In the demanding realm of leadership, carving out time for personal growth and reflection can often feel like an impossible task. The constant pressures of managing teams, making critical decisions, and staying ahead in a competitive landscape can leave little room for anything more.
Attending the RCSA Talent X Conference in Sydney last month was initially just another obligation I had to fit into my already hectic routine. As I reviewed my emails and to-do list during the flight there, I gave little thought to the conference itself and what I would gain from it – instead I was consumed by the numerous competing tasks at hand. However, as soon as I entered the conference and found myself surrounded by like-minded professionals, my mindset started to shift. Listening to the speakers and absorbing the current industry and business themes while taking notes allowed me to contemplate, ‘How does this affect us?’, ‘How do we thrive in a continually changing talent landscape?’ and ‘What could we be doing differently?’
A Sanctuary for Reflection
The conference provided an environment perfect for professional reflection, away from the usual demands and distractions. Through networking with industry experts and thought leaders, I engaged in stimulating conversations that were highly-pertinent and current to our industry. I found this to be the catalyst that triggered some deep thinking that we can rarely get to amidst our day-to-day demands.
Gaining a Broader Perspective
By immersing myself in the experience, I began to see beyond my immediate challenges. Hearing the many diverse yet relevant perspectives on the talent landscape, it helped me challenge my own assumptions and ways of doing things.
Renewed Inspiration and Motivation
I stepped away from the conference feeling inspired and ready to share my experience with others. By giving myself permission to temporarily retreat and reconnect with my own industry passion, I felt recharged and excited to begin having the conversations I had at the conference with my own team and clients.
So, when an invitation to attend a conference next emerges for you, I urge you to pause for a moment, consider the long-term benefits to yourself, your teams and your stakeholders that may be possibly unseen in that moment. By embracing the opportunity to step away from our usual routine, we can harness the power that comes from ‘pressing pause’ on our daily demands. Valuable networking opportunities, insightful discussions, and the chance to stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends might not be on your list of immediate priorities, but not only are they beneficial, I say they are essential to remaining visionary, passionate and successful in all we do.
Join the Conversation
If you resonate with this experience or have additional insights on the significance of taking a pause in our hectic schedules, I invite you to join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments section. Your valuable contributions have the power to inspire others to also prioritise moments of reflection and invest in these growth opportunities.
If you found this insight valuable, you might also appreciate reading this article by Kirsten Meneghello, on how taking the time to reflect helps us to become better leaders.
With over 25 years experience in finance and 14 years at Slade, Maria’s portfolio has involved direct management of Finance, Operations, IT, Marketing & Communications and Research divisions. As General Manager of Shared Services, Maria has overall responsibility for managing the business operations of Slade Group. She supports other General Managers in their business management and provides ongoing commercial and strategic advice to the Management Team and the Board. Maria’s qualifications include being a Chartered Accountant, an MBA in Human Resources & Marketing and a Bachelor of Business in Accounting and Economics.
