28: Year-End Reflection Strategies for Women Executives

This episode dives into the transformative practice of creating a Highlight Reel for annual reflection for women leaders.

Discover how this method of chronicling your achievements not only catalyzes professional advancement but also enhances personal growth. 

Uncover strategic approaches to documenting a year's worth of accomplishments, emphasizing their integral role in performance evaluations, career planning, and visibility within the corporate sphere. 

Additionally,  explore the personal benefits of this practice, such as boosting confidence, maintaining motivation, and fostering work-life balance. 

Get practical tips on effectively creating and maintaining your own comprehensive highlight reel for the upcoming year. 

Listen in as Sharon guides women executives through this empowering journey of reflection and recognition.

Find the full transcript at https://livingwhileleading.com/28

Sharon Ehrlich is a leadership strategist who turns stalled teams and overwhelmed leaders into high-impact performers, one conversation, one workshop, one coaching session at a time.

Through bespoke, problem-solving workshops, she helps organizations tackle real-world challenges—misaligned priorities, fractured communication, low morale—and leaves them with a clear roadmap to stronger trust, sharper decision-making, and sustained innovation.

Working 1:1 with executives, Sharon’s coaching blends deep listening with targeted feedback, so leaders refine their communication style, build resilience in uncertainty, and craft a strategic vision that sticks. Her clients report immediate shifts like teams collaborating more openly, projects hitting targets faster, and cultures becoming more inclusive and energized.

Whether you’re navigating a hybrid work maze, seeking fresh ideas to spark creativity, or aiming to align leadership around a shared purpose, Sharon’s insight-packed podcast episodes offer quick, actionable strategies you can put to work today.

Curious to see how she can help you solve your toughest leadership or team challenge? Explore current and past episodes at LivingWhileLeading.com or connect with Sharon on LinkedIn to start the conversation.

Transcript

28: Year-End Reflection Strategies for Women Executives 

When I was still navigating the corporate world, preparing for my annual performance review became a moment of revelation. 

Despite a year filled with accomplishments, I found myself struggling to recall and document specific successes. 

The effort and stress it took to sift through a year’s worth of memories was tremendous. I realized I had been so focused on overcoming the next challenge that I never truly acknowledged my victories, big or small.

This was a turning point for me. It led to the inception of what I now call my 'Highlight Reel' – a reflective practice that has not only revolutionized my professional journey but also significantly altered my personal perspective.

As an executive woman, your year was full of challenges, successes, and a ton of experiences. But the crucial question remains — have you paused to fully recognize and document all that you've achieved?

Let’s explore why this reflection is indispensable for both your career and personal growth, and discover the 'why' and 'how' of crafting your own comprehensive annual highlight reel.

Find the full transcript and other resources for women leaders at: https://livingwhileleading.com/28. 

Women Leaders Can Master Year-End Reflections for Career Advancement and Empowerment

As the year draws to a close, it's crucial to take a moment and reflect on your professional path. This exercise goes beyond self-congratulation — it's a strategic step in cementing your influence and impact.

Your achievements are your narrative. They define your trajectory and influence how you're perceived. 

Let's explore why a thorough reflection on your accomplishments is crucial from a career standpoint, and how it seamlessly integrates into performance evaluations, career planning, and ensuring your efforts are recognized and visible.

·      Performance Evaluations: As you prepare for your end-of-year performance reviews, having a clear record of your achievements makes the process smoother.
 
This exercise not only focuses on your own successes but also recognizes the contributions of your team. They've played a crucial part in your journey, and acknowledging this fosters a positive work environment. It’s of equal importance to outwardly demonstrate the value they’ve added to achieving organizational objectives. 

·      Career Planning: When you take time to reflect on your accomplishments it can guide your career path. It helps you identify what you enjoy, what you’re good at, and where you can improve. This insight is invaluable for strategizing your next steps, whether it’s seeking new challenges or investing in skill development. 

·      Visibility and Recognition: In the corporate world, visibility matters. Keeping track of your accomplishments ensures you’re ready to share your successes in meetings, network events, or even in casual conversations with leaders, investors and industry players. It's about owning your story and making sure it's heard.

How Reflecting on Achievements Benefits Women IT Executives

Reflecting on your professional achievements extends beyond your career. It influences your personal growth and well-being. 

Let’s discuss how this practice positively impacts your personal life in three significant ways.

·      Boosts Confidence: A regular review of your successes can significantly boost your self-confidence. It serves as a reminder of your capabilities, especially during times of self-doubt or when facing new challenges. Recognizing your accomplishments is a powerful tool for personal empowerment which allows you to celebrate your resilience and strength. 

·      Maintains Motivation: Seeing a list of what you've accomplished can be incredibly motivating. It’s a tangible record of your hard work paying off and can fuel you to keep pushing forward.

·      Encourages Work-Life Balance: When you reflect on your accomplishments, it also illuminates the hard work (and hours) you’ve put in. This could provide some insight into how you’re spending your time and whether there is a need to re-balance it.

Create a Comprehensive Highlight Reel: Essential Tips for Women Executives

When creating you own highlight reel, it’s most effective when you include all of your achievements, not just the major projects or initiatives. Recognizing these helps, a deeper appreciation of your journey and amplifies the diverse skill set that you bring to the table

Here are 3 tips to guide you to create your own highlight reel and maintain it a consistent practice:

1.    Monthly Check-Ins: Instead of waiting for the year’s end, have monthly or quarterly reflection sessions. Jot down key achievements, challenges you’ve overcome, and small wins. This practice will make it less overwhelming and provide a more comprehensive view of your year.

2.    Leverage Technology: Use digital tools to your advantage. Whether it's a note-taking app, a digital journal, or even a dedicated document on your laptop, find a platform that works for you and stick to it. The key is consistency.

3.    Involve Your Team: Make this a collaborative effort. Encourage them to maintain their own highlight reels. This not only helps with their professional development but also gives you a clearer picture of their overall performance.

Reflection on your achievements is not a practice in record keeping, rather it’s a recognition and celebration of your journey — both the highs and the lows. 

Here’s to a reflective and rewarding end to your year, and an even more accomplished 2024!

Remember, you’re the solution to claiming what’s important to you!