Reflection The Power Is In The Mirror!
I have yet to meet anyone who can change the past nor predict the future. Many years ago I got introduced to an alien concept at the time and yet today continues to help guide many of my clients and myself here at Nick Roud Coaching.
Reflection.
To many it may feel like star gazing and pondering without much ‘action’ to others it can be life changing. There are many different names associated with reflection, could be journaling, morning / evening papers, note taking. What I have come to realise first hand is it very much grounds you to reality. It isn’t about change nor drastic course correction. Done well it can be a guid to what is actually going on for you. Over a period of time themes will start to appear. Are those written themes therefore enabling you to be an effective leader or de-railing you? What are you noticing about yourself.
This isn’t a tick box exercise and I know it doesn’t work for all so I ask you this, if you are curious about what could be, curious about seeing growing and developing it is a very useful daily activity that will unearth aspects that you might then want to do something about.
So how do I fit this into my already ‘busy’ day Nick?
Well like anything in life you have a choice, you can either choose to do it or choose not to do it. That’s for you to work out. That’s for you to take ownership of. That’s for you to look in the mirror and commit to. Many share to me oh Nick I have tried that stuff before and it didn’t work. My response is that’s ok maybe you were not in the right frame of mind to do it, where is that curiosity today?
For around 9 years I have kept a daily journal. It’s my reflection pages. Each night before I leave my office aka the 20ft shipping container I grab my journal book turn the page and write 3 good things for the day and 1 thing that hasn’t gone to plan or upset me. In line with the huge benefits of reflections I use it to notice what is actually going on for me. Where are my thoughts, what is making it to the page. What has allowed me to put pen to paper and list that ‘thing’. What I do not do is force it. If its not readily coming then its therefore not going down on the page and that is totally ok. Over the years I have started to notice themes, aspects of my life that I need to double down on could be structuring my day that enables me to be where I should be, could be relaxing a little more, could be push things forwards, could be move away from people who are not serving me or aligned to my values etc. Again when looking to reflect really think about the things that matter personally and professionally to you. Find your inner voice of reflection. Only you know yourself best!
As with anything I do here in my leadership and career coaching business there are no quick hacks, quick fixes. It’s the long game that we work together on, the future not the past. Leadership starts with you and the better you understand and know yourself the better a leader you will be.
So like any behavioural shift that you are looking to work on we must acknowledge that it will take time to get clarity, time to play around with things, time to actually move the needle. I’ve had senior leaders around the world get huge positive insight and benefit from reflection work, others it’s not resinated with them and both are completely ok. You do you!
In my CEO Coaching, senior executive and emerging leaders coaching program we investigate the positive and negative behaviours that are both enabling you and de-railing you. What is triggering those responses and lay pathways to enable you to leader better.
Reflections are like looking in the mirror. Only you will like or not like what is looking back at you. The hard work is ensuring that what you want to achieve is achieved. Coaching enables that, daily reflections is part of that and as a wise man once shared with me, the mirror never lies.
To discuss 1:1 leadership development, or to discuss your own professional development needs feel free to reach out to me on +6421375630. I hope this article has got you personally thinking. Reflections work, there is no hiding – come on what’s the worst thing that might happen…….you learn a little more about yourself.