Issue 318  17th December 2023

How to Create Your Own “Year in Review”

While the reality of work can feel especially overwhelming at the end of the year, reflection is the key to doing things differently in the year to come. Taking the time to pause and review your year increases your self-awareness and provides insights to improve. The authors present three steps to conduct your own learning “year in review.”

^ADJ: I particularly like the focus finder and the question "One way I will support someone else:"

Who Took a Bet on You?

I can remember at each career inflection point the person who took a bet on me.

^ADJ: Good reflection piece, ties nicely into the review of the last 12 months.

How to Actually Execute a 4-Day Workweek

A growing body of evidence suggests that reduced-hour work schedules for the same level of pay are not only feasible when it comes to maintaining outcomes but also potentially advantageous when it comes to employee wellbeing and retention. These initiatives only work if companies undertake substantial work redesign to reduce hours while maintaining business outcomes. This means streamlining operations, removing administrative burdens, and prioritizing high-impact work. Another major challenge is ensuring employees accept that you’re asking them to produce the same amount in fewer hours.

^ADJ: Crtitcal line "Another major challenge is ensuring employees accept that you’re asking them to produce the same amount in fewer hours and "The four-day week can surface organizational problems in communication, trust, work inefficiencies, and barriers to productivity." It is important that both of these get recognised, and effectively dealt with, along with check-ins and reviews as to what is working and what is not - this is not set and forget.

How to Handle Negative Feedback

When our team appreciates our work or applauds us for a job well done, we feel proud, joy and inspired. Having a team that celebrates our wins and keeps us motivated to do even better is key to happiness and long-lasting work satisfaction. However, to advance in our careers, we need constructive criticism and feedback that help us identify our flaws and imperfections. Our team members who spend a large amount of time working with us are best positioned to give this feedback.

^ADJ: There are some great follow-up questions in this article, including:

Can you elaborate on your feedback so that I can ensure I get it right? Is there something I did recently where you observed this behavior? Have you observed me do this multiple times or do you think it’s a one-off instance? What impact do you think my behaviour has on others? What changes would you make if you were in my place? This is what I understand you’re saying [paraphrase]. Is my understanding correct?

Using a pause, and the all-important clarification, this is what I understand you have told me, is so important.