Daily Leadership Journaling

If you could name just one aspect of your leadership that you would like to improve this year, what would it be?  While it may take you a few minutes to think this through, knowing what you would like to do better is the easy part. Like with losing weight or giving up smoking, the challenge is turn your good intention into reality. Research shows that taking just a few minutes each day to make a short journal entry, greatly increases your chances of moving beyond just knowing what you would like to do, and actually start doing what you know.

History is full of courageous and innovative people who have kept a journal including Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Leonardo Da Vinci and Anne Frank.  It does not matter whether you choose a book with lines, or without. Any book will do. You can even choose to use journaling software. There are advantages and disadvantages to every option available but the good news is they all work well. It really is a matter of personal preference.

Keeping a journal only takes a few minutes each day, but to be effective it must be something that becomes part of your daily routine. If you are like most leaders, you will have many demands on your time and it is all too easy to bump journaling from your schedule. Therefore, we suggest that you choose a set time each day, such as straight after lunch. When you come into your office, take a few moments before you open your email, before you meet with a colleague and before you tackle your inbox.

Reflect on how you have gone with trying out your new way of leading in the last 24 hours. What did you do? What worked well? Did you fall into old patterns of behaviour when you could and should have used your new approach instead?

Plan what you will do in the next 24 hours. What opportunities does the next day hold where you can practise your new way of leading?

It is that simple, and it works!