As December rolls in, something quietly strange starts to happen. Inboxes go quiet.
Messages sit on “read.” Follow-ups vanish into the void. We tell ourselves, “Oh, everyone’s just busy, it’s that time of year.” But we all know what it really is: ghosting.
And it’s no longer just for dating apps or flaky friends. It’s showing up everywhere: at work, in projects, even during simple catch-ups.
Let me tell you about my friend Jane. She went on three great dates with someone. Real connection. Shared values. They were even planning a weekend hike.
Then… nothing. Total silence.
Weeks later, she spots him in the cereal aisle at Coles. They lock eyes. Panic flashes across his face. He suddenly becomes deeply fascinated by the nutritional list on a box of Weet-Bix, hoping it will somehow save him.
We laughed about it later, because what else can you do? But ghosting isn’t just silence. It’s awkwardness postponed.
And let’s be honest: we’ve all done it at some point.
Why? Because replying, especially with a “no” or “not now”, can feel too direct, too final, too uncomfortable. So we say nothing. And unintentionally, we make everything worse.
That’s where leadership comes in. Not in grand gestures, but in showing up when it’s uncomfortable.
Right now, AI can do almost anything. It can write your emails, run strategy sessions, build slide decks, even simulate empathy in customer service scripts.
But it can’t be anything.
It can’t be the calm in the room when everything’s falling apart. It can’t be the person whose quiet presence makes the right decision feel clear. It can’t be the leader people remember not for what they said, but for how they made others feel.
The future of leadership isn’t cleverness or faster output. The future of leadership is presence. The real kind. Not the vague kind you read about in leadership books. The kind that’s felt. The kind that settles a room. That gives others clarity and space to think. The kind where energy tells the truth before the words ever do.
That kind of presence? It’s becoming the rarest and most valuable currency we have.
In fact, recent research confirms that leaders who show up with calm and grounded presence during uncertainty significantly boost team trust and decision clarity, far beyond those who just offer quick solutions or clever words.
Silence isn’t neutral. It leaves people in limbo. It erodes trust. It quietly teaches others they’re not worth a reply.
But presence does the opposite. It builds trust. It communicates care. It creates safety and clarity, even when we don’t have all the answers.
So here’s a gentle end-of-year prompt:
- Is there a message you’ve been avoiding?
- A conversation left hanging?
- Someone waiting for closure, or even just basic respect?
This quiet space between Christmas and New Year is the perfect time to close a few loops. You don’t need perfect words. You just need presence.
Because presence builds trust. And trust builds everything else.
Looking ahead to 2026…
While most people in Australia are switching off, a few are already preparing to make next year better. Not just busier.
If you’re ready:
- to build real, grounded presence,
- to lead in a way that’s felt before it’s explained,
- to become the calm others are craving in a noisy world.
I have two 1:1 coaching spots opening in January.
If you’re feeling the pull to start next year with intention, not just another list of goals, hit reply or book a short discovery call here
Let’s close this year with presence.
And open the next with the kind of leadership the world actually needs.
Speak soon,
Lison xX
PS: If someone has forwarded this to you, you can subscribe here. It’s free. Your information is protected. And I never spam. Ever.
Whenever you are ready, here are a few ways I can help
- Discover the secrets to skyrocketing your team’s performance in my free Masterclass! Join me on the 8th of December to talk high-performance strategies and walk away with actionable tools to inspire and empower your team. Register here.
- Join my 1-1 coaching program designed to elevate your performance, leadership, and positioning. Whether you’re looking to gain clarity, strengthen your leadership presence, or take your career to the next level, I’ll help you achieve tangible results. Book a call to explore how we can work together here.
- Book one of my workshops or keynotes for your team to elevate energy and performance.  More information here.
- With my first book Act Before You overThink to learn how to make better decisions faster and liberate your mind from the constant chatter that hinders your potential. You can buy it here.
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