Unlock Outstanding Leadership in 2024: Decoding Success & Failures from 2023
Instead of adhering to the tiresome New Year, New Me trend, this post delves into simple yet effective tools to unlocking your full potential by identifying the success, challenges and moments of growth in 2023, yes that means looking at what worked and what totally failed during the year
Reflect on success and failures as a leader is the foundations of success for 2024
Learn from the Triumphs & Trials of 2023
When you stop and reflect back on the past 12 months, it helps lay down the foundation of leadership in the future. Think of it this way - every difficulty you faced and navigated is a leadership quality you earned in 2023! So before you set out to inspire a team, get that notepad and scribble your experiences down. You'd be amazed to uncover so much about your capabilities, resourcefulness and your resilience as a leader
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Three Questions to Use to Reflect on 2023 Success and Challenges
What Went Well - Let’s focus on the work front now - think about your accomplishments, even if it's as simple as a great idea that increased efficiency in your department, or as challenging as working out a thorny negotiation with a tough client. Praise yourself for the accomplishment
What Could Have Gone Better - Please don't shy away from accepting what you could have done differently. We are human, and shame and blame are not empowering emotions. Our journeys are bound to be fraught with mistakes and missteps, Embrace your failures by seeing what could have gone better, and where you are inspired to grow more in 2024.
How do I want to show up in 2024 - Don’t look at self-reflection as merely cataloguing events; instead, consider how you want to show up for yourself, your team, your family and friends daily.
Uncover What You’ve Forgotten or Taken for Granted
Keep the following tips in mind to make the most out of reflection:
Diary: Rummage through your diary, and your calendar to remind yourself of what you have worked on (projects, people, presentations, meetings), what you have experienced, and where you have been.
Photo reels: You took time to take pictures now is the time to scan through them, month by month. Photo reels are a brilliant way to remind yourself of the year, who you have met, where you have been, what you thought important and how much new, different and familiar you have experienced each week
Evaluate your Decisions: To decipher what worked for you and what didn’t consider the decisions made on what you have uncovered by rummaging through the diary
Review Feedback: Go back to reviews, think about any emails of praise or thanks you may have received, any acknowledgements in meetings for good work and any encouragement to do things differently. Incorporating feedback is vital to avoid leadership blind spots and can play a crucial role in setting you on a path of continuous growth.
Most Importantly
Congratulate yourself on having the courage to take a deep dive into yourself. Let your self-reflection cultivate empathy for yourself and team members and their journeys, as understanding their struggles and triumphs can help us lead better in 2024.
