{"id":17410,"date":"2025-12-09T06:24:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T12:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/?p=17410"},"modified":"2025-12-09T08:42:13","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T14:42:13","slug":"the-sugar-plum-factor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/the-sugar-plum-factor\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sugar Plum Factor"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div>\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"17410\" class=\"elementor elementor-17410\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6cbc9fa e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6cbc9fa\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d445cd elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"4d445cd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" 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data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Sugar Plum Factor<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5417b4f elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"5417b4f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-545bbe2 elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/author\/lbwebmaster\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" 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class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-b1f0a24 elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"commentCount\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/the-sugar-plum-factor\/#respond\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-comment-dots\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M144 208c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32 32-14.3 32-32-14.3-32-32-32zm112 0c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32 32-14.3 32-32-14.3-32-32-32zm112 0c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32 32-14.3 32-32-14.3-32-32-32zM256 32C114.6 32 0 125.1 0 240c0 47.6 19.9 91.2 52.9 126.3C38 405.7 7 439.1 6.5 439.5c-6.6 7-8.4 17.2-4.6 26S14.4 480 24 480c61.5 0 110-25.7 139.1-46.3C192 442.8 223.2 448 256 448c141.4 0 256-93.1 256-208S397.4 32 256 32zm0 368c-26.7 0-53.1-4.1-78.4-12.1l-22.7-7.2-19.5 13.8c-14.3 10.1-33.9 21.4-57.5 29 7.3-12.1 14.4-25.7 19.9-40.2l10.6-28.1-20.6-21.8C69.7 314.1 48 282.2 48 240c0-88.2 93.3-160 208-160s208 71.8 208 160-93.3 160-208 160z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-comments\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNo Comments\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b443e2c elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"b443e2c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><span class=\"bsf-rt-reading-time\"><span class=\"bsf-rt-display-label\" prefix=\"Reading Time\">\n\t\t<\/span> <span class=\"bsf-rt-display-time\" reading_time=\"3\"><\/span> \n\t\t<span class=\"bsf-rt-display-postfix\" postfix=\"mins\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73b91e1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"73b91e1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9be926b elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9be926b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/sugarplum-rfvaid60y3i1p2cssoxh2i8n5p9tl44nd1esipiygw.png\" title=\"sugarplum\" alt=\"sugar plum factor icon\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c589d1b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c589d1b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-beb2cb6 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"beb2cb6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c8aaa1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5c8aaa1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"634\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sugarplum-factor2.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-17437\" alt=\"The Sugar Plum Factor\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sugarplum-factor2.png 1200w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sugarplum-factor2-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sugarplum-factor2-1024x541.png 1024w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sugarplum-factor2-150x79.png 150w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sugarplum-factor2-768x406.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" title=\"\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c298f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8c298f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"273\" data-end=\"600\">Every December, something curious happens.<br data-start=\"315\" data-end=\"318\" \/>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.<\/p><p data-start=\"602\" data-end=\"655\">I call this seasonal shift <strong data-start=\"629\" data-end=\"655\">The Sugar Plum Factor.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-915bf3d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"915bf3d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ceae9d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ceae9d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"658\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sugarplum.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-17413\" alt=\"sugar plum factor icon\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sugarplum.png 936w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sugarplum-300x247.png 300w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sugarplum-150x123.png 150w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sugarplum-768x632.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" title=\"\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d91cced e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d91cced\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c09926d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c09926d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>The Sugar Plum Factor Defined<\/h2><p data-start=\"657\" data-end=\"935\">It\u2019s 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.<\/p><p data-start=\"937\" data-end=\"1002\"><strong data-start=\"937\" data-end=\"1002\">The holidays don\u2019t just change schedules. They change people.<\/strong><\/p><p data-start=\"1004\" data-end=\"1039\">So what does that mean for leaders?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64af717 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"64af717\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-046b9b8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"046b9b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 data-start=\"1041\" data-end=\"1068\">A Story From Last Week<\/h2><p data-start=\"1069\" data-end=\"1284\">I recently spoke with someone exploring a career change. Midway through our conversation he asked, \u201cIs the holiday season a good time to look for a new opportunity?\u201d<br data-start=\"1234\" data-end=\"1237\" \/>His voice carried that familiar December doubt.<\/p><p data-start=\"1286\" data-end=\"1508\">I borrowed and paraphrased a quote from Henry Ford: <strong><em data-start=\"1322\" data-end=\"1386\">\u201cWhether you believe you can do a thing or not, you\u2019re right.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p><p data-start=\"1286\" data-end=\"1508\">Then I told him, <em>\u201cIf you believe this season is potentially a good time, there\u2019s a much better chance that it will be.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p data-start=\"1510\" data-end=\"1547\">Because both realities exist at once.<\/p><p data-start=\"1549\" data-end=\"1713\">Some people are unreachable because they\u2019re burning through \u201cuse-it-or-lose-it\u201d vacation days. Trying to connect with them feels like leaving a voicemail for Santa.<\/p><p data-start=\"1715\" data-end=\"1945\">But with so many people out, the ones still working often have more space \u2014 more time, more curiosity, and occasionally a surprising openness to conversations they would normally rush past. Doors crack open that usually stay shut.<\/p><p data-start=\"1947\" data-end=\"2078\">The bigger question for him (and for all of us this month) is simple:<\/p><h4 data-start=\"1947\" data-end=\"2078\"><em><strong data-start=\"2019\" data-end=\"2078\">What mindset are YOU choosing to carry into the season?<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb93c05 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"bb93c05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b339bf3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b339bf3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a01f921 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a01f921\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 data-start=\"2080\" data-end=\"2122\">Navigating Your Own Sugar Plum Factor<\/h2><p data-start=\"2123\" data-end=\"2293\">Leaders are not immune to the swirl of the holidays.<br data-start=\"2175\" data-end=\"2178\" \/>Year-end goals collide with family obligations, budget cycles, travel, and expectations \u2014 both spoken and unspoken.<\/p><p data-start=\"2295\" data-end=\"2511\">This is a good moment to ask yourself:<br data-start=\"2333\" data-end=\"2336\" \/><strong data-start=\"2336\" data-end=\"2404\">How is the season shaping my attitude, my energy, or my clarity?<\/strong><br data-start=\"2404\" data-end=\"2407\" \/>And maybe more importantly:<br data-start=\"2434\" data-end=\"2437\" \/><strong data-start=\"2437\" data-end=\"2511\">How do I want people to experience me during this stretch of the year?<\/strong><\/p><h2 data-start=\"2445\" data-end=\"2486\">Navigating the Mindsets of Your Team<\/h2><p data-start=\"2487\" data-end=\"2676\">Everyone around you is experiencing the same season \u2014 just not in the same way.<br data-start=\"2566\" data-end=\"2569\" \/>Some colleagues are lighter and more generous. Others are tense, distracted, or running on emotional fumes.<\/p><p data-start=\"2678\" data-end=\"2723\">A few leadership moves make a big difference:<\/p><ul data-start=\"2725\" data-end=\"3303\"><li data-start=\"2725\" data-end=\"2840\"><p data-start=\"2727\" data-end=\"2840\"><strong data-start=\"2727\" data-end=\"2752\">Clarify expectations.<\/strong> December creates \u201cI thought you meant\u2026\u201d moments. Clear expectations feel like relief.<\/p><\/li><li data-start=\"2841\" data-end=\"2945\"><p data-start=\"2843\" data-end=\"2945\"><strong data-start=\"2843\" data-end=\"2867\">Lead with curiosity.<\/strong> A simple, \u201cWhat\u2019s pulling your attention this week?\u201d opens honest dialogue.<\/p><\/li><li data-start=\"2946\" data-end=\"3041\"><p data-start=\"2948\" data-end=\"3041\"><strong data-start=\"2948\" data-end=\"3001\">Recalibrate bandwidth without lowering standards.<\/strong> Adjust the <em data-start=\"3013\" data-end=\"3019\">path<\/em>, not the <em data-start=\"3029\" data-end=\"3038\">outcome<\/em>.<\/p><\/li><li data-start=\"3042\" data-end=\"3165\"><p data-start=\"3044\" data-end=\"3165\"><strong data-start=\"3044\" data-end=\"3082\">Offer small, specific recognition.<\/strong> Motivation dips this time of year. Targeted acknowledgment lifts people quickly.<\/p><\/li><li data-start=\"3166\" data-end=\"3303\"><p data-start=\"3168\" data-end=\"3303\"><strong data-start=\"3168\" data-end=\"3199\">Notice disengagement early.<\/strong> The Sugar Plum Factor sometimes shows up as withdrawal. A quiet check-in can prevent a January problem.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><h2 data-start=\"3305\" data-end=\"3336\">Avoiding the Grinch Effect<\/h2><p data-start=\"3337\" data-end=\"3586\">There\u2019s 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.<\/p><p data-start=\"3588\" data-end=\"3644\">The key: <strong data-start=\"3597\" data-end=\"3644\">set a steady pace without stealing the joy.<\/strong><\/p><p data-start=\"3646\" data-end=\"3780\">Be clear without being cold. Hold standards without holding the season hostage. People don\u2019t resent accountability \u2014 they resent tone.<\/p><h2 data-start=\"3782\" data-end=\"3837\">Quick Tips for Leading Through the Sugar Plum Factor<\/h2><ul data-start=\"3839\" data-end=\"4296\"><li data-start=\"3839\" data-end=\"3896\"><p data-start=\"3841\" data-end=\"3896\">Shorten meetings. Attention spans shrink in December.<\/p><\/li><li data-start=\"3897\" data-end=\"3963\"><p data-start=\"3899\" data-end=\"3963\">Overcommunicate the \u201cwhy.\u201d Purpose cuts through holiday noise.<\/p><\/li><li data-start=\"3964\" data-end=\"4013\"><p data-start=\"3966\" data-end=\"4013\">Limit surprises. Share deadline shifts early.<\/p><\/li><li data-start=\"4014\" data-end=\"4071\"><p data-start=\"4016\" data-end=\"4071\">Check in, don\u2019t check up. Curiosity beats monitoring.<\/p><\/li><li data-start=\"4072\" data-end=\"4121\"><p data-start=\"4074\" data-end=\"4121\">Watch your tone. Stress sharpens voices fast.<\/p><\/li><li data-start=\"4122\" data-end=\"4197\"><p data-start=\"4124\" data-end=\"4197\">End the week with clarity: \u201cHere\u2019s what we\u2019re carrying into next week.\u201d<\/p><\/li><li data-start=\"4198\" data-end=\"4296\"><p data-start=\"4200\" data-end=\"4296\">Celebrate progress. People remember who noticed their effort during a mentally demanding season.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-885e800 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"885e800\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 data-start=\"3199\" data-end=\"3253\">Your Holiday Leadership Opportunity<\/h2><p data-start=\"3199\" data-end=\"3253\">The holidays expose what people value, hope for, fear, or avoid. Leaders who pay attention gain insight, build trust, and create connection.<\/p><p data-start=\"3396\" data-end=\"3529\">This season doesn\u2019t have to be chaotic or distracting. It can be clarifying, if you approach it with awareness instead of autopilot.<\/p><h2 data-start=\"3531\" data-end=\"3744\">Your Question for the Season<\/h2><p data-start=\"3531\" data-end=\"3744\"><strong data-start=\"3571\" data-end=\"3668\">Where is the Sugar Plum Factor showing up in your world: <\/strong><\/p><ul><li data-start=\"3531\" data-end=\"3744\"><strong data-start=\"3571\" data-end=\"3668\">In yourself? <\/strong><\/li><li data-start=\"3531\" data-end=\"3744\"><strong data-start=\"3571\" data-end=\"3668\">in your team?\u00a0 <\/strong><\/li><li data-start=\"3531\" data-end=\"3744\"><strong data-start=\"3571\" data-end=\"3668\">Or, in the people you serve?<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>And what might shift if you responded thoughtfully instead of reactively?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b959586 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b959586\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a5b65a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"a5b65a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"12414\" class=\"elementor elementor-12414\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4071460 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4071460\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a4707e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1a4707e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":17413,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"New on #LeadershipBreakthroughs - Are you affected by The Sugar Plum Factor?","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"default","_google_business_share_type":"default","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[181,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-focus","category-leadership-development"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sugarplum.png","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1I2Yr-4wO","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17410"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17410\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17442,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17410\/revisions\/17442"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17413"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}