Harnessing Reflection
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. Self-reflection is the compass that guides their journey.”
Welcome to this edition of our newsletter, where we delve into the transformative power of reflection in leadership. In our fast-paced and dynamic world, taking a moment to pause, assess, and recalibrate can make a remarkable difference in how we lead and inspire our teams. This practice of reflection serves as a catalyst for growth, enabling us to develop self-awareness, improve our leadership behaviors, and cultivate a positive impact on our organizations.
At the end of each day, as you wrap up your responsibilities, we invite you to dedicate a few minutes to reflect on how effectively you led. Ask yourself questions such as:
Did I communicate my vision clearly?
Did I actively listen and engage with my team?
Did I provide the necessary support and resources?
Did I foster an inclusive and collaborative environment?
Did I make decisions that aligned with our core values?
By engaging in this introspection, you gain valuable insights into your leadership style and identify areas for improvement. Celebrate your successes, acknowledge any shortcomings, and set intentions for the next day. This practice sets the stage for continuous growth and allows you to enter each day with purpose and focus.
Daily reflection not only helps us improve as leaders but also raises our awareness of how our behaviors impact those around us. It creates a space for us to empathize, understand different perspectives, and adapt our approach accordingly. Consider the following tips to leverage reflection for enhanced leadership impact:
Cultivate mindfulness: Incorporate mindfulness practices, such as meditation or journaling, into your daily routine. These activities promote self-awareness and enable you to observe your thoughts, emotions, and reactions objectively.
Seek feedback: Actively seek feedback from your team members, peers, and mentors. Create a culture that encourages open and honest communication, and be receptive to constructive criticism. Reflect on this feedback and make necessary adjustments to your leadership approach.
Encourage reflection in others: Inspire your team members to engage in reflection by sharing your experiences and the benefits you've derived from this practice. Encourage them to set aside time for self-assessment and provide resources to support their growth.
In closing, we leave you with a quote from American author and philosopher, John Dewey: "We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience." Embrace the power of reflection, harness it as a force for growth, and witness the profound impact it can have on your leadership journey.
To further enhance your understanding and utilization of reflection as a leadership tool, we recommend exploring the following resources:
Books:
"Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box" Arbinger Institute: uncovers the hidden barriers that hold leaders back and provides powerful insights on how to break free from self-deception, paving the way for authentic and impactful leadership.
"The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action" Donald A. Schön: get ready for a mind-bending exploration into how experts tackle challenges with reflection and intuition, reshaping your perspective on problem-solving.
"Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts." Brené Brown: a bold and empowering guide that equips leaders with the courage and skills to engage in challenging conversations, embrace vulnerability, and create wholehearted connections, transforming the way we lead and inspire others.
Videos:
"The Importance of Self-Reflection for Leadership" by Simon Sinek: discover how self-reflection can elevate your leadership skills, drive personal growth, and inspire positive change.
"Leading with Reflection: A Framework for Leadership Development" by Center for Creative Leadership: discover practical strategies and tools for enhancing your leadership skills through reflection.
Wishing you a transformative and reflective leadership experience!
“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority. Reflective leaders possess the self-awareness to inspire and empower others.”
Hello! 👋🏻 This is Kelly changing up the resource section of this week’s newsletter to share a few musings and what I’m enjoying lately:
What I’m watching: The Little Mermaid live-action remake was quite enjoyable and kudos to Halle Bailey for a great performance; World Live Showcase live webcams to satiate the wanderlust in me. 📺
What I’m doing: laughing it up at the Hollywood Improv Comedy where I just saw SNL’s Melissa Villaseñor, Iliza Shlesinger, and more. When was the last time you went to a comedy show? 🤣
What I’m reading: I just started reading “The Creative Act” by Rick Rubin and I’m obsessed. I bought it after it was recommended three different times. Spoiler alert, this will likely be the book of the month next month. 📖
What I’m looking forward to: I have some weddings to attend in the next few weeks, and a high school graduation so celebrations will be on the menu! 🥳
What enlightened me: I heard this quote in a random video and it was a great reminder to focus on yourself and your goal and leave behind the illusion of life just being a competition: “Comparison is the thief of all joy” by Theodore Roosevelt
Did you know? We now have merch on our website! I recently bought the crop hoodie and I love how cozy it is, and very stylish too. There are also notebooks and mugs.
“I am the CEO of my life”
This crop hoodie features one of our favorite reminders to take charge and lead in all areas of your life! 🙌🏻
It features super soft, coz material and is now a go-to in my sweater rotation. 🤩
➡️ Available now!
On Brand: Shape Your Narrative. Share Your Vision. Shift Their Perception.
This is Aliza Licht’s second book and she has a fascinating background that provides powerful lessons to anyone looking to better understand who they are, what their strengths are, and how to shape and share that story with others.
Aliza also has a great online community and podcast where she shares her perspective, advice, and experience.
P.S. Reply to this newsletter and let me know what you are reading 📚
Consider how many different pieces of content you see in any given week. See something that really resonates with you? Share it with us so we can feature it in our Social Media of the Week section!
This week’s feature is from Adam Grant:
“Weekends shouldn’t be a time to recover. They should be a time to rejoice.”
What kind of life are we living if we spend 5 days a week looking forward to our weekends, only to experience “Sunday Scaries” as we approach a new week?
What if we instead prioritized living every day fully and rejoicing on the weekends for all the new experiences we had and all that we learned?
