A new study published by management professors at the University of Florida has identified a simple, daily activity that can boost your ability to lead and manage others, regardless of your title, job position, or industry.
The study, which observed both current and aspiring leaders, their daily habits, and their relative performance, found a link between leadership and a simple psychological technique, done for a few minutes a day.
Reflection is a tool that has been used by leaders as far back as in Ancient Rome, when the first philosophers recognized the power reflection had to shape their approach to daily life and new challenges. In the study done by management professors at the University of Florida, leaders who took a few minutes a day to reflect on what type of leader they aspired to be, and how that would look in daily situations they would encounter, saw a marked improvement in their ability to lead and manage others according to the ideals they reflected on.
In order to access this tool, the study identified some prompts for reflection, including:
- What are some of your proudest moments as a leader?
- What qualities do you have that make you a good leader, or qualities you will have in the future that will make you a good leader?
- Think about who you aspire to be as a leader, and imagine that you have achieved this in a perfect scenario. What does that look like?
- What effect do you want to have on your employees? Motivation? Inspiration? To develop their unique skills sets? What skills or traits do you have that can help to have that affect?