As the year draws to a close, businesses everywhere engage in a familiar ritual: the annual performance appraisal. These evaluations provide opportunities to recognise achievements, identify areas for growth, and set goals for the year ahead. But how often do we, as leaders and as individuals, turn the spotlight on ourselves?
Conducting a personal self-review at the end of the year is just as vital as any formal appraisal. It’s a chance to pause, reflect, and assess where we’re at. Here’s why this practice is so valuable for leaders and business owners and, and how to get the most out of it:
Why a Self-Review Matters
1. It Sets the Tone for Leadership Development
As a leader, your growth impacts everyone around you. According to a report by McKinsey, 89% of executives agree that strengthening leadership capabilities is a top priority for organisational success. Your self-review can help you identify areas where you’ve excelled and where there’s room for improvement, ensuring that your development aligns with your team’s needs.
2. It Reinforces Self-Awareness
Emotional intelligence, a cornerstone of effective leadership, begins with self-awareness. Reflecting on your decisions, leadership style, and interactions over the past year can provide valuable insights into how you’re perceived and how you can better support your team.
3. It Helps You Celebrate Wins
It’s easy to forget how much you’ve achieved in the hustle and bustle of leading a business. Taking the time to review your accomplishments—whether it’s hitting financial goals, launching a new initiative, or supporting team growth—reminds you of the progress you’ve made and boosts your motivation for the year ahead.
4. It Encourages Strategic Goal-Setting
Reflecting on the past year gives you a clearer perspective on what worked well and what didn’t. This clarity is invaluable when setting goals for the following year. You’ll be better equipped to align your personal development goals with your business strategy, ensuring both are set up for success.
How to Conduct an Effective Self-Review
Ready to dive in? Here are actionable steps to guide your year-end self-review:
Step 1: Focus on Key Areas
Break your self-review into categories to ensure a comprehensive evaluation. For example:
Leadership: How have you supported your team? Have you fostered a positive culture and provided clear direction?
Decision-Making: Were your decisions timely, well-informed, and aligned with your organisational goals?
Communication: How effectively did you communicate with your team, clients, and stakeholders?
Time Management: To what extent did you spend your time on high-priority tasks? What are the areas where you could have delegated more?
Find specific examples wherever possible to ground your reflections in reality.
Step 2: Seek Feedback
Self-awareness is powerful, but it’s also limited to your perspective. Reach out to trusted colleagues, mentors, or team members for their input. Ask questions like:
What has been my greatest achievement from your perspective this year?
What one thing could I change for my own benefit?
Their insights can reveal blind spots and help you grow.
Step 3: Celebrate Your Wins
What are you most proud of this year? List your achievements, big and small. From landing a major client to navigating tough challenges, this is your chance to acknowledge your hard work and resilience. Celebrating wins isn’t just about self-praise—it’s about recognising the habits and actions that led to success so you can replicate them in the future.
Step 4: Identify Areas for Growth
Be honest about where you struggled. What have been your frustrations and disappointments? Did you avoid tough conversations? Were there moments where you let stress affect your decisions? Frame these areas as opportunities for growth rather than failures.
Step 5: Set Intentional Goals
Use your reflections to consider what you want to take forward to next year. If 2025 were to be an amazing year, what would it include? What are the personal qualities you most want to develop and what difference would these make?
Then set 2-3 specific, actionable goals for the year ahead.
For example:
Improve communication by scheduling regular one-on-ones with key team members.
Develop leadership skills by enrolling in a workshop or mentoring program.
Delegate at least one task per week to free up time for strategic planning.
The power of a self-review lies in what you do next.
The end of the year is a natural time for reflection and renewal. By conducting your personal self-review now, you set the stage for a more focused, intentional, and successful year ahead. As leadership expert John Maxwell puts it, “Reflection turns experience into insight.” Make time to pause, reflect, and grow—your business, your team, and your future self will thank you.
Are you ready to take the first step? Grab a notebook, block out an hour, and start your self-review today. The insights you uncover could be the key to unlocking your next level of leadership.
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