THE POWER OF REGULAR
SELF-REFLECTION

Self-reflection, as a practice, is regularly giving serious thought to your own workplace behaviours, actions, and potential biases. It is a deliberate and thoughtful process that requires you to look inward and critically analyse your day-to-day actions, decisions, and interactions against your own personal and professional standards. It helps you identify areas for improvement as well as areas where you excel.

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The habit of self-reflection has been shown to markedly increase connectivity, productivity, and performance. Research from Harvard Business School (Bailey, J., Rehman S., (2022)) indicates that participants who spent 15 minutes at the end of each day reflecting on their experiences performed 23 percent better after ten days than those who did not engage in self-reflection. This improvement can be attributed to the clarity and focus that self-reflection brings. By reflecting on how you approach tasks and identifying what you can do differently, you can refine your strategies and enhance your effectiveness.

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Why Don’t People Self-Reflect More Often?

Despite its clear benefits, many people, particularly leaders, do not engage in regular self-reflection. There are several reasons for this reluctance.

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Firstly, many people simply do not know how to self-reflect. They are unsure of what questions to ask themselves or how to structure their reflective practice.

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Secondly, the process of self-reflection can be uncomfortable. It requires you to open yourself up, lean into your vulnerability, and take personal responsibility for things that may not be going as planned. This can be a daunting prospect, especially for those who are accustomed to projecting confidence and control.

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Finally, many of us are action-oriented individuals. The idea of sitting down and doing nothing but thinking, even for just 15 minutes a day, can seem completely foreign and unproductive. We are often so focused on doing and achieving that we neglect the importance of pausing to reflect.

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How to Practice Self-Reflection

Here are some steps to help you get started:

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Dedicate a specific time each day for self-reflection. This could be at the end of your workday, during a lunch break, or in the evening before bed. Consistency is key to making self-reflection a habit.

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Ask the Right Questions To guide your reflection, ask yourself questions such as:

• What went well today?

• What challenges did I face?

• How did I handle those challenges?

• What could I have done differently?

• What did I learn today?

• How can I apply these lessons moving forward?​

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Be Honest and Kind with Yourself Acknowledge your strengths as well as your areas for improvement. The goal is not to criticise yourself but to learn and grow.

 

Use a Journal Writing down your thoughts can help you organise and process them more effectively.

 

Actively Seek Feedback In addition to self-reflection, seek feedback from colleagues, mentors, or leaders. Their perspectives can provide valuable insights that you may not have considered.

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Integrating Self-Reflection into Your Work Routine

Here are some tips for making self-reflection a regular part of your working life:

 

Start Small Begin with short self-reflection sessions, such as five minutes at the end of each day. Gradually increase the duration to about 15 minutes as you become more comfortable with the practice.

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Create the Right Environment Find a quiet and comfortable space where you can reflect without distractions.

Make It a Team Effort Encourage your colleagues or your team members to engage in self-reflection as well. Share your experiences and insights with each other and support one another in your reflective journeys.

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Celebrate Your Success Acknowledge and celebrate the progress you make through self-reflection. Recognise the positive changes in your behaviour, performance, and mindset.

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Research referred to attributed to:

James R. Bailey Professor and Hochberg Fellow of Leadership at George Washington University. Scheherazade Rehman Professor and Dean’s Professorial Fellow of International Finance. Director of the European Union Research Center.

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See also:

Bailey, J., Rehman S., (2022). Don’t Underestimate the Power of Self-Reflection. Harvard Business Review, https://hbr.org/2022/03/dont-underestimate-the-power-of-self-reflection