Emerging from Your Winter into Growth
Leadership Through the Seasons: Emerging from Your Winter into Growth
As the month of March starts, I'm reminded of the changing seasons. And the fact that leadership isn’t a straight climb to success.
It’s cyclical—just like the seasons. There are seasons of momentum, clarity, and thriving. And then there are seasons that feel slower, harder, even barren. If you’re in a Winter season right now, you’re not alone.
My Own Personal Winter
I've experienced this in my own life. I remember vividly a winter season a few years ago.
I had left a great corporate job that was right in the sweet spot of my talents and skills. It was one of the greatest jobs I've ever had, and I felt like my leadership was making a difference.
But at the height of my success, I felt a calling to do something more with my life - something that would have direct impact on people's lives.
I resigned that job, and went to work as a campus pastor helping start up an inner city ministry for my church.
It was really hard work, but it was so rewarding. I felt like I really made a difference in my three years there.
But then Winter came.
I went back to the main church campus of a very large church, and I never seemed to find my place. There were a lot of things about that role and culture that just weren't a fit for me.
It was a barren time for me. I remember plenty of things I planned and tried to do that failed. It shook my confidence, and I could feel myself withdrawing on a daily basis.
That's what Winter is like. It is the time when everything feels still, and growth seems invisible.
Maybe your team isn't as engaged as you'd like. Maybe a recent challenge has left you questioning your direction or your capabilities. Or maybe, despite your best efforts, you just feel stuck.
But here’s what we often forget: Winter has a purpose.
The Hidden Purpose of Winter in Leadership
In nature, Winter isn't a wasted season. It’s a time of restoration beneath the surface of the soil, frost and snow. The trees might look bare, but their roots are strengthening. The soil is resting, preparing for what’s next.
I think the same is true in leadership. Your Winter season—whether it looks like burnout, setbacks, or uncertainty—is a time for:
- Rest and renewal – Even the best leaders need time to recalibrate. Some of us need times to slow down, don't we? Winter gives you space and time to reflect and refine your vision.
- Strengthening foundations – This is the season where you shore up your internal leadership, recommit to your values, and focus on the people and things that truly matter.
- Pruning what no longer serves you – Just as trees shed leaves in preparation for new growth, Winter gives you the opportunity to let go of habits, mindsets, or structures that no longer work.
The Promise of Spring: Growth is Coming
The good news? Winter doesn’t last forever.
Spring always follows. In leadership, Spring is the season where the seeds of ideas begin to take root. New energy returns, and forward momentum builds again as those ideas sprout and begin to bloom.
But your Spring season will be shaped by what you do in Winter. If you use this time well—to reflect, to reset, and to prepare—your next season of effectiveness will be even stronger.
I realize now, looking back, that my Winter season was a time for me to re-examine my purpose, my talents and my vision. It was a time for me to reflect on what I was put here on earth to do.
It was a time for me to slow down and to rest before the next wave of growth. And all of that preceded my efforts to start and grow this business.
Moving from Winter to Spring in Leadership
If you’re feeling stuck in a Winter season, here are a few ways to start preparing for Spring:
Reevaluate your vision. What’s still serving you well? What needs to shift? Winter gives you the space to refine or redefine your leadership direction.
Invest in relationships. Spring brings fresh energy, but it’s your Winter investments—reading, learning, mentorship, deep conversations, and trust-building—that will make that season more effective.
Prioritize rest and reflection. Instead of fighting the stillness of Winter, embrace it. A rested leader enters Spring with clarity and strength.
Trust the process. Remember, just because you don’t see growth yet doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Trust that there are things happening beneath the surface that you and no one else can see yet. Spring is coming—you just need to be ready for it.
Final Thoughts: Embracing the Leadership Journey
Every great leader goes through seasons. Winter isn’t necessarily a sign of failure; it’s part of the process.
So, if you’re in a Winter season, take heart. Use this time wisely. And believe that just beneath the surface, growth is already beginning.
Spring is coming. And when it does, you’ll be ready.
