Time for a Personal Postmortem

Postmortem translates as “after death.” It’s not the most uplifting of titles, but it is an important management tool. Done at the end of project or process, it’s a meeting to honestly assess what went well and what could be improved. It’s an opportunity for team members to learn from each other and to make commitments regarding any needed change.

December seems like the perfect time to do a personal postmortem – to reflect on your leadership and contribution to the organization. In this spirit, I suggest taking a few moments to consider these questions:

What were my overall goals for this year?  Did I achieve them?

What did I do especially well this year as a leader? What could I have improved?

What risks did I take? What did I learn from them?

Am I happy and satisfied in my role? Why? Why not?

Taking time to reflect is an essential – and often ignored – element of leadership and the lynch pin of learning organizations. Use this year’s end as your moment to reflect.  And get a jump on your New Year’s Resolutions!