With the holidays upon us (already!), it’s time to look back and reflect on the year. I hope you can find an abundance of gratitude, albeit mixed with some “what ifs.” Reflection can be so meaningful both personally and professionally. Reflections can guide us to possibilities, turning those “what ifs” or “should haves” into encouragements or inspirations for the future.
Leadership development includes a cycle of looking back, acknowledging current reality, and exploring future possibilities. It’s not only for us personally but it’s a call to enable in those we lead. It is not a privilege or a nice-to-have, but an imperative to keep ourselves and our team members engaged, connected, and thriving. Without continuous development, we become stagnant, or even worse, stuck. With it, we return to our essence—our authentic selves—as better leaders and humans. In this month’s podcast, I talk about the importance of looking back to look forward with an expert in reflection, Randy Hain, the author of the newly released book, Becoming a More Thoughtful Leader.
Reflective leaders never stop learning. In my What Leaders Need Now Leadership Assessment, I asked leaders about the importance of learning from others. Ninety-seven percent of respondents say they seek to learn from others and 98 percent feel it is important that their leaders do so. Unfortunately, one-third of respondents feel that their leaders do not. If you, as a leader, are behaving as if you already know it all, your team members see it. That’s not beneficial for them or for your company’s success.
If the abrupt onset of the holidays, election divisiveness, or a generalized malaise about this or the other has you in limbo, use this time to reflect. There is magic, an emergence into the future, that happens, and it only can happen when you allow yourself the space. There are so many resources available to you. Seek those that speak to you in your current situation. Below are some opportunities for you to explore for yourself and your team for the upcoming year. Reach out to me and we can brainstorm together.
