Use reflection to leverage your results
14/12/06 11:42 Filed in: Self-management
| Reflect
You: A couple of months ago, I made
a real commitment to getting better results in my
personal life and in my ministry.
Me: What’s happened since you made your commitment?
You: A lot. I’ve completed several projects, including preparing a set of lessons for the classes I teach, sending out a newsletter, and updating my photo albums. I’ve organized several events—a concert, a workshop, and a surprise birthday party for a friend. And I’ve learned to say “no” to some requests, to respond to my e-mail twice a day (instead of throughout the day), and to start using calendar software to map out how I’ll get my goals done.
Me: Good for you!
You: Yeah, I feel pretty good. Focusing on results has helped me see that I really do have limited time and energy. I can’t really take on more things, but I still want better results. What can I do to leverage my results?
Me: Before I respond to your question, can you reflect on what you learned from getting projects done, organizing events, and learning new things?
You: OK. As I said, focusing on results has helped me make better choices about how I focus my time and energy. Making a commitment to ministry results meant saying “no” to some requests—and now I feel OK about saying “no.” I realize I’m saying “no” in order to carry out the ministry God has given me. I feel less guilty and less stressed out about saying “no.”
Me: Pretty powerful learning. What else did you learn?
You: That I can save time in the long-run by taking time to learn new things. Like calendar software. It took me some time and frustration to learn to use it to map out my goals. But now I my plans are a little better. And mapping out my goals helped me finish updating my photo albums.
Me: What else did you learn?
You: I need to make a deeper commitment to achieving my priorities. When I’m not clear on my priorities and when I haven’t made a definite commitment to my priorities, I’m more likely to spend too much time on e-mail. I used the time I saved on doing e-mail to work on my friend’s party and to get my newsletter done.
Me: You’ve learned some key things. How can you use your learning to leverage your results?
You: I think I’ll continue reviewing and documenting my priorities, making a plan for each priority, and entering each plan into my calendar. That will help me make sure I’ll get the results I want. It’ll also help me know how much time I have available to say “yes” to appropriate requests.
Me: That sounds good. Earlier you asked me, “What can I do to leverage my results?” How would you answer your question?
You: I can leverage my results by reflecting on them and applying what I learn from my reflection.
Here are 4 questions you can ask to promote reflection:
Me: What’s happened since you made your commitment?
You: A lot. I’ve completed several projects, including preparing a set of lessons for the classes I teach, sending out a newsletter, and updating my photo albums. I’ve organized several events—a concert, a workshop, and a surprise birthday party for a friend. And I’ve learned to say “no” to some requests, to respond to my e-mail twice a day (instead of throughout the day), and to start using calendar software to map out how I’ll get my goals done.
Me: Good for you!
You: Yeah, I feel pretty good. Focusing on results has helped me see that I really do have limited time and energy. I can’t really take on more things, but I still want better results. What can I do to leverage my results?
Me: Before I respond to your question, can you reflect on what you learned from getting projects done, organizing events, and learning new things?
You: OK. As I said, focusing on results has helped me make better choices about how I focus my time and energy. Making a commitment to ministry results meant saying “no” to some requests—and now I feel OK about saying “no.” I realize I’m saying “no” in order to carry out the ministry God has given me. I feel less guilty and less stressed out about saying “no.”
Me: Pretty powerful learning. What else did you learn?
You: That I can save time in the long-run by taking time to learn new things. Like calendar software. It took me some time and frustration to learn to use it to map out my goals. But now I my plans are a little better. And mapping out my goals helped me finish updating my photo albums.
Me: What else did you learn?
You: I need to make a deeper commitment to achieving my priorities. When I’m not clear on my priorities and when I haven’t made a definite commitment to my priorities, I’m more likely to spend too much time on e-mail. I used the time I saved on doing e-mail to work on my friend’s party and to get my newsletter done.
Me: You’ve learned some key things. How can you use your learning to leverage your results?
You: I think I’ll continue reviewing and documenting my priorities, making a plan for each priority, and entering each plan into my calendar. That will help me make sure I’ll get the results I want. It’ll also help me know how much time I have available to say “yes” to appropriate requests.
Me: That sounds good. Earlier you asked me, “What can I do to leverage my results?” How would you answer your question?
You: I can leverage my results by reflecting on them and applying what I learn from my reflection.
Here are 4 questions you can ask to promote reflection:
- What did you learn?
- What insights did you have?
- What discoveries did you make?
- What was helpful?
- An event your team organized is now finished.
- Someone you supervise is reporting on a project
she has completed.
- Someone you coach is sharing the progress he
has made on a personal goal.
- You’ve facilitated an all-day strategy meeting.
Your organization now has a strategy statement that
is clearer and more specific.
- You have just finished collaborating with other board members to identify your organization’s core values.