Year End Reflections - The Benefits of Looking Back
How will you benefit from lessons learned as you move into 2022?
A memorable speaker once said that although many thought leaders strongly encourage moving forward and focusing on momentum, there are several benefits to be found in looking back. He then went on to use the analogy of driving a car, illustrating how often we look in the rearview mirror, in comparison to how much time we spend looking out the windshield. Obviously we focus more on where we are going, but both tasks are important.
When driving, we only glance in the rearview mirror briefly to ensure we are safe from any danger that is not directly in our line of vision. Of course what we see determines what we do next, and can affect the decisions we make in the moment. However, if we spent too much time looking back, we would inevitably crash, but there are also risks if we don't take a moment to glance in the rearview mirror from time to time. So as we wind down from 2021, how can we look back in a positive and productive way, while also focusing on the year ahead? An article on the Forbes platform suggests asking these penetrating questions to help get you started:
- What worked well that I am grateful for?
- What was challenging or disappointing?
- What were my most meaningful moments?
- Where did I fail? What did I learn?
- What does success look like for me next year?
According to Harvard Business Review, the practice of reflection (although very common) is not always embraced and is even overlooked by some leaders. An excerpt from this article on reflection states: "At its simplest, reflection is about careful thought...the most useful reflection involves the conscious consideration and analysis of beliefs and actions for the purpose of learning. Reflection gives the brain an opportunity to pause amidst the chaos, untangle and sort through observations and experiences...and create meaning. This meaning becomes learning, which can then inform future mindsets and actions. For leaders, this “meaning making” is crucial to their ongoing growth and development." Other words of wisdom included the advice to start reflecting for 10 minutes to begin with, reaching out to get help, and even finding a "thought partner" to keep you accountable. One such partner could be the brilliant Gabby Bernstein and her podcast on manifesting your desires into reality in 2022!
Perhaps Modern Link could also be one of your partners or service providers. Our team of professionals have varying degrees of experience and expertise and are standing by to help move your business forward into the new year! We invite you to book a free discovery call to see if our virtual support services can help with your year end reflections and your success in 2022.
"The way we experience the world around us
is a direct reflection of the world within us"
Sources: HarvardBusinessReview/ForbesContributor/GabbyBernstein
Modern Link Times
