- by Sophie Pinkoski

In the high-pressure world of leadership, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind of putting important decisions into action. The chaotic demands of the role often leave little time to pause. Yet the most impactful growth doesn’t just come from doing—it comes from thinking. Mindful reflection is, in fact, the unsung hero of effective leadership and when done effectively, can be a transformative tool to help shape leaders into their best selves. When you set aside time to reflect on your week, you prioritize your development as a leader. It may seem intimidating, getting into the habit. Many leaders struggle to see the benefit of regular reflection if they see it as cutting into their already busy schedule. What’s more, it can be difficult, facing negative thoughts and feelings that come with certain experiences. But spending quality time exploring both negative and positive reactions to events can help you build up your emotional intelligence, and with it, your self-awareness.

Self-reflection lets you slow down and analyze what happened in your day. It’s not just about looking back.

Looking inward to examine your actions, beliefs, and emotions with honesty and curiosity can become a key tool in your arsenal for more efficient decision making and strengthened relationships with your stakeholders and team.

The practice of reflection doesn’t have to be as time consuming as you think. Start small and work your way up. This can be 10 to 20 minutes per week to wind down and process your experiences. Eventually you can build up to 15 minutes per day. It may not feel like much at first, but consistent self-reflection can lead to positive change in your life. Over time, you might feel significantly less stress, thus avoiding the risk of burn-out. In fact, it was found that people who take just 5 minutes at the end of their day to reflect see a 23% better performance than those who don’t.

Here are ways to make the most of self-reflection:

Build the habit–– The key to creating a productive habit of self-reflection is to find a routine that works for you. Everyone’s thought processes are different, so it might take you some time to experiment to find your ideal routine. Some people record their thoughts through journaling. Others prefer talking things through with trusted friends, family, colleagues, coaches, or a therapist. Finding the time in your day to reflect can be as simple as reflecting during your commute from work.

Fill a passive pocket of time you’re already spending away from your role with reflection in a way that feels most comfortable and authentic to you.

Once you find an effective reflection process, you can start asking probing questions. For instance, to debrief after a meeting or event, you might explore what happened and how it made you feel. What do these feelings mean? What do you have control over and what might you do differently next time? Reflecting on such questions lets you examine what went well and what can be improved.

Visualize your best self–– The experience of self-reflection can be intense. It is therefore helpful to narrow down your focus to a specific intention. This way, you’re not bombarded by an onslaught of broader memories and the emotions that come with them. Focusing your intentions might mean visualizing your ideal self, which can help you set necessary goals to achieve your full potential.

Identify skills and strengths in leaders you admire, then consider which of these traits you already have.

This is a great way to assess your skill gaps and how they might be filled through further professional development. As you settle into your routine of regularly reflecting and visualizing your best self, you can transfer this skill to your team, instilling in them the ideal behaviours you expect from them. If you can set a positive example for your team, you create a culture of empathy and support throughout your organization.

Embrace opportunities for transformative learning–– Another way to harness self-reflection is by confronting your beliefs, assumptions, and biases. This perceptive reflection helps you gauge how people see you versus how you want to be seen.

There can often be a disconnect between how we see ourselves and how others actually see us.

Asking yourself questions about who you truly want to be helps you identify the work required to get you there. Encourage honest feedback from your team to assess their perspective of you. Once you have this information, you can explore ways to align these two images to better reflect the person you aspire to be.

Leadership isn’t just about what you do; it’s about who you become. Reflection is the mirror that helps you see your growth, strengths, and areas for improvement. It can be an impactful motivator that empowers not just you, but your team as well.

Further Reading

The Key To Leadership Development Is Critical Reflection, Forbes

As Leaders, Reflection Needs To Be A Rhythm, Forbes

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Self-Reflection, Harvard Business Review

Why You Should Make Time for Self-Reflection (Even If You Hate Doing It), Harvard Business Review

The Importance of Reflecting on your leadership Journey, Linked In

Leadership Starts with Self-Reflection, Fluency Leadership

How Self-Reflection Can Improve Your Leadership, Notre Dame Deloitte Centre for Ethical Leadership

Five Ways Leaders Can Practice Self Reflection and Why It’s Important for Business Growth, People Management

Reflective Leadership: The Importance of Self-awareness and Introspection, Align Today