Every year as we head into the holidays, I feel myself slow down in ways that have nothing to do with my schedule. My calendar may be packed, my projects may be wrapping up, and my clients may be sprinting toward the finish line, but something inside me gets quieter. It is as if my mind says, “Pause. Look around. Remember what really matters.”
This instinct comes from 1) recently becoming an empty nester, and treasuring the time my kids are home, and 2) a lifelong gratitude practice rooted in my own mental health journey. Gratitude is not something I visit once a year. It is something that has changed me. It helped me survive some of the most difficult chapters of my life and continues to help me navigate the demanding seasons of leadership and running an L and D business. To read about when my gratitude and mental health journey began, check out last year’s blog.
And if you are a leader, you know that the last quarter of the year is the most chaotic. End of year reporting. Final training rollouts. Leaders want everything tied in a bow before the holidays. Stakeholders are asking for one more revision. Budgets that must be used or lost.
The season is beautiful, but it is also heavy.
Gratitude creates a reset during that heaviness. A reset for the brain. A reset for your mindset. A reset for your leadership.
This year, I created a one week challenge that helps leaders reconnect to the heart of this work and to the people who make it possible.
Not fluffy. Not complicated. Not performative.
Just seven days of intentional gratitude that can shift your leadership energy and your team culture in meaningful ways.
A Leader’s (some of these are for Learning and Development Leaders) 7 Day Gratitude Reset Challenge
Day 1: Gratitude for Your Learners
Think of a learner who showed up this year.
Maybe they asked thoughtful questions, completed every activity, or shared feedback that changed your design.
Leadership action: Send one sincere message of appreciation to a learner who left an impact.
Day 2: Gratitude for Small Wins on Your Team
Your team does incredible work that often goes unnoticed in the whirlwind of deadlines.
Leadership action: Acknowledge at least three small wins. Share them in Slack, Teams, or your next huddle.
Day 3: Gratitude for Your Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
SMEs often juggle full time responsibilities while supporting your projects. They deserve to know their contribution matters.
Leadership action: Thank one SME with a specific example of how they helped you or your team.
Day 4: Gratitude for the Tools That Keep You Moving
Your tools carry a lot of weight. ChatGPT, Canva, Storyline, Rise, Vyond, Microsoft 365, or your LMS.
Leadership action: Start a “gratitude for tools” thread and invite your team to share the tech that saves them time or stress.
Day 5: Gratitude for Creativity
Innovation is at the soul of instructional design and training.
Leadership action: Spotlight one creative solution or clever idea your team used this year.
Day 6: Gratitude for Growth
Growth rarely comes from easy seasons. Most of the time it comes from pressure, challenges, and change.
Leadership action: Share one lesson that strengthened you as a leader this year. Modeling vulnerability builds trust.
Day 7: Gratitude for Your Community
L and D leaders can feel isolated. Your community matters, whether it is colleagues, mentors, partners, or other professionals in the field.
Leadership action: Reach out to someone who supported or inspired you professionally this year.
As you move into this next six weeks…
Gratitude is not simply a feel good exercise. It is a leadership practice that nurtures culture, strengthens relationships, and boosts resilience. It builds trust. It encourages creativity. It reminds your team that they matter.
Try this seven day reset and pay attention to what shifts in your energy, your team dynamic, and your sense of clarity.
What do you notice after one week of practicing intentional gratitude as a leader?