Leadership Reflections – The 6 Things That Made a Difference in 2017

For myself and those I work with, 2017 was a great year for building high performing teams and achieving personal goals. As the year draws to a close I wanted to share a few observations as a way of expressing my gratitude for the people I worked with, who not just “Talked the Talk” but truly “Walked the Walk.” Here are a few things that I observed this year:

1. Attitude- I recently watched a Ted Talk by Atul Gawande and he had a great message on what it takes to be great. “It’s not how good you are that matters – it’s how good you are going to be that matters.” Personal and professional development is a never-ending process and intentionally embracing constant change was a key factor in the success I witnessed this year. 
2. Communication- We all hesitate at times to bring up controversial or unpopular topics. The people I interfaced with in 2017 that outperformed did not hide from the difficult conversations. It did not matter if they were extroverts or introverts. They all had the courage to wade into the abyss. They had the skill to both speak and listen. They understood that listening is way more important than speaking when it comes to effective communication. 
3. Feedback- The people that thrived constantly solicited feedback from multiple perspectives. There is an art to soliciting feedback, more so than a science. You have to directly ask for feedback in a humble and vulnerable way. Effective feedback has benefits for the giver, the receiver and their organization, so in making the request let the person know that you want feedback not just for yourself but for the broader common cause. And remember when receiving feedback, never try to explain or justify your past actions. The only proper responses to negative feedback are a simple and sincere “Thank You” or a request for additional constructive information.
4. Reflection- The most successful individuals I met with could easily be described as lifelong learners. These people have the ability to regularly reflect on situations and experiences in the spirit of learning and improving. American philosopher, psychologist and educational reformer John Dewey said it well, “We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience.” Take the time to reflect on your life and work regularly … and be open to other perspectives.
5. Resilience- Things often do not go as planned. That’s life. I saw a few people who were face down in the mud but had the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. They stand up, wipe the mud off their face and get back into the game. When I see this ability to spring back in action, I often learn that the person was engaged in some type of mindfulness practice. While meditation was a common theme, others enjoyed yoga, exercise or some other intentional practice that allowed them to fully focus and be present in the face of adversity.  
6. Gratitude- Truly great individuals know the importance of sincere gratitude. Studies show that we can deliberately cultivate gratitude. A practice of being grateful, especially the expression of it to others, is associated with increased energy, optimism and empathy. The people I enjoyed spending time with this year expressed a lot of gratitude, not only to their team members for good results, but also to anyone that put in an effort that they experienced, right down to the bus boy refilling their water glass.

And in that vein, I wish to thank everyone I worked with this year for making 2017 a satisfying and enriching experience. If you believe that the lessons I have shared above will benefit others, then please Like or Share this Post so that others can benefit from these 6 concepts in 2018. Best wishes to all for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2018!

Dave

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David Galowich is the Founder of Terra Firma Leadership LLC, the Chair of a Vistage Chief Executive private advisory board, a graduate of Georgetown University’s Leadership Coaching program, an International Coach Federation credentialed coach and Speaker on several Leadership topics. Dave can be contacted at dave@terrafirmaleadership.com