
Is it winter yet? Here in [your location], we get snow—but so far, not much has arrived. Whether that makes you cheer or sigh might depend on your snow-shoveling preferences!
This fall, we prepped for winter in all the usual ways: patio furniture stored, garage reorganized, shovels moved to their “ready” hook, and snow pants (thankfully still fitting) dusted off. But all that prep got me thinking about something equally important: prepping our mindsets—both at work and at home.
Leadership: Plan Your Presence
Here’s a small but mighty leadership tip I started years ago that’s had a big impact: planning my presence.
Before meetings, I jot down a word or phrase to describe the energy I want to bring. For example: calm, encouraging, listening, or focused. Often, we already know what’s on the agenda or sense how things might unfold. By planning my mindset and being intentional with my energy, I’ve noticed subtle but powerful shifts.
At first, it was just a personal experiment, but soon colleagues started saying things like:
“You seem really well-rested!”
“You’re extra chipper today—what’s going on?”
“You stayed so calm during that crazy conversation!”
It’s like they noticed something they couldn’t quite name.
Life: The Power of Energy Prep
This practice works at home too. Whether it’s late nights with kids (bedtimes…), holiday gatherings full of personalities (we all have that one relative, right?), or navigating hectic schedules, planning my energy has been as helpful as a good pair of snow pants on a sledding hill.
Sure, putting on snow pants can feel clunky, but when you’re standing at the top of that hill, you’re glad you took the time.
Your Winter Challenge
As we navigate this season (and the year ahead), I challenge you to do the same: plan your presence, set your energy, and bring intentionality into the spaces you step into. It just might become the coziest—and most effective—habit you start this winter. Stay warm out there!
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