We generally think ‘reflection’ is a good thing to do, like eating well and exercising. It implies maturity and better outcomes. However, like many aspirations towards a better quality of life, it can also imply not being busy enough. Reflection can be seen as a waste of time, time which could be more purposefully spent ‘doing’. The nature of most business environments is a bias towards action. However, leading involves harnessing hearts and minds for the best outcome, influencing people and processes to accomplish a collective aim and doing that well depends on understanding ourselves and our impact. Reflection leads to understanding the ‘why’ and ‘how’; the critical stages beyond ‘what’. Reflection is a very powerful tool and for leaders who are sufficiently disciplined to have a regular practice, it’s a differ.[Download PDF]