Reflection is a powerful tool for growth and clarity. Taking the time to thoughtfully answer key questions about your past year provides insights into what worked, what didn’t, and where you can adjust for the future. In Step 1B of the Performance Planner, you will explore specific reflection questions on pages 7 and 8 to assess your wins, challenges, and areas of growth. This process sets the stage for intentional and impactful planning for the year ahead. Take as much time as you need, but 15-30 minutes would be a good amount at minimum.
Why Reflection Matters
Reflection questions are not just a mental exercise; they are a mirror that helps you see patterns, understand your values, and identify opportunities for change. This step bridges the gap between where you have been and where you want to go.
Here are three key reasons reflection is essential:
- Clarify Successes: Recognize what contributed to your achievements and how you can replicate those strategies moving forward.
- Identify Energy Drains: Understanding what drained your energy allows you to create boundaries or systems to avoid similar pitfalls.
- Focus on Growth: Pinpoint areas for improvement so you can create actionable plans to address them.
How to Use the Reflection Questions
The questions are self-explanatory but in general, you are inventorying in noticing:
- Biggest Wins and Proudest Moments: Reflect on your major accomplishments, both personally and professionally. What stands out as your proudest achievement? Example: Completing a major work project, building a new habit, or fostering stronger relationships.
- Lessons Learned: Consider what you learned and how you grew. These lessons can be powerful tools for your future. Example: Learning to delegate effectively or discovering the importance of maintaining a work-life balance.
- Energy Audit: What gave you energy, and what drained you? This insight can help you align your actions with activities that energize and fulfill you. Example: Noticing that creative projects inspired you, while back-to-back meetings left you feeling depleted.
- Habits, Routines, and Actions: Evaluate which habits propelled you forward and which ones held you back. Example: Daily exercise kept you focused, while late-night scrolling disrupted your sleep and productivity.
Expanding the Exercise
To take this step even further, consider these additional activities:
- Journaling: Write freely about your reflections to uncover deeper insights. Focus on “why” certain moments stood out to you.
- Highlight Themes: Identify recurring themes in your responses. For example, you might notice a pattern of thriving in collaborative environments or struggling with time management.
- Note Goals: Use the lessons from this exercise to start noticing desired actions and goals for the coming year. For instance, “Spend more time on creative projects that energize me.”
Example Insights from Reflection Questions
- Sarah realized her most fulfilling moments were tied to mentoring her team, which shaped her goal to prioritize leadership development.
- Jake identified that his biggest challenges stemmed from overcommitting, leading him to set boundaries for the upcoming year.
Reflection is not about perfection; it is about progress. Each insight you uncover becomes a building block for your future. Remember, every answer matters and every lesson learned is a step toward growth and success.
Happy reflecting!
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Introducing the Performance Planner: Reflect, Focus, Achieve
