Reflections on the Year...
by Lisa Nirell, EnergizeGrowth
Four years ago, I was flying home on a Delta Airlines flight
from Atlanta to San Diego. That's where I met Joseph Hoar.
He's one of those understated yet highly distinguished gentlemen
that you meet--and you can just TELL that he has great stories
to share.
Being the shy person that I am, I struck up a conversation.
I quickly learned that Joseph is a retired four-star U.S.
General. He once reported to the-then Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell. Joseph was Commander of the
U.S. Central Command that dispatched forces to Somalia in
1993.
He clearly faced many pressures and leadership choices.
As a person with a keen curiosity about how leaders deal
with rapid change, hardship, and crisis, I kept asking questions.
What a great experience.
The most memorable question of all was, "In your distinguished
career, you have faced much hardship, death and political
attack. How do you stay centered and focused?"
He calmly responded, "Every day, I take time to reflect.
I sit quietly and think. No interruptions."
As we wrap up our busy year, Joe's simple advice is very
timely.
* How will you learn from your experiences this year?
* What will you keep doing?
* What behaviors (or ways of being) will you quit doing?
* What activities will you quit doing?
I found 10 questions to help you enrich your lessons from
2007. You will find them below. They are broken into 3 sections.
They are well worth the time investment.
I invite you to write down your responses. Sit quietly.
Think. No interruptions.
Then prepare to share them with at least five of your trusted
advisors.
Reflecting on 2007:
1. What do you feel were YOUR most significant accomplishments
(personal and/or professional) in 2007?
2. What do you feel were Your Company's most significant
accomplishments in 2007?
3. What do you feel were YOUR most significant disappointments
(personal and/or professional) in 2007?
4. What do you feel were Your Company's most significant
disappointments in 2007?
Internal/Self Reflections:
5. What is one thing that, if I stop doing in the next 12
months, will make me a more effective Leader?
6. What 2 behaviors can you stop doing to make you a more
effective Leader? One of my friends is a master of helping
executives and entrepreneurs with improving their behaviors.
For a list of Marshall Goldsmith's "Top 20 Behaviors
that Hold Leaders Back," email me at research@energizegrowth.com.
7. What is one thing that, if I start doing in the next
12 months, will make me a more effective Leader?
8. What are my limiting beliefs that are preventing me from
achieving what I want and need to achieve?
Your Outlook For 2008:
9. What are YOUR 2008 Performance Objectives (Professional and/or
Personal?) Keep this list to five or fewer! Be sure they are
specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound.
10. How can the members of your "dream team" most
effectively assist and support YOU in 2008?
They sound easy, don't they?
Yet many people will just ignore the importance of reflection
and "power through" 2008. They will miss new opportunities.
They will model the definition of "insanity" --
doing the same things repeatedly, and expecting different
results.
Don't let this happen to you. The world needs you to be
fully awake and energized in 2008. We have many great opportunities
ahead. As creators of great businesses, we build communities,
sustain hope and enable prosperity for others. Schedule
your reflection appointment with yourself now.
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