Reset, Reflect, and Rise - A Holiday Edition of People Powered Performance

Meri Stockwell
18 hours ago
7 min read

The holidays have a way of slowing us down just enough to notice what we usually rush past. Patterns. People. Possibility.

This festive edition of People Powered Performance is an invitation to pause and reflect with intention. We begin with Reset and Rise, a reminder that evolution does not mean fixing.

We add some lighthearted insight into how each of us shows up at holiday gatherings through the Predictive Index lens. And we close with opportunities to build the future together through leadership and executive roles we are currently supporting.

Pour a warm beverage or an iced coffee (Meri’s first choice), take a breath, and enjoy.

Reset & Rise™ Is Not Another Program

Why women 45 plus do not need fixing and why a global movement matters now

A few months ago, a woman said something to me that has not left my mind.

“I have done the programs. I have read the books. I have invested in myself more than once. And yet I still feel like I am carrying the weight of everything.”

She was not burnt out because she lacked discipline or motivation. She was burnt out because she had been strong for a very long time, often quietly and often invisibly.

That conversation was not an outlier. It was a pattern. Across industries, cultures, and continents, women over 45 are experiencing a similar internal shift. Not because they are failing, but because they are evolving. And most of the solutions offered to them miss that entirely.

The problem with programs for women 45 plus

Many offerings for midlife women focus on productivity, reinvention, or starting over.

They assume something is broken.

They push urgency where reflection is needed. They prescribe hustle where rest and clarity are required. They treat burnout like a time management issue instead of an identity transition.

But the women I work with are not lost. They are not behind. They are not starting over.

They are standing at a threshold.

A place where lived experience meets new questions. Where confidence exists but needs recalibration. Where ambition has not disappeared, it simply needs to be reclaimed in a healthier way.

That is why Reset & Rise™ is different.

Reset & Rise™ begins where most programs end

Reset & Rise™ was not designed as a course to complete or a checklist to conquer.

Hermence Matsotsa and I created it as a movement because what women 45 plus are experiencing cannot be solved in isolation.

This work starts by honoring what has already been built.

Careers. Families. Leadership. Resilience. Wisdom. Earned the hard way

Instead of asking women to do more, Reset & Rise™ invites them to reset what no longer fits. Instead of pushing reinvention, it focuses on reclaiming clarity, confidence, and competitiveness on their terms.

Instead of surface level motivation, it creates space for reflection, boundary recalibration, identity evolution, mental fitness, and community connection.

This is not about becoming someone new. It is about returning to yourself with greater intention.

Why a global movement matters now

This moment is not happening in one country, one industry, or one life stage.

Women around the world are navigating burnout after decades of contribution, shifts in leadership identity, cultural expectations that still reward self-sacrifice, and a desire for meaning that goes deeper than titles or timelines.

What is missing is not capability. It is community.

Reset & Rise™ exists to remind women they are not navigating this alone.

A movement creates belonging. It allows women to see their experience reflected back, not as weakness, but as shared wisdom.

And when women rise together, the impact multiplies.

The Circle is where the movement begins

The Circle is the entry point into Reset & Rise™.

It is not a sales funnel or a pressure point. It is a place to reflect, reconnect, listen, and remember that your experience matters.

Inside The Circle, women find thoughtful prompts, shared insights, collective wisdom, and a global community grounded in respect, growth, and possibility.

No fixing. No forcing. No proving.

Just space to reset and the courage to rise.

Join here: 👉 The Circle is open.

Who You Are at the Holiday Party According to the Predictive Index and CC

Holiday parties have a way of revealing what strategy meetings never do. Put people in a room with music, food, and unfamiliar social rules, and behavior takes over.

That is why the Predictive Index Reference Profiles are so useful. They explain how people naturally show up when structure fades and instinct leads. At a holiday party, every profile is on full display.

Here is how the seventeen Predictive Index Reference Profiles typically show up when work talk blends with celebration.

The Strategist arrives with intention and quickly identifies who they want to connect with before the night ends.
The Analyzer is engaged in thoughtful conversation, often near the edges, taking everything in before speaking.
The Operator is helping the host, solving problems quietly, and making sure the event runs smoothly.
The Collaborator is connecting people who should know each other and creating inclusive energy.
The Captain naturally gathers a group and confidently sets the tone of conversation.
The Venturer is energized by possibility, sharing bold ideas and future-focused stories.
The Scholar dives deep into meaningful discussion, often surprising others with insight.
The Specialist prefers one-on-one conversations and meaningful exchanges over mingling.
The Controller is mindful of time, logistics, and structure, even in a social setting.
The Promoter brings enthusiasm, humor, and social energy to every corner of the room.
The Altruist is watching for who needs support, inclusion, or reassurance.
The Maverick questions tradition, challenges norms, and brings unexpected perspective.
The Adapter shifts comfortably between groups and adjusts style based on the room.
The Guardian values appropriateness, stability, and respectful interaction.
The Artisan brings creativity and originality, often through storytelling, humor, or style.
The Persuader influences naturally through charm and confident communication.
The Individualist shows up authentically, values depth over performance, and stays true to self.

That last one deserves special commentary from our Chief Cultural Officer.

CC the Cavapoo here. As Chief Cultural Officer, I can confirm my Momma is an Individualist. She does not work the room. She connects deeply with a few people, skips small talk when possible, and notices who feels unseen. She is fully herself and leaves when her energy says it is time. That is leadership, not disengagement.

The point is not to judge how people show up. The point is to understand it.

When leaders know how their teams are wired, expectations become clearer, communication improves, and respect increases. That understanding is the foundation of teams that click and results that stick.

At the holiday party and beyond, there is no wrong profile. There is only untapped insight.

If this sparked curiosity, I work with leadership teams to build clarity around behavior, collaboration, and decision-making using the Predictive Index. Even a snapshot can create meaningful alignment.

Your Saboteurs Have RSVP’d for the Holidays - You do not have to entertain them

The holidays bring joy and a louder inner voice. Perfectionism wants everything just right. The Hyper-Achiever pushes for more. The Pleaser says yes too often. Hyper-Rational explains emotions instead of feeling them.

Saboteurs are patterns, not personalities. Patterns can be interrupted.

CC here. I notice my Momma’s saboteurs when she speeds up and stops noticing the sky. That is when we pause.

One Minute Reset Breathing

Inhale for four while grounding your feet. Hold for two and notice one physical sensation. Exhale for six and name one thing you see. Repeat five times.

When my Momma does this on our walks or bike rides, she slows down and smiles again.

Mental fitness shortens recovery time and restores choice.

When these patterns show up across teams and organizations, I help leaders build mental fitness skills that improve communication, reduce reactivity, and strengthen performance.

Sometimes the most productive thing to do is pause.

CC agrees.

Exploring What Is Next in Your Career

The holiday season often creates space to pause and reflect. For many leaders, it is a time to consider what is working, what has run its course, and what they want the next chapter to look like.

We are actively recruiting for several on-site leadership roles as we head into the new year. These opportunities are for experienced leaders who are ready to step into expanded scope, greater influence, and meaningful impact.

If you find yourself thinking about an elevated role or a fresh challenge, now is a thoughtful time to start the conversation. Our team is ready to support you through a confidential and intentional search process so you can begin the new year with clarity and momentum.

Below are the roles we are currently supporting in partnership with our recruiting partners.

Procurement Director, Direct Materials, Resins+, CT - Manufacturing
Chief Operating Officer, NY - Healthcare
Manufacturing Site Director, PA - Food Manufacturing
Vice President, NJ - Waste Management

👉 Not seeing what you are interested in? Check our job portal for current and upcoming roles.

About Meri

Meri Stockwell is the Founder and CEO of Meritas Advisory Group, where she helps organizations align people, performance, and profit to drive measurable results. A trusted business consultant, Predictive Index partner, Positive Intelligence coach, procurement leader, and AI-enabled strategist, she brings more than three decades of experience helping leaders leverage both human insight and emerging technology.

Her work includes building business and digital twins that support smarter decision-making, leadership development, and scalable growth. Meri is also the host of Talent Talk & Strategy Stroll and the publisher of People Powered Performance, where she shares practical, forward-thinking insights on leadership, talent strategy, and performance in the age of AI.