How to Practice Self-Reflection as a Leader

Great leaders are propelled into positions of authority, at least in part, by their strong observational skills. They know what influences their teams' performance and what doesn't. Self-reflection must be a regular aspect of your daily routines if you want to develop into this thoughtful and experienced leader.

 

Daily self-reflection: Personal choices

Every day at work, you have brief exchanges with coworkers. For example, you might joke in the hallways, delegate a task in a meeting, or hear an employee complain. Each of these encounters may be trivial in and of itself, but they add up to make the sum of what your management and staff think of you. 

Use a guided diary to swiftly (let's say, in 5 minutes!) write these down each day: 

• What you are most proud of, 

• What was out of your control, 

• What you could have done better, and 

• How you want to improve as a leader moving forward. 

These simple bullet tips allow you to rewire your mind, favouring positive attributes and removing harmful or unproductive habits.

If your self-reflection gets too repetitive, examine what your role models do: we all have somebody whose success we want to mimic. Spend some time contemplating what works for them, and see if you can apply their techniques to your situation.

 

Weekly self-reflection: Team check-in

Having one-on-one or team meetings at the conclusion of each week is one approach to obtain feedback to reflect on each week. Although the meeting is definitely about learning how your team is doing, it is also about seeing what is and is not working for your workers. 

If everyone appears excited and motivated, you can reflect on what contributed to this week's success; if morale is lower than usual, an effective meeting can help you figure out what's wrong. 

Spend a few minutes after the meeting or meetings thinking about how your actions might help modify those situations for your team: is there someone in management you can go to who might be able to help? Make use of your influence to make your team run smoothly.

 

Monthly Self-Reflection: Ambition and Direction

We get a tiny "restart" every month, which can be incredibly helpful for recognising any trends or ruts we've fallen into. The end of the month is an excellent time to review every plan we have for the following month and determine whether there is potential for change. 

Perhaps we have developed a long-term strategy and are no longer innovating or making data-driven decisions like we used to. 

Don't alter everything every month; workers don't like re-training and re-doing tasks every month. 

This self-check might also be about your personal health: 

• Are you exhausted? 

• At work, are you mentally tuning out?

•  Do you require a rest? 

Before you hit a breaking point, rather than after, all of these topics should be addressed so that you can plan your time off and take some "me time" or family time when it makes sense for the workflow.

 

Yearly Self-Reflection: Achievements and Goal-Setting

Each year, you should take more time than usual to reflect on your achievements. When things go wrong, we often focus on them, and when things go right, most of us move on to the next issue. 

Yearly self-reflection allows you to maintain a more balanced perspective, focusing on your triumphs in a way that lifts you up and allows you to enter the following year eager and ready to face the next challenge. 

Another benefit of self-reflection at the conclusion or start of the year is the opportunity to create some goals. Initially, focus on the goals you have for yourself. Although, this is also a perfect opportunity to foster guided self-reflection with your staff. 

Share the essential objectives with them so they can see that you are striving for personal growth just as they are.

 

How self-reflection helps you advance

Spending time in self-reflection will benefit you greatly, whether taking on your initial team lead role or transitioning into a different C-suite post after years in management. 

When you can recognise what works effectively and remove or lessen behaviours with fewer positive consequences, your management jobs become easier. 

Furthermore, as you get more skilled at self-reflection, you will most likely notice the following outcomes.

 

1. Your team will find you easier to approach

When you reflect on yourself, your team notices. Many concerns about managers entail them being "clueless," or being uninformed of vital and serious problems. 

By being a good observer and considering your own impact on issues in your team, you will show your colleagues that you not only care but also intend to be a part of whatever solution they propose.

 

2. Aids in empathising during tough conversations

As you advance in your career, you may have to have uncomfortable conversations about someone else's job performance, for instance, and true empathy can help you through these conversations. 

Given that you have been considering the implications of your actions for a long time listening well can help you develop into a more self-reflective leader. 

The key to recognising areas of growth in your communication style—which will happen the more you think about and reflect on your choices—is the ability to appraise situations honestly and fairly while still communicating properly.

 

3. Demonstrates your decision-making process

Many employees will roll their eyes at new programs if they cannot identify a link between the company's goals and vision and the new job they must undertake. 

When a strong leader is paying attention and self-reflecting, the team knows you've carefully considered every move. You'll be able to explain why last year's yearly self-reflection is relevant to this new weekly assignment, and you'll be able to prove how it will help the organisation and their careers as a whole.

 

4. Increases your chances of advancement

Many people who aspire to be leaders want to imagine themselves in a stronger position where they can achieve more of their goals thanks to their record of accomplishments. 

Self-reflection is crucial to getting there; during your performance review, you have the choice of being the person who disregarded advice or carefully considered it. 

When you take the time to address each area of concern, you capture the attention of those in positions of authority. They know you can be relied on for your accomplishments and ability to adapt.

Spending a few minutes reflecting on and adjusting your actions could result in the promotion or career change you're looking for.

 

Source: NextLearning