Can you believe 2026 is almost 2 months away?! 😯

Disclaimer: the purpose of this post is NOT to stress you out but to prepare you. You can keep reading, it's safe (and optimistic!)

For leaders, Q4 seems to sneak up every year. One minute it’s mid-year planning, the next you’re staring down December wondering where the targets went, if the budget still makes sense, and how you’re going to wrap reviews before the holidays.

But, if you're #strategic and smart with your time, you can use the last 2 months of the year as a launchpad for the next. Here's how:

1️⃣Use your next round of 1:1s to fine-tune #performance

Don’t just ask how people are doing this time. Pull out the targets. “Where are you? What can we still adjust? What support do you need from me right now?” There’s still time to tweak things so your #team ends the year on a high instead of feeling like they missed the mark.

2️⃣Audit your budget before it’s gone

December is often when budgets disappear if they’re not used. Take stock now: Do you have unspent funds? Are there priorities you sidelined this year that could still be addressed - such as #training, tools, team building? Could you invest now in something that will give you a head start in 2026?

A rushed “spend it before we lose it” is wasteful. A deliberate use of leftover #budget can be a strategic advantage.

3️⃣Start the #2026 planning conversation

Ask the team what they need and where do they see upcoming challenges in the new year. Check in with them sooner rather than later and give them time to properly reflect: Does the team need more capacity? Do they need better/ more #collaboration tools? What processes slowed them down in 2025 that must be fixed?

4️⃣Address cross-collaboration issues before they become next year's problem

The last two months are also the time to check how your team connects with others. Where are the handoffs messy? Which projects keep stalling because of cross-functional friction? Clear those now. If you don’t, the same issues will resurface in January and slow everyone down all over again. A quick sync with peers in other functions can save you months of frustration next year.

5️⃣Close the year with energy, not exhaustion

Plan a team outing, a celebration, or at least a meaningful thank-you. Make the plans and announcement early so that the team has something to look forward to. And, it doesn’t need to be extravagant - what matters is that it’s personal and genuine.

🐜Think of ants

They don’t wait until winter hits to start scrambling. They prepare steadily, bit by bit, so when the season changes, they’re ready.

Leadership works the same way. In the last two months you're not stressing your team or piling on more #work. You're doing the simple, necessary prep so January doesn’t feel like survival mode.

---

🌟Sparking Leadership # 19: a weekly series on human-centered, sustainable #leadership. Follow for real talk and practical tools. In the meantime, lead with spark!