December is a month that often feels like it's speeding up just as the year winds down.
For leaders, the to-do list can feel insurmountable: wrapping up year-end work, preparing for the holidays, attending events, and finding time for family.
So many leaders I'm speaking to right now feel like they're dropping the ball.
They are juggling their own responsibilities while still picking up the slack for their teams.
If this sounds familiar, it's worth asking yourself a tough question:
Have you spent the year leading your team—or doing their jobs for them?
My experience over the last twenty years tells me that if you haven't empowered your people to take ownership, December will feel like every other month on steroids.
You're still the person with all the answers.
You are the one they look to in every crunch moment.
And that means you're carrying more weight than you should, leaving less time for what matters most.
The good news is that it doesn't have to be this way.
December is about balance and leaders who get it right focus on leading, not rescuing.
Here are three ways to steady the ship this month—and three actions to build a better balance for next year.
Three Tips to Survive December
Prioritise Ruthlessly: Start by focusing on what only you can do. Delegate everything else to your team. Resist the urge to micromanage—trust your people to step up, even if it means they'll learn through mistakes.
Say No Strategically: You can't be everywhere and do everything. Whether it's a meeting that could happen without you or a last-minute task that isn't truly critical, practice saying "no." Create space to focus on the big-picture priorities.
Schedule Time for Yourself: Block time in your diary for family, rest, and reflection. A burned-out leader is no good to anyone. Protecting this time will also set a powerful example for your team.
Three Actions for January
To avoid a repeat next December, start laying the groundwork early in the new year. Put these in your diary now,
Coach, Don't Direct: When your team comes to you with problems, stop giving them answers. Ask questions instead: What do you think we should do? What have you tried so far? Helping them think critically builds their capability—and takes the burden off you.
Empower with Clear Boundaries: In your first one-to-one meetings of the year, work with each team member to define three things:
What are their key responsibilities?
What decisions can they make independently?
What decisions need to come to you? Write these down and revisit them regularly. These simple questions are at the heart of freedom within a framework.
Create a Feedback Cadence: Don't leave feedback to chance or save it for performance reviews. Build a simple routine, like 10 minutes every Friday, to reflect on the week's wins and areas for growth with each team member. Or try a "Start-Stop-Continue" approach:
What should they start doing?
What should they stop doing?
What should they continue doing?
This rhythm ensures performance stays on track and reduces the likelihood of issues snowballing into bigger problems later.
December will always be a busy month, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming.
By shifting your focus from doing to leading, you'll not only survive the holiday crunch, you'll set yourself, your team, and most importantly your family up for a more fulfilling year ahead.
Because great leaders don't juggle everything themselves, they empower their people to carry the load.
Richard
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