I have been journaling for most of my life, and as a leadership coach, I regularly assign journaling prompts to my clients. As a reader of this newsletter, you know that I include journaling exercises in every edition. Two questions regularly arise: “How does journaling help me as a leader?” and “Will I spend hours and hours in front of a notebook?”
The answer to the second question is that it does not matter how much time you spend in any one journaling session. There are countless approaches to journaling, some quite short, others more free-form. Since I came across Natalie Goldberg’s book Writing Down the Bones in the 1990s, it has served as an endless source of journaling inspiration. Sometimes I spend two minutes with the notebook, or sometimes many hours.
It’s not about the quantity of time you’re spending journaling. It’s about the consistency and intentionality of the activity.
And about the first question, “How does journaling help me as a leader?”
Recommended Reading and Listening
I’ve already mentioned the book Writing Down the Bones here. This book came across my radar way back in the 1990s. I wish I could remember how it dropped into my lap or who originally suggested I read it because I would love to be able to express gratitude. This book has stuck with me ever since. Author Natalie Goldberg writes about the practice of writing, not journaling specifically, but the principles are profound. It’s not the type of book you must read entirely in one shot. Each chapter stands on its own. Enjoy, but more importantly, get yourself a pen and a notebook and start mining your thoughts, memories, desires, and values.
Journaling Exercise
Let’s practice what we’ve learned today! It’s the beginning of June 2024. In a few weeks, the first half of the year will be officially on the books. One of my mentors consistently uses the phrase, “Finish Strong.” Let’s make that our theme for this journaling prompt:
- What is the biggest progress you have made in May towards your 2024 goals? This can be any win–achievements, learning, relationships, shifts in thinking
- What outcomes would not only make June and the first half of 2024 a huge success? How can you finish the half strong?
Remember, I smoke my own dope over here, so if you’re feeling wacky and want to share your journaling with me, email me, and we’ll exchange thoughts.
Your Leadership Journey Starts Here:
We invite you to explore, engage, and share IGW Insights with your network. If you found the newsletter valuable, forward this email to colleagues who share your commitment to leadership excellence, or send this link and encourage them to subscribe.
Stay Connected:
Join our growing community of leaders on Facebook or LinkedIn for real-time updates, discussions, and exclusive content. Let’s embark on this leadership journey together!
Your leadership potential is boundless, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Schedule a complimentary 15-minute strategy call to see if coaching is right for you.
Thank you for being a part of the IGW community.
Onward and upward,
Dan Weiss, CEO
