Sometimes the anticipation is half the fun. At our house, Halloween doesn't begin on October 31. It starts weeks earlier. There are costumes to choose—and sometimes reconsider. Decorations appear. Plans are made. The girls start talking about where they'll go, who they'll be with and, of course, how much candy they hope to bring home. By the time Halloween actually arrives, we've already spent weeks enjoying it. It reminds me that looking forward to something is part of the e

Sustainable performance is built in routines, not bursts of motivation. By early October, the “back to school” feeling is pretty much over. Nobody is sharpening new pencils anymore. The novelty of September has worn off. We’re simply in it. And that’s where leadership gets interesting. Fresh starts are motivating because they create energy. New year. New quarter. New project. New role. But motivation fades. Rhythm is what remains. The strongest teams I’ve worked with don’t

Before you fix the team, watch the team. September has a particular rhythm. The kids are back at school. Teams are back from summer vacations. Projects that slowed down in July and August start moving again. And in those first few weeks, you can learn a lot — if you pay attention. As a parent, I notice it with my daughters. You can tell pretty quickly whether a new routine is working. Who is tired. Who is overwhelmed. What is going smoothly. What needs adjusting. Teams are