Introspection and Work Performance
Introspection is an important part of one’s professional life. It allows us to better understand our abilities at work and how we can be more successful on the job. With regular self-review, we can better hold ourselves accountable and grasp the ability to change. This all promotes the success of our organization.
In a post by the HR Bartender, Sharon Lauby discusses the “Zone of Uncomfortable Debate,” or the “place conversations go to question the status quo.” Lauby writes,
“we need to get comfortable with challenging conversation. We all know this isn’t one of our favorite things to do. We want everyone to get along. But sometimes we need to have moments of uncomfortable debate to ultimately take us to a better place.”
Whether this debate occurs between two individuals or among members of an entire team, such conversations often focus on the concepts of accountability and change. It is here that our self-reflection, whether we are the employee or employer, becomes an especially useful tool in the management of performance.
To accomplish the right level of introspection, one should make sure to have moments of reflection on one’s work performance. These reflections should occur on a regular basis, and not just during a team-wide review period (though evaluations are incredibly valuable).
A variety of questions can help guide this reflection.
Is there anything I can do to enhance my productivity? (How can I enhance the productivity of others?)
What can I do to make my job easier or less stressful? (What can I do to make the job for someone else easier or less stressful?)
What do I struggle with regularly? What do I struggle with irregularly? (Are there things I notice others struggling with?)
What am I best at? How can I improve at the things I’m not fantastic at? (How can I help others improve?)
How is my attitude or work fitting into the culture and goals of the company? (Am I making the culture and goals of the company clear enough to employees?)