, inspiretop performance, and retain your
best talent.
Ready to level up yourinfluence and get better
(00:46):
results?
12 minutes starts now.
Hi everyone, Elise here.
Welcome to episode 31.
If you caught last week'sepisode, you know I've been
leaning into a 12 theme,inspired by the season and this
podcast title.
Last episode, we talked about12 leadership micro moments to
(01:09):
make this season more meaningfuland even a little magical.
Today, we're continuing thattheme, but with a slightly
different focus.
Because as the year comes to aclose, leadership isn't just
about planning forward.
It's also about closing upthings well and intentionally
resetting before entering into anew year.
(01:30):
Momentum doesn't come fromrushing into January.
Momentum is created throughclosure, clarity, and
connection.
So in this episode, I want toshare 12 leadership reset
practices.
These are small but powerfulways leaders can help themselves
and their teams finish the yearwell, prioritize what truly
matters, and eliminate anyunnecessary demands or
(01:52):
distractions.
So let's dive in.
Reset practice number one.
Name the one outcome thatmatters most.
Ask yourself, if only one thingtruly needed to be completed
this year to feel proud andcomplete, what would it be?
Clarity reduces stress.
Everything else becomesoptional or adjustable.
Reset practice number two.
(02:14):
Identify the top threepriorities for your team to
close out the year well.
When everything feels urgent,nothing feels clear.
When your team gets directionfrom you about what truly
matters, they can prioritize andmanage their time and PTO this
month accordingly.
Reset practice number three,reflect before you reset.
(02:35):
Before you move into a goal,pause and reflect.
What worked well this year?
What stretched us?
What did I learn about myselfas a leader?
If you reset withoutreflection, you risk repeating
the same patterns, fixing thewrong problems, setting goals
that don't address root issues,and carrying blind spots into
the next season.
Some examples of this could bea leader resetting a meeting
(02:59):
without reflecting on whymeetings felt ineffective.
Or a leader changes a team'sstructure without reflecting on
where communication broke down.
Reflection turns experienceinto wisdom and allows for a
better path going forward.
Reset practice number four.
Decide what will not happenthis year.
This is a powerful leadershipmove.
(03:21):
Say the words out loud.
This can wait until January.
Clarity around what's off thetable restores energy instantly.
Reset practice number five.
Celebrate progress, not justresults.
And this comes from what I'veshared before about a growth
mindset.
End of your recognitionshouldn't only be about
(03:42):
outcomes.
Celebrate effort, growth, andresilience.
Specific gratitude createsmeaning, and meaning fuels
momentum.
Reset practice number six,close one lingering loop.
Lingering loops or open loopstake up a lot of mental space.
Maybe it's an unresolvedconversation, a delayed
(04:03):
decision, or an unclearexpectation.
Even one closed loop freesmental bandwidth for everyone
involved.
Reset practice number seven,simplify something that's become
overcomplicated.
Look for one process meeting orexpectation that feels heavier
than it needs to be.
Simplification is leadership.
(04:24):
Reset practice number eight,reconnect to purpose.
Ask yourself or your team, whydoes our work matter?
Who are we serving?
And what impact are we proud ofthis year?
Purpose recalibratespriorities.
Reset practice number nine, askyour team what they need to
finish strong.
Instead of assuming, ask whatwould help you most in the next
(04:48):
few weeks.
This builds trust and surfacesunnecessary pressure.
Reset practice number 10.
Create a not now list.
Write down everything importantand intentionally decide what
belongs in January.
This relieves the mental loadof trying to remember everything
at once.
Reset practice number 11.
(05:08):
Plan one way you will grow as aleader next year.
Choose one skill to develop,one habit to stop, or one
support structure to add.
Leaders who grow intentionally,lead with more ease and
confidence.
And reset practice number 12,model healthy boundaries.
Leave work at a reasonabletime.
Take your time off over theholidays.
(05:30):
Unplug mentally when you'reaway.
Your behavior sets permissionfor the rest of your team.
As we close, I want to leaveyou with this question.
What does finishing the yearwell look like for you?
Not just professionally, butpersonally and relationally.
Because how you close the yearshapes how you enter the next
(05:52):
one.
And as a leader, you don't justmanage the work, you help
people prioritize what trulymatters and eliminate the
unnecessary demands anddistractions that weigh them
down.
That's leadership, that'sstewardship, and that's how you
finish the year strong.
If today's episode was helpful,share it with another leader
who's navigating year-endpressure.
(06:12):
This is our last episode of theyear.
I like to practice what Ipreach and take some time off to
enjoy the season with friendsand family.
I'll be back with a freshepisode after the first of the
year.
I'll see you then.
Like what you heard on today'sepisode and want to go deeper?
(06:34):
Subscribe to this podcast soyou never miss an episode.
You can also pick up my book,Lead Anyone, on Amazon.
Then, go to my website to checkout ways that we can support
your leadership goals.
From executive retreats tocustomized training and
coaching, my team of expertswill help you level up your
leadership and accelerate yourresults.
(06:56):
Go to www.eliseboggs.com formore info.
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