How often do you spend time reflecting? What does this mean for you? Taking time for reflection offers wonderful opportunities for anyone who engages in this practice – whether you’re a leader in an organization, someone just starting out in your career, or even a younger individual. What can it offer? Let’s explore.

Taking time to reflect allows for:

• Slowing down
• Celebration – It’s often rare that we, especially in the working world, take time to celebrate all that we have accomplished because we’re often moving onto the next agenda item or “to do”
• Acknowledgement of what we could have done differently to drive different outcomes
• Recognition of our own strengths and capabilities and how we might be able to leverage them more regularly
• Awareness of opportunities for growth and development
• Accountability for actions we’ve committed to
• Clarity around our own behaviors and the impact of those behaviors on ourselves and others
• Curiosity
• Greater self-awareness
• Considering various perspectives
• Motivation
• Continuous learning
• Increasing productivity/results
• And more..

What do you see missing from the above list?

This is a practice that I often find myself challenging clients to do – one that many, from newer leaders all the way to seasoned executives had not previously held an intention for.

And, there are many benefits of reflecting as a team to learn, build trust, and drive improved results.

How often? It depends. Many of my clients start with reflecting at the end of the work week; some, over time, create a daily habit. It needs to be what works for you and how it will best help you.

Don’t have time? Think about the cost of not taking time to reflect…most people who do not make reflection a regular practice miss opportunities to learn and improve, resulting in less productivity. The time it takes will likely free you up to do even more.

What do you want to do now that you have read this? What might you do differently with your team? Want to learn more? I wrote another article about reflective practice early in 2021 – it offers additional insight. I work with leaders, teams, and organizations helping my clients reach their highest potential; helping teams to work as healthy, high-performing teams all leading to improved business results. Curious? Let’s connect. 

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” – Aristotle