Lead, reflect, evolve: The reflection guide every leader needs

As the year draws to a close, many leaders find themselves navigating the multiple demands of wrapping up, the final push on targets, projects, as well as performance reviews, all whilst planning for the future. Yet, one often overlooked but essential practice during this time is your own personal reflection. 

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Effective leadership begins with self-awareness, and reflection provides an invaluable opportunity to assess past performance and prepare for future challenges.

This guide dives in on various methods to help leaders reflect on their effectiveness and where they need to develop. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all - choose a way that resonates with your uniqueness and needs.


 Why reflection matters

Leadership reflection is not just a tick-box exercise; it’s a cornerstone of growth. It offers:

Enhanced self-awareness, enabling leaders to identify their strengths and areas for improvement. Clarity on lessons learned, from both successes and challenges.

Better preparedness equips leaders with insights to navigate future obstacles and make informed decisions.


Methods of reflection

1. Journaling aka brain dump

Writing down your thoughts regularly can be a powerful way to track growth. Consider documenting achievements, challenges, and lessons. Reflective prompts such as “What was my most significant win this year/month/week/day?” or “What didn’t go so well and what could I have handled differently?” provide focus and opportunities for learning.

2. Seeking feedback

Feedback offers perspectives that self-assessment may overlook. Tools like 360-degree reviews or one-on-one conversations with colleagues and team members can provide the gold and allow you to see where you perform at your best and reveal any blind spots.

3. Structure

If you need a model, using something structured, such as a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats), can provide clarity. Assess not just your own internal skills but also external factors that impacted your performance as a leader.

4. Quiet time

In the busy-ness of leadership, it’s easy to overlook moments of stillness. Setting aside quiet time allows you to revisit key decisions and emotional responses both yours and others. Meditation or guided self-reflection audios can help to deepen your awareness and keep you accountable. 

5. Questions to ponder

  • What has gone well?
  • What are the biggest achievements/wins?
  • What did you most enjoy? And least enjoy?
  • What would you like to be different next year?
  • What patterns have you noticed about yourself/work-flow/performance/behaviours?
  • What have been the biggest struggles/hurdles to overcome?
  • What lessons did you learn?
  • What do you need to do more/less of?

Your reflection

Reflection is personal, and what works for one may not work for you. Some thrive on structure, whilst others prefer feedback or time to think. Play with different ways to reflect and see what suits you best.

Turning insights into action

Reflection without action is akin to a map without having a destination. Once you’ve identified your growth areas, translate them into concrete steps. Develop your own plan with aims/goals and make yourself accountable to someone.

For instance, if feedback highlights a need for improved delegation, set a goal to delegate three key tasks weekly and monitor the effects it has on your time and workload.


Parting words

Leadership reflection isn’t about being perfect — it’s about identifying where you are now, learning from the good and not-so-good and making progress in the year ahead. Taking a little time to look back on your journey can boost your self-awareness and set you (and your team) up for even greater success in 2025.

As this year comes to a close and you get ready to delve into the next, think about this: How can you make reflection a regular part of your day/week/month or year?

Your future self will thank you for it! 

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The views expressed in this article are those of the author. All articles published on Life Coach Directory are reviewed by our editorial team.

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Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1
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Written by Kim Cutler
location_on Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1
Hello, I’m Kim – a compassionate, down-to-earth, and direct leadership coach with a drive to help people strive for & reach their full potential. Services: personality assessments, bespoke 360 feedback, and leadership/executive coaching and mentoring
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