Memories act as a bridge, allowing us to carry the lessons and experiences of the past into the present – Unknown
Happy Friday, Brew Nation!
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One of the ways I identify topics for the Champions Brew each week is to review my photos that I took from the previous week. It often triggers a leadership topic that I may have taught, a quote from a book that I may have found inspiring or encouraging, or an experience I had. Now, imagine going back even further stumbling upon an old photo album in your attic. You open it, and suddenly, you’re transported back to a moment of pure joy, a significant accomplishment, or a powerful learning experience. And, if you haven’t used Timehop on your phone to mine social media memories or pictures on our phone, what then you are missing out on even more! That’s a habit what we should do for our leadership journey as well – intentionally revisiting our past wins to fuel our present success.” Wouldn’t that be incredible? A “Your Positive Leadership Memories” button, instantly reminding you of your best leadership moments. While that app might not exist yet, or maybe it does and I just am not aware of it, we can absolutely recreate that experience to sharpen our leadership skills. I often encourage leaders to create a “Why” folder, a repository of reminders of their positive leadership experiences. But this isn’t just a feel-good collection; it’s a powerful tool for self-reflection and growth.
When we revisit these positive memories, we unlock valuable insights into our leadership style and the factors that contributed to our success. It’s not just about nostalgia; it’s about extracting actionable lessons to apply in the present.
The key is to ask the right questions about those moments. Instead of simply reliving them, delve deeper to understand the underlying drivers of your success. Here are three (3) important questions to ask when reviewing those positive memories:
- What was I ‘doing’ at that moment that helped me to achieve that success? (Focus on the specific actions, strategies, and behaviors you employed.)
- Who was I ‘being’ at that moment that helped me to achieve that success? (Focus on your mindset, character traits, and emotional intelligence.)
- How can I use what I was doing and being then to achieve even greater success in the PRESENT moment? (This is the crucial step – translating past success into present-day action.) This question is the bridge between past triumphs and present-day challenges. It forces us to identify transferable skills and apply them to our current context.
This concept aligns with the wisdom of leaders like John Maxwell, who emphasizes the importance of daily reflection and asking questions that add value to ourselves and others. Just as Maxwell encourages us to evaluate our daily actions, we can also evaluate our past experiences to glean valuable insights.
Perhaps you remember a time when you successfully navigated a difficult team conflict. Reflecting on that moment, you might realize that you were actively listening, demonstrating empathy, and facilitating open communication. These “doing” and “being” qualities can be consciously applied to any current conflict you face.
Or maybe you recall a moment when you inspired your team to achieve a seemingly impossible goal. Reflecting on that experience, you might recognize that you were communicating a clear vision, providing unwavering support, and celebrating small wins. These insights can inform your current leadership approach and help you motivate your team to reach new heights.
The “Why” folder isn’t just about celebrating past victories; it’s about extracting the essence of those victories and applying it to the present. It’s about turning memories into actionable strategies for continuous improvement. As Philippians 4:8 encourages, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
However, true growth also comes from acknowledging and learning from our setbacks. Consider creating a “Why Not” folder, a space to store memories of moments where you fell short. These can be more difficult to revisit, filled with lessons learned from mistakes, missteps, and missed opportunities. But they are no less educational. By reviewing these experiences, asking the same probing questions – what you were doing, who you were being, and how you can learn from this – you can identify patterns, avoid repeating errors, and build resilience. These moments, though challenging, are invaluable teachers, shaping you into a wiser and more effective leader.
So, maybe someday there will be an app that will pop up memory reminders of our past leadership moments. Until then, be intentional about reviewing those memories, learning from them, and driving continuous improvement as a leader.
Here are a few practical tips for creating your “Why” folder:
- Document your successes: Keep a journal or digital folder where you record your positive leadership moments. Include details about the situation, your actions, and the outcome. Make it easier to retrieve by using ‘tags’ to search that digital folder. When I come upon a moment, quote, or article, that might be of value to share it with you, I use Evernote to store that moment and tag it with ‘Champions Brew Topic’.
- Collect testimonials: Save emails, notes, or messages from people who have praised your leadership.
- Reflect regularly: Schedule time each month to review your “Why” folder. Ask yourself the three key questions mentioned earlier.
- Apply your learnings: Identify specific actions you can take to apply your past successes to your present challenges and make them a new discipline or habit.
By intentionally revisiting our positive leadership memories, we can unlock valuable insights, refine our skills, and create a continuous cycle of growth. It’s like having a “Positive Leadership Memories” button right at our fingertips, ready to guide us toward success.
Being successful as a leader requires intentional leadership habits. That’s why I developed the Ideal Week template – a tool that helps me identify disciplines and habits needed for success and allocate the necessary time. It guides you through planning your ideal week, ensuring you dedicate time to the activities that bring you closer to your goals.
Want to give it a try? Email me at [email protected] with the words ‘IDEAL WEEK’ in the subject line and I’ll send you a copy of the Ideal Week template complete with a sample to get you started!
- Quote of the week:
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” – Dr. Seuss
What You Need to Do:
Call to Action: Don’t let your past leadership wins fade into memory! Create your ‘Why’ folder today. Start by documenting one positive leadership moment from the past week. Then, ask yourself: What was I doing? Who was I being? How can I apply this to my current challenges?
It’s an honor to be your trusted “Friday Coffee Guy”. Each week, I’m excited to provide yet another round of curated content that I’ve been reading, listening to, watching, or thinking over. The purpose of the Champions Brew is to inspire, equip and encourage you to become the uncommon leader you were designed to be. I am so grateful for your decision to invest a few moments with me! I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Champions Brew. If you did, I would appreciate it if you would share it with someone who might enjoy it as well and ask them to subscribe! I will make sure they automatically get this email every week.
Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!
P.S. – Are you a podcast fan? Maybe the Uncommon Leader podcast is for you. Are you interested in being a guest on the Uncommon Leader Podcast? Do you have a story to tell? Email me [email protected] and let’s have a chat and set something up!!
