Here’s how CAN DO leaders cross the finish line of 2025 strong
Disruption. Chaos. Fatigue.
AS THE year winds down, many leaders and business owners feel flat, foggy, and running on fumes. You’re exhausted—yet still chasing year-end targets and signing off projects. In a world that’s already time-poor and stress-rich, “finishing strong” isn’t about squeezing the last drops of energy. It’s about owning the finish so you don’t spend the first 7–10 days of your holiday recovering from depletion.
We can all shift our approach now to “win” the CAN DO trifecta: Mental Clarity + Emotional Agility + Physical Nexus (energy & vitality).
1. Mental Clarity: Step back to see the whole picture
Before rushing to wrap Q4, pause for perspective. Ask yourself—and your team—three questions:
What did we learn this year about our clients, our market, and ourselves?
Where did we misdirect time or energy?
What must we let go of in 2025 so we can start 2026 clean?
This reflective pause sharpens mental clarity—the “C” in CAN DO. Neuroscience shows that reflection recruits the prefrontal cortex, improving problem-solving and foresight. You can’t lead effectively from a foggy mind. Clarity is your greatest productivity tool.
2. Emotional Agility: Let go to grow
If 2025 proved anything, it’s that adaptability is a competitive advantage. AI is reshaping workflows, markets are shifting, and consumer trust is fragile. Leaders who finish strong don’t grip tighter—they flex faster.
Emotional agility—the “A” in CAN DO—can start with a simple neuroscience-backed habit: “Name it to tame it.”Label the emotion to lower its intensity and lift self-awareness.
There are no “bad” emotions; even frustration is useful signal data. When you feel a downward spiral starting, ask: What’s the data? What’s the opportunity here?
Agility is the art of staying centred while the world spins—the hallmark of a future-fit leader.
3. Physical Nexus: Re-energise to stay resilient
The “N” in CAN DO stands for Nexus—your energy, vitality, and ability to harness (not ignore) stress. As the year ends, this is where many leaders fall short. You cannot inspire others from an empty tank.
Audit your energy ecosystem:
Restorative sleep: Are you getting a minimum of seven hours so you can make smart decisions?
Movement: Do you carve out 20 minutes a day? A brisk 20-minute walk counts. Motion shifts emotion.
Bookends: Be intentional about how you start and end your day. Do you leave today’s stress in today—or carry it into tomorrow?
Gratitude: Have you specifically thanked your team—and individuals—not just for results, but for resilience and how they handled obstacles?
One powerful ritual I run with executive teams is the CAN DO “Reset.” Each person shares one human capability they strengthened this year (e.g., empathy, curiosity, courage, narrative power and persuasion) and one they’ll build next year. It’s quick, meaningful, and energising—a way to close out 2025 connected, not depleted. Psychological safety, meaningful connection, and trust are antidotes to fatigue and exhaustion.
In my book, From CAN’T to CAN DO: The 9 Human capabilities that AI can’t replicate, I share practical tools for leaders and teams to level up across all nine uniquely human capabilities. While AI can automate tasks, it cannot replicate trust, intuition, or purpose. Those are human—and they win in the long run.
Strong doesn’t mean strained
Finishing strong isn’t pushing through exhaustion. It’s finishing consciously—with clarity of mind, agility of heart, and energy in your step. As 2025 closes, choose progress over perfection. Reflect deeply. Reset intentionally. And re-enter 2026 as a CAN DO leader—clear, agile, and energised for the road ahead.
About the Author
Joni Peddie is a Behavioural Strategist and CEO of Resilient People (#BounceForward™). A globally recognised keynote speaker and facilitator, she helps leaders and teams build clarity, agility, and vitality to thrive in an AI-driven world. Her latest book, From CAN’T to CAN DO: 9 Human Capabilities that AI Can’t Replicate, was released in 2025.
Mobile: 0824909975
Website: www.resilientpeople.co.za
LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/in/jonipeddie/
”From CAN’T to CAN DO” Book is available
- Website: www.resilientpeople.co.za/books
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