Dear Change Leader,
Well, we’ve reached that time of the year again!
It’s mid-December, and our thoughts are naturally turning towards holidays and breaks from work. The New Year beckons us, and we approach it with either a sense of opportunity or a sense of dread… and perhaps a mix of both!
So what are we to make of this year that is coming to a close? And how are we to think about the year that lies ahead of us?
”The Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living.”
This phrase, attributed to Socrates, invites us to appreciate reflection. Taking stock. Making sense. An accounting.
The purpose of this reflection is not to beat ourselves up for what we have failed to accomplish—to admonish ourselves for the ways in which we have fallen short of our goals.
Rather, it is an invitation to curiosity.
To be curious about what has happened. And how these things came to be. To seek out patterns. To identify influencers and barriers. To notice how we responded to the opportunities that presented themselves to us.
And all this is in service of insight. Deepening awareness. Promoting understanding. Equipping us to be better prepared for those things that we will encounter moving forward.
This is why I like to join the Socrates quote with this one from the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard:
“Life must be lived forward, but can only be understood backwards.”
Yes, reflection matters. But the resulting insights should be put to practical use. They should guide us, prompt us, to move forward with greater awareness.
Change happens when we focus the energy sparked by awareness
to work on the things that matter to us.
Awareness, yes! But if this awareness does not ignite our energy to make needed changes, we will find ourselves learning the same insights one year from now!
A Tool for Reflection – And Action!
Here’s the simplest way that I know to integrate reflection with action:
Ask yourself these three questions…
- What? Describe The Past. What happened? What took place? What was accomplished? What remains unfinished? What was abandoned?
- So What? Make sense of what has happened in The Present. What do you notice? How do you make sense of these experiences? What insights can you name?
- Now What? Turning to The Future, it’s time to name the steps you will take to turn insights into action.
Download this handout to support you as you do this work.
If you are interested in a more sophisticated guide, I recommend the YearCompass tool!
An Invitation for You
Will you join me for a practical working session in the New Year?
During this session, I will lead you through a structured process… first taking stock of Wins/Insights from this past year, then focusing on setting actionable Intentions for the year ahead.
Participants in previous sessions say that they really value “the dedicated time and opportunity to take stock and think strategically.” I think you will also appreciate this!
There are two opportunities to join me – January 10 and January 17. Get more information and register at this link.
Wishing you a restful and reflective break!
EFFECTIVE CHANGE RESULTS FROM INTENTIONAL LEADERSHIP
We’re a leadership and organization development consultancy. My team and I work with leaders like you to prepare for and lead successful change processes.
Here’s why our clients call us:
- Leadership Coaching: I support leaders as they navigate transitions into new roles or expanded responsibilities.
- Group Coaching and Learning Programs: Bringing groups of leaders together, I facilitate learning experiences and months-long programs that equip people to be effective change leaders.
- Effective Teams and Stronger Organizations: I facilitate customized processes that strengthen teams and build layers of aligned teams that transform organizations.