Tis the season to be reflective
Books worth mentioning & a reflection exercise for you
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In this update I share books worth mentioning and explore the end of year exercise I like to share with some of my clients.
Books worth mentioning
The month of Christmas crept up on me this year. It was October and then it was December.
Just like that.
I live in Melbourne and you may imagine the fast pace of October and November is related to the ‘silly season’ that starts early here, due to Spring Racing Carnival. Alas. I do not partake in frocking up to bet on a filly.
I have no sensible explanation for this time flashing past my window.
I remain steadfast in my desire to read 40 books in 2023. Goodreads is suggesting ‘short reads’ to help me get there. I reached 35 books yesterday with Puberty Blues, a controversial Australian novel, published in 1979, written by Kathy Lette and Gabrielle Carey.
This year’s book choices have spanned fiction (thanks to my book club with friends), non fiction (thanks to the One Roof Quarterly Book Club I co-host), Australian ‘classics’ (Monkey Grip, by Helen Garner and My Brilliant Career, by Miles Franklin) and more modern insights from local authors including Tyson Yunkaporta and Stan Grant.
My research into ambiverts and highly sensitive people led me to the work of Jenn Granneman and Andre Sólo.
Reflection
As I enjoy deep conversations with my community about the year ahead, here’s an exercise I am sharing with my clients. You could adapt the section about your work relationships to your personal relationships.
In preparation for 2024, here's three options for thinking about the year ahead.
Personal Reflection
What has 2023 taught you, and how would you like this to inform how you approach 2024? Please use these reflections to inform your answers to the following questions:
What would I like to stop doing in 2024?
What would I like to start doing in 2024?
What would I like to continue doing in 2024?
Working Relationships
So much of what you do and achieve is influenced by the people you work with. Consider your immediate team, direct reports, peers and Managers. Make a list of key working relationships. For each of these working relationships consider your answers to the following three questions:
What would I like to stop doing in relation to this relationship in 2024?
What would I like to start doing in relation to this relationship in 2024?
What would I like to continue doing in relation to this relationship in 2024?
Word for the Year
Think about what you want the theme of 2024 to be for you. Consider the word that best describes this.
With love & gratitude,
KPH
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I acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which I live and pay my respects to Indigenous Elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.