Measuring the Change You’re Creating in Your Life and Work

We spend so much of our time doing. We respond to emails, attend meetings, manage projects, build relationships, and solve problems, all while rarely pausing to consider how our actions are shaping the course of our lives. It’s easy to confuse activity with progress. But true growth isn’t just about what we do. It’s about understanding how those actions contribute to change.

That’s the foundation of self-management. And it’s a practice I coach leaders on every day: the discipline of stepping back, reflecting, and connecting effort with impact. Because when we can clearly see the results of our actions, we make better choices, lead ourselves more intentionally, and build a stronger foundation for growth.

Continuous Improvement Starts With Reflection

Agile teaches us the power of continuous improvement, a regular rhythm of reflection that asks: What mattered most today? What did I accomplish? What can I do better tomorrow? I write about this in my book Personal Agility and Self-Management, where I encourage people to integrate these simple check-ins into their daily routine.

But daily reflection is only one part of the process. There’s real value in zooming out and evaluating a larger span of time. A 30-day review, or even an annual one, helps you spot patterns, understand momentum, and see how your actions are shaping the bigger picture of your life and work.

Looking Back to See Forward

Recently, I had the chance to spend a weekend with friends I hadn’t seen in 15 or even 20 years. Some of those relationships hadn’t ended well. Life moved on, paths diverged, and distance became the easy solution. I went into the weekend unsure of what to expect, but it turned out to be one of the most grounding experiences I’ve had in a long time.

Before the trip, I spent time reflecting on the last 12 years of my life. I thought about who I’d become, the challenges I’d faced, and the changes that shaped me. And I asked myself a question I hadn’t considered before: Who and what contributed to that change?

The answer surprised me. Some of the very people I was about to see, people I hadn’t spoken to in over a decade, had left deep marks on my life. Their influence, whether positive or painful, played a role in the person I am today. Recognizing that created space for something new. It allowed me to reevaluate those relationships with more nuance, more grace, and more honesty about what mattered now.

A few of those friendships were rekindled. Others were respectfully left in the past. But the bigger shift was internal. By understanding how those people and experiences contributed to my growth, I became clearer about the kind of connections I want to cultivate moving forward.

There’s a concept in cognitive behavioral psychology that says our thoughts influence our emotions, which influence our actions. Reflection works the same way. By examining the patterns and contributors in our past, we shift the way we think about them, and that shift opens the door to new behaviors. It’s not just nostalgia. It’s strategic introspection.

Leading Through Contribution

One of my clients, a senior leader, has been navigating a complex balance: giving effective feedback to her team, fostering collaboration, and still providing strong direction. She wants her team to take ownership and self-manage without losing alignment on goals.

Our coaching conversations often come back to the idea of contribution to change. Instead of tracking only deliverables or performance metrics, we built a framework for her team to reflect on how their actions are influencing outcomes. She started asking questions designed to spark deeper thinking: What impact did your decision have? Where do you see evidence of progress? How did your approach shift the outcome?

This shift created room for autonomy without sacrificing accountability. Her team began measuring their own success and identifying their own contributions. And as she put it, her role became about “letting the fire catch without letting the house burn down.” By creating space for ownership, she helped them build confidence, and by staying engaged in the reflection process, she ensured that growth stayed aligned with strategy.

The Practice of Self-Management

Measuring your contribution to change isn’t a one-time exercise. It’s an ongoing practice of awareness. It’s how you recognize what’s working, what’s evolving, and what deserves your attention next. It helps you make decisions that reflect your priorities rather than your habits.

So before the next 30 days slip by, pause and take inventory. Look at what’s changed in your life, and who or what helped shape those changes. Notice where you’re creating movement and where you’re standing still. Those insights will give you more clarity, more confidence, and more control over the direction you choose to go next.