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Review, reflect, discuss, celebrate!

End of year is an excellent time for evaluation. 

The model that I like to use is: 

Review → Reflect → Discuss → Celebrate!

A woman with long blonde hair stares out from a high-rise window over city lights.

Taking the time to evaluate is an opportunity to re-set your own compass – you can stop, look and discover where you and then decide where you want to go in the future. This helps to ensure we are consciously choosing the path we take.

To live your life in line with your purpose and values, regular evaluation is vital. And making a habit of a regular evaluation – I do it at least annually – can be valuable.

Here are some questions that might help you in your own annual evaluation:

Review

This is is about just the facts and figures. Gather the evidence and data from your year.

For example, you might ask yourself:

  • What were my achievements?
  • What did I not get done, but intend to do?
  • What challenges/barriers did I or will I face?
  • What feedback did I receive?
  • What opportunities were or are available to me?

Reflect

I was discussing this with a coaching client recently. She developed a list of questions for her own evaluation and they were so good I asked her if I could share them in this blog. In your own review, you might like to think about:

  • What did I do well?
  • What could I have done differently?
  • Have I improved my skills and have I been learning this year?
  • Have I been connected?
  • Have I enjoyed this year?
  • What would I like more of?
  • What would I like less of?

Discuss

Now that you’ve done your research and reflection, say it out loud. Find a trusted confidant – a colleague, mentor, friend or coach. Saying it out loud helps you to clarify your thoughts and to embed your thinking. And having a ‘critical friend’ may help you to explore your challenges and opportunities. I have an annual meeting with a colleague where we discuss each others year in review and then set our goals for the coming year.

Celebrate

Don’t forget to celebrate! Not only do you deserve it, a celebration is about gratitude, and gratitude powers us on for the next year.

So, go forth. Review, reflect, discuss and celebrate. I’d love to hear your own evaluation tricks and tips – feel free to email me with your thoughts, or join the discussion on LinkedIn.

Taking the time to evaluate is an opportunity to re-set your own compass – you can stop, look, and discover where you and then decide where you want to go in the future. This helps to ensure we are consciously choosing the path we take.

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Hello! I’m Helga.

I’m a facilitator, coach and strategy nerd who helps leaders and teams turn talk into action. Before talk can happen, there needs to be a kernel of an idea. This is what the Ideas to Action blog is for – providing inspiration, motivation and guided contemplation. Consider it your thinking space.

Whether you’re navigating complexity, shaping strategy, or stepping into board life, I’m here to support the next step of your journey. Get to know me better or explore my coaching and facilitation services to see how I can help you.