Archive for the ‘reflective practice’ Category

Every Thursday, we provide you with a thoughtful way to coach yourself – something all leaders need to do. So take five – enjoy the inspirational quotes and reflect on the questions that follow. 

“When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.” William Arthur Ward

Recall a time when you were open to finding what was good in someone:

• What did you discover and learn about that person?
• What did your discovery bring out in you?

Consider someone whom you feel is adversarial to you or your leadership.

• What is good in this person? How might you help them to foster their “good”?
• What is the first step you could take in helping them to foster their “good”?
• When will you begin?

My clients are on overwhelm! It doesn’t seem to matter what organization they are in or what position they have within that organization.

A common goal for leaders is to be “agile”. Essentially, agility is the ability to change directions quickly. This often requires fast decision making.

Most leaders claim it is impossible to put “reflection time” into their day. Yet often, simply blocking out 15 minutes of time once a day to THINK about a big decision, strategy or direction can make a huge difference. Some prefer to journal. Some prefer to have a discussion partner (or a coach). Some meditate.

Even when I was an executive in a Fortune 500, raising a family, traveling for business, and active in a local non profit, I understood the importance of having that reflective time and blocked it out twice a day (total of 40 minutes a day). For me, this time has always taken the form of meditation. I missed only a handful of these precious sessions in my entire career.

I really believe in the importance of a reflective practice to leadership. Try it, I think you’ll find that with some discipline (no excuses for missing it!), 15 minutes a day to reflect will make you a better leader and increase agility.