While leaders often feel the pressure to act quickly and decisively, some of the most effective leadership comes from taking a step back and reflecting. For example, Bill Gates is known for his annual “Think Weeks,” where he isolates himself to read, think deeply and inspire his creativity. Strategic pauses can lead to more informed and impactful decisions. In the hustle and bustle of daily business, when was the last time you truly paused?
Now, I realise that September can be particularly busy, with a corresponding squeeze on your time. But even with this extra pressure it’s crucial to reassess, recalibrate, and reflect before diving headlong into the final quarter of the year (although, you don’t have to take a whole week to do it!).
The Science Behind Reflection
Reflection improves performance, boosts creativity, and helps in making better decisions. For example, a Harvard Business School study found that employees who spent 15 minutes at the end of the day reflecting about lessons learned performed 23% better after ten days than those who did not. Just imagine the benefits of you (and your team) performing over 20% better!
It’s not just good for employees. Reflection helps leaders gain clarity, understand their own emotions and reactions, and see the bigger picture. This can help to better navigate challenges and make more strategic decisions.
Effective Reflection strategies
Of course, this wouldn’t be Brighter Thinking’ Tips if it didn’t have constructive ideas on how you can put this advice into practice, so here they are:
Set aside a dedicated time each day or week (e.g. early mornings, late evenings, or during a lunch break) to find yourself a quiet, distraction-free environment, whether it’s a private office space or a peaceful spot outdoors. Here you can use such techniques as Mindful Meditation, which can help you to clear your mind, reduce stress, and focus on the present moment.
Self-Questioning: ask reflective questions like:
“What assumptions am I making?”
“How do my decisions align with my core values?”
“What impact am I having on my team?”
It’s worth spending some time on these questions. The answers don’t always come immediately, but when they do, they can be very revealing.
Journalling: I often encourage leaders to write down thoughts, experiences, and lessons learned, suggesting prompts such as:
“What are the key challenges I faced this week, and how did I handle them?”
“What went well, and what could have been done differently?”
“What are my top priorities for the coming weeks?”
Doing this helps leaders gain clarity on their thoughts and feelings, enabling better decision-making and personal growth.
How to Encourage a Culture of Reflection in Your Team (and family!)
• Lead by Example: Model reflective practices, showing others that taking time to think is not just acceptable but encouraged. Time spent planning is rarely wasted.
• Team Reflection Sessions: Suggest holding regular meetings focused on reflection, where everyone can share insights, feedback, and lessons learned.
• Feedback Loops: Implement feedback systems where employees feel safe to express their thoughts and ideas, creating a positive culture of continuous learning and improvement.
The Long-Term Benefits of Pausing
A team that regularly pauses and reflects fosters continuous improvement, enhances collaboration, and builds a resilient, adaptive culture over the long term.
Pausing is not a sign of weakness or indecision, but a powerful leadership tool. Reflective leaders are better equipped to handle challenges, inspire their teams, and steer their organisations toward success.
I encourage you to start implementing reflection in your daily routine. How about testing one of the practical tips for a week and noting the difference it makes? I’d love to hear how you get on!
Contact me for more personalised guidance or even just to share your thoughts on this topic. I always enjoy hearing from ‘Brighter Thinkers’!
“Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is relax.”
– Mark Black