With the Labor Day weekend upon us, this holiday signals the final stretch of our businesses in this calendar year. It provides a great time for you as a leader to reflect and plan.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not been kind to us. Despite it slowing us down, once again, time has flown by. With an ongoing push to achieve day-to-day business goals, create new budget and long-range plans, and deal with school and various activities for our kids—plus Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the Holidays—the rest of 2020 will fly by as well.

Before all of this starts, take this time to catch your breath.

Leadership Tip
This weekend, carve out at least two hours for yourself to reflect, think, and plan.

Isolate and reflect on the year thus far by asking these questions:

• What one decision did I make this year that, if I could do it again, I’d make differently?

• What one step should I have taken that I didn’t, yet it could have led to better results?

• What one action did I take that I should have taken sooner to achieve even better results?

Reflecting on these questions (and others important to you) lets you think through the mistakes you made so, ideally, you won’t repeat them. Examining them can help you identify and remove future obstacles limiting your success.

Now shift your thinking to these planning questions:

• What one action can I take now to ensure better results over the next 4 months?

• What one change (or multiple changes) can I make over the next 4 months to ensure momentum and better execution for next year?

• What one area of my leadership do I need to strengthen, and how will I address it

Exceptional leaders proactively allow themselves time to think and plan. Be exceptional this Labor Day weekend.