Reflection to Action: Closing the year well and resetting for what’s next

Hear that? It’s the sound of pencil to paper checking off the last of your EOY to-dos. We’re not there yet, but we’re so close and we have a few experts to help guide us.

In our panel discussion “Reflection to Action" with our panelists, Jada Miller (PitchBook Data), Lizzy Viera (PagerDuty), and Katie Capuzzo (WISE), shared ways to reflect, organize, and prioritize what needs to be done to close the year well and to jumpstart the next.

Here are some key takeaways to guide you in your professional journey.

Give yourself a breather.

It's a busy season regardless of the role you're in. Between the to-dos you know about and the surprise ones that keep popping up, distraction is inevitable. Control what you can by time blocking your calendar, dividing your list into first and second order priorities, and working in quarter increments. Check out SMART Goals and the 2-minute rule for more inspo.

Communicate what matters.

Keeping your stakeholders engaged, be it your internal team or external customers, can be a challenge. Be succinct and add value with your touch points. Try audio or text messages, Zoom meetings with written follow ups, and clear deadlines so everyone knows what's upcoming.

Brag a bit.

Career pathing is bound to come up as you reflect on your year and plan for what's next. While there’s no doubt you're doing excellent work, don't assume it's speaking for itself. Share your wins early and often, have conversations about your professional interests, and raise your hand to try new things.

End scene.

Future you has made it through the final weeks of the year, you've completed those first order priorities, cleared out your email and put up that away message. Now your break can begin and don't you deserve it! Enjoy this time with friends and family, and allow yourself to truly reset so you can return ready to accomplish those 2024 goals.

There’s a time for everything. A time to work and a time to rest. Consider the end of year as the latter when you can reflect, celebrate, and prepare for the year ahead.

Need some career advice? Ask our experts at advice@womeninsaleseverywhere.com.

Want to learn more? You can stream the full event recording here.

Thank you to all of the WISE partners for making this event possible and our panelists for sharing their time and advice.