Reflect, Refine, Lead; charting your own leadership journey map
Feb 15, 2024
It can be easy for us as leaders to become immersed in day-to-day challenges, focusing solely on the next goal or overcoming the next obstacle. In this future focus we miss out on the value in taking a step back and intentionally mapping our leadership journey, reflecting on where we have come from, our achievements and the challenges we have overcome along the way.
Reflection is a tool for leaders to understand the dynamics of our leadership journey. It allows for the identification of patterns; both successful strategies and areas for improvement. Mapping our journey helps us to re-visit the highs of our wins and perhaps the lows of missing out on your dream job or being made redundant. Theres the moment you got to the pinnacle only to realise its not all you thought it would be, or what seemed like an amazing opportunity left you feeling like you were a round peg trying to fit into a square hole.
If you think back over your journey can you relate to all of these moments and more?
If you created a map of your journey, what would it look like?
Grab a pen and paper now, and start your map, consider the following questions:
- What have been the big moments?
- Have there been moments that felt small at the time, but in retrospect you can feel the magnitude of what you learnt or the impact it had on you?
- Reflect on the person you were when you started, could you have imagined how far you have come and how much you have learnt?
- Were your biggest learnings the peaks or the troughs?
- When you reflect on your journey, is it the highs or the lows you have spent the most time thinking about? Is this the right way around?
Take this opportunity to think about times you had to back yourself, times you had to pick yourself up and dust yourself off to keep going, times you wanted to escape and times you wanted to be seen and heard. What did you learn about yourself in these times?
What do you want to take forward?
Leaders who regularly engage in this introspective practice are better equipped to make informed decisions, adapt to evolving challenges, and foster continuous improvement within their teams.
A well-mapped leadership journey serves as a compass, guiding you toward future success. It facilitates the cultivation of a growth mindset, encouraging you to embrace challenges as opportunities for development and gain a holistic understanding of your professional evolution.
Investing time to map your leadership journey and reflecting on your achievements unlock a powerful tool for personal and professional development. This intentional practice not only enhances your leadership capabilities but also contributes to creating a positive and impactful leadership legacy.
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