The critical leadership skill of reflection
Updated: Aug 18
Employees reflecting on their work for 15 minutes at the end of their working day for 10 days performed 22.8% better compared to those who didn't. Harvard Business School
The best leaders ask great questions - of their teams, of their organisations, and of themselves. In a world that prizes innovation, speed, and agility, emotional intelligence and self-awareness are what separate good leadership from great leadership. And both start with reflection.
By taking time to pause, think, and learn from both successes and setbacks, leaders build the clarity and self-awareness they need to bring out the best in others and respond well to change. In this article, we'll explore why reflection is essential for leadership development and share practical ways to make it part of your everyday routine.
Change happens when you stop, consider why you do what you do, and experiment with new ways of being.
Contents
What is reflective practice?
Reflective practice is an intentional process of examining your experiences, actions, and decisions, asking: what happened, why did it happen, and how did I respond? It's rooted in a growth mindset, the belief that abilities develop through effort and learning. By reflecting regularly, you identify what worked, where there's room to grow, and why things played out as they did.
The result is a tool for continuous learning, one that helps you handle uncertainty with greater composure, adapt to change, and make more informed decisions. Essential qualities for any leader.
Practised consistently, reflection builds the kind of self-aware leadership that people notice and trust.
Why reflection is important for leadership development
The foundation of leadership development
Most leadership skills, whether it's decision-making, communication, or managing change, improve when a leader regularly takes stock of what they're doing and why. Reflection is the mechanism that makes that learning stick.
Self-awareness and effectiveness
Leaders who reflect regularly develop a higher degree of self-awareness, which directly correlates with leadership effectiveness. According to Harvard Business Review, the habit of reflection is what separates extraordinary professionals from the mediocre. Leaders who practise regular self-reflection become more authentic and effective by gaining clarity on their values, behaviours, and goals.
Building authentic relationships
Reflection helps leaders understand not just what they do, but why they do it. That clarity builds authenticity and trust, the foundations of strong, supportive relationships with team members.
🤔 Reflective question: Think about a leader you've trusted completely. What did they do that built that trust? How much of it came from the way they listened and reflected before speaking?
Continuous improvement
Reflective leaders are committed to learning and evolving. By regularly evaluating their actions and decisions, they model a growth mindset and encourage their teams to do the same.
Reflection also changes how leaders handle feedback. It helps them deliver it thoughtfully and receive it openly, without becoming defensive. That transforms feedback from a difficult conversation into a genuine tool for growth.
Emotional intelligence and resilience
Reflection helps leaders process emotions without judgement, strengthening their emotional intelligence, which is critical for effective leadership.
Regular reflection also builds resilience. When leaders examine setbacks with curiosity rather than self-criticism, they recover faster, adapt more readily, and are less likely to carry the weight of one difficult week into the next.
Practical ways to embed the critical leadership skill of reflection
Reflective practice isn't one-size-fits-all. There are many ways to reflect, the best are the one(s) you'll actually use. Here are some practical ways to embed reflection into your leadership development routine:
Making reflection a habit
Reflection is most powerful when it's consistent. Here's how to build it into your routine:
Set a regular time: block out time daily or weekly, whether it's a morning journal, a lunchtime walk, or a Friday voice note.
Start small: begin with five minutes and build up as it becomes a habit. Aim for 30 minutes a week to give yourself space to think.
Use reminders: set calendar alerts or keep a reflection journal on your desk as a visual cue.
Be honest, not harsh: approach your reflections with curiosity and self-compassion, not criticism.
Track your growth: periodically review past reflections to notice patterns, progress, and areas for continued improvement.
Take action: design small experiments, reframe assumptions, act differently, and resource yourself with tools to help.
Resources for deeper reflection
Reflection is a practice, and like any practice it deepens with good material. These are the books, articles, podcasts, and videos Nancy finds herself recommending most often.
📚 Books
Time to Think: Listening to Ignite the Human Mind - Nancy Kline
The Reflective Leader: Standing Still to Move Forward - Alan Smith and Peter Shaw
📄 Articles
Don't underestimate the power of reflective practice - Harvard Business Review
Seven tips for designing a leadership self-reflection practice - Forbes
Reflectors' Toolkit - University of Edinburgh, a comprehensive open-access resource for developing reflective practice
🎧 Podcasts
Coaching for Leaders - Dave Stachowiak
Hindsight to Insight: Reflective Practice for Leaders (Part 1) - The Balance Leader Podcast with Rob Hills
🎥 Videos
🤔 Reflective question: When did you last pause, properly, to ask yourself what you're learning from how things are going? What would change if you made that a weekly habit?
Final thoughts
Reflection isn't about navel-gazing or overthinking. It's about learning, growing, and leading with intention. Effective leaders make time to pause, ask themselves tough questions, and act on what they learn. Whether you journal, walk, draw, talk, or meditate, the key is to find a method that fits your style and stick with it.
Make reflection a regular practice and you'll find it changes not just how you lead, but how your team operates. That shift tends to spread.
Ready to take your leadership development further?
