Creating Space for Reflection Amid Work Responsibilities

A few years ago, I felt stuck. Despite working hard, progress felt sluggish. Then someone asked me: “When was the last time you reflected on what’s working and what’s not?” I froze. Reflection wasn’t part of my routine—I was too busy “doing.” That moment changed everything. I started carving out time each month to pause and reflect. The results? Clarity, growth, and a renewed sense of direction. Here’s the simple process I follow: 1. Celebrate wins. ↳Big or small, list what you’ve achieved. ↳Progress often hides in the little victories. 2. Identify challenges. ↳What didn’t go as planned? ↳Be honest but constructive. 3. Extract lessons. ↳Ask yourself: What worked? ↳What didn’t? ↳What can I improve? 4. Adjust your goals. ↳Refine your next steps based on your insights. Reflection isn’t about looking back with regret, It’s about learning to move forward smarter. It’s like cleaning the windshield before hitting the road again. PS. How often do you take time to reflect on your goals? #PersonalGrowth #Reflection #BusinessCoach

You don't have to burn it all down. If you're unhappy in your work: burned out, bored, disconnected, that DOES NOT mean you have to leave your company. I get it. When you've been stuck for a while, you wonder if the only path to clarity is a sabbatical or a resignation letter. Taking time off, or quitting might be the right next step for you. But it isn't the only option. There are a lot of good reasons to stay: – You have financial needs, a family, a mortgage. – You care about your team or your mission. – You’re not ready to blow it all up and that’s okay. The good news: You can begin the realignment process without leaving your role. Inner transitions don’t always require outer ones. Sometimes, the most meaningful shifts happen while staying right where you are, just relating to your work in a new way. Here are 7 simple ways to begin that process: 1/ Create micro downshifts. No-meeting days. End meetings 5 minutes early. Block time for deep, focused work. Even small shifts in how you structure your day can change how you feel inside it. 2/ Build a morning reflection practice. Set aside 10–15 minutes a day to journal. Write honestly about what feels energizing and what feels heavy. You can’t realign if you don’t know what’s off. 3/ Find support. Work with a coach, therapist, or peer group who can hold space and help you see your blind spots. It’s really hard to do this alone. Trust me, I’ve tried. 4/ Make a “no” list. Write down everything you’re currently saying yes to out of obligation. What can you release? Every “no” creates space for something more aligned. 5/ Treat your current role as a lab. Practice new ways of showing up: less reactive, more embodied, more honest. Let your work become a mirror, not just a grind. 6/ Reconnect with your body. Burnout and misalignment often show up physically before they become clear mentally. Tension, pressure, tightness? Those are signals worth listening to. 7/ Start a grounding practice. Meditation. Walks in nature. Breathwork. You don’t need an hour a day. Even five minutes of presence can shift how you show up to your work. -- You don’t need to burn it all down to begin again. Small shifts can add up to a big transformation. And if the day comes when it is time to leave, you’ll know you’re doing it from a place of clarity, not escape.

This is one of the most powerful tools in my toolbox for powerful productivity: It's the Friday Reflection Habit from the Agile Results Productivity System. How powerful is it? Powerful enough that I shared it with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella after reflecting on 20+ years of high performance at Microsoft. It's more than productivity--it's also a tool for personal transformation and career growth. The Friday Reflection Habit actually helped me become an innovator at Microsoft. It's a key to what helped me become the head coach for Satya Nadella's innovation team. 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗛𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗧 The 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁 is a weekly routine where you pause to review your week, extract key lessons, and plan actionable steps for the future. It's designed to inspire your continuous growth and improvement by regularly evaluating your progress and refining your approach. 𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 1. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: It helps you learn from your experiences, turning setbacks and successes into insights for growth. 2. 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Keeps your actions aligned with your long-term goals, ensuring consistent progress toward your future self. 3. 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀: Regular reflection sharpens your focus, making sure you’re working on what truly matters. 𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 1. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: Dedicate a specific time each Friday for reflection, typically 15-30 minutes. 2. 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸: Ask yourself questions like: What went well? What didn’t? What did I learn? 3. 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: Identify patterns or lessons from your week that you can apply moving forward. 4. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸: Set intentions or goals based on your reflections to make the next week more effective. 𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗙𝗨𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗙 To become your Future Self with Friday Reflection, follow these steps: 1. 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳: Clearly define who you want to become—your goals, skills, habits, and values. 2. 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: During Friday Reflection, assess how your actions and decisions from the past week align with the vision of your Future Self. Identify progress and gaps. 3. 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀: Review what worked and what didn’t, drawing insights from your experiences that can guide you closer to your future self. 4. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Based on your reflection, set specific, actionable goals for the coming week that will move you toward your Future Self. Adjust habits and strategies accordingly. By consistently reflecting and adjusting your path, you ensure steady progress toward becoming the person you envision. 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗦 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦 I wrote Getting Results the Agile Way to share the ultimate productivity system.