Self-reflection and good leadership go hand in hand. “As a leader, taking the time to reflect on your thoughts and feelings is essential. Self-reflection is a practice that can help you gain a better understanding of yourself, your motivations, and how you interact with those around you,”  says inclusive workplace wellness advocate Vivian Acquah. According to her, this not only helps you become more effective in your role but also helps you better connect with your team. 

It makes sense: science shows that you can train your mind to develop new mindsets and habits by becoming aware of your thoughts and how they inform your actions – and choosing new patterns. Self-awareness is also a key component of conscious, authentic leadership, as it allows for more mindfulness and emotional intelligence. “It is through authentic leadership that leaders can inspire others to succeed,” says leadership consultant and coach Sherwin Chu.

Wondering where to start? Use guided prompts and journaling to make the most of your time spent reflecting. Here are five self-reflection exercises that will make you a better leader. 

1. Identify your values 

If you haven’t given much thought to your values as a leader, there is power in that exercise. Reflecting on what you care about the most will help you articulate your leadership style and be more intentional in the way you communicate with your team, says Chu, who recommends using the following prompts:

• Think about a time when you felt really good at work. What values were being honored?
• Think about a time when you didn’t feel so great. What values were being challenged?
• Think about a time when your boundaries were pushed and you compromised values. What led to it?

2. Reflect on your strengths

You’ll also want to reflect on your strengths. Get clear on what you’re good at so you can understand your blind spots, build on what you do best and find strategies to compensate for any weaknesses (hiring people who can balance out your strengths, for example). “Think about a time when you have accomplished a goal. What are some of your strengths that led you to that goal?” says Chu. 

3. Connect values and strengths to goals 

Now here’s the good part: You can combine the insights you gathered from the two exercises above to reach your goals. The idea is to leverage who you are and what you’re good at for results, adds Chu. “This will help you lead from a place of passion and purpose and avoid burnout.” Reflect on these two questions: 

• Think about some goals you have (for yourself or your team). Why are these goals important to you?
• How can you leverage your values and strengths to accomplish these goals?

4. Keep a journal of thoughts and feelings 

While the exercises above don’t need to be performed on a regular basis, there is value in consistently engaging in self-reflection. 

Acquah recommends keeping a journal of thoughts and feelings over time. “You don’t need to write down everything that happens in your day—jot down some notes about what went well and what didn’t go so well, as well as any insights or revelations that come up during the day, ” she says. 

“Doing this regularly will give you a better understanding of yourself and how different situations affect you. It will also make it easier for you to identify patterns in your behavior and make changes where necessary.” 

5. Set aside time each week or month to debrief 

Setting aside time each week or month to debrief is another self-reflection exercise to add to your routine. 

“Think about any successes or challenges that have come up, as well as any new insights or ideas that have come up. This type of reflection helps put things into perspective and allows you to think about how best to approach different situations in the future,” according to Acquah. She recommends asking yourself questions about why you think certain events happened the way they did or how you feel about themThe ideas is to learn from past experiences so that you can be better equipped in the future. It may also lead to shifts in perspectives or shine a light on areas that you want to work on – say, your ability to set boundaries at work or the way you cope with stress.