Jennifer Porter says it perfectly and I agree 1000%:
“When people find out I’m an executive coach, they often ask who my toughest clients are. Inexperienced leaders? Senior leaders who think they know everything? Leaders who bully and belittle others? Leaders who shirk responsibility? The answer is none of the above. The hardest leaders to coach are those who won’t reflect —particularly leaders who won’t reflect on themselves.”
It is the start of the last 10 days of January. Focusing should become easier now that the distractions are out of the way. We have gotten through the first two weeks of the year. We have celebrated, in COVID fashion, the work and deeds of MLK. In the United States, we note that any formal holiday might not appear until spring break if we have kids, Easter/Passover if we are Christian/Jewish, or Memorial Day. If we have pledged to a New Year’s resolution, we might have forgotten it, broken it, or revised it.
If you do nothing more this year, give yourself the gift of deliberate and intentional reflection time weekly.
While keeping a reflection journal allows you to go back and witness your growth, reflection can be done almost anywhere.
- Hang out in the bathroom a little longer by extending your shower.
- Exercise with a friend and reflect on the week with them.
- Lay in your warm bed and ponder your day or the day before, then reach for your phone.
- Revisit your schedule for the week and note what you want to accomplish and whether you completed last week’s objectives.
- Share with your kids how your week went and ask about theirs.
- Block time on your calendar weekly to note your successes, opportunities, and who you are grateful for. Send a brief note to share your gratitude. (Maybe share your gratitude with a friend).
- Note what you will work on next week, and give yourself grace and start over.
Tie your reflection to something you already like to do and the habit will stick. The completion of each week or each day is the promise of a “do over”. Reflect, so that your “do overs” are unique, and growth is inescapable.
Originally published on LinkedIn: January 20, 2021