Leadership is a verb; you learn best through doing. So, how do you ensure that your leaders are not just learning concepts in their development journey but truly evolving and driving results? Our new insights series report – Strengthening the Action-Reflection link for leadership growth – dives into this question, offering an analysis of how leaders can leverage smarter on-the-job actions and deliberate reflection to achieve growth.
Research shows that 15 minutes of reflection daily can increase productivity by up to 23%.*
We analyzed 1,546 actions by 381 leaders, focusing on three key dimensions: What (action and approach), Why (purpose and envisioned outcome), and When (timing and frequency). Each free text action was scored for ‘actionability’. One of the most compelling findings was the strong correlation between clear action definition and reflection rates.
- Leaders who specified both what they would do and how they would do it were 1.6 times more likely to reflect on their actions.
- Those who set clear timelines for their actions were 2.4 times more likely to reflect than those who left the timing vague.
These insights underscore the importance of precise action planning in fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Our analysis also revealed an overall reflection rate of 84%, demonstrating a strong commitment to learning and growth among the leader population in the sample. These findings are not just numbers; they represent real opportunities where leaders have refined their leadership practices, driving meaningful behavioral change.
Download – Strengthening the Action-Reflection link for leadership growth – to learn more about the impact of action learning and reflection in leadership development.
*Source: Learning by Thinking: How Reflection Can Spur Progress Along the Learning Curve