422. Your Mid-Year Leadership Review: The Most Important Questions To Ask

Now is the time to reflect on a few key leadership questions to help make sure the year is on track.

Believe it or not, we have already achieved the halfway point of 2024. Now is an excellent time for a pause. It is time to take a dedicated review of yourself as a leader.

Why?

If you want to become a great leader, reflecting on your performance is a proven way to improve.

Self-reflection allows you to assess what's working well, what needs improvement, and how to correct course before minor issues become more significant problems. It's a vital practice for realigning priorities and making better leadership decisions.

You can ask many questions during this time around your progress towards goals, projects, etc. However, when it comes to your responsibility as a business leader, here are four questions that I ask myself twice a year:

How did I improve my leadership skills over the last six months?

Am I practicing what I preach? How much time did I dedicate to improving myself daily, weekly, and monthly?

What did I do to help my team improve their leadership skills?

How did I help convey to my team the importance of continuous learning? Was I successful in finding leadership opportunities for them to grow their skills? Am I providing enough coaching, feedback, and support?

Did my team work to develop leaders on their team?

Leaders create other leaders. Did my team find time to focus on development during the last six months? What worked well, and what failed to hit the mark? Should more attention be paid to leadership development in the second half of the year?

How do my answers compare to the last time I did a review?

Am I making the progress I hoped for, or do I need to make changes? What can I do better going forward?

Remember that leadership is a continuous journey, not a destination. The questions above are not just checkboxes to tick off; they're catalysts for growth and purposeful action. It's an opportunity to celebrate successes, learn from challenges, and adapt your plans.

Here's to a reflective mid-year review and an even more impactful, enlightened second half of 2024!

Keep Learning

“Since reflective leadership focuses on continuously improving and developing, it’s one of the more effective leadership styles. By regularly reflecting on your beliefs and values and incorporating them into your actions, you can make ethical decisions and enable your company to be more purpose-driven.“ Professor Nien-hê Hsieh from The Importance of Reflective Leadership In Business

“As a leader, you must ask yourself: Are your team members equipped to spearhead the long-term changes your organization needs? Do they possess the abilities to meet current objectives and cultivate future leaders who can join the mission?” from Why Your Leadership Success Depends On This One Ability

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