Why This Time of Year is Hard on Leaders
As the festive season approaches, many leaders find themselves juggling multiple pressures: wrapping up end-of-year targets, maintaining team morale, managing staff leave, and making space for their own personal holiday planning. These overlapping responsibilities can leave even the most experienced leaders drained, distracted, and dangerously close to burnout.
The Rewards and Employee Benefits Association reports that 65% of leaders feel physically and emotionally exhausted at year’s end due to the constant pressure to meet targets while keeping teams engaged in a festive spirit. Unfortunately, this seasonal strain on leaders often goes unnoticed – and unaddressed.
Deadlines, distractions, and expectations collide in a perfect storm, placing enormous demands on those steering the ship. Left unchecked, this stress can erode decision-making ability, health, and performance, with flow-on effects for the entire team.
The good news? It doesn’t have to be this way.
By adopting intentional behaviours and practical strategies, leaders can not only navigate the holiday crunch—they can thrive. Let’s explore seven common threats leaders face during the festive period and how to mitigate them.
7 Threats Leaders Face During the Festive Season – And How to Manage Them
1. Low Morale and Disengagement
As employees begin to mentally clock out, workplace energy can dip, affecting productivity and morale.
How to respond:
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Celebrate success with genuine, inclusive recognition.
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Offer flexible scheduling to accommodate festive commitments.
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Create a culturally inclusive environment for end-of-year celebrations.
2. Increased Conflict
Workload pressures, leave disagreements, and differing expectations can cause tension, especially if communication is unclear.
How to respond:
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Set clear expectations early.
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Use transparent processes for time-off and workload management.
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Address issues professionally and promptly.
3. Financial Pressures
Leaders often feel squeezed between tight budgets and the expectation of strong year-end performance.
How to respond:
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Reassess goals to avoid overloading yourself or others.
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Be transparent about financial realities with key stakeholders.
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Delegate or postpone non-essential tasks.
4. Health and Safety Risks
End-of-year celebrations can pose risks—from misconduct at events to physical or psychological harm.
How to respond:
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Provide clear guidelines for work events.
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Model expected behaviour as a leader.
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Encourage staff wellbeing through mental health and EAP support.
5. Neglected Self-Care
Leaders frequently put their own wellbeing last, increasing their risk of fatigue, poor decisions, and health issues.
How to respond:
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Protect personal time by setting boundaries.
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Keep up healthy habits: eat well, sleep enough, and stay active.
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Reflect on the year’s wins to maintain a positive mindset.
6. Burnout and Fatigue
End-of-year demands create the perfect conditions for burnout – especially when leaders take on too much.
How to respond:
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Focus on high-priority tasks and delay the rest.
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Take breaks and encourage your team to do the same.
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Delegate where possible to avoid bottlenecks.
7. Reputational Risks
Poor leadership choices during high-pressure periods can hurt internal culture and external relationships.
How to respond:
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Communicate clearly and consistently with all stakeholders.
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Double-check deliverables and commitments.
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Prepare your team to maintain quality and professionalism.
The ROI of Managing Festive Season Threats Effectively
Addressing the seven common festive season threats isn’t just about avoiding burnout – it’s a smart leadership investment.
By proactively managing these challenges, leaders can:
✅ Maintain team morale and cohesion, even during disruptions
✅ Reduce conflict, absenteeism, and turnover, saving time and money
✅ Improve strategic decision-making and performance under pressure
✅ Protect and enhance organisational reputation, both internally and externally
✅ Model psychologically safe behaviours that cascade through the culture
When leaders role model self-care, calm decision-making, and inclusive leadership, they not only preserve their own wellbeing and performance – they create the conditions for their teams to thrive. That’s a leadership ROI worth prioritising.
Make It a Season of Professional Growth
The festive period isn’t just a challenge – it’s also an opportunity wrapped up with a bow. With the right support and strategies, leaders can finish strong, support their teams effectively, and enter the new year with clarity and momentum.
Whether you’re an experienced leader looking to sharpen your performance or a newly appointed one seeking confidence and capability, our tailored Leader Support Program is designed for you.
Enjoy greater self-efficacy, emotional intelligence, and influence. Lead teams that trust, innovate, and thrive.
Get Support for Your Leadership Journey
Let’s have a free, no-obligation 30-minute conversation to explore how we can help you:
✅ Avoid burnout
✅ Build a psychologically safe culture
✅ Strengthen your leadership toolkit
📞 Get in Touch – because the best gift you can give your team (and yourself) this festive season is a healthy, capable, and well-supported leader.
