This is an important time of year.

What we do in Q4 impacts how well we wrap up 2026 and hit the ground running in 2027. That's why I always like to take a few minutes to share what I'm doing to make the most of the last three months of the year.

Drum roll, please....

#1: I'm leveling up my leadership

#2: I'm working to bring out the best in others.

#3: I'm not giving up!

I share below my thoughts on why taking these particular steps is so important, and how you can take them, too.

If you have any questions or would like to chat about your plans for your business, your association or your life, please reach out to me. Together, we can set you up for amazing success in Q4 and beyond!

Jim Roman

National Speaker and Coach

P.S. For my association friends: If you haven't visited my blog recently, please have a look. I've updated my article on The 5 Keys to Association Success and given a fresh look to the topic Finding Future Leaders for Your Association.

# 1: Level Up Your Leadership

I've been giving a lot of talks around the country on Leveling Up Your Leadership, and I want to make sure I'm walking the walk myself. The first thing I talk about in those sessions isn't delegating effectively or developing your team. Delegating effectively and developing your team is, of course, absolutely essential to leveling yourself up as a leader.

But the most important thing you can do as a leader is be positive.

I know that's not always easy—we'll talk more about that below—but as a leader your mood and outlook have an outsized impact on your team. If you're a Grumpy Gus, they'll feel that and react to it. If you're optimistic and confident, they will be, too.

What about when you're not feeling it?

Sometimes, it's hard to look on the bright side. When that happens, here are five things you can do:

Change your scenery. For a quick refresh, get outside for a walk, call to catch up with a friend or invite a colleague to grab a cup of coffee.
Tap into your purpose and passion. Along with positivity, purpose and passion are powerful tools for success. When you're struggling, remind yourself what you love about your work and the difference you want to make through it.
Think about three to five things you and your organization do right or well, and share those with your team.
Focus on the fix. Challenges and mistakes are a part of business and life. Fix them and move on.
Celebrate your successes. Humans are programmed to look for the bad; that's how our ancestors protected themselves from saber-toothed cats. Counter that by keeping an eye out for what's going right—and celebrating it.

For more on the power of positivity and how to make it work for you, I love the book The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work and Team with Positive Energy .

For more leveling up your leadership, check out my current read: Developing the Leader Within You 2.0.

#2. Bring Out the Best in Others

Being a great leader isn't just about leading others where you want them and the organization to go. It's about giving them the tools they need to make the journey with you.

Think about climbing a mountain: Trying to haul a bunch of untrained amateurs with no equipment up Mount Everest is sure to result in disaster.

In order to train and equip your team, you need to know what they already know and what tools they already have.

My business friends have heard me talk about The 5 Drivers™ as a tool that helps you build a better business while living a great life. The 5 Drivers™ also helps you bring out the best in others. Let's have a look at a variation of The 5 Drivers™ for this purpose:

When you know the purpose and passion your team member has for their role (their Why), the goals they have for their career (their What), the dreams and aspirations they have for their life (their Where) and the timeline they have for reaching their career and life goals (their When), you'll be in a great place to help them set their Waypoints: the next steps they need to take to reach their goals.

By empowering your team members to get what they need and want—in work and in life—you're also empowering them to bring their best to your organization.

By the way, that book I mentioned above—Developing the Leader Within You 2.0—makes a great gift for team members, too.

#3. Don't Give Up!

Let's go back to being positive for a minute. Watching the news and scrolling through social media feeds these days can really get you down. People I know on both sides of the political aisle and of all beliefs are worried right now; they feel like there's nothing they can do.

This is real. I feel it, too.

But I also want to say that I have great hope.

I've been in some tough places in my life. I've been homeless. I've been through recessions. I've been in places where the phrase rock bottom doesn't really cut it.

Because I've been there, I know that we can get through this. I know we can.

You just can't give up.

Keep on keeping on. Get out of bed. Show up at work. Show up for your family and friends.

And be kind.

Religious leaders, philosophers, writers and artists of every generation have known the power of kindness.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.—Ephesians 4:32

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.—The Dalai Lama

That best portion of a good man's life: his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.—William Wordsworth

You can be rich in spirit, kindness and love, and all those things you can't put a dollar sign on.—Dolly Parton

It's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.—Desmond Tutu

In your organization, make Caring Calls to check in with others, see how they're doing and ask if they need anything. (Here's a resource to help with that.) Outside in the world, chat with the cashiers and waitstaff serving you, give a compliment, hold a door, and always, always smile. The power of a smile is amazing.

Friends, I believe great things are coming. I really do.

Until they get here, let's keep going. Let's counter the hate and incivility with kindness. Let's support our family, friends and colleagues. Let's overwhelm the world with our little bits of good.

If I can help in anyway, please let me know. I appreciate you and care about you.

Q4 Talks and Trainings

I told you to keep going, and that's exactly what I'm doing with my talks and trainings. If I can help you keep on keeping on by delivering any of these topics—or others—for your association or business, please reach out!

You can also check out my flyers Talks for Associations and Talks for Businesses for some of my most popular topics.