I am especially intrigued with the year 2020 and the possibilities it will bring. 

For those that have one of my Intentionality Pennies you will remember that I intentionally chose the year 2020 to be stamped on it – to provide for hindsight and foresight.

But before transitioning into a new year it is important to take time to reflect on the past year to determine which things to take on the next leg of the journey, and which need to be left behind.

Your creative and emotional brain (Limbic) functions best in a peaceful and quiet setting without stress and interruption. That is why reflection does not generally take place during the busyness of most schedules, and why it is important to periodically set aside time for this valuable activity.

Healthy organizations typically undertake annual retreats, which include time for reflection.

To facilitate effective reflection do the following:

• Set aside a period of uninterrupted and undistracted time—usually involving no cell phones or computers. Set aside more time than less—typically a good amount of time is 1-4 hours. Plan for longer as it will often take an initial period of time to simply unclutter and slow down the brain, especially if this is not a regular activity.
• Have a supply of blank paper (at least 4 pages), a few pens, and a number of highlighters (green, yellow, and blue will be needed). This is a time for effectiveness, not efficiency. Most will use more paper than less. So bring more than seems necessary.
• Find a quiet, positive, and tranquil place where interruption is unlikely. Some call these their “happy places.” It is important that there is nothing about the location that is stressing or that invokes negative memories as this counteracts the reflective process.
• Bring a snack, not a meal, along with drinking water. Keep it simple and conducive to thinking, not sleeping.
• Relieve bodily bio needs in advance to avoid the need for finding a bathroom in the middle of the reflective process.
• To start the reflective process, write a list of as many things that you’re thankful for. Gratitude is an incredibly cleansing activity that will create a positive environment for your Limbic brain to function better.
• After writing out a list of gratitude items take two separate pieces of paper and write “Things that went well in 2019” at the top of one and “Things that went poorly in 2019” at the top of another. Write out as many things as possible on each of the two sheets. When you feel you have exhausted each of the lists try to add at least three more to each sheet. Some of the best thoughts are hidden under a bunch of clutter and need to be mined for.
• Next take the “Things that went poorly in 2019” sheet and categorize each item as:
  • Things that need to be avoided in 2020—indicate these by running a line through those items;
  • Things that brought value, but should be done differently—indicate these by highlighting them in blue.
• Next take the “Things that went well in 2019” sheet and categorize each item as:
  • Things that need to be continued, or increased, in 2020—indicate these by highlighting them in green;
  • Things that need to be continued, but improved—indicate these by highlighting them in yellow.
• Take a fresh piece of paper:
  • Write “My 2020 Commitments” at the top
  • Create two columns with the following headers:
    • Things I will STOP doing in the next year—and make a list of the crossed out items from the “Things that need to be avoided in 2020” sheet.
    • Things I will FOCUS on in the next year—and make a list of the green highlighted items from the “Things that need to be continued, or increased, in 2020” sheet
  • Spend the rest of your reflective time on this sheet and consider what your year will look like if you truly stop doing the items listed on this sheet and focus on the other items.
• At the end of your reflective time:
  • Put the “Gratitude” and “My 2020 Commitments” pages in a place where you can review them at the start of each day in the next year.
  • Schedule a time to review the “Things that went poorly in 2019” and “Things that went well in 2019” sheets with your team in order to:
    • Align around your perspectives of things that need to be eliminated (or delegated to others) and things that need to be focused on
    • Brainstorm around things that need to be done differently. Assign each item to an individual who will own the improvement process.
    • Brainstorm around things that need to be continued, but improved. Assign each item to an individual who will own the improvement process.

Reflection is done by few. That is why most people are caught in the vicious cycle of insanity—doing the same things over and over and expecting different results.

Great leaders, however, take time to reflect and adjust the trajectory of their year to focus the time and energies of themselves and their organizations on those areas which will produce the best results in line with the vision and mission of the organization.

How will you transition into the new year? With a time of reflection? Or by staying in the whirlwind of the vicious cycle?

Herb Mast is a Leadership Coach and Employee Engagement Specialist. Learn how he can assist you in implementing the principles and concepts presented here.