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Published on: 05 December 2022

Extract from your past to engage your future

Having a drink after a three-hour walk in the Panamanian Rainforest, we contemplated with Yolanda van Die about the power of reflection to drive marketing transformations.

"Self-reflection is a key element for any transformation both for a company and an individual. Walking through the rainforest of Panama again, we experience the circle of nature where everything grows. Nature adapts itself to changing circumstances, like the seasons. It would not survive without adapting. I realized that for humans and organizations, it is no different. The ability to pause for a moment and reflect is key for that continuous process of transformation that is called life."

A recent article in HBR (Don’t Underestimate the Power of Self-Reflection) elaborated on the power and importance of reflection. Research shows the habit of reflection can separate extraordinary professionals from mediocre ones. But where do you start? How can you use reflection as a way to become your best self?

To find out, 442 executives were asked to reflect on which experiences most advanced their professional development and had the most impact on making them better leaders. Three distinct themes arose through their analysis: surprise, frustration, and failure. Reflections that involved one or more of these sentiments proved to be the most valuable in helping the leaders grow. When we are mistaken, we are surprised — and mistakes, lapses in judgments, and wrongful assumptions are worth our reflection. While surprise can be kept internal, many participants associated failure with making a mistake visible to the masses. Mistakes provide raw evidence of what we should not do in the future. We're frustrated when our goals are thwarted and we're not able to get what we want, but pushing through that frustration and finding other ways to cope and move forward results in our growth. Keep a journal, and block time to review. Look at yourself through the lens of a neutral observer. Importantly, go easy on yourself. Reflection — well and truly done — is ego-bruising.

Inspired by Yolanda van Die – IRG participant 2022, Founder of InsideOutConsultancy, Former Member of the Global Brand, Marketing and Communications (BMC) Leadership Team at EY

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