How to bounce back after summer

In this I by IMD podcast, host Michael Watkins, Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change, sits down with executive coach Brenda Steinberg to discuss a common challenge: the “post-summer blues.

They reframe this experience not as a slump but as a transition and discuss the importance of acknowledging and processing the seasonal change.

For many, returning to work triggers a “survival mode” attitude. Watkins and Steinberg say it’s common to feel a sense of loss or “grief” for the holiday break and to fear returning to the “go-go-go” office dynamic. The show provides practical advice for leaders, including the need to create space for team members to reflect on what they learned about themselves over the summer and what their new priorities are. They also delve into the strategic importance of managing one’s energy, a core tenet of leadership, and how personal reflection can be a catalyst for meaningful professional change.