Mid-Year Check-In: 5 Questions for Leaders to Reflect and Re-energise

Welcome to Love Mondays More the weekly LinkedIn newsletter that delves deeper into the ideas and concepts driving my Love Mondays email newsletter series .

Why ‘Love Mondays’? Mondays are often the low part of the week, earning the title of “worst day of the week” by the Guinness World Records. So I aim to provide a 4-minute caffeine hit of content to fire up the other 10,076 minutes of your week and stave off the Monday malaise. Don’t just live Mondays, love Mondays!

We're nearly halfway through the year—can you believe it? This midpoint offers a perfect opportunity for leaders to pause, step back from the day-to-day grind, and reflect on the bigger picture. This isn't just about tracking progress; it's about deepening your leadership impact and reinvigorating your strategic vision.

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"One of the simplest and most powerful tools we have as individuals is the ability to pause. Think about it. When you press pause on a machine, it stops. When we pause as humans, we begin. Pausing creates a space where one can see clearly." - Dov Seidman, Founder and Executive Chairman of LRN and The HOW Institute for Society.

Here are five critical questions designed to ignite reflection and foster growth in your leadership journey.

1. How are you managing your energy to maximise productivity and wellbeing?

As leaders, it’s easy to push ourselves to the limit, but it’s crucial to check in on our energy levels to avoid scraping through to the end of the year. How you manage your energy directly impacts your team and your personal effectiveness.?

Are you taking small steps to recharge regularly? Look at your daily routine and find opportunities to incorporate activities that boost your energy and keep you fresh. Remember, sustained productivity comes from consistent, mindful energy management. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good—start small and build from there.

For more tips, check out today’s edition of Love Mondays .

2. What’s something new you’ve learned this year and how are you applying it?

In the fast-paced world of leadership, staying updated and adaptive is key. Think about the books, conversations, or experiences that have introduced new insights this year. How have you applied this new knowledge to real-world challenges? Because true learning comes from doing, not just knowing.

This kind of reflection is crucial for solidifying your learning and setting future learning goals.

3. What new skills or knowledge do you need to acquire next to continue growing as a leader??

Identifying the new skills or knowledge you need to acquire is a crucial next step in this journey. Consider the emerging trends in your industry, the feedback from your team, and the areas where you feel less confident. These insights can guide you toward the skills and knowledge that will propel you forward, and this proactive mindset helps keep you ahead of the game.

By being intentional about your learning journey and embedding it into your daily routine, you stay agile, informed, and ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.?

4.? How Have You Stepped Outside Your Comfort Zone?

You’ve no doubt heard the phrase, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” What’s an example of something you’ve done this year to venture beyond the familiar routine, network, or skillset in pursuit of growth? It could be an instance where you’ve pushed boundaries—whether by adopting new technologies, tackling unfamiliar projects, or leading in uncharted territories.?

If you’ve already taken the plunge, reflect on how these experiences have shaped you. If you haven’t yet, there’s still time! Look ahead to the next six months and identify where you can embrace some discomfort. Maybe it’s mastering a new skill, leading a project in a new area, or connecting with a mentor who can challenge and inspire you. By continuing to push your boundaries, you’ll not only grow personally and professionally but also inspire those around you to do the same.

5.? When Did You Last Disconnect to Reconnect with Your Bigger Picture?

If we’re not careful, the busyness of our daily lives can easily consume us, causing us to lose sight of our greater 'why.' A few years ago, I had the privilege of interviewing Daniel Flynn , co-founder of the social enterprise Thankyou, on my podcast (you can listen to this episode here ). Daniel shared a powerful practice he’s incorporated into his routine to maintain perspective: a 'blue sky day.'

Daniel has a blue-sky day scheduled into his diary every fortnight—offline and free from meetings. “Too many of us get caught up in what we do but not on what we do.”

"The idea is that you pull up, clear everything, and just think. It’s amazing what thoughts come when you’ve got space."

What might a 'blue sky day' look like for you, and how often could you benefit from one?

Use this mid-year check-in to recalibrate, refocus, and reignite your passion to finish the year stronger than you started!

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