Leading with the Seasons: What Winter Can Teach Us About Leadership

For those who know me, as a mindfulness practitioner, nature therapy guide, or herbalist-in-training, you know that much of my life and work is rooted in paying attention to the natural world as medicine. If you didn't know that about me, well, now you do :) lol!

Studying herbalism has felt like a natural progression in my life. After becoming a certified nature therapy guide and connecting so deeply with the natural world, it was an easy transition! Through it, I’ve deepened my relationship with plants, natural and seasonal cycles, and the quiet intelligence of nature. What I’m learning again and again is this: seasons are not just something we experience outside, they also move through us.

Through these teachings, I’ve come to understand the influence seasons have on people: our energy, our focus, our capacity. I’m learning the importance of flowing with each season; honouring its themes rather than resisting them. Much of this comes from integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory into my own life. And now, I’m beginning to explore how the Five Seasons Theory can also support leadership and work life.

As a mindfulness practitioner, I know firsthand the power of self-awareness and present-moment awareness. This practice has changed how I experience life in general. But, what I’m discovering now as I deepen my practice is how deeply that awareness is shaped by the seasons themselves.

Leadership doesn’t happen in isolation from nature. We are influenced by rhythms and cycles, whether we acknowledge them or not.

Right now, as I write this, we are in winter.

Winter doesn’t look productive... but it is.

Trees stand bare, appearing still. Yet beneath the surface, they are conserving energy, strengthening their roots, and preparing for what will come next. Nothing is wasted. Nothing is rushed.

Humans, and teams, are no different.

In winter, energy naturally dips. Clarity comes not from pushing harder, but from slowing down enough to see clearly. Wisdom emerges through reflection rather than constant action.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, winter is associated with stillness and conservation, deep listening, and the restoration of energy rather than outward push. Yet many leaders try to lead winter with summer energy, expecting momentum, enthusiasm, and constant output year-round.

When this happens, it often shows up as fatigue, disengagement, resistance to change, or decisions that feel forced instead of clear.

Think about winter in your own life.

Many of us naturally hibernate more. We become selective about how we spend our energy. If most of our energy is used up at work, there is little left for family, creativity, rest, or ourselves. Over time, this imbalance affects our health, our relationships, and our capacity to lead well. In the summer, I want to move, and do things; I have more energy to spare than any other season... But I struggle more in the winter. I have less energy. I want to sleep more. I need to conserve energy. This is normal!

Winter is not asking us to stop working; it’s asking us to work differently.

This season invites a different kind of leadership.

Winter leadership is about slowing the pace without losing direction. It’s about focusing on what truly matters and creating space for reflection before the next push forward. Pivoting in winter doesn’t mean stopping; it means regathering energy, clarifying priorities, and strengthening foundations.

It’s not about doing less for the sake of doing less. It’s about doing what matters, with intention.

Working with winter energy in leadership often looks much simpler than we expect. Prioritizing clarity over urgency might mean pausing before responding, asking what truly needs attention now, or taking the time to clarify expectations before moving forward.

When clarity leads, teams spend less energy reacting and more energy doing meaningful work. This naturally shifts focus away from constant motion and toward essential outputs and can look like fewer tasks, fewer meetings, and less busywork, but work that actually matters and gets completed with care, with a focus on priorities.

It also invites space for thinking, planning, and integration. This can look like allowing time to reflect after meetings or projects, giving people room to process information before decisions are made, and letting ideas mature instead of rushing them into action.

Leading with steadiness rather than intensity means showing up calm and consistent, especially during pressure or uncertainty. When leaders regulate themselves and respond thoughtfully instead of reactively, they create a sense of stability that others can lean into. In this way, progress continues, not through force or urgency, but through presence, intention, and trust.

Leadership in winter is much like trees shedding their leaves to survive the cold. What looks like loss is actually wisdom. You are being invited to release unnecessary demands, protect core resources i.e. energy, people, focus, and trust that rest and preparation are part of productivity.

When leaders resist winter energy, pushing growth, speed, and motivation, teams often respond with exhaustion or disengagement. Leaders who work with seasonal energy tend to make more grounded decisions. They notice what needs rest and what needs protection.

They prepare their teams for sustainable growth rather than burnout.

Sometimes, the most effective pivot is allowing the season to teach you how to lead.

What leading in winter can look like

• Do less, on purpose: Focus on essential work. Protect time, energy, and attention.

• Slow the pace without stopping progress: Output continues, urgency doesn’t lead every decision.

• Think before you push: Make space to reflect, review, and adjust instead of reacting.

• Lead with steadiness, not intensity: Your calm, consistent presence helps others feel grounded.

• Listen more than you speak: Pay attention to what’s said, and what isn’t, before fixing.

• Restore energy so momentum can return: Sustainable performance comes from replenishment, not constant drive.

So with that, just remember that winter is a season of rest, restoration, and quiet preparation. Leadership, like nature, becomes wiser when it listens.

And while you're at it, feel free to take a walk in nature (to de-stress), get yourself a fresh sprig of white pine, and enjoy a hot cup of pine tea - don't worry, it tastes lemony! Enjoy it as is, or with a slice of lemon and a bit of honey. It's packed with Vitamin C!

Perfectly Imperfect,

S