7 Questions You Need to Answer for a Mind-Blowing New Year...
Now
is also a great time to reflect on the past year. So I am confident
that you have scheduled time and activities for your new year
retrospective?
Haven’t you? No? Now that is a shame.
As a leader, you are not only responsible for achieving goals and setting a vision, but you are also responsible for reflecting on the past year. It's important to do this at every significant milestone, and especially at quarter-end and year-end. Why? Because you run the risk of dragging your unfinished business into the next year. And that could adversely affect new or multi-year projects.
"Don't ask what is wrong ask what is missing."
- Michael Hyatt
So as a leader, the year-end review can be an incredibly productive time. A quieter time that allows you to reflect on the past while planning for the year ahead. It is important that you complete the review before you move on the future. I suggest that you find a place without interruptions; bring your journal, a pen, and your calendar.
Here are the seven questions that I stole from Michael Hyatt: Seven Questions To Ask About Last Year that I use for my new year review:
1. If the last year were a movie of your life, what would the genre be? Drama, romance, adventure, comedy, tragedy, or a combination?
One of my friends who lost a son, said simply, "Tragedy."
Another, who got engaged and married said, "Romance."
Still another, who experienced one misfortunate after another, said "Comedy--in fact, slapstick!"
2. What were the two or three major themes that kept recurring? These can be single words or phrases. For me, they were:
Deeply moving times with friends and family
Making difficult decisions in the face of the economic crisis
Learning to get along with less and enjoying it more
3. What did you accomplish this past year that you are the proudest of? These can be in any area of your life--spiritual, relational, vocational physical, etc. Be as specific as possible.
4. What do you feel you should have been acknowledged for but weren't? Okay, this is a little too personal for me to respond to directly. But here are some examples of what others might say:
Working two jobs as a single mom to provide for my family
Not giving up on my marriage when it would have been easier to quit
Making time to workout, even though I wanted to sleep in.
5. What disappointments or regrets did you experience this past year? As leaders, we naturally have high expectations of ourselves and others. Where did you let yourself down? Where did you let others down? Here are some of mine:
Laying off so many of our employees, including some very dear friends
Failing to articulate the vision and be a better source of encouragement to my team
Not really unplugging from my vacation in October like I had planned
Losing focus on my exercise regimen and having to keep re-starting it
6. What was missing from last year as you look back? Again, look at each major area of your life. Don't focus now on having to do anything about it. For now, just list each item. Here is my list:
More time spent on strategic planning, particularly vision and strategy
More time reading offline (i.e., books)
Time to really unplug and not think about work
More time with my parents
7. What were the major life-lessons you learned this past year? Boil this down to a few short, pithy statements. For example:
There comes a point in every experience where I am too far in to quit but almost certain I can't finish. If I keep moving forward I will eventually get to the other side.
Being present with the people I love is the most important gift I can give them.
Don't over-think the outcome; just do the next right thing.
Answering these questions should not take you very long. I typically take about 45 minutes to answer them. But once I am done, I have a feeling of closure. I can walk away with not only a deeper sense of self-awareness but I am now prepared to start planning my new year.
Question: What have you learned about yourself from this exercise that you will implement for the new year?
If you enjoyed my article, don't forget to join my mailing list to receive a free copy of my popular 2016 reading list, Do You Want To Become An Influential Leader? Then Work with me today let me help you... Like, share and comment below if you did got value from this post.
Follow @Francischihora
Haven’t you? No? Now that is a shame.
As a leader, you are not only responsible for achieving goals and setting a vision, but you are also responsible for reflecting on the past year. It's important to do this at every significant milestone, and especially at quarter-end and year-end. Why? Because you run the risk of dragging your unfinished business into the next year. And that could adversely affect new or multi-year projects.
"Don't ask what is wrong ask what is missing."
- Michael Hyatt
So as a leader, the year-end review can be an incredibly productive time. A quieter time that allows you to reflect on the past while planning for the year ahead. It is important that you complete the review before you move on the future. I suggest that you find a place without interruptions; bring your journal, a pen, and your calendar.
Here are the seven questions that I stole from Michael Hyatt: Seven Questions To Ask About Last Year that I use for my new year review:
1. If the last year were a movie of your life, what would the genre be? Drama, romance, adventure, comedy, tragedy, or a combination?
One of my friends who lost a son, said simply, "Tragedy."
Another, who got engaged and married said, "Romance."
Still another, who experienced one misfortunate after another, said "Comedy--in fact, slapstick!"
2. What were the two or three major themes that kept recurring? These can be single words or phrases. For me, they were:
Deeply moving times with friends and family
Making difficult decisions in the face of the economic crisis
Learning to get along with less and enjoying it more
3. What did you accomplish this past year that you are the proudest of? These can be in any area of your life--spiritual, relational, vocational physical, etc. Be as specific as possible.
4. What do you feel you should have been acknowledged for but weren't? Okay, this is a little too personal for me to respond to directly. But here are some examples of what others might say:
Working two jobs as a single mom to provide for my family
Not giving up on my marriage when it would have been easier to quit
Making time to workout, even though I wanted to sleep in.
5. What disappointments or regrets did you experience this past year? As leaders, we naturally have high expectations of ourselves and others. Where did you let yourself down? Where did you let others down? Here are some of mine:
Laying off so many of our employees, including some very dear friends
Failing to articulate the vision and be a better source of encouragement to my team
Not really unplugging from my vacation in October like I had planned
Losing focus on my exercise regimen and having to keep re-starting it
6. What was missing from last year as you look back? Again, look at each major area of your life. Don't focus now on having to do anything about it. For now, just list each item. Here is my list:
More time spent on strategic planning, particularly vision and strategy
More time reading offline (i.e., books)
Time to really unplug and not think about work
More time with my parents
7. What were the major life-lessons you learned this past year? Boil this down to a few short, pithy statements. For example:
There comes a point in every experience where I am too far in to quit but almost certain I can't finish. If I keep moving forward I will eventually get to the other side.
Being present with the people I love is the most important gift I can give them.
Don't over-think the outcome; just do the next right thing.
Answering these questions should not take you very long. I typically take about 45 minutes to answer them. But once I am done, I have a feeling of closure. I can walk away with not only a deeper sense of self-awareness but I am now prepared to start planning my new year.
Question: What have you learned about yourself from this exercise that you will implement for the new year?
If you enjoyed my article, don't forget to join my mailing list to receive a free copy of my popular 2016 reading list, Do You Want To Become An Influential Leader? Then Work with me today let me help you... Like, share and comment below if you did got value from this post.
Follow @Francischihora
Post a Comment