How much time do you spend reflecting on your professional SUCCESSES?

We often tend to dwell on our failures. It’s like our brains are wired to ponder over mistakes and figure out how to avoid them in the future. 

Now, don’t get me wrong; learning from our failures is crucial, and it helps take the “sting” out of the failure if we walk away with valuable lessons. 

But there’s a hidden opportunity we often overlook—dissecting our successes. Trust me; it’s worth exploring!

Let’s dive into why it’s important to give our successes some love and attention:

Spot Patterns and Strategies

Our successes often reveal patterns and strategies that worked well for us. When we take the time to analyze what led to a particular triumph, we can uncover the factors that contributed to it. Maybe it was your stellar communication skills, meticulous planning, or ability to leverage your strengths. What’s your “secret sauce” that contributed to your recipe for success? When you know the ingredients, they can guide you in replicating success in other areas.

Boost Confidence and Motivation

Celebrating our successes not only boosts our confidence but also fuels our motivation. It feels amazing to acknowledge, appreciate and celebrate our accomplishments. It gives us a sense of fulfillment and belief in our abilities. This positive reinforcement can fuel our drive, inspiring us to set higher goals and tackle new challenges with enthusiasm and determination. And it’s one of my favorite tools to use when I’m faced with a challenge that intimidates me. I reflect on past successes for a just-in-time confidence boost!

Build on Strengths

Paying attention to our successes helps us identify the skills, qualities, and traits that contributed to our achievements. By recognizing these strengths, we can nurture and develop them further. Focusing on building upon our strengths enhances our overall competence, increasing our chances of continued success and career growth.

Fuel Positivity and Resilience

Celebrating our successes is a vital part of the learning process. We create a positive atmosphere supporting personal growth when we acknowledge and appreciate our accomplishments. This positive mindset allows us to approach challenges with optimism and resilience, knowing we have what it takes to succeed.

Coaching Tips for Leaders

If you are a leader with direct reports, develop your team by helping them dissect their successes. Spend some time during your one-on-one and team meetings celebrating success (big or small) and identifying the root causes of success. Here are a few of my favorite coaching questions:

• What is your “proudest proud” from this week?
• What made this particular experience stand out for you?
• What did you do particularly well? 
• What strengths did you leverage?
• What other root causes contributed to your success?
• What will you take away from this experience and use the next time you face a challenge?
• How might I help you celebrate your success?

So, let me help you celebrate one of your successes! Reply to this email and share a recent professional success with me, and you’ll receive a special surprise!

Wishing you the best!