As a leader, your decisions and how you handle unexpected challenges have a profound impact on your outcome and that of your team’s. But what if there is a hidden power that can significantly enhance your leadership effectiveness? Daily reflection through journaling stands as one of the most effective tools in a leader’s developmental toolbox.
Why Daily Reflection Matters
"Follow effective action with quiet reflection.
From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action."
This famous quote by management author Peter F. Drucker is yet backed by research-based statistics to consolidate taking time to reflect as one critical ingredient that sets successful leaders apart: Specifically, daily journaling can be a game-changer!
Now, you might think: “Another task to add to my busy day? No thanks!” Even though it might seem counterintuitive to invest time and focus on pausing and taking a step back, here are some more interesting facts to consider.
Beyond the Feel-Good Activity
Daily journaling goes beyond a mere feel-good activity or just jotting down thoughts that are on the top of your mind. It is about digging deeper. Imagine uncovering your subconscious approach to leadership – Your underlying beliefs, thinking patterns and your unique perspectives that influence your daily actions and decisions.
That is where the real growth happens.
Research confirms that dedicating just 10-15 minutes each day to reflect on your leadership experiences, decisions, and your emotions can solidify your learning and growth which in turn can boost your effectiveness by up to 25%. Making it a strong business case for leaders to seriously consider it.
Focus on Surprise, Failure, and Frustration
When thinking about topics to journal about, it was shown, that reflections of leaders that involve one or more of these three themes have been identified as pivotal moments for learning and growth. Reflecting on them helps you identify patterns, strengths, and areas for improvement. By adjusting your perspective and underlying beliefs, you can elevate your emotional intelligence, problem-solving skills, and decision-making prowess.
Unlock Your Leadership Potential
While agile methodologies incorporate reflection as a fixed step within the usual teamwork process, we often skip it on an individual level and therefore miss a chance to regularly review our leadership effectiveness, adjust course, and witness transformation moving forward. Taking time to reflect daily can offer this opportunity.
