How can you use self-reflection to improve program management?

Always ask questions to gain a deeper understanding of your feelings and behaviors. Let's take a concrete example. There's a fine line between perseverance and stubbornness. How do you know when you crossed the line? through self-reflection i.e. Stop and ask yourself are you going against common sense? does your data back your argument or your gut feeling? often when we ask the question, our mindset shifts to being more open. With openness you gain clarify and objectivity. Remember Changing one's mind is the only path to growth!

Solicit Feedback: Actively seek feedback from team members, stakeholders, and others involved in the program. Reflect on the feedback received and use it as valuable input for self-improvement. Consider implementing constructive feedback into your program management approach. Set Development Goals: Based on your reflections, set specific and measurable development goals. These goals could relate to improving specific skills, enhancing communication strategies, or addressing areas identified for improvement.

Evaluate Team Dynamics: Consider the dynamics within your program team. Reflect on team collaboration, communication, and overall morale. Identify any challenges or conflicts and think about strategies to improve team dynamics and foster a positive working environment. Explore Adaptability: Reflect on how well you adapted to unexpected changes or challenges. Consider whether you were flexible in adjusting plans, and if not, think about how you can improve your adaptability in the face of uncertainties.

It's important to understand your strengths and weaknesses and you can't do that without knowing yourself. Once you have those identified you can continue to work on your weak areas or build an effective well rounded team that mitigates them.

We see the world through our own experiences and mental models, which can cause us to miss key connection points. Reflection helps us by opening our eyes to new possibilities. It doesn’t have to be hard. Building in routine opportunities to reflect, whether it’s a six-week planning cycle, a daily question to ponder, or after a milestone. Research shows that by spending a little bit of time each week reflecting we can develop better social connections with our team and stakeholders, as well as bring more efficiency and greater impact in our work and programs.