If you are not a naturally reflective person, it can be hard to even comprehend the point of it. You are probably a more action oriented, just get it done kind of person. Countless research, including the study we did for our first book Real Leaders for the World highlights the benefits of some reflection and that successful people use it well, to help them be even more successful…
Find out more about our leadership study in this short video.
The purpose of self reflection is to learn, to inform yourself better in the future.
It is not about countless hours of navel gazing and self analysis. For practical approaches to self learning try out this approach:
- Find out your ideal time chunk sort. See our previous blog on this. You need to reflect over a time period that suits you best, small time chunkers will reflect best in quick short burst, like reflecting on a meeting or conversation. Big time chunkers will reflect best over longer periods an in a bit more depth, like each week or even month. Complete our quick quiz to find out how do you chunk your time.
- Use these simple three questions to guide your reflection and keep focused:
- What did I achieve or do well?
- What could I improve on or do differently?
- Are there other ways I could have done this?
- Overall how did it go?
- Stand back from your own thoughts and consider it from an outsiders perspective. Are you too emotional, too unemotional in your reflection? Too easy on yourself or too hard on yourself? How would an objective observer view it?
The key to useful self reflection is that it is as accurate as possible, so it can be a good idea to get other peoples’ perspectives too. Once you can rely on your own self reflective then your intuition will strengthen and you will be able to trust yourself more.
Action oriented people are more likely to be tempted by quick fix solutions, find out why it’s a good idea to think these through to avoid wasted time and energy and to avoid disappointment. Watch our video about this.
Image by: https://www.freepik.com/author/javi-indy
