Baton Pass to the New Year

As the year winds down, I looked back at posts and considered the ideas that resonated with me most in 2024. Here’s what I wish to carry forward—and maybe it will spark something for you too:

Stride, don’t sprint. January isn’t a race to reinvention; it’s a moment in the marathon of life. Focus on small steps and steady progress. Burnout isn’t the goal—balance is.

Lead with empathy. Employees don’t need more hustle. Acknowledge their hard work, simplify the plan and take the next step alongside them. Shared humanity drives real progress.

Stories stick. Whether you’re writing an email or leading a team, bring people into your world with vivid details and personal moments. The right words turn ideas into action.

Simplify to amplify. Complexity doesn’t inspire action. Whether crafting a corporate strategy or leading a team, breaking big ideas into clear, actionable steps allows people to see their role and connect with the mission. The fewer the slides and buzzwords, the better.

Connection fuels us. Schedule that coffee. Hire the coach. Find an accountability buddy. Relationships are the ultimate renewable energy. When we reach out, we’re reminded we’re not alone.

This year reinforced that small, deliberate steps lead to meaningful progress. Looking ahead, let’s prioritize kindness—to ourselves and others. We’ve made it this far; let’s keep going with purpose.

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Step outside your comfort zone

I auditioned for a play this week. For the first time in (20???) years. This is the response I got:

Shelley,
Thank you so very much for coming out this week to audition for our production, my team all agreed that you did a fantastic job and I very much appreciate your time and sharing your talents with us. We had one of the strongest groups of auditions I’ve ever witnessed and only a few roles to give out.
Unfortunately we did decide to take the role in a different direction, and we will not be able to offer you a part. I truly appreciate your interest in our show.

So. Backstory is: I haven’t performed in 20 years, there’s no reason I should have been cast; and I was happy to have the chance to try something I love, again. I’m a seasoned corporate communications professional. Lately, my degree in theater and set-building has only been put to use entertaining kiddos and remodeling homes. As hard as it was to put myself out there, the audition was one of the best things I did this week.

Here are my takeaways to share:
– Go somewhere no one knows you – see how they see you with a fresh perspective. It’s delightful.
– Do something you’re a novice at – set your ego aside and put it out there. It’s a healthy stretch.
– Be ok with knowing what you want to work on, and what you’re great at. Because, my dears, you are good at SO MANY things.

Keep going.

I thanked the director for the opportunity and offered to crew for the show.

(Pic of me on the way to the audition)

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Leadership Lessons Learned Sailing the Great Lakes

This past week I had the opportunity to compete with our 36-foot Farr 11s, Trompe le Monde, in the 100th Bayview Mackinac Race presented by National Fleet Services – roughly 200 nautical miles from Port Huron, Mich., to Mackinac Island.

We race with a crew of six – my husband, four of our great friends, and sometimes me. We bought the boat two years ago and in that time the team has quickly progressed from primarily addressing mechanical failures to winning our section in the 2024 Chicago Race to Mackinac.

There were a lot of stakes for this race, coming off a win and it being a milestone event. I’ll cut to the finish – we came in 31st overall in a fleet of 330+ boats, and mid-pack in our class.

On the boat delivery back home to Detroit, my husband and I mused about what worked and what didn’t during the 36-hour event, and how it extrapolates to life.   

  • Teams need clear discussion and direction at all times. Seems obvious, until things move quickly. Before going into a tack or changing a sail, we talk through who is on deck and what the maneuver entails. When this doesn’t happen, mistakes occur, people step in to takeover, and morale crashes (hopefully not the boat, too).    
  • Leading people is about managing energy.  We were at the head of the pack on Sunday morning, and then the wind died. We sat in the water for hours unable to move, watching our standing drop in the rankings. You could see the effect on the team – drawn faces, minimal conversation, bodies moving slowly as if ache was setting in. When everyone is dragging in low times, someone needs to dig deep and find the energy to change the tide. Crack a joke. Revisit all the actions that can be taken. Focus on the positives (the sunset was gorgeous – even if we’d hoped to see if from the island).   
  • Take care of people, not just the task. In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to focus on executing on the strategy: rallying everyone to get the boat moving as fast as possible in whatever condition we’re facing. That’s only about 1/3 of what it takes for a crew to win a race. When planning the provisions, choosing sails to carry and making repairs, it’s just as important to remember the crew dinners and how to involve families. And, matching hats! After all, this is the real reason we do it. While first place flags are nice, they always come in second to friendship.

Leave in the comments: What’s your hobby and how has it helped you as a leader?

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