Self-Reflection for Great Leaders

Cathie Leimbach • November 19, 2024

Thinking about yourself and how you work is important for everyone, especially leaders. When you take time to look at yourself, you can:

·      Find out what you're good at

·      Figure out what you need to improve

·      Learn how to do your job better


Why is self-reflection so important for leaders? Here are three big reasons:

1.      Know Yourself - Self-reflection helps you understand your leadership style. Think about how you act as a leader and how that affects your team. Are you helping people do their best work? Are you creating a positive workplace?

2.      Be Flexible -  The world changes quickly. By thinking about yourself, you can learn how to adapt. This means you'll be better at handling new challenges and information when they come up.

3.      Make Better Decisions - When you look at situations without letting your ego get in the way, you can see things more clearly. This helps you make smarter choices that benefit your entire team.


Your Challenge

Pick one day this month to spend an hour thinking about your leadership. Ask yourself:

·      What am I doing well?

·      What could I do better?

·      What's one thing I can improve next month?


By taking time to reflect, you can become a stronger, more effective leader.

Leaders Who Help People Thrive

By Cathie Leimbach • July 28, 2026
From uncertainty to confident, supportive leadership conversations

The Workplace Has Changed. Has Your Leadership?

By Cathie Leimbach • July 21, 2026
There was a time when many employees expected to spend most of their careers with one organization. Job security, pensions, and long-term loyalty often kept people in the same company for decades. Today's workforce thinks differently. Millennials and Gen Z expect to build careers—not necessarily with one employer. If they don't see opportunities to learn, grow, contribute, and advance, they'll find them somewhere else. Research consistently shows that younger employees are looking for more than a paycheck. They want managers they trust, meaningful work, opportunities to develop, flexibility when possible, and a workplace where they feel respected, supported, and heard. Gallup reports that 87% of Millennials say professional development is important to their job satisfaction. Combined with growing expectations for work-life balance and a positive workplace culture, it's no surprise that organizations relying primarily on compensation to retain employees continue to struggle with turnover. The encouraging news is that leaders influence most of what keeps people engaged.  Managers who hold meaningful conversations, clarify expectations, recognize contributions, coach for growth, and genuinely care about their employees create workplaces where people want to stay. They build trust, strengthen engagement, and help employees grow, succeed, and see a future with the organization. Today's retention isn't driven by job security or loyalty alone. It's driven by a workplace experience where employees are growing, supported by leaders they trust, and confident their contributions matter. Download our Retention Conversation Guide to discover practical ways to strengthen trust, engagement, and retention—one leadership conversation at a time. Conversation is where leadership happens.