Year-End Review Tips for Leaders: 10 Questions to Guide You
As the calendar inches closer to the end of the year, it’s easy to get caught up in the craziness of holiday preparations, year-end deadlines, and the excitement of a fresh start just around the corner. But before you dive headfirst into planning for the new year, there’s an essential step that many leaders overlook: the annual review. Taking the time to reflect on where you’ve been, what you’ve achieved, and what you’ve learned can be one of the most rewarding exercises you’ll do, not just for your professional growth but for your personal clarity as well.
What is an annual review?
The annual review isn’t about rehashing every detail of the past year or over-thinking what didn’t go perfectly. It’s about investing time to celebrate accomplishments, acknowledge challenges, and mine the experiences of the past twelve months for valuable insights. This process helps you see the bigger picture, reconnect with your purpose, and set the stage for meaningful planning in the months ahead. It is also the first step of a three-step process that I will cover in the following articles. Review the year we are completing, plan for the year ahead, and set goals that will allow you to achieve what you seek.
Sitting down with a blank sheet of paper and thinking about the past (almost) twelve months can be daunting. Where to begin? What should you think about? What do I need to do for the review? Keep it simple, but there are a few things to prepare with and have available for yourself.
Preparing for the review
Determine how you will capture your thoughts and notes. This can be a paper and pen, a notebook, your digital notebook, or your journal. You’ll want something to capture your notes. This may be a perfect place to try a mind map capture style as well. These do not need to be linear. Having an open page to capture things as they come could be useful. Mindnode or the built-in Freeform app from Apple are great options for this exercise and will also allow you to add attachments, pictures, or links to other information you want to make available.
You will also want access to your notes, journal, or daily planner for this activity. These will be excellent resources to skim through to see what you worked on, what you accomplished, and how you were feeling throughout the year. You may stumble across some lost notes or ideas that will be exciting to relive and put to use for the year ahead.
Finally, I would have access to your photo library. That may seem odd, but I believe you will find it both enjoyable to see in pictures things you did over the course of the last year. As I began this process, it was a highlight to take some time to see the year in pictures. Where I had been, what I was doing, and how I was feeling at the time allowed me to re-experience some real highlights of my year. With cameras in our pocket at all times, we capture more than we remember. Even the random pictures from visiting stores can bring a smile or jog your memory of something fun that happened, or that you still want to accomplish.
Getting started
Now that you have the tools you’ll need to get started, you still have that blank canvas staring back at you. I came up with a few questions that, I think, can help you begin. These are wide-ranging and should not be considered all-inclusive. If you are struggling to get those first few words or thoughts captured, these can be useful to assist in beginning.
1. What was the best part of this last year?
Reflect on one standout moment in your professional life and one in your personal life.
Consider why these moments mattered and what they meant to you.
2. What were my accomplishments this year?
Note why they were significant and how they made you feel.
Highlight any standout moments during these accomplishments.
3. If I could change one thing, what would it be?
Use this insight to recognize pitfalls to avoid or opportunities to improve next year.
4. What good things from this year will I carry into the new year?
Focus on positive habits, practices, or ideas worth continuing.
Think of these as building blocks or "cheat codes" for the year ahead.
5. What brought me energy and excitement this year?
Recall moments that energized or excited you, whether during work or personal activities.
Identify what sparked these feelings and think about how you can recreate or build on them next year.
6. Who did I enjoy spending time with? Why? How does that carry forward?
Reflect on the people you enjoyed connecting with this year, both personally and professionally.
Think about why those interactions were meaningful or impactful.
Consider how you can maintain or deepen those relationships in the future.
7. I felt most like myself when this (or these) thing(s) happened this year?
Identify moments when you felt most aligned with your purpose or values.
Think about what contributed to those feelings—activities, environments, or people.
Use these insights to reconnect with your “why” and bring more of that energy into the next year.
8. What were the biggest challenges I faced this year? What did I do about them?
Recall challenges that pushed you outside your comfort zone.
Reflect on how you responded and what you learned from those experiences.
Focus on the growth and resilience you gained from overcoming those obstacles.
9. What do I want to let go of coming out of this year?
Consider habits, activities, or mindsets that no longer serve you.
Identify what’s holding you back and decide to release it.
Focus on creating space for new opportunities and growth in the coming year.
10. What new things did I learn this past year? How am I (will I) put those learnings into action?
Think about key lessons or skills you gained, whether through experience, reading, or formal learning.
Reflect on how you’ve applied—or can apply—those lessons moving forward.
Plan specific actions to ensure those learnings enhance your growth and success.
Hopefully, these questions can help you begin a productive and rewarding review session for yourself.
As you complete your annual review, take a moment to appreciate the time you’ve invested in reflecting on your journey over the past year. This exercise isn’t just about looking back; it’s about gathering the insights, learnings, and successes that will inform and inspire your next steps. Done thoughtfully, an annual review becomes the foundation for a brighter, more intentional year to come. In the next article, we’ll build on this foundation, exploring how to craft a practical and inspiring plan for the year ahead. Until then, keep your notes handy and your mind open; you’re setting yourself up for a strong start to the new year.
When are you scheduling your annual review session?
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