For most, your budgets are finalized and you are in the midst of wrapping up 2017. The end of year is an excellent time to reflect on what went well and what could be improved upon. When work and life are busy, it can seem difficult to make time for reflection. Taking time to reflect is similar to taking a break from work. There is a point of diminishing return.
A team of researchers comprised of experts from Harvard Business School, HEC Paris, and the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School found that taking time to reflect can improve job performance. In one of their studies, individuals who took time to share and/or reflect on their learnings increased their performance by 22% than those who did not take time to reflect/shared. (Source: https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/
The take-away – take time this December to reflect on your year. Go grab a coffee with your pen and a piece of printer paper. Write down your reflections on the following:
Yes, workflow is important to getting things done. However, if you have a great place to work, it makes getting the job done easier. If you have ever thought “I don’t have time for reflection”, consider the data. Taking time to reflect can help you perform better.
Michael Feit earned his J.D. from the Loyola University School of Law in Chicago and was an executive at Westlaw before founding Feit Consulting 16 years ago. Feit Consulting partners with law firm administrators and legal information professionals to optimize vendor contracts and the management and delivery of legal information resources by providing leading-edge, customized solutions. Contact Michael at mike@feitconsulting.com