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Life can feel busy and full of priorities pulling you in many directions. It can be challenging to step back and see the bigger picture of where you are thriving and where there might be room for improvement. The Wheel of Life is a helpful tool to reflect and assess how balanced and fulfilled you feel across key areas of your life. It also helps to assess and determine which area you would most like to focus on in the year ahead.The end of the year is a great time to do a personal assessment of your life and the different areas that make up your world. In Step 2A of the Performance Planner (page 10), you have the opportunity to complete a <a data-mce-href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ueRxMr0KWUrzgA40yK2kEPSWYhiQa8q5/view?usp=drive_link" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ueRxMr0KWUrzgA40yK2kEPSWYhiQa8q5/view?usp=drive_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wheel of Life</a> assessment. This visual tool guides you to reflect on eight main areas of life, rate your satisfaction, and create a clear picture of where you might want to focus your energy.<h3>Why the Wheel of Life Matters</h3>The Wheel of Life is not about achieving perfection or balance in every area. It is about creating awareness of where you feel aligned and where small shifts can lead to greater fulfillment. This step provides a foundation for setting meaningful goals that reflect what matters most to you.Here is why this step is impactful:<ol><li>Clarity: Visualizing your satisfaction across different areas helps you see what is working well and what might need attention.</li><li>Focus: By identifying areas that feel less aligned, you can direct your energy toward creating improvements where they will make the biggest difference.</li><li>Perspective: This exercise is a chance to step back and consider your life holistically, rather than getting caught up in day-to-day details.</li></ol><h3>How to Complete Your Wheel of Life (Page 10)</h3><ol><li>Reflect on the Eight Areas: The planner provides a template with areas such as health, finances, relationships, and personal growth. Use these or customize them to fit your life. (For example, volunteering might be under faith or fun. Learning new skills might be under growth or fun. A boyfriend/girlfriend might be under immediate family or friends. Pick the area that supports the key quadrants for you.) Here are ideas for each of the eight areas:<ul><li>Career/Work: Current job or business, satisfaction, salary, bonuses, benefits, coworkers, location, flexibility, challenge, opportunities for growth, sense of fulfillment, work-life balance, retirement plans, educational opportunities, and future potential.</li><li>Faith/Growth (Spiritual): Spiritual beliefs, reflective practices, commitment, traditions, community participation, teaching and sharing with others, family involvement, reading or studying, connection with God or a higher purpose, meaning of life, personal growth experiences, and giving back through volunteering.</li><li>Environment/Space (Office/Home): Living space, cleanliness, organization, ambiance, ability to relax at home, workspace functionality, vehicle maintenance, addressing nagging tolerations, creating an inspirational and supportive environment, and satisfaction with your surroundings.</li><li>Finances (Money/Resources): Income, savings, investments, budget, spending habits, debt, financial security, retirement plans, estate planning, tax planning, cash flow needs, insurance protections, charitable giving, and donating to causes you care about.</li><li>Health (Fitness, etc.): Physical condition, energy levels, mental and emotional well-being, fitness, sleep, nutrition, preventative care, posture, hygiene, overall appearance, sports or physical activities, stress management, and holistic health practices.</li><li>Immediate Family (Significant Other, etc.): Love relationship, mutual goals, parenting, family dynamics, family activities, communication, shared values, support, children’s education, instilling self-esteem, and traditions.</li><li>Extended Family/Friends (Social): Relationships with extended family, friendships, networking, supportive mentors, clubs or organizations, community service, political involvement, charitable efforts, entertaining others, family reunions, and meaningful connections.</li><li>Fun/Recreation: Hobbies, music, relaxation, creative activities, travel, cultural experiences, significant ideas, time with friends, audiobooks or reading, enjoying nature (like sunsets and flowers), activities that spark joy, and volunteering as a joyful way to connect and contribute.</li></ul></li><li>Rate Your Satisfaction: For each area, rate your current level of satisfaction on a scale from zero (could not be worse) to ten (perfect). Be honest with yourself—this is a personal reflection, not a judgment.</li><li>Assess the Areas: <ul><li>The Gain: Why did you give it the score you gave it? What were wins and successes? What is good?</li><li>The Gap: What kept it from being a 10? What is not what you want or desire? What is not working?</li><li>What Would Make It a 10?: What actions and activities would make a difference next year? What would you like to commit to doing that would make that area better?</li></ul></li><li>Reflect: Are there areas where you feel stuck or want to grow? Which areas feel strong and balanced? What one area, if improved, would naturally impact the others positively too? Example Reflections<ul><li>Personal: Health is rated a 9 because of consistent exercise, but finances are a 4 due to lingering debt. Improving my finance area would also improve my health by reducing stress.</li><li>Professional: Career is rated a 7 with good momentum, but personal growth is a 3 because there has been little time for new learning opportunities. If I grew by learning a new skill, it would both raise the 3 as well as open new opportunities in my career. </li></ul></li></ol><h3>Next Steps: How to Use Your Wheel of Life Insights</h3><ol><li>Celebrate Your Wins: Acknowledge areas where you feel high satisfaction and plan a way to celebrate it! Reflect on what you are doing that makes these areas strong and what is important to keep doing.</li><li>Identify Focus Areas: Choose one or two areas to prioritize for improvement this year.</li><li>Set Goals: Use these reflections to start setting specific, actionable goals in Step 4 of the planner.</li></ol><h3>Taking the Exercise to the Next Level</h3><ul><li>Journal Your Observations: Write about your ratings and why you chose them. This deeper reflection can help uncover patterns or insights.</li><li>Share with a Partner: Discuss your wheel with a trusted friend or coach to gain a fresh perspective or support.</li><li>Revisit Quarterly: Life shifts, and so will your Wheel of Life. Check-in throughout the year to adjust your focus as needed.</li></ul>The Wheel of Life is a simple yet powerful tool to help you see where you are and where you want to go. Take 20-30 minutes to complete this step and reflect on your findings. Small adjustments in key areas can create ripple effects that bring more fulfillment and alignment to your life.Happy assessing!

Assess Your Balance with the Wheel of Life (Step 2A)

Life can be full of many tasks and projects and despite our best intentions can pile up. It is understandable how little things can turn into big things. &nbsp;Things like unfinished tasks, disorganized spaces, and lingering obligations can turn into frustrations and annoyances that quietly drain your energy and attention. These are called tolerations, and while they might seem insignificant on their own, together they create mental clutter that can hold you back. In Step 1C of the Performance Planner, you have the opportunity to take inventory of your tolerations. See page 9 of the planner to create a list of your top 30 tolerations. Doing this will help create space for growth and progress in the year ahead.<h3>Why a Tolerations Inventory Matters</h3>Clearing tolerations is not just about fixing what is broken; it is about freeing up your mental and emotional energy to focus on what truly matters. Here is why this step is impactful:<ol><li>Increase Focus: Eliminating small distractions helps you direct your energy toward your goals.</li><li>Reduce Stress: Addressing tolerations creates a sense of relief and control over your environment.</li><li>Build Momentum: Tackling small issues first provides quick wins that inspire you to handle larger challenges.</li></ol><h3>How to Create Your Tolerations Inventory (Page 9 of the Planner)</h3>The Performance Planner guides you through making a list of at least 30 tolerations, both personal and professional. Here is how to get started:<ol><li>Start Simple: Begin with obvious tolerations, such as a cluttered workspace or overdue appointments. Write down the first 10 that come to mind.</li><li>Dig Deeper: Think about subtler drains, like unresolved conflicts, outdated processes, or ignored health issues. Add another 10 to your list.</li><li>Look Closely: For the final 10, reflect on areas you might normally overlook. These could include digital clutter, neglected hobbies, or missed opportunities for self-care.</li></ol><h3>Examples of Tolerations</h3><ul><li>Personal: A messy garage, clothes waiting to be donated, or an appliance in need of repair.</li><li>Professional: A disorganized email inbox, incomplete reports, or a cumbersome workflow.</li><li>Classing yearly ones: go through and purge pictures from the past year, clean up your desk top, go through your documents, clean your desk drawer, update your passwords, etc.</li></ul><h3>Beyond the Planner – Taking Action on Your Tolerations</h3>Once you have identified your tolerations, it is time to tackle them. Here are some tips:<ul><li>Prioritize Quick Wins: Start with tolerations that take 10 minutes or less to address. These provide immediate satisfaction and motivation. Example: Organize a single desk drawer or make a avoided phone call.</li><li>Break It Down: For larger tolerations, identify smaller, manageable steps to make progress. Example: Instead of “Organize the garage,” begin with “Clean up the bird seed shelf.”</li><li>Create a Plan: Set a goal to resolve one toleration per week. Over the course of the year, this adds up to significant change.</li><li>Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge your achievements as you clear each toleration. This reinforces your momentum.</li></ul>To deepen the impact of this exercise, consider:<ul><li>Tracking Your Progress: Keep your list visible and mark off items as you complete them.</li><li>Enlisting Support: Share your list with a coach or accountability partner who can encourage you to stay on track.</li><li>Setting Boundaries: Use your inventory as a guide to say “no” to new tolerations in the future.</li></ul>Clearing tolerations is not about achieving perfection; it is about creating freedom and focus. As you address these small drains, you will find yourself feeling lighter, more energized, and ready to take on bigger goals. Remember, each step you take brings you closer to a more intentional and fulfilling life. Take 30-60 minutes to create your Toleration Inventory and commit to tackling one item at a time. The impact will be well worth the effort. Happy decluttering!

Reflect on Tolerations and Clear the Clutter! (Step 1C)

Reflection is a powerful tool for growth and clarity. Taking the time to thoughtfully answer key questions about your past year provides insights into what worked, what didn’t, and where you can adjust for the future. In Step 1B of the Performance Planner, you will explore specific reflection questions on pages 7 and 8 to assess your wins, challenges, and areas of growth. This process sets the stage for intentional and impactful planning for the year ahead. Take as much time as you need, but 15-30 minutes would be a good amount at minimum.<h3>Why Reflection Matters</h3><a data-mce-href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/19RtdS8VfUwCZnkmm4u9pNUMtzG73gXL9/view?usp=drive_link" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/19RtdS8VfUwCZnkmm4u9pNUMtzG73gXL9/view?usp=drive_link">Reflection questions </a>are not just a mental exercise; they are a mirror that helps you see patterns, understand your values, and identify opportunities for change. This step bridges the gap between where you have been and where you want to go.Here are three key reasons reflection is essential:<ol><li>Clarify Successes: Recognize what contributed to your achievements and how you can replicate those strategies moving forward.</li><li>Identify Energy Drains: Understanding what drained your energy allows you to create boundaries or systems to avoid similar pitfalls.</li><li>Focus on Growth: Pinpoint areas for improvement so you can create actionable plans to address them.</li></ol><h3>&nbsp;How to Use the Reflection Questions</h3>The questions are self-explanatory but in general, you are inventorying in noticing:<ol><li>Biggest Wins and Proudest Moments: Reflect on your major accomplishments, both personally and professionally. What stands out as your proudest achievement? Example: Completing a major work project, building a new habit, or fostering stronger relationships.</li><li>Lessons Learned: Consider what you learned and how you grew. These lessons can be powerful tools for your future. Example: Learning to delegate effectively or discovering the importance of maintaining a work-life balance.</li><li>Energy Audit: What gave you energy, and what drained you? This insight can help you align your actions with activities that energize and fulfill you. Example: Noticing that creative projects inspired you, while back-to-back meetings left you feeling depleted.</li><li>Habits, Routines, and Actions: Evaluate which habits propelled you forward and which ones held you back. Example: Daily exercise kept you focused, while late-night scrolling disrupted your sleep and productivity.</li></ol><h3>Expanding the Exercise</h3>To take this step even further, consider these additional activities:<ol><li>Journaling: Write freely about your reflections to uncover deeper insights. Focus on “why” certain moments stood out to you.</li><li>Highlight Themes: Identify recurring themes in your responses. For example, you might notice a pattern of thriving in collaborative environments or struggling with time management.</li><li>Note Goals: Use the lessons from this exercise to start noticing desired actions and goals for the coming year. For instance, “Spend more time on creative projects that energize me.”</li></ol><h3>Example Insights from Reflection Questions</h3><ul><li>Sarah realized her most fulfilling moments were tied to mentoring her team, which shaped her goal to prioritize leadership development.</li><li>Jake identified that his biggest challenges stemmed from overcommitting, leading him to set boundaries for the upcoming year.</li></ul>Reflection is not about perfection; it is about progress. Each insight you uncover becomes a building block for your future. Remember, every answer matters and every lesson learned is a step toward growth and success.Happy reflecting!

Reflect with Thought-Provoking Review Questions (Step 1B)

The start of a new year is the perfect time to reflect on the journey you’ve just completed. Taking a moment to celebrate your wins and milestones provides clarity, motivation, and a foundation for future growth. Reviewing the past year’s highlights is more than a feel-good exercise, it is a strategic tool to understand your progress, identify your strengths, and set the stage for intentional planning.<h3>&nbsp;First, Why Reviewing Highlights Matters:</h3><ol><li>Celebrate Progress: Recognizing achievements reinforces a positive mindset and builds confidence.</li><li>Identify Patterns: Highlights reveal what worked well: activities, habits, or approaches worth replicating.</li><li>Clarify Values: Understanding what is most important to you and what you pick to highlight shows your core values and helps with planning in the future.</li></ol><h3>Next, How to Reflect on Past Year Highlights:</h3>Look at the months of the past year and make note of significant events, achievements, or personal milestones.If you are using the Performance Planner, make note of key memories in each month on page 6 of the planner.<ol><li>Calendar: Check your calendar and note what was on it</li><li>Pictures: Look at your pictures and what projects, memories, or events happened</li><li>Memory Bank: Reflect on your major achievements, successes, and or significant memories and reflect on what month they happened Consider: What were your biggest wins last year? What are you most proud of achieving last year and when did that happen?<ul><li>Which moments brought you the most joy or fulfillment and when did that happen?</li><li>When did you start a new habit, challenge, or program that has been impactful?</li><li>When would you say you successfully overcame significant challenges?Example:</li><li>Jan: Completed a major project at work.</li><li>Feb/March: Trained for and completed a half marathon.</li><li>April: Took a leadership course that improved communication skills.</li><li>May: Strengthened relationships by spending more time with family. Graduation parties &amp; family vacation.</li></ul></li></ol><h3>Above and Beyond – More from Your Highlights:</h3>In addition to noting them as a yearly summary or your highlights for the last year, these additional activities can support you to fully lean into and process them more.<ol><li>Create a Visual Timeline: Use a tool like Canva or PowerPoint to design a timeline of key events. Create an annual photo book. &nbsp;Visualizing your year gives you a holistic perspective.</li><li>Journal About What Stands Out: Write about the moments that were most meaningful and why they mattered. This deeper reflection helps uncover patterns and values.</li><li>Share with a Trusted Partner: Discussing your highlights with a mentor, coach, or friend can offer new insights and perspectives.</li><li>Plan a celebration: Do something special for yourself or find a way to celebrate your achievements.</li></ol>Taking time to review your past year’s highlights is a rewarding practice that sets the tone for purposeful planning. As you reflect, celebrate your progress, honor your wins, and carry those lessons forward. Your highlights are not just memories, they are stepping stones to future success. You can take one hour or one day for this step. If you are doing the planner in a day, please 30-60 minutes for this step. If you have more time, giving yourself more time for the above and beyond can be significant and impactful. You will appreciate it most after you have done this process for a few years! Have fun!

Reflecting on Your Wins And Past Year’s Highlights (Step 1A)

<h3>Episode #44 Learning Guide for Podcast &nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>Topic: 4 Awarenesses Leaders Need for Strong Accountability Podcast: The Innovative Leader Series Listen Here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1k3hTTuQQo" data-mce-href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1k3hTTuQQo" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1k3hTTuQQo﻿</a>Episode Focus:Accountability is not about control—it is about alignment, clarity, and care. This episode highlights four awarenesses leaders need to move from “squishy accountability” to strong, effective leadership that supports real follow-through.<h3>4 Awarenesses Every Leader Needs for Strong Accountability</h3><ol><li>Clarity in Roles and Expectations<ul><li>Confusion creates fog. Clear responsibilities prevent misalignment.</li><li>Tools like the EOS Accountability Chart can help define “Who is doing what by when—and how do we know?”</li><li>Reflection: Where might your team have role overlap, missing ownership, or “bouncing balls”? What needs to be clarified?</li></ul></li><li>Adaptability During Uncertainty and Change<ul><li>Change is constant. Leaders must stay centered to lead others through it.</li><li>Focus acts as your “spotting point”—like a gymnast keeping balance during cartwheels.</li><li>Stay aligned with mission, goals, and quarterly priorities—even when everything feels in motion.</li><li>Reflection: How are you helping your team stay anchored during fast-moving change?</li></ul></li><li>Effectiveness in Communication<ul><li>Clear, frequent, and two-way communication builds trust and team cohesion.</li><li>Use the SCARF model to reduce threat and foster connection (Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, Fairness).</li><li>Leaders must communicate both down and up. Managing up is not optional—it is good leadership.</li><li>Reflection: Are you creating regular space to check in, realign, and support clarity both ways?</li></ul></li><li>Courage in Addressing Conflict<ul><li>Conflict avoidance leads to drift. Facing issues with care keeps relationships and performance healthy.</li><li>First, check: Was the expectation clear? Was training or support provided? Leaders should seek to understand before acting. Tools like Never Split the Difference and The Anatomy of Peace support this mindset.</li><li>Reflection: Where have you hesitated to address misalignment? What conversation needs to happen now.</li></ul></li></ol>Tools &amp; Resources Mentioned:<ul><li style="">EOS Accountability Chart</li><li style="">SCARF Model (David Rock)</li><li style="">Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss</li><li style="">The Anatomy of Peace by The Arbinger Institute</li></ul>Listener Reflection Questions:<ul><li>Which of these four awarenesses is strongest for you right now?</li><li>Where are you noticing breakdowns or friction in accountability?</li><li>How do you stay focused and grounded in the midst of change?</li><li>What helps you address conflict clearly and constructively?</li></ul>

TILP 44: 4 Awarenesses Leaders Need for Strong Accountability

<h3>Trusting Your Inner Compass: A Leadership Skill for Decisive Action</h3>In both our personal and professional lives, the ability to trust our intuition , aka: “inner compass”, is invaluable. This skill is essential for leaders who often need to make quick, high-stakes decisions, even when they don’t have all the facts. But understanding and accessing this “gut feeling” can sometimes feel elusive, especially in the fast-paced, noise-filled world we live in. &nbsp;Understanding the facts, context, and essential data is part of the equation, but ignored gut feelings can subconsciously lead to indecision, conflict, squishy communication, partial action, procrastination, etc. Understanding our gut voice helps us align the facts with feelings and our internal “knowing”. The concept of trusting your gut is essential for all of us, no matter our role, whether we are leading a team, managing a project, or making personal choices. Below are 5 steps to walk you through the skill of tapping into your inner gut and compass, so you can access your intuition clearly, even in challenging situations.<h3>5 Key Steps:</h3><ol><li>Know Your Inner Compass. Understanding your intuition begins with practice. To strengthen this skill, start by recalling moments when you “just knew” something without a logical explanation. Maybe you sensed that a person was trustworthy or that a particular decision would yield positive results. When you regularly observe these instances, you become better attuned to recognizing them in the future. Reflecting on your “gut knows” can be incredibly helpful for refining this skill over time. It’s not about magic or guessing; it’s about tuning into what your experience and instincts have already taught you.</li><li>Identify and Clear the Noise. In the digital era, distractions, external pressures, and rapid information flow can cloud our internal thoughts, making it difficult to hear our intuition clearly. Clearing the noise means recognizing what might be creating confusion: is it fear of judgment, urgency from deadlines, or pressure from others’ expectations? Try and step away from media for a bit, do a journal or clearing activity to write your thoughts and try and focus on what is really bothering you, what is important to you, and what you are trying to decide or deal with. Once you identify what you are really trying to address, you can reflect on the difference between what you feel you “should” do (external pressures) versus what you “want” (want from your internal wisdom and knowing) to do (internal sense). Techniques like mindfulness, a brief digital detox, or even a short walk can be great ways to clear your head, allowing your true instincts to surface.</li><li>Ask Yourself Clarifying Questions. After you have identified what you are really trying to get understanding on. Keep drilling in. In decision-making, questioning is key. Leaders who successfully navigate tough choices know that asking the right questions often brings clarity. If you’re feeling uncertain, ask yourself questions such as, “What am I truly afraid of here?” or “What facts support my intuition?” Asking questions helps separate genuine gut feelings from other emotions, such as fear or guilt, that might be influencing your decision. Notice the emotions that are showing up in the situation, as those can cloud our gut voice, as our “saboteurs/gremlins” attempt to protect but derail our gut voice, like a magnet near a compass. Make sure to identify thoughts and feelings so you can remove any energy that would cloud clarity. &nbsp;Discernment is crucial. This step ensures that you’re truly following your inner compass (higher self and sage voice) rather than reacting out of fear or pressure (from the saboteurs and gremlins).</li><li>Take Time to Sit with Your Decision. During uncertainty, giving yourself a pause to sit with your feelings can be a game-changer. Often, taking a short period, like 24 hours, allows time for reflection without letting the opportunity slip away or responding too slowly. &nbsp;During this time, stepping away from the topic and seeing what shows up can be useful. Sometimes it is that walk or shower time, that new thoughts hit your clear mind, and you have a deeper sense of what is important or what this is about on a deeper level. Having a conversation with a trusted friend or your coach can help bring clarity as you reflect on where you were, where you want to go and your thoughts about what is between. Often working through this confirms your gut/compass direction or reveals gaps/misalignment or something off track. Reflection enables you to create space to check and assess if your decision aligns with your deeper values and stays clear even after a little time, ensuring it is your gut and not “emotions”, “reactions” or other motives.</li><li>Trust and Test Your Gut. Once you’ve taken the time to clarify your inner guidance, commit to your decision. Stay observant, and in the process there are often developments and evolution. &nbsp;If a decision keeps resurfacing or causing doubt, this might indicate it wasn’t truly aligned with your inner compass or it is something that needs co-designing or developing with someone rather than working autonomously. The “boomerang” effect (where the issue comes back to you) is a useful checkpoint, prompting you to re-evaluate and make any necessary adjustments. It does not mean the gut was wrong, it means there are more layers and dynamics to be concerned.</li></ol>The higher you rise in leadership, the more you need to rely on this inner compass. Whether you’re facing decisions about team dynamics, strategic direction, or high-stakes commitments, a finely tuned intuition can be one of your greatest assets.<h3>Bottom line, use your inner compass and gut to lead effectively by: &nbsp;</h3><ol><li>Knowing Your Intuition: Practice tuning into it by recalling times when you “just knew.”</li><li>Clearing the Noise: Remove external pressures and distractions to access your inner compass.</li><li>Asking Clarifying Questions: Discern between genuine intuition and emotion-driven reactions.</li><li>Reflecting: Take time to sit with your decision, allowing yourself to gain clarity.</li><li>Trusting Your Decision, Testing for “Boomerangs”: Commit to your decision and observe if doubts return, indicating re-evaluation might be needed.</li></ol>Mastering the art of intuition takes patience and practice. But for those in leadership, honing this skill is a powerful way to navigate complex decisions and guide your team with confidence and clarity.

5 Keys to Hearing Your Gut Voice and Finding Your Inner Compass

Synergy Strategies

Synergy Strategies is a leadership and executive coaching firm providing professional development for executives, leadership teams, managers, and organizations. Led by Christy Geiger, MCC, the firm offers one-on-one coaching globally and utilizes tools such as IMX DISC, Gallup StrengthsFinder, and EQ-i 2.0 emotional intelligence assessments. Coaching supports leaders in gaining clarity, building focus, and creating a strategic plan for growth. Areas of focus include emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, team alignment, communication, and sustainable performance.



Blog

Assess Your Balance with the Wheel of Life (Step 2A)

Reflect on Tolerations and Clear the Clutter! (Step 1C)

Reflect with Thought-Provoking Review Questions (Step 1B)

Reflecting on Your Wins And Past Year’s Highlights (Step 1A)

TILP 44: 4 Awarenesses Leaders Need for Strong Accountabi...

5 Keys to Hearing Your Gut Voice and Finding Your Inner C...