Where did the year go? Some of you will now be counting the days until you take a break for the holidays, whilst others will be in your busiest period.
This was me and my partner for 20 years. I worked in retail and he worked for Royal Mail, so December was a our busiest month. For us, Christmas was celebrated with the family in November, as at best, we got two days off. Christmas day was guaranteed; anything else was a bonus. It was exhausting! So if you are taking a break this year, please spare a thought for the millions of workers who won’t be.
Now though, we relish the one to two weeks we can spend with family and friends, though it took five years to get used to it! For me the holiday season, with it’s hibernating darkness, is a time to take a breath, to pause, and to reflect on the last year. To notice what gives me energy that I want to harness and continue, and also those things that need to be put on my ‘Not to do’ list.
I therefore invite you to book 30-60 minutes with yourself over the next couple of weeks, to reflect on the year end and to review the questions below.
I’m not here to give you the answers, I can’t even begin to do that – I don’t know you, your circumstances, job role, personal challenges, work life, industry anything – that, I’m afraid starts with you. I can though give you some questions to get you thinking.
They might not give you all the answers, but they will start you on the exploratory journey to decide what happens next. Let’s then start with what we know, and on a positive.
What went well?
1. Reflecting on the past 12 months, what has gone well for you? For your team, and for your business?
2. What contributed to this success? Think about your habits, patterns, support you received, lucky breaks and opportunities, and your wider life?
3. What would you like to build on further this year?
4. Who do you want to be with you, supporting you on the journey?
5. What will resource you and aid you on that journey?
6. What skillsets, knowledge sets and mindsets do you need to employ as you go?
Next – what was a bit crap?
7. What didn’t go as well as you would have wished? Again think personally, team, business and also your wider home life environment as this will have contributed.
8. What impacted you that you need to be conscious of as you move forward into 2024/5?
9. What patterns did you notice repeating that you need to hold in your awareness?
10. What triggers do you need to notice and manage?
11. What derails you and what nourishes you? This can be people.
12. What needs to be on your stop doing list – for you personally, your team or business?
The Future
13. By the end of 2024 (or 2025 If you like) what would you like to have happen?
14. When this happens, what will you see, feel, hear and experience?
15. Who will be around you supporting you, helping you, giving you feedback and cheering you on?
16. What do you need to learn, change or adapt to enable this to happen?
17. Who do you need to reach out to for support or step back from to make this happen?
18. When this happens, what will this give you?
19. If you don’t do this – what will happen?
Finally I have three questions – which may or may not link to those above.
What do you want freedom from?
What do you want freedom for?
If you were to sum up your intention for the year in one word or phrase, what would it be?
This is your intention, your north star to come back to when you make decisions. Hold it lightly, follow its guidance, and dance in the moment when things are uncertain. Trust you know what your intention means – as you probably do.
No matter what your circumstances this holiday season, I wish you space for you, time with those important to you, and space to gain clarity for your next steps forward from here.
If an executive reflection session with the support of a coach would be useful for you, then contact Annabel via LinkedIn, annabel@successfultraining.co.uk, or visit www.successfultraining.co.uk