The Self-Reflection Advantage
Regardless of where you are in your career, there is one question you should always ask yourself:
“What am I trying to accomplish through this?”
When things are going great, ask yourself that question. When things are going awry, ask yourself the same question. Whether you are celebrating a promotion, receiving difficult feedback, considering a career change, or wondering whether it is time to move on—yep, ask the question.
Why Self-Reflection Matters in Your Career
It is important to remember that self-reflection is one of the most important skills a professional can develop.
At this moment, stop and ask yourself (if you are in an office with colleagues, ask yourself in your silent voice 😊):
Why am I here?
What am I learning?
What is this experience teaching me?
Is this helping me become the person I want to be?
What is my gut trying to tell me?
Quite often, we ignore our instincts when things are going well because the rewards and predictability are distracting. Similarly, we tend to ignore them when things are going poorly because we become consumed by frustration, fear, or disappointment.
The reality is, neither reaction serves you well.
Your Career Is Personal, But Business Is Not
Our careers are deeply personal, but business is not. While that is a difficult distinction to accept at times, it is 100% true.
To put it into perspective, when a company decides your role is no longer needed, or you are passed over for a promotion, or placed on a performance plan, it feels personal.
However—it is not personal. It is business.
Similarly, when you decide to leave your company for a better opportunity, more flexibility, more money, or a path that better aligns with your goals, that decision is not personal toward your employer either—it is business.
In the corporate world, both sides are pursuing what they believe is in their best interest. That does not make either side bad, but it does make both sides human with self-interest.
At its core, the employer-employee relationship is an agreement built on mutual benefit.
Organizations need talent. Employees need opportunities, compensation, growth, and purpose. If those interests align, the relationship works.
It is when the interests no longer align that change happens.
And it is also important to remember that change does not mean failure.
When Your Path No Longer Aligns With Your Goals
Everything is not meant to be a lesson, despite what we believe.
Sometimes, the lesson isn't to stay or leave. Instead, it is to simply be honest with yourself about what you are trying to accomplish and whether your current path is helping you get there.
“What am I trying to accomplish through this?”
That question can be valuable whether you are deciding whether to stay in a role, pursue a promotion, accept difficult feedback, change careers, or move on from an organization.
Don't Put Your Career on Autopilot
Lastly, your career deserves more than autopilot, which is why taking time to self-reflect is meaningful.
Take the time to do it.
Listen to your gut.
Ask yourself the challenging questions.
Your self-worth is always determined by who you are. Everything else shapes your journey, but you define your path.
The Leadership Corner Takeaway
Self-reflection isn't about constantly questioning every decision or assuming every difficult experience has a hidden lesson. It's about staying honest with yourself about where you are, what you want, what you're learning, and whether your current path is helping you get there.
Your career will change. Companies will change. Priorities will change. And sometimes, the best decision is to stay, while other times, the best decision is to move on.
The important thing is to make those decisions with awareness rather than autopilot.
So ask yourself:
“What am I trying to accomplish through this?”
Then listen to the answer.
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