Quickpoint: The 3Cs of Self-Reflection

PROFESSOR of Management and Strategy at the Kellogg School of Management, Harry Kraemer, Jr., explains the 3Cs of self-reflection in Your Values-Based Legacy. He says we self-reflect to examine our pasts for clues about our future journeys. We are influenced by our connection, our community, and our choices. “When enhanced by self-reflection, these three Cs enable us to gain clarity about what we’re currently doing, what we’d like to do, and how all the aspects of our lives come together with a sense of purpose.”

There is no right or wrong way to engage in self-reflection. The key is to find time when you can be silent and contemplate what matters most. In these quiet moments, I look back on the day and ask myself:

What did I say I was going to do today, and what did I actually do? If what I did was different than what I planned, what were the reasons?

What went well, and what did not?

How did I treat people?

Am I proud of the way I lived this day?

If I had the day to live over again, what would I do differently?

What did I learn today that will have an impact on howI live the next day, the next week, and going forward?

Why do this?

Only by being self-reflective can I truly know myself.

If I don’t know myself, I cannot lead myself.

If I can’t lead myself, I cannot lead other people.

These statements always point me deeper into self-reflection to clarify my values and priorities.

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