Lately, I’ve been thinking about how often capable people carry their doubts quietly. From the outside, everything looks fine, but inside there’s a small, persistent question: Is this really where I’m meant to be going? This letter is for that version of you. The one who keeps showing up, even while wondering what comes next…
As you know, December always makes me reflective in a different way. It’s also my daughter’s birth month. Watching her grow has been a quiet reminder of something I want her to carry with her early on… that her power doesn’t come from titles, permission, or applause. It comes from knowing who she is, trusting her voice, and believing she has influence even when the room feels bigger than her.
As you look toward 2026, this might be a good moment to reflect, rebuild, and refocus not by chasing a new role immediately, but by reconnecting with the one form of power you fully control. Personal power.
Roles change. Teams change. Even expertise evolves. But personal power travels with you…
It shows up in how you carry yourself, how you influence conversations, how you earn trust without forcing it. For example, you don’t need to be the loudest in the room. What’s important is you stay grounded enough that people listen when you speak.
That kind of influence doesn’t come from pretending to know everything. It comes from quiet confidence in what you do know, and the humility to keep learning.
Ask yourself where your confidence truly comes from. Is it internal, or does it depend on approval, praise, or reassurance from others? Noticing the difference can change how you show up at work… or in life, even.
There will be seasons when your effort feels steady and seasons when it feels heavy. Both are human. The goal isn’t constant intensity, but awareness. Can you recognise effort even when it looks like rest, reflection, or recalibration? Can you allow pauses without turning them into self-criticism?
As I’ve shared before, influence also shows up in how you communicate. Persuasion isn’t about pushing people in your direction. It starts with understanding where they are standing. When you take the time to see someone else’s perspective, you don’t need to manipulate or over-explain. People can sense the difference.
And then there are the harder moments. The conversations you’d rather avoid. The truths that feel risky to say out loud. Personal power grows when you learn to deliver honesty with care, not fear. Standing up for what is right doesn’t require sharpness. It requires clarity and respect for yourself and others.
As you reset for the year ahead, I hope you pay attention to your boundaries. They are not walls. They are signals…
How you protect your time and energy teaches others how to treat it. The same goes for your achievements. If you don’t name them, they disappear. So keep track of your wins as soon as you get them, maybe in a note or a photo that captures the moment.
Finally, allow yourself to own your ambition. Quietly, boldly, or somewhere in between. You don’t need to announce it to everyone, but sharing it with the right person can be enough to shift momentum.
This is the same lesson I hope my daughter remembers as she grows. That her power is hers. And so is yours.
If you’ve been feeling uncertain, tired, or quietly hopeful at the same time, I hope this simple letter brings you courage. Your real growth is unfolding… and your power will shine through. 🙂
To a wonderful holidays and successful year ahead,
Adelina Stefan
Founder of Advanced Talent LLC
PCC-ICF Coach & Mentor | MBA, MA
Senior Intercultural Career & Transformational Master Coach
Creator of Professional Success Power Cards
