How a journal can become your tool for success.

A few years ago I was selected for the Cox Enterprises’ Executive Leadership Program (ELP); the Atlanta-based company Cox has 80,000 employees. ELP was designed to meet the growing demand for leaders. It was my first opportunity to enjoy the benefits of working with an executive coach; I was determined to make the most of the opportunity.

Outward Bound Wilderness for professionals was part of ELP, too. In preparation for that April morning I purchased my gear and started training in January. From across the company and across the country our ELP group assembled in North Carolina.

Our wilderness expedition took us two hours west of Charlotte, North Carolina. We traveled 8.5 miles on a dirt & gravel road that wound down through the forest until we arrived at Pisgah National Forest, The Grand Canyon of North Carolina. I wondered, “Who were these 18 strangers I would spend four days with here in the wilderness?”

The four days included backpacking, rock climbing, and repelling all designed to accelerate our growth and development as leaders. That’s where I discovered the best predictor of future success; the ability and willingness to learn and change through consistent reflection on experience, feedback, success and failure.

Reflection positions us to think or seriously consider what’s going on in life. Over the years and now as an executive coach, I’ve found most leaders have the capacity and readiness to be taught and experience growth. And without question experience, feedback, success and failure are prepared to tutor us. What remains undecided is our availability. It is that idea when the student is ready the teacher shows up. So here’s the question: how will you give yourself the competitive advantage and growth gift that only consistent reflection can provide in 2009?

An ancient writer said it like this, “The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.” As a people developer, I encourage reflection to help a leader use good judgment and even common sense regarding their business behaviors. The challenge comes when we believe or accept something about ourselves or situation that is not true. Reflection then, in the context of people development is an empowering habit that helps us make the connection between our lives, truth, and our behavior. Some call it prayer or meditation; I use my journal in the place of prayer for the purpose of transformation as a leader. Here is some good news: we can change when we see and welcome truth, take responsibility and use support systems.

Why a journal? As Ron Clug writes, “A journal is a tool for self-discovery, an aid to concentration, a mirror for the soul, a place to generate and capture ideas, a safety valve for the emotions, a training ground for the writer, and a good friend and confidant.” Here are a few ideas to help you get started using a journal:

1. Set an appointment. How do you make sure something gets done? Whether your tee time, your dentist, or your doctor, we set appointments for things we consider important. If the best predictor of future success is your ability and willingness to learn and change through consistent reflection on life, when is your appointment?
2. Find a place. Remember that best practice you learned in school? We’re still students; find a place with limited distractions and be consistent.
3. Write in color. Assign a color to the voice you listen to during your time of reflection. Color helps bring focus to the journal experience; it allows you to find important thoughts at a later time, too. Writing helps me slow down in anticipation of hearing truth.
4. Organize your journal. Tabs to remind me to focus on the needs of others and a place to record specific, goal-like requests; things I’m seeking help and direction with.
5. Be intentional. ELP was a significant investment of time and resources. Reflection is an important discipline of successful people and a journal is a helpful tool. It requires a battle plan because that urgent stuff will fight for your attention.
Your future success is tied to your ability and willingness to learn and change; that requires consistent reflection on your experience, feedback, success and failure. Leaders who demonstrate a commitment to personal growth and to leading their own lives first are leaders people want to follow. Do you have time for reflection in your busy schedule? If not, you may be too busy to get from there from here.