Reflection in Leadership: A Season of Giving, a Year of Growth
With the season of giving upon us, have you taken a moment to look inward—not just through the lens of work, profits, or even goals for 2025, but in a way that lets you reflect on what’s truly valuable?
Christmas is a meaningful time built on core values of generosity, love, gratitude, joy, and togetherness. Yet, as we embrace this season’s spirit, it’s easy to give so entirely to others that we risk leaving ourselves empty of the qualities we cherish. To thrive in leadership, these values can’t just be a December focus; they must guide us consistently throughout the year.
In the fast-paced work environment, we often pour our energy into meeting demands, supporting others, and pushing for results. But just as peak performers in any field know, sustainable success requires intentional cycles of work and rest. Think of it as your rhythm of giving and recharging. Without moments of pause and reflection, overtraining at work eventually leads to fatigue and burnout. To lead effectively and bring out the best in others, we must remember also to nurture ourselves.
Think of this wisdom from Proverbs 27:19:
“As water reflects a face, so a heart reflects the person.”
Self-reflection isn’t self-criticism; it’s about recognising strengths, discovering growth, and staying true to the person you strive to be. By looking inward, you navigate challenges with clarity and resilience, stepping more intentionally into each day. Start with a few honest questions:
Did I lead with integrity today?
Was I aligned with my values?
What can I genuinely appreciate about this day?
Pausing to ask these questions can bring surprising clarity, setting you on a path that feels intentional and fulfilling.
If your first thought is, "I don’t have time for self-reflection," you’re not alone. When schedules are tight, reflection can feel like an indulgence. But think of it differently: a brief daily pause—just five minutes—can unlock insights that save you time, energy, and stress in the long run. Consider it an investment that can yield returns in resilience, wisdom, and more authentic leadership. A simple start could be:
What did I learn today?
Did I invest my time in what matters most?
Did I live well today?
These brief moments, these simple questions, can make all the difference. Reflection aligns your actions with your goals, creating a ripple effect in everything you do. My most significant learning and why these questions are important is how they helped me ‘set boundaries’. As a young senior executive, I recall being lopsided and unbalanced in my priorities. I was trying to prove my credibility as a young director in a relatively large company and neglecting my wife and young children. I can still recall the conversation when my wonderful wife burst into tears out of sheer frustration, and she said: “I’m tired of the children and I being in the back seat of the car of life and you and the company sitting up front. Put me in front with you and push the company into the back seat.!" Ouch! This rightfully hit me straight between the eyes. It is an incredible word picture and one I have never forgotten. The outcome of this meeting is we instituted a weekly coffee date, and I set the last two reflective questions as anchors to check my alignment: Did I invest my time in what matters most? Did I live well today? Doing so has helped me maintain a much better balance in my life.
I assure you that taking time daily to reflect, even for a few minutes, can become your way of giving back to yourself—keeping you aligned, refreshed, and ready to lead. Imagine a year guided by these values woven into your daily leadership practice. Here’s how we can embrace them:
Generosity: Are you giving generously to your team with encouragement, trust, and time? Generosity in leadership isn’t just about resources but about creating a space where people feel valued and supported.
Love: Show love through compassion and care. Connecting with your team, understanding their unique challenges, and supporting their growth will build stronger relationships and a more cohesive team.
Gratitude: Find moments each day to reflect on what you’re grateful for. Acknowledging even small wins or acts of kindness can transform your outlook and infuse your leadership with positivity.
Joy: Let joy show up in your work. Celebrate progress, encourage humour, and allow yourself to feel the satisfaction of meaningful work. When you bring joy into the workplace, it elevates the entire team’s experience.
Togetherness: Foster a spirit of unity by building a robust and supportive team environment. Recognise that everyone plays a role in your collective success and that you can achieve far more together.
I only set up one-on-one meetings with my direct reports (DRs) in my early leadership years. One of the lessons I learnt from the personal life experience I shared earlier is to ‘invest my time in what matters most’ within my leadership role – my team – all of them - formally and informally, as businesses are people serving people! I made it a mission to meet with every team member formally one-on-one every quarter – my direct reports would get the greater frequency, but everyone would get one-on-one time every quarter. (To do this, I scheduled fortnightly, monthly and quarterly performance and development meetings aligning frequency to role responsibility) This enabled me to identify and develop ‘the bench’ and gain deeper insights into how my DRs led their teams. Additionally, I prioritised walking the floor daily to connect with my team and the broader team as best I could. This daily practice enabled me to embrace and demonstrate the above values – generosity, love, gratitude, joy and togetherness - and ensure the team felt ‘seen, heard and understood. I assure you there is power in practising reflective thinking and acting on the insights.
This Christmas, challenge yourself to let these values shape your holiday season and your leadership approach in the year ahead. To make self-reflection a part of this journey, here are a few practical steps for daily practice throughout 2025:
Morning Intentions: Each morning, reflect on one of the core values—how can you bring it to life that day?
End-of-Day Reflections and Gratitude: Wrap up each day by answering reflective questions that work for you. Also, practice gratitude, noting one thing you’re thankful for and how it added meaning to your day.
Weekly Review: Set aside time once a week to look back. How did you show generosity, love, gratitude, joy, and togetherness in your interactions? Where can you do even better?
Monthly Reflection: At the end of each month, take stock. How have these values impacted your work and relationships? Reflect on what you want to carry forward.
Self-reflection doesn’t demand perfection, only consistency. Let this self-reflection practice be your steady reminder of the leader you strive to be—one who Leads with intention, reflects with purpose, and grows with heart. Everyone deserves to be led well. So, Lead with Impact!
Wishing you a season filled with meaning and a year guided by values,
Gary Good
Founder - LeaderLegacy
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