The final 48 hours before Christmas: how leaders close the year without losing credibility
The countdown is on!
If you’re lucky, your last business day of the year was last Friday and you’ve already started your break. If that’s the case, congratulations!
But if you’re working right up until the public holidays, then it’s now two days before Christmas and the politics are intensifying. Some sponsors have already switched off, colleagues are scrambling to clear their desks, and your team is juggling deadlines with family plans
These final 48 hours aren’t about cramming everything in. They’re about how you finish the year off in a way that protects trust, keeps energy in tact, and leaves you positioned strongly for January
The dynamics of the final 48 hours
It may all be getting to be a bit too much by now, but remember:
Small wins count. A contained delivery, a sprint closed off cleanly, or a visible handover. All of these little things reassures stakeholders more than half finished big things do at this time of year. It signals control without over stretching
Fatigue is real. Teams are stretched thin. Leaders who acknowledge limits and pace expectations protect their credibility. Those who push harder risk disengagement that spills into January because you’ve left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth just before they go on break
Boundaries are tested. Every request feels urgent now. Saying no with context lands better than a blunt refusal does (e.g. “this is better tackled in January when this quarter’s data is available; we will have to do the analysis again to update the information then anyway” or “the approver is already on holidays, no matter how much we push right now we won’t get an answer until January”). It shows you’re looking at the bigger picture, not just shutting things down
The story sticks. How you frame the year in these last conversations becomes the version people carry into 2026. A closing message of “we slowed down this year and spent the time laying down strong foundations because we believed - and still believe - doing so will help us expedite our growth opportunities next year” sets the scene for momentum, whereas “we barely survived this re-platforming initiative, in more ways than one, and we are forever grateful we could make payroll and keep the team together given the tough market conditions; so thank you for all of your hard work in keeping us going this year” undermines confidence even though it’s covered with gratitude. There is a time and place for vulnerability and gratitude, but not when you are trying to install confidence and build momentum for next year
Optics matter. Even if you’re exhausted, visible presence in one or two key moments (e.g. a sponsor call, a team huddle, in the hallways) can reinforce authority but give the sense that you’re in it together until the very end. Silence or absence risks being read as disengagement
Strengthening your credibility
The last 48 hours aren’t about doing more. They’re about doing enough of the right things. Leaders who focus on optics, energy, and narrative control enter January with momentum. Those who chase every request risk starting the year reactive and depleted
Think of it as closing the book cleanly. A few deliberate actions, a clear message, and a team that feels seen. That’s what carries weight when the calendar flips over to 2026
A note of thanks
As we head into the break, I want to thank my clients and my readers for their trust and engagement in 2025. Your willingness to challenge assumptions and lean into the invisible game has made this work possible
Your partnership has been invaluable, and it sets the stage for an even more impactful 2026
What’s next?
If you’re a Head of, Director, General Manager, or C-Level product and transformation leader, the last 48 hours before Christmas aren’t just about tying up loose ends, or about getting everything asked of you done, and they are definitely not about starting something new
These last 48 hours are about closing the year off cleanly. But once the calendar flips over to 2026, the intensity will pick up and you will want to stay ahead of the pressure and politics
That’s where executive coaching comes in. Not now, but in 2026 when the stakes rise again and the invisible game accelerates. Coaching gives leaders the competitive edge by strengthening the human skills that technology can’t replace. AI may be able to do many tasks for you in 2026, but you still need to expertly read the room and have the right conversations at the right times to create momentum that will in turn impactful outcomes. Let’s work on that together
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