REFLECTION

Dec

2021

Planning for the New Year

One holiday ended and we are rapidly approaching the New Year. This is the time people set a goal or a “resolution” and inevitably within weeks break that resolution. Last year during this time we had to get out of town because of the craziness of 2020 so my usual reflection didn’t not happen.

This year I will take time to reflect on the past year and prepare for the next both professionally and personally. I know this, I am the limiter to my success. If I don’t take time to plan a path of growth, I will limit the potential success I can have.

Last year around this time I shared a friend’s method of evaluating the year. This year can I share with you a personal growth plan? If you read to the end you will see a link to a page where you can get a free resource to help you think into your growth plan.

Vision

Purpose and vision can easily get confused. This is when we are asking what am I about right now? Purpose is our “why” behind all we do. For example, I do what I do to help leaders transform so they can be transformational agents at work, home, and in their communities. A vision statement for this purpose is what I am about for a period. For example, on a personal level my vision is to equip my children to be men who know and live out their purpose. This vision will change as they leave my home.

A professional vision specifically relates to your professional life. You may desire to get promoted to a new position or grow your business results to a certain level. Maybe you see an area you need to grow in professionally that you want to focus on. This vision is something that will keep you moving toward your professional goals.

Top 5 Values

At times with one on one clients I challenge them to determine their values. Knowing our top values serves as a filter for knowing what to say no to as we make decisions. Many tools exist that can help you determine your values. If you need help determining your top values let me know and I can provide a resource to assist in that process.

Top 3 Goals

This is where we get very specific. Look at the next thirty days and decide what are three specific, measurable, reachable, and stretching goals you want to accomplish both personally and professionally. Next look at three months and determine the same answer. Finally determine what the top three things you want to accomplish this next year are both personally and professionally.

Annual Personal Development Goals

This final section is broader and more focused on intentionally developing ourselves. In the book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership author and leadership expert John Maxwell’s first law is The Law of the Lid which states:

“Leadership ability determines a person’s level of effectiveness.”

We are the lid on our business, leadership, and life. This final section helps us think intentionally about ways to raise our lid by increasing our awareness. One of the ways to accomplish this is learning from others. As you think into the year ahead what books will you read, people will you intentionally meet and learn from, and events will you attend to help you grow? This will provide a simple personal growth plan to maintain.

One Word

For a few years now I have decided on a word for the year. This may or may not be a beneficial exercise for you. I find it provides a simple purpose or vision for the next twelve months that I can easily remember. It could be courage, focus, trust, discipline, or any number of words. Don’t overthink this one. Let the word come to you. You will know it when it does.

I hope you have found this helpful. As I mentioned at the beginning if you want a resource to help you walk through this process go to https://bit.ly/WheelPGP to receive access to your free growth plan guide. Make the most intentional and purposeful year yet! Lead Well.

Dec

2020

Reflection and Planning for the New Year

I was listening to a friend and mentor of mine share his method of year end reflection and planning. I found it extremely helpful and wanted to share with you. Ray shared four “R’s” to use in looking back and planning for the future.

In each section I will provide the quadrant and then a few, but not all of the questions he suggests we ask ourselves. I hope you find this helpful.

Review

First, we review the past year. I have heard many ways this can be done. One person I know will look at his calendar and evaluate the use of his time. Using the calendar, if you or someone else keeps an accurate one for you, gives us an objective review to see trends in our life and the following questions Ray provides may help us in that review process:

What is life pushing up? – this may be a reoccurring theme you see from your life
What is life pushing out? – Things in your business or life are no longer needed or relevant
What is life trying to push me toward? – maybe there is a reoccurring opportunity

Remember

One of my mentors at the end of the year scrolls through his phone looking at all the pictures to remember what happened in the past year. This helps him reflect and celebrate what occurred. As we move out of review to remember here are some questions that may be helpful:

What is it that I need to celebrate?
Who do I need to honor?
Where do I need to breathe? – areas you need space and margin in your life

Release

Each year we have both good and bad experiences personally and professionally. We need to explore these and determine what we need to let go of. Maybe our calendar should be cleared of certain experiences or responsibilities. Possibly there is something we need to release emotionally. To help us determine what to release use these questions:

What thing do I need to release? – a physical thing
Who are the people I need to release? – relationships have a lifespan at times and if a relationship does not serve us, we need to let it go
What are the activities I need to release? – maybe some activities are not serving us well anymore
What commitments do I need to release? – look at what we need to say “no” to

Reset or Renew

This is the part where we are looking ahead. I remember playing my Nintendo Entertainment System as a kid and needing to press the reset button because of frustration. This is true for all of us. Especially after a year like 2020 we may have realized through forced shutdown that we need to set aside time to renew ourselves so we can lead ourselves and others from a healthy place. These are Ray’s questions that help us stay energized as we move ahead:

Is my focus in alignment with my purpose? – if you don’t know your purpose, get clarity there
What do I need to do to renew my energy physically, spiritually, and emotionally?
How do I need to renew my environment? – office, home

This can be a difficult, but necessary process. Maybe this helps you or you want to adjust it. If you need help thinking into your results then connect with me and let’s talk. Reflect on this year and move ahead to make next year even better. Lead Well.