Self reflection is an important part of leadership and personal development

Past, present, and future. These three pillars each have their own individual importance, priorities, status, consideration phase. Collectively they also have a valuable place. Timing is important as reflecting at the wrong time / whilst in a "shifting" emotional state will never provide you with the impartial and clear perspectives needed to make an intelligent analysis.

This past weekend I decided to spend time to reflect on where I have been, where I am now, and where I want to get to. I did this for my professional and personal life to reaffirm my goals are still accurate, the preparation I have / am doing is solid enough, my strategy and approach is on track, relevant skills and knowledge gaps identified / resolved / in progress as applicable, and of course that it is still what I truly want.

My career thus far has seen me wear many hats, from frontline customer service through to Assistant General Manager of a hotel in less than 5 years. From Data Entry Operator through to Supervisor and Team lead in Clinical Data Management for human drug trials in less than 4 years. From Data Quality Analyst through to PM/BRM/EMEA CRM/Data/IT Lead for EMEA in global Pharmaceuticals in less that 7 years. From idea on paper through to CEO of my own IT company developing my brand and my own products in the middle of a recession and taking the company global in 3 years. In the last 3 years or so I have been working in IT Consulting, in which for the last 2 years, I have been partnered with an incredible Client and Team which has seen us deliver lifechanging implementations for end users and consumers whilst constantly striving to switch up the efficiency gearing to enhance the delivery further. I have been also operating coaching and mentoring for over 40 people so far in the last 12 months across Business Analysis, Leadership, Project and Program Management, Diversity in the workplace, Hiring and Interview Preparation, Personal Development, Customer/Client/Partner/Team Management, and Conflict Resolution. My experience to data means I have amassed a cumulative 201 years of experience! On a work front I am incredibly proud of myself, grateful to my teams past and present, to my mentors near and far, and to my customers/clients for their unflinching support.

On a personal front, after graduating college I have committed to increasing my skills and knowledge whether learning from internal courses, taking external certifications, continually investing in my abilities via Trailhead / Udemy / London Business School, or simply attending marvellous webinars from #theeighthmileconsulting. That commitment amassed an astonishing 338 courses / certifications completed since 2001 which includes an MBA. Just when you thing that was enough, add in a ruptured appendix and experimental bilateral hip replacements (both completed at the same time), surviving liver cancer, kidney stones, pneumonia, severe chest infection and a major kidney infection which for someone who can die from a simple cold or a bee/wasp sting is pretty intense. In this vein I would like to obviously thank my teams / clients for their support and understanding, my friends / mentors / coaches who have inspired me, and above all I thank my mum for bringing me into this world and for being the one person that did not abandon me when everyone else did when I was born 80% deaf or even when I first got Arthritis as a child of only 8.

What did my reflection tell me?

1. Be grateful to people. Their generosity in time, belief, motivation, etc affirmed my mantra that investing in people is always paramount above money.
2. Appreciate the opportunities and challenges I have faced in my past; those experiences laid a foundation upon which I have build strong success and shared this with others.
3. Never settle for second best - know my worth and value (personal and professional skills). Don't accept to be the person HR calls if the other candidate doesn't work out. Never be afraid to walk away if you are expected to sacrifice your integrity.
4. Understand my worth and value; this is a little different from the previous in that this is financial worth. Researching the market and see what other individuals with similar responsibilities and accountabilities are paid (notice I did not say role as this is often deceptive) and the factor in education and market value.
5. Aim high and push harder and harder every day. Live the mantra that you only fail when you don't try. Aspire to Inspire and Inspire to Aspire.

My goals for the future are not just in the future, they have already begun. I am embarking on major changes and advancements to invest more in others professionally and personally - the next 12 months are going to be gruelling but I know it will be worth it. Stay tuned :)

Reflection is a simple and powerful way to refocus on that which is important to you, to affirm context, to set milestones, and to filter out the general "funk" that tends to permeate into our mind's eye. Without the reflection and objective perspective, this can lead to frustration, out-of-character behaviour, avoidable stress in personal and professional relationships, loss of motivation with the onset of "give up syndrome", and of course poor health (to name but a few things). Take my advice and spend some time to invest in reflecting upon your past, present and future. I assure you that you have achieved more than you realise and can set higher goals for yourself.

When was the last time you reflected and reset your focus?