Surviving 2025 is not Leadership. Closing it is.

Walter McKenzie
7 days ago
4 min read

The year is almost over. You are already thinking about January. New goals. New plans. A fresh start.

But here is the thing. You have not finished this year yet.

You survived 2025. And that matters. But surviving is not the same as leading.

Have you actually closed this year? Have you sat with what happened, what worked, what did not, what it cost you? Or are you already sprinting toward the next thing, quietly dragging the weight of 2025 behind you?

If you have to think about it, that is your answer.

I know reflection feels like a luxury you cannot afford. I get you. There is always something more urgent. And honestly, parts of 2025 you would rather forget than revisit.

But this is what I need you to know. The way you end this year determines how you start the next one.

Leaders who skip the closing do not reset. They carry everything forward. The unprocessed stress. The unspoken resentment. The exhaustion they promised themselves they would deal with later.

Later is now.

In today’s newsletter, I will show you how to actually close 2025. Not with champagne and resolutions. But with honesty, rest, and the clarity you will need to lead well in 2026.

Before You Plan 2026, Finish 2025

Closing the year is strategic.

It's how you stop repeating the same patterns. It's how you enter 2026 as a leader who's learned something, not just someone who's tired.

I understand where you're coming from. You want to move forward. The past feels heavy and the future feels hopeful. But forward motion without reflection isn't progress. It's just running.

Here's what I've seen work.

Do a year-end audit. A real one. Not the version for your board or your boss. The one for you. Where did you lead well? Where did you hide? What decision are you still defending that you know wasn't right? Be specific. Write it down. The patterns you don't name are the patterns you repeat.

Have one conversation you've been avoiding. That team member you never gave proper feedback to. That peer relationship that's gone cold. That apology you owe. Do it before the year ends. Start 2026 without that weight.

Name what you're leaving behind. The habit that didn't serve you. The commitment that drained you. The story you kept telling yourself that isn't true anymore. Say it out loud. Write it down. Then let it go.

Close the year with your team, not just for them. Before everyone scatters for the holidays, create a moment. Not a formal review. Not a town hall. A real conversation. What did we get through together? What should we be proud of? What do we want to leave behind? Let them hear you say it first. Leaders who close the year out loud give their teams permission to do the same.

Give yourself permission to rest. Real rest. Not "catching up on emails from the couch" rest. Not "I'll relax once I finish this one thing" rest. Actual, guilt-free, doing-nothing rest. You earned it. Take it.

Surviving 2025 is not Leadership. Closing it is.

Final Thoughts

You survived 2025. That's not nothing.

But you also know this: there were moments you were leading, and moments you were just getting through.

You know what worked. You know what didn’t. And you know exactly what cost you more than it should have.

I’m not asking you to judge yourself. I’m asking you to face what is still unfinished.

That is empathetic leadership. Not fixing. Not pushing. Taking responsibility for what you carry forward.

2025 is ending. What you take into 2026 is your choice.

I wish you a Happy New Year ❤️

May 2026 meet you less burdened and more deliberate. Not because the year will be easier, but because you chose to close what needed closing.

That decision will shape how you lead next.

So, what's your next move?

Are you about to drag the same unfinished business into another year?
Is that apology still sitting in your chest, waiting for "the right moment"?
Did "next year will be different" sound familiar twelve months ago too?

Ready to break the pattern? Let’s connect. ❤️

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Mireille Bergraaf is a Master Coach and the founder of the Dutch Leadership Development company focusing on cultivating coaching cultures for organizations that promote trust, open communication and growth to contribute positively to the world. This post was originally posted December 29, 2025 here. Cross-posted with permission. You can reach Mireille directly via email here.