Hi Reader,
I don't know about you, but the last few weeks of work have felt like a struggle for me. While there have certainly been many moments of being really energized (like doing this analysis of my year), there has also been a lot of "why do I have to do X when all I really want to be doing is reading a book under a cozy blanket?" kind of vibes. The biological pull towards hibernation and slowness as the cold weather descends is a real one.
Let’s get to your Monthly Management Memo - as always with something bold, something new, something borrowed, and something to pursue.
🔥Something Bold - Stop being flexible
Early in my career, I thought being a flexible leader meant keeping things loose and unstructured. No one wants to be the strict boss, right? Turns out, what felt like freedom to me felt like anxiety to the teams I was leading. Once I learned that building a simple system that included clear roles, documented steps or checklists for our most often repeated work, and a shared place to keep track of things—the mood and productivity of the team meaningfully shifted. The truth? Clarity is kindness, as Brené Brown wrote. If you’re holding back on structure because you don’t want to “over-control,” reframe it: you’re giving your team the gift of clarity and ease.
🆕 Something New - 6 lesser-known email tricks
I wrote a new blog with some tips for managing your inbox. If you've got 5 or 10 minutes, try these in your Gmail or Outlook account to make things easier for yourself moving into the new year.
🤝🏼 Something Borrowed - Professional Codependence
My friend Lia wrote this great piece that I think nearly all of us can connect with in some way. She describes professional codependence as "the dynamic where you get into a loop of needing someone else you work with to behave/communicate/act/emote a certain way so that you can be okay in your job."
🏃🏾♀️Something to Pursue - Send this email to your team
Encouraging your team to take paid time off is a key part of leading a sustainable team. Feel free to copy/paste any of my language here and modify it for your team. For bonus points, insert a personalized note about how much paid time off this person has accrued but not yet used.
Dear Team,
Your paid time off is a benefit meant to be used. Taking breaks isn’t a luxury—it’s essential for your well-being and our team’s success.
I suggest you do the following this week as we look ahead to 2026:
- Check your PTO balance
- Plan at least one meaningful break next year
- Fully disconnect when you’re away
Taking care of yourself helps you do your best work. Don’t let unused vacation days go to waste.
Let’s prioritize your rest and renewal.
I hope there were some helpful pieces in this month's issue. If you'd like to work together more closely in 2026 (or have someone on your team who would benefit), the doors to Joyfully Managed Worklife are closing soon. We start on January 7th.
Bring your team; I’ll bring my A-game. I love helping teams with workshops on productivity, team culture, and effectiveness at work. Find out more and book a free chat to see if I can be helpful to your organization.