In this episode of Thriving in the Messy Middle, Amy Wilkins delivers a thoughtful reflection on the crucial, often overlooked practice of year-end reflection for leaders.  As 2025 draws to a close, Amy emphasizes the importance of acknowledging both big and subtle wins, supporting your leadership, relationships, and well-being. Discover the AWE framework—Awareness, Willingness, and Energy—to help propel your leadership in 2026. This reflection nurtures clarity and confidence, enabling impactful growth beyond mere metrics. Dive into this Messy Middle Moment to reflect, reset, and prepare for the upcoming year's challenges and achievements. Key Takeaways Reflecting on past achievements is crucial before planning for the next year, avoiding a negativity bias that focuses on failures. The AWE Framework comprises Awareness, Willingness, and Energy, facilitating a strategic reset for leaders. Recognizing subtle wins reinforces effective leadership behaviors and influences future success. Shifting to celebration impacts energy positively and aids in shaping intentional leadership for the coming year. Leadership growth extends beyond metrics, reflecting meaningful decisions and moments of resilience throughout the year. Quotes Your ability to lead what comes next is shaped by your willingness to reflect on what's already happened.By acknowledging progress, even small progress, you reinforce the behaviors that help you lead effectively.It's the subtle wins we tend to miss—those moments that directly contribute to your impact and reputation as a leader. If you don't pause to examine the year that was, your brain defaults to what didn't happen, what you missed, what you postponed.How you feel about the year influences how you lead in the next one.What energy do I want to bring into my leadership in 2026? Related Blog ArticlesIt's Time for Leaders to Protect Their Most Precious Resource – Their Energy Research Referenced: Scientific studies in neuroscience support the idea that recognizing progress encourages the perseverance of those beneficial behaviors, leading to sustainable, positive change. Baumeister, R. F., et al. (2001). Bad Is Stronger Than Good. Review of General Psychology.Amabile, T. & Kramer, S. (2011). The Progress Principle. Harvard Business Review Press.Di Stefano, G., Gino, F., Pisano, G. & Staats, B. (2014). Learning by Thinking: How Reflection Aids Performance.Grant, A. & Gino, F. (2014). A Little Thanks Goes a Long Way. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.Bersin, J. (2012). The State of Employee Recognition. Bersin & Associates.Schultz, W. (2015). Neuronal Reward and Decision Signals. Physiological Reviews.Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions. American Psychologist.Boyatzis, R. & McKee, A. (2005). Resonant Leadership. Harvard Business School Press.

Ver todos los episodios