Hi there,

As the year winds down, I wanted to take a moment to simply say this:

I hope you’re finding some space to slow down, reconnect, and breathe—whatever that looks like for you during the holiday period.

This time of year has a way of revealing things. Not just in our work, but in ourselves. Energy levels change. Priorities shift. Pressure shows up in quieter, more human ways.

And for those of us who lead others, it’s often when leadership is felt most clearly.

Not through big speeches or bold moves—but through boundaries, compassion, presence, and how we show up when things aren’t perfectly structured.

With that in mind, I recently shared a new piece on leadership during the holidays. It’s not about doing more before year-end. It’s about leading cleaner—protecting energy, reducing friction, and setting the tone for the year ahead.

You can read it here:

• On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-things-great-leaders-do-during-holiday-period-scott-mccarthy-qyvac​
• On my website: https://www.movingforwardleadership.com/podcast/5-things-great-leaders-do-during-the-holiday-period/​

More than anything, though, this note is just a reminder that leadership doesn’t pause during the holidays—it softens, it sharpens, and it shows up in quieter ways.

If you’re able to step back a bit, do it.
If you need to reset a boundary, do it.
If you can give someone a little more grace—including yourself—do it.

Those small decisions matter more than we often realize.

As we head toward the new year, I’m also quietly preparing for the release of my upcoming book, You Don’t Know Sh*t About Leadership: And Neither Do I.

Here's what one person had to say:
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If you’d like to be the first to hear about the launch and early access details, you can join the waiting list here:
​https://leaddontboss.com/waiting​

Thank you for being here, for reading, and for continuing to care about leading well.

Wishing you and yours a restful, meaningful holiday season—and a strong, grounded start to the year ahead.

Scott

PS: The new year has a way of sharpening what needs attention. If you’re reflecting on how you want to lead differently in the months ahead, reply to this email and we can grab a call to talk it through.