Every marathon runner knows mile 20. Your legs feel like concrete. The finish line exists somewhere ahead, but your body screams for you to stop. Having completed multiple marathons and triathlons, I’ve lived this moment when the end feels simultaneously close and impossibly far away.

This is exactly where your team stands right now in Q4.

The budget needs managing. Business metrics need hitting. Projects need completing. KPIs that have lagged all year demand attention. And you need to tell your team it’s urgent—except you’ve been saying “urgent” since January. They’re exhausted. The holidays are visible on the horizon, along with a fresh start and new goals in January. Why push now when rest is so close?

As a leader, this is your mile 20 moment too. Here’s how to help your team finish strong:

Be crystal clear on expectations. Vague urgency creates anxiety. Specific priorities create focus. Tell your team exactly what must get done and what can wait. Remove the guesswork.

Eliminate surprises. Your team is running on fumes. Unexpected obstacles or last-minute pivots will frustrate them. Create predictability wherever possible. If challenges are coming, communicate them now.

Choose the carrot over the stick. Threats and pressure might work earlier in the year, but tired people need encouragement, not fear. Sincere praise and recognition fuel depleted spirits far better than urgency ever could.

Reconnect with the why. Remind your team why you started this journey together. What is your organization’s mission? How does finishing strong serve something bigger than quarterly numbers? Purpose powers perseverance.

Create mini milestones. The finish line feels far away, but next week doesn’t. Break remaining work into smaller chunks with reachable targets. Each milestone becomes a mini celebration, proof that progress is happening.

Leverage holidays meaningfully. Thanksgiving isn’t just another Thursday. Use it as an opportunity to express genuine gratitude for your team’s efforts throughout the year. Make it personal and specific.

Celebrate everything. Don’t wait until December 31st to acknowledge wins. Every closed account, completed project, and achieved metric deserves recognition. Small victories compound into momentum.

Mile 20 separates those who finish strong from those who don’t. Your team needs you to be their aid station—providing clarity, encouragement, and reasons to keep moving. The finish line is real, and together, you’ll cross it.

You’ve got this!