Change Isn't Sudden, Until It Is

You might not notice the change day by day, but one day you'll look back and realize you're not the same leader you were a year ago—and that's when you know self-reflection has done its job.

There's something intriguing about the concept of "Eureka" moments—those instant revelations that seemingly change everything in the blink of an eye. But let's be honest, most of us don't experience an Archimedes-like revelation while taking a bath. For the majority, self-reflection is a gradual process, a slow burn that you may not even notice until one day, it lights up your entire life, illuminating all the changes you've subtly made over the years.

You don't have to wait for an epiphany to hit you like a bolt of lightning. In fact, you're probably already on a path of change without even realizing it. Much like how parents often don't notice their children growing day by day until someone remarks on how tall they've become, the incremental changes you make through daily self-reflection may go unnoticed until they accumulate into something unmistakable.

When you don't understand yourself, how can you ever hope to lead others effectively? What many aspiring leaders don't realize is importance of understanding the nuances of human behavior, starting with your own. Acknowledging your weaknesses, not just counting your strengths. Knowing when to speak, when to listen, and when to encourage others to take the floor.

Think about your daily interactions, decisions, and even your mistakes. Are they guided by a deep sense of self-awareness, or are you merely going through the motions, guided by external expectations and demands? Being a manager doesn't make you a leader, and having authority doesn't give you influence. But self-reflection does.

It might be the day when you effortlessly defuse a heated meeting, steering it back to a place of productivity, and suddenly realize how far you've come. It might be when you successfully rally a demotivated team, finding just the right words that you wouldn't have known a year ago. It might be a quieter moment, when you find you're no longer stressed about an upcoming review because you've learned to manage your anxiety and expectations. In that moment, you'll understand that self-reflection isn't sudden until it is.