Finish Strong to Start Strong: End of the year guidance for New Managers

The Truth About Year-End Leadership

My first end-of-year as a new manager felt like chaos.

There were deadlines to hit, performance reviews to complete, planning meetings to prep for, and a million small things that all seemed urgent.

I remember thinking: If I can just get through the next few weeks, next year will be easier.

But the truth?

Finishing the year strong isn’t about just powering through it and getting lost in the chaos. It’s about being intentional in how you close it out, for yourself and your team.

What I Wish I’d Known as a First-Time Manager

When I became a manager for the first time, I believed “strong leadership” meant working harder, staying later, saying yes to everything and feeling overwhelmed.

I thought my job was to carry the chaos so my team didn’t have to feel it.

Now, over 15 years into my career and many teams later, I know that strong leadership looks different.

It’s not about doing more. It’s about creating clarity and calm when everything around you feels busy and out of control.

Here’s what I wish someone had told me before my first year-end experience:

• You can’t control everything — but you can set the tone.

• Clarity beats hustle every time.

• Good communication can prevent hours of confusion.

• Recognition keeps people motivated more than pressure ever will.

• Calm leadership is contagious.

The goal of Leader Fundamentals is to help new and emerging managers build confidence as a leaders through structure, clarity, and intention.

Too often, managers are promoted without the playbook they need to lead well.
They know what bad management feels like but they’re unsure what “good” looks like day-to-day.

And as the year wraps up, that uncertainty hits even harder. Expectations are high, teams are tired, and leaders are juggling reflection and planning at the same time.

This series, Finish Strong to Start Strong, is designed to give new managers a calm, practical roadmap for leading through the end of the year while intentionally preparing for the next.

For You, the New Manager

If you’re leading people for the first time or if you are still figuring out what “good leadership” looks like, this series is for you.

My goal is simple:
To help you bring calm where there’s chaos, clarity where there’s confusion, and confidence where there’s doubt.

Follow along for additional end-of-the-year guidance to help you and your team finish strong this year to start strong next year.