Tips for Self-Assessment and Reflection

If you want to be an indispensable Leader, this is what you must do every month - Great leaders don’t just drive results. They pause to reflect. On how they got those results. At what cost. And whether they’re still the right person for the role they’re in. In a world obsessed with OKRs and KPIs, self-reflection is underrated. But it’s the only way leaders grow before they’re forced to. Here’s a simple habit to get started: Every month, quarter, and year ask yourself these 3 deep questions. 🔁 Monthly (Alignment & Energy) - Did I act like a doer, manager, or owner? - Did I spend my time on what truly matters to my role? - What gave me energy this month, and what drained me? 📊Quarterly (Impact & Ownership) - What process did I improve, and what changed because of it? - Did I elevate the standards or just maintain them? - What leadership mistake did I make, and what did I learn from it? 📅 Yearly (Legacy & Evolution) - If someone else was in my role, what would they have done better? - How did I live the culture I expect from others? - If this was my last year here, what would I want to be remembered for? [Bonus] Did I prepare my next line of leaders well enough to replace me? Reflection isn’t a break from leadership. It is leadership.

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.

Most people go their *entire* life without reflecting. And before they know it, years have gone by and it's too late to change. The most powerful reflection you can do to avoid this fate: The Monthly Review. Grab a pen, crack open a notebook, and answer these 5 questions: The goal of the monthly review: Block 60 minutes to slowly process the month. It's easy to get caught up in the day to day & lose sight of the bigger picture. And after trying 1000+ reflection questions, I chose each question for a specific reason. Let's start with the first: 1. What were my biggest wins & milestones? These are things that you will look back on with pride & fond memories at the end of the year. • Health wins • Business wins • New relationships • Goals accomplished • Fun memories & events Recapping wins & milestones kicks the review off on a positive note. So often, our focus is on the negative. But this questions helps us celebrate all the things going well! And it also creates a "ledger" of wins from the year. From there, you ask a more important question: --- 2. What were my biggest realizations? I used to call this my "biggest losses." But I reframed this—because something is either a win, or it teaches you about the world. And by constantly collecting these realizations, you are always learning. Most of my realizations are about my: • Health • Beliefs • Business • Lack of skills • Relationships By constantly iterating and distilling these lessons, you will level up month after month after month. From here, you go from looking backward to looking at the present: --- 3. What areas am I most satisfied? Least satisfied? Split the page in 2 columns and brain dump bullet points of everything that comes to mind. The goal here is to identify in the present moment what's working and what's not working. From there, you ask another question: --- 4. Based on these areas, what am I going to do more of? Less of? This is the 80/20 rule in action. 20% of your: • Habits • Beliefs • Friends • Actions Are leading to 80% of both your positive *and* negative results. Now you should have 2 lists: • Things to *double down* on that are bringing you the positive results • Things to *stop doing entirely* that are bringing you the negative results Put those lists somewhere you can see them every morning (for me, that's on my bathroom mirror). Now, it's time to think about the future: --- 5. What am I thinking about for the month ahead? This is a quick list of things you're: • Excited about • Thinking about • Uncertain about This turns into a letter to your future self you can read at the end of the month. --- And just like that, the review is complete! The beauty of this process is you can constantly capture these things throughout the month. • Wins & milestones • Realizations & decisions • Things going well & things to improve Then, at the end of the year, you collect these monthly reviews and distill the entire year.

The most important offsite I have every quarter: The one with myself. It’s hard to carve out time for introspection and strategic planning, especially when you feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions—but self-awareness is one of the things that’s helped my career growth the most. Here’s the process that works best for me to review my progress and refresh my goals: 1️⃣ Find a quiet space (ideally with a whiteboard or lots of Post-It notes and a wall). 2️⃣ Make sure I have a solid block of interrupted time on my calendar (2+ hours if possible!) 3️⃣ Set my Slack status, OOO message, and put my devices on Do Not Disturb. 4️⃣ Make sure to bring my favorite coffee drink and snacks (North Shore Goodies coconut PB is my new obsession) and a fresh notebook.  5️⃣ I use the 60/60/60 method to review the quarter: ⤷ 60 minutes to reflect on the past 3 months ⤷ 60 minutes to turn my wins into mini-case studies ⤷ 60 minutes to plan out my goals for the next quarter Here’s the “4 Ls” framework that I use to assess my progress. (Steal my template in the comments!) ❤️ Loved: ⤷ What went well this past quarter? (Things I appreciated, enjoyed, or found effective) ⤷ What were 3-5 significant accomplishments from Q1? ⤷ What were the results? (I try to quantify my results where possible!)   🤬 Loathed: ⤷ What made things worse? ⤷ What was missing or needs improvement? (Gaps, resources, etc. that would’ve made Q1 more successful) ⤷ What parts of Q1 did I most struggle with and why?   🙏 Longed for: ⤷ What resources, tools, etc. do I wish I’d had last quarter? ⤷ What would’ve made the work more efficient or enjoyable? (e.g., clearer requirements, more time, etc.) ⤷ What would need to change for me to achieve or get those things?   💡 Learned: ⤷ What new knowledge or skills did I gain or develop? ⤷ What training or learning opportunities did I pursue? ⤷ How did those contribute to my overall professional development? ⤷ If I were to do it all again, what would I do differently next time? Once I have my 4 Ls in place, I’m able to turn my wins from the quarter into mini-case studies (more on that in an upcoming post).  ✨ Bonus: You can use a larger-scale version of this exercise for sprint or project retrospectives with your team. Links in the comments. 👇 Do you set quarterly goals for yourself? I’d love to hear more about your process! *Picture of me prepping my 4Ls template before I head to the library to work. Best secret co-work space in town!

If you haven't started reflecting on the year, start now so you have time to process... You can use these 12 questions to get the ball rolling. 1. What skills did I improve this year, and which skills do I still need to work on? 2. Where did I struggle most in my professional life, and what can I learn from these challenges? 3. In what situations did I find myself outside my comfort zone, and how did I handle them? 4. How did I deal with failure or setbacks this year, and what did these experiences teach me? 5. What habits did I develop this year that positively impacted my productivity and well-being? 6. Did I effectively prioritize my tasks and goals this year, and how can I improve my time management? 7. In what ways did I push my own boundaries in pursuit of personal growth? 8. How did my actions align with my core values and beliefs this year? 9. What was the most significant piece of constructive criticism I received, and how have I acted upon it? 10. How have I contributed to my field or industry this year, and what more can I do? 11. What lessons did I learn about myself during challenging times? 12. How can I better balance ambition with self-care and mindfulness? What's your process to reflect on the year?

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

The End-of-Day Reflection: Adding Value to Your Job and Personality In the fast-paced rhythm of modern life, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily tasks, deadlines, and responsibilities. However, taking a moment at the end of each day to reflect on our actions and their impact can be a powerful practice for personal and professional growth. One simple yet profound question can guide this reflection: "What values have I added to my job and my personality today?" Adding Value to Your Job At the heart of every profession lies a set of core values: integrity, excellence, responsibility, and dedication. These values are not just abstract concepts; they are actionable principles that shape how we approach our work. By asking ourselves what value we've added to our job, we focus on more than just completing tasks. We consider the quality of our work, our contributions to team success, and our alignment with the organization's goals. Adding Value to Your Personality Our professional lives are intrinsically linked to our personal growth. The values we uphold at work can significantly influence our character and personality. Reflecting on how we have developed as individuals each day fosters continuous self-improvement and emotional intelligence. Key Considerations: 1. Self-Awareness: Have I gained insights into my strengths and areas for improvement? 2. Empathy and Compassion:*m Did I show understanding and care for others' perspectives and needs? 3. Resilience and Adaptability: How did I respond to challenges and changes? 4. Ethical Standards: Have I acted in alignment with my moral and ethical values? A Practical Example Consider the case of Rahul, a salesperson at a company that sells medical devices. Each day, Rahul takes a few minutes to reflect on his contributions and personal growth. One day, he realized that while he met his sales targets, he had focused more on closing deals than on understanding the specific needs of each healthcare provider he worked with. The next day, Rahul decided to change his approach. Instead of pushing for sales, he spent extra time with each client, asking detailed questions about their challenges and needs. He provided tailored solutions that better matched their requirements and followed up to ensure they were satisfied with their purchases. This not only helped him build stronger relationships with his clients but also increased his sales in the long run as clients appreciated his dedication and care. By reflecting on his actions, Rahul added value to his job by enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty, and to his personality by nurturing empathy, patience, and a service-oriented mindset. Conclusion By asking yourself, "What values have I added to my job and my personality today?" you engage in a powerful practice that fosters growth and fulfillment.

Everyone talks about getting 1% better every day. Few people actually explain how to do it. Here's the real science of self-improvement and how you can use it to reach your full potential: The ideas behind getting 1% better are: - Consistency - Discipline - Process-focus And each of those are part of one larger skill - Self-regulated learning. Self-regulated learning breaks down into: - Setting clear goals with plans - Monitoring your progress during practice - Reflecting afterward to direct future goals and learning. It's simple, but remarkably hard to do. This is the skill underlying deliberate practice. 1. Goals with plans “A goal without a plan is just a wish” is exactly right. You need to know where you want to go and a path to get there. That means: • outcome goals: destination • performance goals: progress indicators • process goals: daily actions A plan with these 3 ingredients will help you much more than a simple goal itself. Your plan should also include other resources you need (coaches, support) and what you want to target each day along the way. 2. Monitor progress As you work toward your goal, you need to assess what’s going on. This allows you to make adjustments in the moment to find what works. If you’re trying to become a better basketball shooter, for example, try to track your improvement shot by shot, rather than practice by practice. Checking with how you’re performing during practice so you can refine and iterate while you’re still active. 3. Reflect and iterate When practice ends, you’ve got to ask yourself 3 things: • what did I do today that I want to keep doing? • what did I do today that I want to do differently? • what did I learn? Reflection will deepen your learning. Then, take what you want to do differently and turn it into a process goal to iterate on tomorrow. Now you know exactly what to work on and how to get 1% better tomorrow. Just improve that skill. With this framework, you can make 1% better every day a reality.

13 Reflective Questions for a New You: 𝟭) 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸? Identify your barriers: ↳ Fear of failure? ↳ Lack of confidence? ↳ Limiting beliefs? Awareness is the first step to change. 𝟮) 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹? Envision fearless action: ◦ Dream big ◦ Ignore limitations ◦ Plan boldly Your answer reveals your true desires. 𝟯) 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂? Tap into your wisdom: ↳ What risks to take? ↳ What habits to build? ↳ What to prioritize? Your future self knows the way. 𝟰) 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗳? Identify what's weighing you down: ◦ Toxic relationships? ◦ Outdated beliefs? ◦ Unproductive habits? Letting go creates space for growth. 𝟱) 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁? Face your fears: ↳ Why does it scare you? ↳ What's the worst that could happen? ↳ How can you prepare? Courage isn't absence of fear, but action despite it. 𝟲) 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂? Define your personal success: ◦ Career achievements? ◦ Personal fulfillment? ◦ Relationships? Your definition guides your journey. 𝟳) 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿? Cultivate appreciation: ↳ In your relationships? ↳ In your work? ↳ In yourself? Gratitude shifts your perspective. 𝟴) 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆? Take immediate action: ◦ A small habit to build? ◦ A conversation to have? ◦ A decision to make? Small steps lead to big changes. 𝟵) 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗳𝗼𝗿? Practice self-compassion: ↳ Past mistakes? ↳ Missed opportunities? ↳ Personal shortcomings? Forgiveness frees you to move forward. 𝟭𝟬) 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳? Challenge your self-talk: ◦ "I'm not good enough"? ◦ "I can't do it"? ◦ "It's too late for me"? Your inner dialogue shapes your reality. 𝟭𝟭) 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝘀? Recognize your power: ↳ Natural talents? ↳ Acquired skills? ↳ Personal experiences? Leverage your strengths for success. 𝟭𝟮) 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱? Reflect on your journey: ↳ From failures? ↳ From successes? ↳ From relationships? Wisdom comes from reflection. 𝟭𝟯) 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳? Set meaningful goals: ◦ Personal achievements? ◦ Positive impact on others? Aim for self-respect, not just success. ------------------------------------------------- Follow me Dan Murray-Serter 🧠 for more on habits and leadership. ♻️ Repost this if you think it can help someone in your network! 🖐️ P.S Join my newsletter The Science Of Success where I break down stories and studies of success to teach you how to turn it from probability to predictability here: https://lnkd.in/ecuRJtrr

Experience alone does not grow you. Reflection does. It is easy to keep moving from meeting to meeting, project to project without ever pausing to ask: What am I learning? What am I repeating? What do I need to unlearn? Without reflection: • Patterns repeat • Blind spots deepen • Ego gets louder • Growth slows down So if you are looking for more clarity, start here. Ask yourself these seven questions: 1. What behaviours am I tolerating in myself that I no longer want to carry? 2. What values do my decisions actually reflect? 3. What triggers pull me away from my best self? 4. What stories am I telling myself that may not be true? 5. Where do I need to take ownership instead of waiting for circumstances? 6. What one behaviour shift this week would change how I lead? 7. How will I measure my self-leadership over the next 30 days? Most of the time, leaders do not need more advice. They need a pause and a better question. Pause. Reflect. Comment which questions resonate with you. #Reflection #Questions #SelfLeadership #Clarity