Every time we cross the threshold into a new year, it’s an opportunity to take a step back, appreciate our journey thus far, and set the course for the future. Whether you’re a project manager overseeing massive teams, an entrepreneur launching a startup, or a professional charting a new career path, the process of self-reflection can be incredibly powerful. This year, let’s leverage these eight guiding questions to look at where we’ve been and envision where we’re headed.
1) What achievements am I most proud of in the past year?
One of the most critical steps in reflection is recognizing and celebrating our achievements—large or small. Perhaps you finally completed your PMP® certification after months of preparation, led your first cross-functional Agile project from inception to release, or successfully launched a new product line that surpassed sales goals.
- Project Management Example: A construction project manager might highlight safely completing a hospital extension three weeks ahead of schedule, staying within budget, and cementing trust with key stakeholders.
- Tech Industry Example: A software development team lead could celebrate integrating a new feature that doubled customer usage, boosting client satisfaction and retention.
- Personal Development Twist: Maybe you mastered a new skill (like data analysis or advanced Excel macros) to bolster your team’s ability to make data-driven decisions.
Taking pride in milestones is not just about ego; it’s about understanding what you did well so you can build on those strengths. In project management, this aligns with the “lessons learned” framework—one of the most valuable takeaways from any project.
If you haven’t mastered Data Analysis or MS Excel skills yet, it is never too late to start! Check out Master of Project Academy’s courses:
Is your goal for 2025 getting PMP-certified? Check out our PMP courses:
2) What people/activities added positive energy to my life this year?
Behind every successful project, professional growth, or personal triumph is a network of individuals who supported and inspired you. The past year may have introduced you to fresh collaborators, coaches, or mentors. Maybe it was a thoughtful colleague who showed you a new approach to stakeholder communication, or an online community that provided weekly motivation.
Alongside people, consider the activities and habits that have energized you. Did joining a local Toastmasters chapter help boost your public speaking confidence? Did starting each day with a short meditation or journaling session provide clarity for your projects?
- Corporate Project Example: Weekly brainstorming sessions with your cross-departmental team that kept everyone inspired and on track.
- Personal Well-Being Example: A mid-day walk that helped you decompress and return to work with renewed focus.
We become more successful—at projects, in teams, in life—when we consciously choose environments and relationships that help us thrive.
3) What risks did I take this year, and where did I hold myself back?
Risk-taking is woven into the fabric of project management and personal development. Reflecting on your calculated risks can bring immense insight:
- Professional Leap: Did you take on a project in a new domain (like transitioning from waterfall to Agile) or volunteer to lead a cross-functional strategic initiative outside your comfort zone?
- Startup Scenario: Maybe you pitched your innovative app idea to potential investors, even though you were intimidated by the competitive market.
- Personal Growth: Perhaps you decided to speak at a conference for the first time.
On the flip side, identify moments where fear or comfort held you back. Could you have stepped up to a leadership role or shared an innovative idea in a project meeting but decided to stay silent? Recognizing these barriers now allows you to address them head-on as 2025 unfolds.
How to Overcome Comfort Zones?
4) What did I learn this year, and what did I unlearn?
Learning is not always about adding new skills—sometimes, it’s about unlearning habits, biases, and approaches that no longer serve you.
- New Skills Learned: A project manager may have learned advanced risk management techniques, discovered new Agile frameworks, or become proficient with Microsoft Project or Jira.
- Habits Unlearned: Letting go of micromanagement tendencies, breaking the habit of overcommitting to tasks, or overcoming the instinct to avoid conflict in stakeholder discussions.
Unlearning can be even more powerful than learning. By shedding old habits, you create space for fresh perspectives that will keep you agile in a fast-evolving professional environment.
Do you want to set yourself a New Year’s resolution? Why don’t you start learning MS Project today?
5) Was I playing a game this year with a prize I actually want?
This question dives into the heart of your motivations. In other words: Did the goals you pursued in 2024 truly resonate with you, or were they driven by external expectations?
- Career Development: Perhaps you pursued a senior role that looked good on paper but didn’t align with your passion for hands-on technical work.
- Project Management Goals: Maybe you led multiple small projects simultaneously but realized you crave a larger, more complex project that challenges your strategic thinking.
- Personal Aspirations: Did you set a goal to run a marathon just because everyone else was doing it, or because it genuinely excited you?
Answering this question honestly can help you refine your objectives for 2025, ensuring you’re investing your time in pursuits that fuel your passion—rather than simply checking boxes.
Unlock Your Career Potential: A Comprehensive Guide for PMP-Certified Professionals
6) What got too much attention this year, and what didn’t get enough?
It’s easy for certain tasks or projects to hijack our schedules. Was there a fire you kept fighting that, in hindsight, wasn’t the best use of your time? Conversely, are there overlooked areas (perhaps essential but less “urgent”) that need more focus?
- Too Much Attention: Constantly tinkering with minor issues on an ongoing project, spending excessive time in low-value meetings, or micro-polishing work that was already acceptable.
- Not Enough Attention: Neglecting professional development, skipping network-building events, or delaying the start of a personal passion project that could have expanded your horizons.
To correct course in 2025, consider identifying the highest-priority tasks or new areas of growth. Create a plan to minimize distractions, whether that’s delegating certain tasks or setting stricter boundaries around your schedule.
How Asking “What Is My Responsibility?” Elevates Your Standing In Your Organization
7) What were my best days this year, and how can I create more of them?
Think about the days that left you feeling accomplished and fulfilled. Did you have a day where your project launch went off without a hitch and your team felt genuinely inspired? Was there a day you finally reconciled a challenging client issue and ended with a team dinner celebration?
- Identify the Ingredients: Perhaps it was the thrill of creative problem-solving or the synergy of working with a close-knit team. Or maybe it was how you managed your time, balancing focused work with meaningful breaks.
- Action Steps: To replicate that energy more consistently, figure out what conditions made those days possible and strategize how to embed them in your routine or organizational culture.
In project management, we often document “what went well” in retrospective meetings. Apply that same practice to your life. By pinpointing what contributed to the best days of 2024, you can intentionally engineer more of those moments in 2025.
8) What action can I take today to set myself up for success in 2025?
Finally, let’s bridge reflection with action. Reflection is incomplete without taking definitive steps to improve and grow.
- Professional Action: Enroll in an advanced certification or training, schedule a one-on-one with a mentor you trust, or outline a plan to adopt new project management software that streamlines collaboration.
- Team-Building Action: Organize a small kickoff event for the year to align your team’s goals and priorities. Revisit each member’s role and career aspirations so you can delegate tasks that align with their growth paths.
- Personal Action: Whether it’s committing to reading one leadership book a month or setting up a weekly accountability session with a peer, start building habits that will pay dividends all year long.
The beauty of an action step is that it turns introspection into transformation. Don’t wait until Q2 or Q3 to make changes—start now, while your reflections are fresh.
Putting It All Together
Reflecting on the past year with these eight questions can be a game-changer for how you plan and execute in 2025. By celebrating achievements, surrounding yourself with positive influences, assessing risks, learning new skills, ensuring alignment with meaningful goals, recalibrating your attention, engineering more “best days,” and taking immediate action, you prime yourself for breakthroughs in the new year.
Enroll in the Sandbox membership to make your project management, soft skills, leadership skill,s and product management skills much more intuitive
Whether you’re spearheading multimillion-dollar projects, advancing your professional credentials, or exploring a career shift, self-awareness is the foundation of success. As you step into 2025, view these reflections as a roadmap. And remember—just as in project management, continuous improvement isn’t a one-time effort but a consistent practice that helps you stay adaptable, focused, and truly fulfilled in your work and life.
Here’s to a purposeful, growth-filled, and rewarding New Year!