The more the context shifts—the more turbulent the waters—the more we must hold tight to the course we’ve set. And above all, never deviate from it. In practice, how does this work?
Frame your thinking.
Conducting an objective self-assessment of yourself and your work is no simple feat.
It’s important to frame your thinking around key areas where you can self-evaluate, identify where you’re falling short, and consider what you can do to improve and achieve your goals.
To do this, simply list: 1/ your strengths or professional qualities (resources, assets, skills, etc.) 2/ your development areas to set your improvement margin 3/ the concrete actions and projects you could implement to address these development areas.
Five areas for reflection.
To avoid being “overwhelmed” by external context, frame your thinking independently of the external environment—which is beyond your control—around five fundamental pillars.
- Relationships: assess your ability to develop and maintain strong professional relationships. Evaluate your satisfaction level in interactions with others—team members, clients, and partners. Also consider your personal image and your leadership and management capabilities.
- Time management: reflecting on how you allocate time to your various tasks and activities is essential, as poor time management often leads to stress and anxiety. “Did I delegate effectively?”, “Was I overworked during the year?”, “Did I prioritize my tasks well?”…Analyze the cost/benefit of each activity in a typical week to prioritize tasks with the most added value for you and your organization.
- Work-life balance: essential during turbulent times, ask yourself what mistakes you’ve made: I have access to work emails on my personal phone, so I can’t disconnect in the evenings / I compensate for my worries by working even harder…Then, think carefully about what space you’d like to free up for your personal life. This involves identifying moments that energized you, brought you joy, nourished or replenished you during the year (a singing or acting class that helps you mentally let go, a weekly boxing session to release tension, or simply time spent with loved ones or with yourself?). The idea? Ensure that your work finds its place within a dynamic of personal fulfillment. To avoid reaching that point, identify what matters to you each week versus what’s urgent, and try to strike a good balance—never put yourself in jeopardy.
- Alignment: to move forward on solid ground, it’s also important to step back and reflect on your own values. This requires first identifying the motivations that guide you and form your internal compass. Then ask yourself: “To what extent have I embodied them? Did I feel aligned?” / “How have I lived them out in my daily professional work?”
- Last year’s objectives: when you’re unsure where you’re going, always remember where you came from. Take time to revisit your past goals…and recognize the progress you’ve made!
Uncertainty is the new normal; it’s on this uncertainty that we must build. And while the future may seem dark, uncertain, and complex, it is also flexible, open, and changeable…Winston Churchill put it well—let’s trust him! Especially now, in this age of major AI transformation.