The People Factor: Dear Diary...
If you are not journaling as a leader, are you even thinking straight?
John C Maxwell says: "Reflective thinking turns experience into insight" and if there is anything we need now, it's insights. Leaders are currently navigating unexpected outcomes and uncertain futures and this state of flux is unlikely to stabilize for a while.
Effectiveness in times of transition relies on our ability to:
Finding the time for such practice is important in order to create opportunity and/or allow a new perspective or insight to surface.
As another oft-quoted meme star, Sadhguru, says: "when your mind is full of assumptions, conclusions, and beliefs, it has no penetration. It just repeats past impressions."
It's very clear that much of what we used to know and do is changing, and if we keep hurling our limited assumptions at a not-yet-mapped reality, we're unlikely to find new and exciting paths. In other words, without time to think, there can be no innovation or insights for a new way of dealing with complexity.
Even Confusious is credited as saying that Reflection is the noblest way to learn wisdom (as opposed to the "easy" way of imitation or the "bitter" way of experience). And now, Harvard Business School researchers have proven all these wisdom memes correct, and their research shows that 10 minutes of reflective journaling a day improves leadership performance and lowers stress levels.
Getting started is usually the biggest obstacle to overcome. You can download dialogue's Leadership Journal template or make your own. There is no right way to do this. In order to reap the benefits of a Leadership Journal, you need to find a process and practice that suits you and enables you regular reflection time around your practice as a leader.
You can journal digitally and there are plenty of apps available. However, our experience with most clients shows that writing by hand creates a specific shift. Not only does it balance the extended time we currently spend on screen, but the act of handwriting stimulates a pattern of thinking that differs from our daily work style and allows for deeper practice. You may choose to doodle or sketch, or write in bullet points or deep prose essays.
Whatever way you choose, you are creating an opportunity to document, collate and process your thoughts, Every so often, take the time to read back over the past few weeks as a way to strategize and assess your process. Different days may require different styles of reflecting. As long as you create a regular rhythm and protect the time as sacred, ten minutes a day over six weeks alone, will show you a significant difference in clarity, focus, autonomy, and purpose. Being purposeful in this way sets your brain up to sort through your day, reflect on patterns, highlight repetitive issues and develop deeper learning.
Being purposeful in this way sets your brain up to sort through your day, reflect on patterns, highlight repetitive issues and develop deeper learning.
So, grab a journal for your leadership reflections, give it a try, and let us know how it benefits your leadership practice.
Leadership Journal template:
