As summer winds down, it’s not uncommon for teams to feel a dip in energy. With annual leave, lighter workloads, and a shift in routines, August often brings a natural slowdown. But as September approaches, leaders face the challenge, and opportunity, of reigniting momentum.

At Move That Mountain, Managing Director Heath Gunn helps leaders to lead with clarity, purpose and energy. Here are his five practical strategies to help you and your team hit the ground running post-summer:

1. Reconnect with Purpose

Remind your team why their work matters. Re-grounding in purpose can be the fastest route back to motivation. Share customer impact stories, revisit key goals, or host a short “mission moment” at your next team meeting.

Try this: Ask each team member to share one project they’re proud of from the past 6 months and how it made a difference.

2. Reset Goals, Not Just Deadlines

Instead of simply picking up where you left off, take the opportunity to refresh your team’s focus. What’s changed? What deserves more attention now?

Try this: Set a 6-week sprint goal for September – October. It helps teams focus, creates urgency, and avoids long lead-in times to year-end planning.

3. Create Micro-Milestones

Momentum is built on movement. After a quiet spell, teams benefit from quick wins and visible progress.

Try this: Break large projects into smaller deliverables that can be celebrated weekly. Progress fuels motivation and small wins rebuild collective confidence.

4. Bring Energy to the Room

Team energy doesn’t reignite on its own, it often needs a spark. This doesn’t mean forced fun or cheesy icebreakers. It means intentional re-engagement.

Try this: Run a short re-onboarding session: revisit ways of working, celebrate team wins, or launch something new with energy.

‍

‍

Read full article here