Why You Should Practice Self-Reflection

I used to think reflection was something you did in school, therapy, or after a bad decision. Turns out, when the water is rippling you can’t see your reflection, sometimes you have to stand still and let the water settle to see your reflection. When you’re leading a team, everything moves fast. Ideas are flying, emotions are high, ambition is loud, and everyone wants answers immediately. You can very easily fall into the trap of just reacting. Fixing. Deciding. Moving on. Onto the next thing. No pause. No processing. No thinking about what just happened and why. And that’s where leaders get it wrong. Reflection is what stops you from repeating the same issues dressed up as “new problems.” It’s what helps you understand why the same conversations keep coming up, why certain people disengage, or why you feel constantly exhausted even though, on paper, things are going well. As a CEO and careers leader, especially with a younger team, you are not just managing work. You are shaping how people learn, how they experience leadership, and how they understand their own potential. If you don’t reflect, you end up projecting your stress straight onto them. That’s when you start confusing urgency with importance and control with leadership. And here’s the bit people don’t say out loud: reflection isn’t just about the team. It starts with you. As a CEO, self-reflection is uncomfortable because there’s no one above you to sense-check things. No one is popping into your office to say, “By the way, that came across a bit sharp,” or “You’ve been a nightmare this week, are you alright?” You have to be willing to ask yourself those questions before they turn into culture problems. You have to be honest about whether you’re leading from clarity or from pressure. Young teams feel everything. They notice tone, they read between the lines, they learn what leadership looks like by watching how you handle mistakes, uncertainty, and stress. If you never reflect, you teach them that speed matters more than growth and that being busy is more impressive than being thoughtful. Reflection is what allows you to respond instead of react. It’s what helps you say, “Actually, I could have handled that better,” without seeing it as weakness. It’s what turns mistakes into learning rather than quiet resentment on both sides. Sometimes reflection is five minutes asking yourself why that conversation irritated you so much. Sometimes it’s admitting you’re overloaded and expecting everyone else to absorb it. Sometimes it’s realising your team isn’t the problem, society is. Good leaders don’t have all the answers. Reflective leaders ask better questions of themselves first. Now, off I go to reflect on why I said yes to three things I absolutely did not have the capacity for. Signed, Jackson Chief Careers Officer Mission to inspire 100 million people with career advice globally.

When Is a brilliant jerk just a jerk? Why do we tolerate people who deliver results but leave chaos in their wake? Having worked in recruitment for years, I’ve seen it time and again: companies excuse flawed leaders simply because they’re high performers. Often, these individuals are promoted beyond their capabilities, amplifying their negative impact on their teams. I’ve frequently questioned how these behaviours align with our stated company values. Why do managers “turn a blind eye.” overlooking poor conduct simply because ‘Sam’ bills over $1 million a year? One of my more memorable career experiences involved a former CEO who loved quoting a famed All Blacks rugby player's book: “Guys, we have a no d**kheads policy here,” he’d proudly declare. Yet, as people shuffled out of the board room, whispers of his behaviour would follow. Ironically, he was perhaps the biggest d**khead in the company—a textbook brilliant jerk. Unchecked, these individuals kill company culture, sap morale, and erode trust. I know this all too well because I’ve been there. Looking back on my early leadership days, I cringe. Was I that jerk? The reflection hurt. But it’s true. I was a jerk. I needed to change. I recognised that leadership is more than results. Empathy. Communication. Adaptability. Emotional intelligence. Compassion. These aren’t just “soft skills” – they’re essential for thriving in the workplace and growing as a leader. The good news. You can develop them too. But one often overlooked skill is reflection. If you are serious about your leadership, you must "hold up the mirror." Self-reflection is the foundation for personal and professional growth. It allows you to: -- Assess your strengths, weaknesses, and behaviours. -- Identify blind spots. -- Make better decisions and solve problems more effectively. -- Stay aligned with your core values and goals. Research shows that the habit of reflection separates extraordinary leaders from mediocre ones. I’d go so far as to argue that it’s the cornerstone of all other leadership skills. Reflection takes courage. It’s intentional. Deliberate. Thoughtful. Reflection is a practice. You can make it a daily habit—a ritual. Yet reflection isn’t easy. It’s uncomfortable and ego-bruising. But it’s also necessary. Great leaders don’t just learn from their successes—they mine their failures for insights, using the lessons to shape a better future. Being at the “top of your game” only comes when you extract how to engage the future from your past. But go easy on yourself. Excellence comes from falling, standing up, and dusting yourself off. Study those failures, and you’ll be less likely to trip again. Flawed leaders will always exist, but without self-reflection, you might become one of them. Don’t let brilliance turn into arrogance. Instead, commit to growing into the kind of leader who elevates both results and relationships. You need reflection to avoid ending up being a jerk.

Being busy feels productive… until it doesn’t. Sound familiar? It’s a trap I’ve seen many people fall into (myself included). A calendar with weekdays packed from 9-6 pm, inbox near zero, every hour maximized. But by Friday afternoon, what was the actual impact? In a Harvard Business School study, people who paused for just 15 minutes of reflection performed 23% better than those who didn’t. Self-reflection is a form of 'deliberate practice.' Research by psychologist Anders Ericsson shows that top performers systematically reflect on their performance to improve. It was not overnight, but over time, I’ve stepped away from measuring my week by the volume of my work. No matter where I am, each week I carve out a few minutes to reflect—not on busyness, but on value. A few questions I always come back to include: • What conversation this week will still be creating value in a month? • What assumption did I hold on Monday that was proven wrong by Friday? • Where was I able to contribute the most value? • What did I learn that should be applied to next week? Think of reflection as compound interest for your career. A small, consistent investment of focused thought yields massive returns in clarity, continuous improvement and impact over time. How do you close your week with purpose? What's one question that helps you start the next one stronger? Share your thoughts in the comments. #Growth #CareerDevelopment #Productivity #Reflection

Reflection is one of the most powerful tools for growth. Yet, its so easy to overlook. I've always asked myself: What’s working? What isn’t? What can I do better? Make this happen: 1. Block Time: Put an hour on your calendar at the end of each month. Treat it as a non-negotiable meeting with yourself. 2. Ask the Right Questions: I use these prompts: • What were my biggest wins this month? • What challenges did I face, and how did I handle them? • What lessons did I learn? • Where did I spend my time, and was it aligned with my goals? • What do I want to do differently next month? 3. Write It Down: There’s something powerful about putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). Documenting your thoughts helps clarify them and gives you something to review later. 4. Set Intentions: Based on your reflection, identify 2-3 priorities for the next month. Keep them actionable and specific. Reflection is about learning from your experiences. It’s about stepping back, recalibrating, and moving forward with intention.

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿. Most people rush through their days without stopping to think. This was me for years. I'd rush from meeting to meeting, decision to decision, rarely pausing to consider what worked and what didn't. The results? • Repeated mistakes • Missed opportunities • Limited personal growth • Team frustration 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Here's what happened: → I identified patterns in my decision-making → I recognized blind spots in my leadership approach → I connected dots between seemingly unrelated challenges → My team felt more heard when I implemented their feedback The power wasn't in complex frameworks or expensive coaching. It was in asking simple questions: • What went well today? • What could I have handled better? • What did I learn? • How can I apply this tomorrow? This practice transformed not just my leadership but my life. Moments of quiet contemplation revealed solutions I couldn't see when constantly moving. The best leaders I know make reflection non-negotiable. It's not about having more time - it's about making better use of the time you have. Try this: Block 15 minutes before bed tonight. Ask yourself those four questions. Write down your answers. Do this for one week and watch what happens. I'm Jason. What reflection practice has most impacted your leadership journey?

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗛𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 ✨ * * 𝙍𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙚𝙡𝙛-𝙍𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 The difference between leaders who keep growing and those who hit a ceiling often comes down to one practice: radical self-reflection. Not a soft, casual pause — but a disciplined, honest, sometimes uncomfortable look in the mirror. This habit has completely reshaped how I lead, innovate, and respond to feedback. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲: 🔍 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽. McKinsey research shows that 70% of leadership failures are due to low self-awareness — blind spots that weaken trust, credibility, and decision-making. 🧩 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗶𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀. When we don’t pause to reflect, we unconsciously repeat mistakes and block our own growth. ⚡ 𝗜𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Reflection isn’t just about looking back — it’s about designing what comes next. 💡 𝗠𝘆 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵, 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:  > What worked? > What didn’t? > What assumptions need challenging? > Asking for unfiltered feedback from trusted peers. > Turning insights into measurable goals. 👉 Try this: Block out just 30 minutes this week for focused reflection and journaling. Notice what shifts for you. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? #LeadershipDevelopment #SelfAwareness #GrowthMindset #AdaptiveLeadership #ElevatewithPatrice

Whether in my classes at Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management or when speaking to companies, organizations, and schools around the world, I’m often asked to explain one of my core principles: self-reflection. As I tell people, this principle is foundational to being a values-based leader because if we don’t know ourselves, we cannot possibly lead ourselves; and if we cannot lead ourselves, how can we lead others? Now, I’ll take it even a step further. Self-reflection is also the foundation of building a values-based legacy. A legacy is not a goal or aspiration to be put off for “one day”—after you’ve advanced in your career, after you’ve bought a house or had children, when you have more money, when you retire… A values-based legacy speaks to how you live your life—right here, right now. You strive to make a difference, whether that means supporting a cause or volunteering in your community. Small actions can make a big difference. (You can read more in my new book, Your Values-Based Legacy: Making a Difference at Every Age and Phase of Life.) This brings us back to self-reflection. By taking the time to block out the noise and distractions, we can focus on our own thoughts and feelings. We recall when and where we’ve given our time and talent in the past—perhaps volunteering at a soup kitchen or collecting for a food pantry. Maybe we mentored others, pitched in for a community project, or rolled up our sleeves to help clean up a neighborhood park. As we look back, how do those experiences inform and inspire us as we explore what we might do today? The more we self-reflect, the more we will connect the dots between our family influences, our own past experiences, and how and where we can build a legacy. But, Harry, who has time for all that? It’s a question I hear all the time. Some people believe that self-reflection involves a huge amount of time and work. To them I say, it only takes 15 minutes a day. I am not a morning person, so I do my reflection around midnight. I ask myself: What did I say I was going to do today? What did I do? What am I proud of? What am I not proud of? How did I lead people? How did I follow people? If I lived today over again, what would I have done differently? The last one is, if I have tomorrow—knowing full well that, sooner or later, I won’t have tomorrow—based on what I know today, how will I operate differently tomorrow?” This is all food for thought for the legacy you’re living and building today. Your Values-Based Legacy The more time I spend in self-reflection, the more I see just how fortunate and blessed I’ve been in my life. At the heart of even of those blessings are other people—family, friends, students, colleagues, and those who crossed my path each day. You can read the rest of my blog post at the link below. #valuesbasedleadership #valuesbasedlegacy #legacy https://wp.me/p4ONH1-3pC

Self-awareness—or the lack of it—can make or break your career. I’ll be honest—I've had moments where I was unknowingly passive-aggressive with a coworker. Or defensive. Or dismissive. Later, someone on my team would confidentially tell me how I came across. I have many blind spots. Do you have a blind spot? Are you aware of how your behavior is impacting your fundraising or promotion chances? 📌 You might think you’re confident but perceived as arrogant. 📌 You might think you’re being helpful but come across as micromanaging. 📌 You might believe you’re overperforming, but others see you as disorganized and unreliable cause you have too much on our plate and fail to deliver. And the list goes on and on! Here’s the harsh reality: People who are unaware of their own behavior in the workplace are: ↘ Less likely to be promoted. ↘ Less likely to win over investors. ↘ Less likely to receive praise or recognition. Why? Because if you don’t see how your actions impact others, you can’t correct course. And if you can’t course-correct, you’ll struggle to build trust, influence, and respect—the very things that drive professional success. So, how can you become more aware of your blind spots and address them? ↗ Seek feedback regularly: It’s easy to overlook your own behavior. Ask trusted colleagues for honest feedback—they’ll often see what you can’t. Investors and leaders pay attention to those who can listen and adapt. ↗ Practice self-reflection: At the end of each day, take a few minutes to reflect on your interactions. What went well? What could have been handled better? Awareness breeds growth, and growth gets noticed. ↗ Embrace mindfulness: Being present helps you catch those passive-aggressive tendencies before they happen. The more aware you are, the more positively you’ll impact your team and stakeholders. ↗ Hold yourself accountable: When you slip up, own it. Investors and leaders respect those who can admit mistakes and show a commitment to improvement. ↗ Embrace vulnerability: Embracing vulnerability shows strength. Just as you need understanding, so do others. Authentic relationships lead to deeper connections, more opportunities, and greater recognition. Self-awareness isn’t just about feeling good—it’s about being the kind of person who can lead, influence, and ultimately succeed. Do you have a blind spot? #ThinkAboutIt Artwork: Aykut Aydogdu

You've just received feedback from your team, but something doesn't sit right. Their words clash with your self-image, leaving you feeling defensive and confused. Self-reflection isn't just introspection. It's the key to unlocking your leadership potential and fostering genuine connections. Let's explore why reflection matters and how to master this critical skill: Many leaders struggle with meaningful self-reflection because: • They're too busy "doing" to pause and process experiences. • They fear confronting personal weaknesses or mistakes. • They lack structured methods for effective reflection. This reflection deficit leads to: → Repeated mistakes and missed growth opportunities. → Disconnection from team members and their needs. → Stagnation in leadership development and effectiveness. Most people confuse a 5-minute journaling session with true reflection. I’m not saying short, sporadic attempts at journaling lack their merit, but they do lack the depth and consistency needed for real insight and change. So here are 3 Solutions to enhance reflective practice: 1. Implement a structured reflection routine: ↳ Set aside dedicated time daily or weekly for guided self-reflection exercises focused on recent experiences and interactions. 2. Utilize the "Consultant" perspective: ↳ Practice mentally stepping outside situations to observe yourself objectively, as if you were an external consultant. 3. Engage in reflective conversations: ↳ Regularly discuss your thoughts, actions, and their impacts with a trusted mentor or coach who can provide additional perspective. Mastering reflection is an ongoing process that transforms reactive leaders into thoughtful, adaptable visionaries. By committing to these practices, you'll develop deeper self-awareness, make more intentional decisions, and cultivate stronger connections with your team. Remember: The most profound leadership insights come from within. What’s stoping you from looking deeper? — P.S. Unlock 20 years' worth of leadership lessons sent straight to your inbox. Every Wednesday, I share exclusive insights and actionable tips on my newsletter. (Link in my bio to sign up). Remember, leaders succeed together.

I was stuck in an endless loop of overthinking a major career change. So, I went for a run in the pouring rain to clear my head. I had 30 minutes. Soaked shoes. And just me with my thoughts. I asked myself one question: "What's it going to be?" Keep playing the corporate game that never felt right, or finally back myself and build a coaching business? By the time I got home, drenched to the bone, I already knew the answer. The clarity I found in that brief, focused reflection outperformed weeks of analysis paralysis. Here's what I've learned since building my coaching practice: The most successful leaders don't analyze more, they reflect better. When my clients feel stuck, we use a simple visual tool - circles representing different states of being relative to their challenges. This structured 10-minute exercise consistently unlocks more insight than hours of unstructured analysis. Why? Because brief, structured reflection creates the space to see situations with clarity without the mental fog of overthinking. So, set a timer for 10 minutes. Draw three circles - where you are now, where you want to be, and what's in between. It might just change everything. What's one decision you've been overthinking that could benefit from structured reflection instead? #LeadershipDevelopment #DecisionMaking #ExecutiveCoaching