As the year starts to soften into Christmas, I’m stepping into this season with a real sense of appreciation. There’s a different rhythm to December; a natural invitation to slow down, to look back with kindness, and to carry forward what matters most.
My first three months with Uppercut have been a joyful reminder of how energising purposeful variety can be. In a short space of time, I’ve moved from keynote speaking at conferences, to working alongside C-suite teams, to coaching leaders across Ireland. I’ve also had the privilege of doing supervision work with other coaches supporting them as they grow and deepen their own practice and continuing my counselling and psychotherapy work, which remains such an important part of how I stay connected to the human heart of what we do.
Different spaces, different conversations, but a single thread running through all of it: enabling people to thrive.
And that feels meaningful in the truest sense not because the work is always easy, but because it’s aligned. I’m living my purpose every day, helping others to flourish in their work and lives, and there’s a quiet confidence that comes from that kind of alignment.
One idea that keeps showing up in the work is simple but powerful: intention focuses attention. When teams are clear on why they’re doing something, focus sharpens, energy steadies, and performance follows. It’s something I’ve seen in industry and now working with C-suite teams. High performance isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters, on purpose.
A more personal note on transition
This season has also been deeply personal for me. After 20-odd years in industry, stepping away into consultancy felt like a big leap. I won’t sugar-coat it: it was daunting. There’s a particular vulnerability in leaving something familiar especially when you’ve built a career, and a corporate identity there.
But what surprised me most was how quickly this new chapter began to feel right. Not because it was comfortable in a “nothing new to learn” way. It wasn’t, in fact quite the opposite but because it was comfortable in a values way. Like stepping into a shoe that fits perfectly from day one.
Doing work you genuinely love has that effect. It doesn’t remove the nerves or the stretch, but it makes the stretch feel worth it. There’s a liberation in realising you don’t need to contort yourself to fit the work; the work fits who you are. And I feel incredibly grateful to be in a place where purpose isn’t something I talk about ; it’s something I get to practice.
Christmas as a high-performance ritual
This time of year, also offers a gentle performance reminder: recovery is part of performance. Rest, reflection, gratitude, and the ability to mentally switch off are not luxuries; they’re high-performance enablers. Christmas gives us a built-in moment to practice that; to choose presence over pressure, connection over perfection.
Be fully present with your family and friends. Don’t fuss over the turkey or if you have enough presents bought. Fuss over what matters. Let things be “good enough” so you can be fully there. Because high performance isn’t only built in sprints – it’s built in pauses too.
A simple call to action
Before the year closes, here’s a small invitation:
- Harvest the year
Take ten quiet minutes and ask yourself:
What am I proud of? What have I learned? What am I grateful for? - Name one intention for the year ahead
Not a long list just one clear focus that deserves your attention. - Protect your presence this Christmas
Give yourself permission to rest properly and just be!
And if you’re leading others or supporting others in their development, bring them into it. Create a short moment with your team, your peers, or your coaching community to reflect on what helped you thrive this year, and what conditions you want more of next year. Those small, intentional conversations shape culture and performance far more than another frantic January ever will.
Wishing you a festive season full of meaning, balance, and the kind of presence that restores you.
Marie Power – Head of Leadership Development, Uppercut
