Check yourself before you wreck yourself

It's easy to get caught up in the daily pace of people management, one on ones, project meetings and check ins. But your effectiveness as a leader has less to do with what happens daily and more to do with your self-awareness of how and what you're focusing on.

Shifting sands

Everything changes around you. The company scales, your role evolves, and suddenly you're navigating relationships with peers, executives, and teams that didn't exist when you started. What worked for you in one moment won't work in the next. The strategies that helped your team of five thrive will likely hinder your team of twenty-five.

I became a bottleneck rather than an enabler when I tried to be hands-on with design reviews. Planning a career ladder too far ahead of our current maturity level made it unhelpful, requiring us to rework it. Both of these made the importance of self awareness very apparent.

The reality check

Every six months, I block off a full afternoon on my calendar with the title "Check yourself before you wreck yourself". During this time, I take an honest look at what's working, what isn't, and what needs to change.

First, I look at what I actually accomplished since my last check-in. Next, I evaluate the value of my current activities. Then I look outwards at what's changed in the company, the market, or the team.

The self reflection

The toughest part is looking at my own performance with clear eyes. Where am I still strong? Where am I falling short? I've found that being brutally honest here sets the tone and this is kept private to me.

Actively seek input from peers across the organisation. A critical component also focuses on relationships around the company. Which relationships will be crucial given the current priorities?

Making your plan

The final step is creating a concrete plan based on these insights. I review my previous plan, noting what worked and what didn't, then draft specific actions for the next six months. I capture all of this in a note that I revisit regularly.

The payoff

This practice has saved me countless times from becoming the leader I never want to be—the one who's stuck in old patterns while everything changes. It's helped me recognise when I needed to step back from details and focus on strategy.

Your self-awareness and growth mindset to adapt might be the most important leadership tool you have.

Block that time on your calendar and check yourself before you wreck yourself, it just might be the most important meeting you attend all year.