Reflection is the Best ROI

It never ceases to amaze me that this quote is 500 years old, yet is as relevant today as it was then – perhaps even more so.

We live in an incredibly busy world and it’s not looking likely to slow down. So if that’s the world we inhabit, how do we best manage it?

Let me tell you how we currently do it and see if this is familiar to you. We arrange team “away days” or conferences that are packed to the gills with content. Ever mindful of the ROI, leaders and managers wouldn’t dare to send their teams off with an open agenda to reflect on what’s working, what isn’t and use the space to identify some new or different approaches. Nope, these days and events must have as much information as possible given to the participants in the time available, forced down their throats in presentation after presentation to somehow justify the expense of the occasion. (Although ROI calculations are rarely done following these events. How much do you remember of the first presentation of your last such event? How much of the fourth presentation has made a difference to how you approach your work? Whisper it: No one knows.)

A bolder, braver leader takes time away alone, or in their team, with next to no agenda. They recognise that the singular frustration that unites everyone these days is the lament, “I haven’t got enough time.” And so they give them time. The time to reflect. To get off the treadmill of “busyness” and analyse what actually is working. What is making a difference. And what is simply noise. Or habit. These leaders are few and far between. But they are the ones who will reap the rewards.

Encouraging Reflective Action:

• Look at your diary/schedule. When was the last time you purposefully built in some reflection time?
• For those of you who have people reporting into you: when did you last give them some time back? E.g. using the time of the weekly team meeting to collectively step back and reflect on what’s working for them and what isn’t? Never mind updating on KPI’s and targets and….and…..and….
• Action: Block some time out for you and/or your team for reflection. No agenda. No input. The only outcome you’re seeking is clarity on what you’re doing, why, what difference it makes and what you could do differently, or better.

I think you’ll be very surprised when you do. And the ROI will be substantial.

Be encouraged; lead well.