Have you heard the quote “work on the business vs working in the business?” As leaders in our businesses and communities, some self-reflection is important if we are to gain wisdom from our experiences. A research study done by Giada Di Stefano, Francesca Gino, Gary Pisano, and Bradley Staats, indicated that employees who spent 15 minutes at the end of each day reflecting about their lessons learned experiences did 23% better than those who didn’t do this self-reflection exercise.
Many leaders at driven individuals who are focused on accomplishment and making results happen. Taking time out of their day to do self-reflection seems too much given their busy schedule. Other excuses include they don’t see the return on their time invested or they don’t want to slow down.
I recommend self-reflection because it causes you to pause and think about what was good and what could be improved during your day. I use a journal to help me document not just my daily gratitude but also what went well and what did not go well. Here are some questions to ask that could help you in your journey on self-reflection.
- What are you avoiding?
- Are you helping someone achieve their objectives?
- Are you a hindrance or a help with someone you are working with or for?
- How could you be more effective in meetings?
Asking these or other questions will help you move forward in a more positive path on your leadership journey.
Mike