The Race to End 2025 Strong

The last few workweeks of the year can be tough. There isn’t a lot of time left to make a positive impact. Plus, the many distractions can create stress. But finishing 2025 strong could make a difference in your performance review, your bonus, and your raise in 2026. “A great 2025 doesn’t start in January. You’ve got to start planning for it now,” says organizational strategy expert Maria Amato, a Korn Ferry senior client partner.

Here are some tips from our experts to help you make the most of the last weeks of 2025:

Simplify.

Review your objectives and deadlines, and get ahead of them. This will keep you on track when holiday commitments pile up alongside your work. “Declutter,” says David Vied, Korn Ferry’s global sector leader for medical devices and diagnostics. If you’re a client-facing employee, figure out the one thing your clients need from you, and optimize everything else around it.

Invest in some boss time.

Many mid-level managers have taken on additional direct reports over the last year. These new demands on their schedule could potentially weaken existing relationships. Put some time on your manager’s calendar, let them know how you’re contributing to the team, and absorb their priorities for the next year. Don’t let remote work limit your success, either. “If there are opportunities to gather and meet with your manager in person, now is the time to do that,” says Sondra Levitt, a Korn Ferry principal and leadership coach.

Assess, then plan for 2026.

Use the rest of 2025 to figure out what worked and what didn’t over the last 11 months—and why, says JP Sniffen, Korn Ferry’s practice leader for its Military Center of Expertise. From those lessons, come up with three concrete actions to improve your performance in 2026. “That will let you get a fast start in January,” Sniffen says.

Show gratitude.

This year has been particularly challenging. Many employees have been pushed to improve productivity under the potential threat of being replaced with AI. Leaders should make sure that the efforts of their direct reports haven’t gone unnoticed. “Make sure your employees feel valued and that you’re really grateful for them,” says Cheryl D’Cruz-Young, a Korn Ferry senior client partner in the firm’s Global Energy practice. That gratitude can not only help motivate them to meet their goals for the rest of 2025—it can also get them off to a fast start in 2026.

Make time for a little exercise.

Don’t overlook your physical or mental well-being. December is not the month to make great athletic strides; simply staying active is plenty. “A little bit is better than nothing,” Vied says.

Learn more about Korn Ferry’s Leadership and Professional Development capabilities. 

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