The Leadership Reset: Why Slowing Down Moves You Forward

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Hey Spark Family,

This time of year, most leaders are running full speed to the finish line - closing loops, finalizing budgets, planning for next year.

But here’s what I keep hearing in coaching conversations:
Leaders are moving fast but not forward.

When your pace outruns your purpose, you lose clarity, connection, and creativity - the very things that make you effective.

Slowing down isn’t falling behind. It’s creating the space to see what matters most.

The Research Is Clear

➡ Leaders who build intentional reflection into their workweek make 23% better strategic decisions and report 32% higher role satisfaction (Harvard Business Review, 2025).

➡ Teams led by grounded, self-aware leaders show 40% higher trust and engagement (DDI Global Leadership Forecast, 2025).

➡ Yet more than 60% of executives say they rarely have time to think - only to react (McKinsey, 2024).

The problem isn’t that leaders don’t know what to do.
It’s that they don’t stop long enough to remember.

What I'm Seeing In The Field

Leaders tell me they crave clarity, but their calendars never stop long enough for it to emerge. They’re exhausted by constant motion, and starting to recognize that movement isn’t the same as progress.

When you’re always in execution mode, you lose sight of whether what you’re executing still aligns with your values, your strengths, or your team’s purpose.

That’s why I often tell leaders: You don’t need another sprint. You need a reset.

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What We Teach Leaders Inside Spark Brilliance

Inside Spark Brilliance, we help leaders create “reset rhythms” - intentional pauses built into their leadership operating system.

That includes:

🔹 Clarity Pauses: Time each week to step back, evaluate priorities, and reconnect to what matters.

🔹 Energy Pauses: Moments that restore, not just recovery between tasks.

🔹 Connection Pauses: Checking in, not just checking boxes - with yourself, your team, and your purpose.

Because when you pause on purpose, you lead with more precision.

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🌟 Your Challenge This Week

Take one true pause before the year ends.

Cancel one meeting.
Block one hour for reflection.
Ask yourself:

The best leaders don’t just end the year strong.
They begin the next one clear.

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With gratitude,
​Jackie

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P.S. – If you’ve been running nonstop, this is your reminder that slowing down is a strategy, not a setback. Hit reply and tell me one way you’re pressing pause before year-end. ✨

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