The end of Q3 is now upon us, how did that happen? You’re staring down the list of goals you proudly set in January, reviewed (with optimism) mid-year, and now it’s reality time.
But here’s the thing, you’re not just behind on a couple of deliverables. You’re doing your day job – the constant, unrelenting, meeting-filled, inbox-bursting day job. On top of the day job, you may be a single parent, or maybe you’re supporting ageing parents, or perhaps you’re navigating all things peri / menopause, and your brain fog makes simple tasks feel like climbing Everest every day. Or maybe it’s andropause for men, chronic health issues, brain fog, or just the sheer mental burnout and fatigue of 2025 has caught up with you.
So, what’s your plan now? Power through and burn out? Deal with it closer to end of year? Or face your manager and admit you won’t hit everything and for good reason?
Here’s the truth most people don’t say out loud: you can do a good job and still not get everything done. That’s not failure but the reality for everyone. That’s prioritisation. That’s owning it and being brave to address it.
Bravery looks like this, so read slowly, you may recognise this.
Being brave isn’t about pushing through the impossible. It’s about being honest with yourself and your manager, and saying, “Here’s what’s realistic, here’s what’s not, and here’s how I plan to handle it.”
That is taking ownership. That is action. That is leadership in yourself.
Because when you clearly manage expectations, you give your manager the opportunity to help, align, and adjust – not just hold you to outdated assumptions.
Don’t boil the ocean, sound familiar?
One thing I used to say to my teams: Don’t boil the ocean with too many goals, it’s not competition with your team who has the most. Your day-to-day job is already complex and perhaps chaotic.
If you’ve got one personal development goal and the flexibility to carry it into 2026, then great. Let that be your starting point. Carry forward that one, then define others when the space opens. Progress doesn’t need to be packed into a single year as some goals take longer to achieve, so be realistic and make sure they are impactful.
Practical steps for your next 1:1
- Be honest without guilt: “This is where I’m at, here’s why, and here’s what I propose we do.” No shame. No defensiveness. Just facts and realistic intentions.
- Refocus on what matters now: Goals aren’t sacred. Things change. Get clear on what really needs to land in Q4, and what can shift – or move to 2026.
- Bring solutions, not just struggles: Could something be placed on hold or delegated? Come with ideas, not just concerns.
- Set yourself up for success, not stress: If you can only focus on one goal right now, make it count. Sustainable momentum beats unsustainable ambition every time.
Final Word: you’re not alone.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, behind, questioning your goals, you’re not alone. This is a common Q3 reality. The strongest move you can make right now isn’t doing more, it’s doing the right things, in the right order, with the right support.
Don’t push until you break. Reset. Reassess. And remember managing your goals well, even when that means scaling them back, is a sign of maturity, not weakness.