December has a particular sound to it. For some, it is the soft hum of wrapping things up and for others, it is a full-throated roar of final deadlines, last-minute expectations, and that familiar end-of-year intensity that seems to arrive earlier every year.
And somewhere beneath that noise, many leaders feel a subtle “itch”, a sense that something needs attention, or adjustment, or clarity. But the volume of the world makes it hard to hear ourselves, let alone interpret what those inner signals mean.
For us in the Southern Hemisphere, this is precisely why the quieter days of the summer holidays matter if you are fortunate enough to have them. The holidays are not for productivity or planning.
The quiet days are for reconnecting with people and places that matter to us. But how many of us also take the time to connect with the values that sit underneath everything we do? The things that shape how we work, how we lead, and how we show up.
So, before we all rush into next year’s structure, targets or priorities, I think it is worth pausing to ask: What actually matters to me now?
Why? Because the answer to that question has more impact on your life than any goal you will set in January.
Why values matter more than goals (especially now)
Most leaders plan by starting with tasks: What needs doing? What needs improving? What do I want to achieve? All important things for sure, but goals without values are just… logistics.
They keep you busy, but not necessarily aligned. Focused, but not necessarily fulfilled.
Whereas values, on the other hand, give context to your time. They anchor your decisions and answer the why. And they act as the quiet filter between what looks impressive and what feels right.
At the end of the year, when we are all stretched, tired, and moving fast, the easiest things to lose sight of are the things we claim to stand for. The things that matter when the noise drops away. Family. Health. Community. Friends.
Which is why the summer slowdown is the perfect moment to recalibrate: gently, privately, and honestly.
The difference between “Things I do” and “Things I stand for”
In my experience, most people answer “What are your values?” with what they do:
“I work hard.” “I support my team.” “I deliver results.”
They are outcomes of things that we do, not necessarily our values.
Values are the principles that sit underneath behaviour, the ones that guide how you act when no one is watching, when no one is applauding, and when saying no might be the harder choice.
A simple distinction:
- Tasks are what fill your calendar.
- Values are what fill your life.
Tasks create pressure.
Values create direction.
When leaders feel stretched or restless, it is rarely the tasks that are the issue in my experience. It is the misalignment between what they are doing and what they actually stand for. Some of us are better at quietening that voice than others, but sooner or later, the values will want to push through.
The quiet days give you space to notice that difference.
A gentle moment to map your values
This is not a worksheet or another to-do of madness before the end of the year. It is not a “find your life purpose in five steps” situation (if anyone promises you that, they are NOT your friend).
I want to invite you to think of it as a soft pause, a moment to observe your year without judgement.
Find a shady spot. Or sit by a window with a cup of something cold. And simply reflect:
- What felt nourishing this year?
Which moments, behaviours or relationships gave you energy rather than drained it? - What drained you more than it should have?
Not because you were weak, far from it, but because the situation or dynamic was misaligned with what matters to you. - What did you avoid, delay or downplay, and why?
Sometimes avoidance tells you what you need more honestly than ambition does. And what we avoid persists, so best to at least acknowledge it. - Where did you compromise too quickly?
These moments often reveal values that need protecting. - Where did you surprise yourself?
Growth has a way of showing up quietly, almost accidentally.
Sit with whatever comes. No pressure to produce anything. No expectation to fix anything.
Just a conversation with yourself that you likely have not had all year.
And for those who struggle to remember their brilliance, do it with a friend, your partner, a parent, or someone who has spent enough time with you. And do the same for them.
Five quiet prompts for the Summer
To help you pause even more intentionally, I have gathered five quiet prompts you can carry into the summer weeks. Think of them as companions for your thinking, not tasks to complete, but invitations to notice, feel, and reflect. You might revisit them on a quiet morning walk, while sitting with a coffee, or during those rare unhurried moments on holiday.
These prompts are not meant to be answered in one sitting. Some will land immediately, others will linger. Some may feel uncomfortable — the good kind of uncomfortable that signals honesty. Let them breathe. Let them follow you around. Let them reveal something.
Use them however you like. There is no sequence, no prescription. Just companions for your thinking:
- What do I want to feel more of next year?
Not achieve, feel. There is a difference. And your feelings often tell you what your values already know. - What am I no longer willing to carry?
A responsibility, a belief, a story about who you “should” be. Letting go is NOT failure; it is pure clarity. And that is gold. - Where do I need to tell the truth, to myself first?
Every year has at least one moment where we realise we have been skirting around something important. - What parts of me have been whispering for attention?
The longing to rest.
The desire to create.
The need to step up.
The courage to step back.
The whisper is often wiser than the shout.
- What is one value I want to lead with, not just claim?
Integrity, curiosity, presence, compassion, courage, pick one.
Then ask yourself what it might look like in practice, not theory.
These prompts are not meant to be answered in one sitting. Some will land immediately. Others will linger. Some will feel uncomfortable; the good kind of uncomfortable that signals honesty. Let them breathe. Let them follow you around. Let them reveal something.
The quiet weeks ahead are an invitation, not to plan, not to optimise, but to return to yourself. You are doing enough as it is I am sure.
Like many of us, I bet you have spent a year navigating noise, complexity, responsibility, and expectations. You have given your time, your attention, your energy, probably often more generously than you realise.
Now you have a moment to ask: What matters to me now moving forward and how do I want to honour that?
Carry these questions into the slow days of summer.
Not as goals.
Not as tasks.
But as companions for your thinking as you step gently into a new year.
As always, if you invest in yourself, the rewards will be unfathomable.
Until next time.
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