Look back down the mountain
In business, it’s imperative to keep going, to keep pushing. As leaders, we set the next goal, tackle the next challenge and push the team upward. Q4 blurs into Q1.
But in all this, we can forget to pause and to look down… To look back down the mountain, together. To see how far we’ve already come.
This kind of intentional celebration isn’t indulgence - it’s fuel. Leaders tend to be ambitious, restless, over-achievers, so this doesn’t always come naturally…
So for this year-end, find time to pat yourself and your team on the back. And find something worth celebrating, however tough 2025 might have been for your business. Soak it up - you’ll need that boost to do it all again next year!
Here are some practical ways to do this well:
1. My year ≠ your year
Acknowledge that not everyone will have experienced the year in the same way. Some teams might feel very proud - others might not share that feeling at all. Make space for all of it.
2. Quality questions
Poor questions lead to shallow celebrations. Ask your team:
What are you proud of?
What obstacles did we overcome?
What do we appreciate about each other?
Shine the light widely, appreciating not just outcomes but effort, too.
3. No sh*t-sandwiches
Resist the temptation to lump critique and celebration together in one session. Make space for both but separate them out to avoid diminishing the power of each.
4. Vox populi
Don’t do all the talking yourself. After framing things, pass the mic to your team to give them an active, authentic part in looking back down the mountain with you.
Get in touch if you’d like to hear more about how we help our clients run end-of-year offsites and all-hands meetings as we approach the end of 2025 and start to look to 2026.
And watch this space. We will share WITHIN’s ‘look down the mountain’ with you next month…
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