Hi,
One quiet Friday night in early November, I took the kids to Target to “just look.” (Let’s be real — no one ever leaves Target empty-handed.)
We have a family tradition: Every December, my kids each pick out a new Christmas tree ornament. I write their name and the year on it, and they hang it on their own sparkly little tree upstairs.
At the store, we headed for the holiday section — 50% off signs, flashing lights, and shelves already half empty. Dozens of shoppers with carts full of garland and glitter.
I’m not proud of what happened next, but in a moment of panic, I blurted, “GRAB AN ORNAMENT, NOW.”
Looking back, I have no idea what came over me. The store would obviously restock. But for a second, I let the urgency around me override common sense.
And honestly? I should’ve known better. It’s easy to get swept up in the pressure, especially this time of year.
That same energy — scarcity, speed, overfunction — shows up in employee comms and experience too. KPIs to hit. Year-end messages to write. AI strategies to figure out. It’s tempting to scramble, to do something just to check it off the list.
Before you sprint toward that imaginary comms finish line, consider this gentle reframing: You don’t have to do everything right now. Just the next thing — with intention.
If the year-end message isn’t written yet? That’s okay. If your intranet carousel still features last week’s volunteer event details? Don’t sweat it. If your AI strategy is a ChatGPT prompt and a prayer? You’re not alone. I’ve got tips and resources for it all.
This month, I’m bringing you a calming dose of comms clarity. Ideas for pausing and planning. And showing up with purpose instead of panic. Let’s finish strong without burnout, ornament hoarding, or losing our collective minds.
