Take a Pause ?The Power of Reflection in Leadership

Hi friends,?

Ever think about your professional journey, not just the next steps, but as a whole?

If you picture the year as a continued calendar, you've probably done a substantial number of workshops, courses, readings, exercises, or informal practices.?

You've probably worked hard to grow, learn, and improve your skills, which is why it can sometimes feel like a never-ending road.?

(A twisty road peppered with discoveries and obstacles!)

But here's something I've rediscovered this week.

I've always thought that personal and professional development can be like exercise: frequently, the real goodies are NOT obvious in the "sweaty parts."?

They're in the quiet moments—the "rest breaks"—that so many of us forget to take.

I’ve been hitting the gym more, pushing my boundaries, and eyeing bigger goals each day. I've become caught in the ‘more is more’ cycle. But you know what’s equally crucial? Those quiet moments when your body, mind - gosh, even your morale catches up and truly evolves.

If you ever pause to look back, the chill stops on your journey towards being a stronger leader are packed with lessons. These quiet times are when your leadership muscles absorb and grow.

In this case, the rest breaks I’m referring to are about reflection.

“We discover plenty when we're in motion, but it's in the pauses where we uncover the gems that transform us.”

Time to Reflect

Reflection can be a game-changer. The right questions are often all it takes to kickstart your internal dialogue, inspire you with smarter approaches, and ultimately fuel more rewarding and meaningful progress.

For example, you might reflect on:

1. Your successes: What were your biggest wins this past year?
2. Your challenges and resilience: Did you hit any roadblocks? How did you, or how can you turn them around?
3. Your self-discoveries: Did you learn something new about yourself or your role? How will you use this newfound knowledge?
4. Your next steps: How have your experiences reshaped your goals, personal or professional??

These aren’t the be-all-end-all, but they’re good starters to dive deep and sprout some self-growth.

Over To You

To make your stops along the way more meaningful, I’ve whipped up a list of 21 Leadership Self-Reflection Questions. It’s here to be your pause buddy, helping you squeeze out the good stuff from your experiences and encouraging mindful growth.

?? Download 21 Leadership Self-Reflection Questions ??

It’s super easy to be all about the ‘more’ – more learning, more skills, more wins. But remember, it’s the pauses between the notes that set the pace.?

?It’s the moments of quiet that add the boost to your leadership journey, giving distance to your strides and bounce to your step.

So, take a minute. Breathe. Reflect. It might just be the best thing you do today!

To more growth and sweet pauses,

— Govert