There is a moment that happens in a lot of leadership meetings, and once you notice it, you can’t unsee it. The team has come together, the data has been reviewed, people have shared what they are seeing, and there is a general sense that everyone is aligned. It feels like a productive conversation. And then, as the meeting starts to wrap up, someone says, “We just need to be more consistent.” Most of the time, people nod. It sounds right. It feels like the right conclusion.

Most leaders assume December feels heavy because the work gets harder. But that’s not true. I can say that because I’ve coached leaders in every season, in every type of school, and under every kind of pressure. This includes the “everything is falling apart” semesters and the “we might make it” ones. Here’s the truth no one names: December doesn’t take leaders out. October does. December simply reveals the cost of the rhythm you’ve been leading in since fall. Let me explain

Leadership doesn’t always arrive when we plan for it. Sometimes, it shows up before we feel ready — in moments that demand courage before confidence. When I became president of the Students of African Descent Alliance (SADA) in college, I thought leadership meant planning events and helping students find community. I never imagined it would mean working with the FBI. It started quietly. Anonymous letters — threats signed by a white-supremacist group — began showing up around