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Every December, something curious happens.
Perfectly competent adults begin drifting in and out of focus, juggling year-end deadlines with visions of sugar plums, peppermint bark, or simply January. Some speed up. Some shut down. Some disappear into an endless loop of holiday parties, school concerts, and Amazon deliveries.
I call this seasonal shift The Sugar Plum Factor.
It’s the quiet but predictable mindset change that arrives during the holidays; a blend of distraction, nostalgia, pressure, and emotional overload that affects how we think, work, and communicate. And whether we acknowledge it or not, it influences every conversation we have.
The holidays don’t just change schedules. They change people.
So what does that mean for leaders?
I recently spoke with someone exploring a career change. Midway through our conversation he asked, “Is the holiday season a good time to look for a new opportunity?”
His voice carried that familiar December doubt.
I borrowed and paraphrased a quote from Henry Ford: “Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you’re right.”
Then I told him, “If you believe this season is potentially a good time, there’s a much better chance that it will be.”
Because both realities exist at once.
Some people are unreachable because they’re burning through “use-it-or-lose-it” vacation days. Trying to connect with them feels like leaving a voicemail for Santa.
But with so many people out, the ones still working often have more space — more time, more curiosity, and occasionally a surprising openness to conversations they would normally rush past. Doors crack open that usually stay shut.
The bigger question for him (and for all of us this month) is simple:
Leaders are not immune to the swirl of the holidays.
Year-end goals collide with family obligations, budget cycles, travel, and expectations — both spoken and unspoken.
This is a good moment to ask yourself:
How is the season shaping my attitude, my energy, or my clarity?
And maybe more importantly:
How do I want people to experience me during this stretch of the year?
Everyone around you is experiencing the same season — just not in the same way.
Some colleagues are lighter and more generous. Others are tense, distracted, or running on emotional fumes.
A few leadership moves make a big difference:
Clarify expectations. December creates “I thought you meant…” moments. Clear expectations feel like relief.
Lead with curiosity. A simple, “What’s pulling your attention this week?” opens honest dialogue.
Recalibrate bandwidth without lowering standards. Adjust the path, not the outcome.
Offer small, specific recognition. Motivation dips this time of year. Targeted acknowledgment lifts people quickly.
Notice disengagement early. The Sugar Plum Factor sometimes shows up as withdrawal. A quiet check-in can prevent a January problem.
There’s a fine line between leading well in December and being perceived as the office Grinch. If you push too hard, you risk stealing the season. If you pull back too much, productivity slips and January arrives like an unexpected credit card bill.
The key: set a steady pace without stealing the joy.
Be clear without being cold. Hold standards without holding the season hostage. People don’t resent accountability — they resent tone.
Shorten meetings. Attention spans shrink in December.
Overcommunicate the “why.” Purpose cuts through holiday noise.
Limit surprises. Share deadline shifts early.
Check in, don’t check up. Curiosity beats monitoring.
Watch your tone. Stress sharpens voices fast.
End the week with clarity: “Here’s what we’re carrying into next week.”
Celebrate progress. People remember who noticed their effort during a mentally demanding season.
The holidays expose what people value, hope for, fear, or avoid. Leaders who pay attention gain insight, build trust, and create connection.
This season doesn’t have to be chaotic or distracting. It can be clarifying, if you approach it with awareness instead of autopilot.
Where is the Sugar Plum Factor showing up in your world:
And what might shift if you responded thoughtfully instead of reactively?
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