Holiday Wellness 101: The Gratitude Advantage
How to Move Beyond “Good Job” and Into Strategic Appreciation: Part 5 of 5 in Our Holiday Wellness Challenge for Leaders
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As the year winds down, you might find yourself staring at your team’s progress report with a familiar thought: “It’s not enough.” Despite exceeding goals and navigating challenges successfully, the holiday season has a peculiar way of amplifying our expectations – of ourselves, our teams, and our achievements.
This tension between achievement and pressure for more is a common leadership struggle, particularly during December. But what if the key to unlocking greater performance isn’t about demanding more, but instead appreciating what’s already been achieved?
Welcome to the fifth and final day of the Holiday Wellness Challenge, where we’ll explore how gratitude – often dismissed as soft or unnecessary in business contexts – might be exactly what you need to transform your leadership effectiveness and team dynamics as you close out the year.
Day 5: Give (Yourself) the Gift of Gratitude (You Are Here)
The Expectation Trap: When “More” Becomes Too Much
Even the most balanced leaders can find themselves caught in a cycle of elevated expectations during the holidays. With year-end targets looming and ambitious goals to wrap up, your typically healthy high standards can suddenly feel like a vice grip. You might catch yourself thinking, “We’re close, but…” or “If we could just push a little harder…” more often than usual.
The holiday season creates a perfect storm: year-end deadlines collide with shorter timelines, team members’ vacation schedules, and that relentless pressure to “finish strong.” Instead of seeing the impressive progress you’ve made, your focus might narrow to the gaps – what’s still undone, what could be better, what needs more work.
This tunnel vision can inadvertently create added stress for both you and your team. But there’s a way to fix (or prevent) this from happening, and it doesn’t require lowering your standards. You just need to widen your lens to see the full picture of what’s already been achieved.
Here’s how to do it. 👇
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