The holiday season brings joy, reflection, and an opportunity for leaders to recharge and set the tone for the upcoming year. Amid festivities and celebrations, high performing leaders recognize the importance of utilizing their personal time wisely; this is even true of how we put the holiday season to use. Strategic use of this period can not only foster personal well-being but also contribute to professional growth and organizational success. The holidays are a rare chance for us to take a pause from work without fear of missing something crucial. Even the hardest driving leaders take time off work–but that doesn’t mean you should let that time go to waste. In this article, we will explore what leaders can do to add value of their personal time during the holiday season.
- Be Mindful of Waste
In CHAMP, as we seek to mainstream a culture of peak performance across Africa, we know sustainability is key and being mindful of our collective contribution to global warming is of great importance to us. Available statistics around the world show that people generate more waste during the holiday season than any other time of the year.
In the United States, Stanford University stated that Americans throw away 25 percent more trash from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, amounting to 25 million tons of garbage. Putting things into perspective, if every family would reuse gift ribbons, the 38,000 miles could “tie a bow around the entire planet.” And, if recycled paper was used to wrap presents, the amount of paper saved could cover 45,000 football fields.
In the United Kingdom, approximately two million turkeys and six million Christmas trees go to waste each year. It seems that people would much rather dispose of their artificial trees instead of reusing them, which isn’t a favorable insight. Most of these items end up in landfills where they release methane and carbon dioxide into the air. According to The Carbon Trust, one two-meter high Christmas tree is equal to 16 kilograms of carbon dioxide. As for food waste, approximately 4.2 million meals are wasted, including 17.2 million Brussels sprouts that could power one home for three years if converted into energy.
2. Practice Gratitude
The holiday period is a time for introspection, reflecting on achievements, challenges, and personal growth over the past year. Cultivate gratitude by acknowledging and appreciating the positive aspects of your life and leadership journey.
Also, the end of the year is an ideal time to show gratitude to those who made your 2023 a fulfilling year. So, let your team and your leaders know that you value them; especially if you haven’t done this during the year. Whether it’s a personal note to each member of your team, a small gift of appreciation, or even a company-sponsored reward, those small gestures will go a long way in building trust, loyalty, and productivity. A Harvard Business Review study by Francesca Gino and Adam Grant found that fundraisers who received a show of gratitude from their managers increased their outreach by 50 percent.
3. Enjoy Quality Time with the Most Important People To Your Success
In my work, I have discovered that there are nine most important people to our success. They are both in our personal and professional lives and it is important that as much as possible, we enjoy quality time with them during this holiday. One of the things we tend to focus on this period is seeking to buy befitting gifts for the people dear to us. We spend time thinking of what items they would value, use and appreciate. However, if we check well what our loved ones really want from us is our time and attention.
We can use the holiday season to invest in our important relationships, build our connections and create memories to carry into the next year. This will go a long way in enabling your personal growth and it also helps you grow as a professional leader.
I once heard from the legendary speaker, Jim Rohn that, “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” If you use your holiday time to strengthen your relationships, those people will help you grow. Prioritize uninterrupted moments with family to strengthen relationships and create lasting memories. Connect with colleagues, mentors, or industry peers in a relaxed setting to foster relationships beyond the confines of the workplace. Connect with your team in a relaxed setting, fostering camaraderie and team spirit. When you return to work after spending time with loved ones, you’ll feel refreshed, fulfilled, and ready to start the year strong.
4. Engage in Future Reflection
When the calendar flips to 2024, the people who start with clear goals and a plan to meet them are more likely to achieve what they want than those who enter the year with no idea what they want to accomplish. With data showing that people with goals are 10 times more likely to succeed, the holiday time is a perfect time to take some moment of introspection and planning.
What are some personal and professional goals that are important to you for 2024? What smaller things do you have to accomplish to achieve those overarching goals? It’s not about having New Year resolutions, it’s more about utilizing the beginning of the year as a turnaround point in your personal and professional journey.
5. Get A Coach
Clinical psychologist Dr. Gail Mathews found that people who share their goals and regularly report on their progress hit those goals 76 percent of the time. It is always helpful to have an accountability partner in a Performance Coach who is well trained and can dedicate their time to keeping you on track with your goals. Coaching offers a structured and supportive space where leaders can set goals that are both realistic and challenging, aligning them with your long-term strategic objectives.
The process is like a personal workout for your personal and professional life: identifying your individual strengths, the areas you need to focus on, and potential roadblocks.
The International Coach Federation (ICF) did their homework and found that 70% of people who had coaching reported better work performance, communication skills, and goal achievement. With the right support, structure, and accountability, coaching can be the secret ingredient to achieving goals, which can position you for peak performance in 2024.
As we immerse ourselves in the joyous atmosphere of the holiday season, a strategic approach to personal time can yield significant benefits. Balancing reflection, family time, personal growth, and planning for the future ensures a well-rounded and rejuvenated leader ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. By practicing these five recommendations, we won’t not only nurture our personal well-being but also we set the stage for a successful and fulfilling 2024.
About Dr. Abiola Salami
Dr. Abiola Salami is the Convener of Dr Abiola Salami International Leadership Bootcamp and The Peak PerformerTM. He is the Principal Performance Strategist at CHAMP – a full scale professional services firm trusted by high performing business leaders for providing Executive Coaching, Workforce Development & Advisory Services to improve performance. You can reach him on hello@abiolachamp.com and connect with him @abiolachamp on all social media platforms.