A Christmas note for the changemakers
This year, the thread that has run through all my work has been this: change is rarely neat, but it is deeply human.
I’ve watched leaders navigate mergers, reorgs, new systems, changing expectations - and underneath every initiative has been the same question: Will our people come with us, or feel like this is happening to them?
As we hit Christmas and the end-of-year scramble, here’s what I’m holding onto:
Clarity is a kindness. The more honest and specific we are about what’s changing and why, the less our teams have to waste energy guessing, interpreting, or worrying in silence. The why is crucial here. When you talk at people - they tune out; when you can share the reasons - they have more respect for the change.
Slowing down isn’t a luxury. Rushing to just to get it out almost always costs more in rework, confusion, and burnout than taking an extra beat to do it right the first time. On the other hand, don't wait for all the details - holding until the communication is perfect won't work either. But work hard to get it right in the moment.
Small, steady touchpoints build trust. A quick check-in, a true example or story, or a here’s what you can expect this week message can calm a lot of holiday [or other busy season] chaos for employees and customers alike.
If this season is finding you tired, hopeful, or some complicated mix of both - you’re not alone. Here’s my Christmas wish for the leaders and teams I work with: that your 2026 is full of clear messages, calm rollouts, fewer fire drills, and more moments where your people say, “Thank you—that actually helped.”
And if you want next year’s changes to land with more peace and less panic, this is what I love to do - planning the messages, mapping the audiences, and building communication rhythms that work in real life.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, and many blessings to all of you! Cheers to purpose over panic, progress over perfection, and people over processes, even as we improve those processes.
All my love,
