A Brief Holiday Pause
(But First: Let’s Talk Baking)
Before we dive in, I need to settle something important: What’s your go-to holiday treat?
I’m asking because I’m currently way behind on my holiday baking, and I need to know I’m not alone in this chaos.
Speaking of chaos – let’s be honest about this time of year. You’re probably juggling year-end reviews, 2026 planning, team parties, actual parties, travel logistics, and approximately 17 open browser tabs of gift ideas.
We see you. Which is exactly why we’re taking a short break.
We’ll be back on January 2nd with something we think you’ll really appreciate: a brand-new series on helping new team members adjust and thrive.
January and February are peak hiring months. You might already have plans to bring on new people, or you’re about to start looking. And while onboarding programs check the boxes, the real challenge is helping someone actually integrate – not just show up and complete compliance training.
This series will cover the stuff that makes or breaks those crucial first 90 days: how to help new hires know who to turn to (and why), how to make communication norms explicit so they’re not guessing at expectations, how to set up a meaningful first win, and how to define what success looks like at 30, 60, and 90 days so they can ramp with confidence.
Because hiring is expensive, and losing someone in the first few months is even more expensive. (Not to mention a little heartbreaking for everyone involved.)
In the Meantime: Holiday Survival Reading
If you’re feeling overwhelmed right now (see: those 17 open browser tabs), we’ve got you.
Last December, we put together a series on getting through the holidays without losing your mind, and it’s still incredibly relevant today:
One Last Thing
As I’m writing this new-hire series for you, I’m wondering what would actually help? What questions do you have about bringing new team members on board? What’s worked? What’s been a disaster?
Drop your thoughts in the comments – I read every single one.
However you’re spending the next couple of weeks – celebrating traditions, catching up on sleep, tackling that impossible to-do list, or a bit of everything – I hope you can carve out some moments that feel good.
I’ll be back in January, and we can kick off the new year strong together. Until then, enjoy your holidays (and maybe sneak in an extra cookie or two).
Happy holidays,
– Carly from the 16Personalities Team
My go-to treat is these cream cheese meltaway mints my mom always makes - super delicious and no actual baking involved!
For the new-hire series, it would be helpful to get recommendations for when the new person is replacing someone who was much beloved but has moved onto another role, or even just joining a really tight-knit team. It can be really hard stepping into someone else's shoes, especially when that person was a great fit on the team, and it can be tough when the remaining team members are still holding on to what the previous person was like in the role.