Reflect and Lead: Focusing on Personal Growth

This time of year may be slower for some. Depending on your occupation or the current season in your life, you may be tempted to spend some time reflecting while also preparing for the school year to restart, or your next big project. In your work experience you may have done an exercise where you’ve been asked to write your retirement speech, or some sort of finality statement that encompasses your work. These can be healthy exercises in self-reflection and personal development that implore you to think about what matters and who matters.

So, what in fact matters?

This may seem like a very simple question but for each of us the answer is most likely different. For someone who has just lost a loved one, empathy and love may be at the forefront. For someone who just received a promotion, they could be working on time management and figuring out the nuances of their new role. In almost every conversation I’ve had this summer, at some point the statement “time is flying by” has been said. We may be aware that time is passing, but what we are doing with the time we have matters.

For this edition, I would love for readers to take some time for a check-in with yourself. Whenever you have 10-15 minutes, please take time to answer these questions:

Self-Discovery:

Do I have an intentional plan for my day?

What distracts me from the plans I have?

Do I have things in place for my nutrition to be at my best?

Goals and Aspirations:

Reflect on a time when you felt most energized and fulfilled. What were you doing and why was it meaningful?

What small consistent actions am I taking toward one of my long-term goals?

Leadership and Impact:

How do I define success?

What impact do I have on my current team?

In the past 6 months is there a situation where I could have been a better leader? How can I be better moving forward?

My hope is that by taking some time for personal development, you continue to learn more about yourself, and you are encouraged to live intentionally. Continue to advocate for yourself and know that I am wishing you the best, always.