Every December, the professional world seems to split into two camps: those who race to the finish line, and those who pause to take stock. Increasingly, it’s the second group, those willing to reflect before they plan, who emerge as the leaders moving further, faster, and with greater clarity.
According to Griffith MBA Director Professor Naomi Birdthistle, reflection is no longer a soft skill; it’s a strategic one.
“Self-awareness is the bedrock of leadership,” she says. “When you understand what shaped you this year, the choices, the challenges, the values, you enter the next year more grounded and better prepared.”
Leadership research echoes this: growth accelerates when reflection is deliberate. As 2025 draws to a close, this may be the most important habit professionals can carry into 2026.
Leadership begins with values, but values aren’t static
If your values are your compass, it’s worth asking: are they still pointing you where you want to go?
Many professionals charge ahead in their careers without stopping to notice how their priorities have shifted. Why certain decisions felt right. Why others felt like compromises. Why some moments energised them while others drained them.
Research into authentic and values-based leadership suggests this is more than introspection, it’s performance. Leaders who understand their values make clearer decisions, build stronger trust, and weather uncertainty with more stability.
So, over the break, reflect not just on what you achieved, but on what those achievements reveal about who you are becoming.
Short-term wins matter, long-term impact defines leadership
2025 has certainly been a year of rapid change across industries, and many leaders found themselves focusing heavily on immediate goals. But the leaders who set themselves apart are the ones who think in arcs, not sprints. An arc represents a long-term trajectory or narrative, a strategic path that connects today’s actions to a bigger vision and future outcomes. It’s about continuity, evolution, and purpose over time. A sprint, on the other hand, is a short, intense burst of activity aimed at achieving immediate goals or quick wins. While sprints are useful for execution, thinking in arcs ensures that those efforts contribute to a broader, sustainable direction rather than isolated successes.
Ask yourself:
- What part of your work this year will still matter in five years?
- Who is better off because of your leadership?
- What systems, relationships or insights did you strengthen?
Legacy isn’t just for CEOs; it’s built in everyday decisions. The small, consistent actions that ripple forward. Professor Birdthistle reminds us: “Leadership is about shaping more than the present moment. Your decisions set direction for the people who come after you.”
The behaviours you carry into 2026 matter more than the goals you set
Goals shape intentions, but behaviours shape leaders.
Great communicators become great by practising how they communicate. Strategic thinkers grow by reflecting on decisions. Resilient leaders strengthen by noticing emotional habits and adjusting in real time. So instead of writing a long list of resolutions, choose a handful of leadership behaviours you want to embody next year:
- Listening with intent
- Making decisions with long-term perspective
- Regulating emotion under pressure
- Creating space for others to lead
This is where reflection becomes action.
A stronger 2026 starts with one simple question: What kind of leader do you want to be?
Reflection may feel like a luxury in a busy year, but it has long distinguished those who lead with purpose. It’s what separates frantic productivity from meaningful progress. As Professor Birdthistle puts it: “When you pause to really see your leadership, its strengths, its gaps, and its patterns, you give yourself the chance to begin the New Year with intention, not inertia.”
If you’re looking to grow your career in 2026, the most powerful work you can do right now isn’t planning your goals. It’s understanding the type of leader you are wanting to be from the New Year onwards.
A moment to consider new opportunities
For professionals thinking about taking the next step in their career, the end of the year is also the ideal moment to explore further study. Griffith Business School offers a range of MBA scholarships designed to support diversity, excellence and responsible leadership.
With applications now open for the 2026 Trimester 1 MBA scholarships, future students can take this time to reflect on their aspirations and consider how postgraduate study could help shape their leadership journey.
