Last week, we talked about proflection—the habit of taking charge of your own growth by combining proactive intention with active reflection, rather than just passively replaying the day’s chaos on your drive home.
One reader from South Bend wrote to me: “I love the word, and I especially love the idea,” she said. “It sounds great… in theory. But how do I actually do it?”
Her question made me smile, because of course we can make up words that sound great… but in real-life, practical application, we get tripped up.
Here’s my metaphor for proflection: You’re driving the car. It’s not driving you.
But—again this question—how? You go to work, and your calendar is packed, emails are piling up, and three different behavior referrals pop up before 9:00 AM.
How does one proflect then?
Using a simple, repeatable mental workflow.
When I find myself needing to navigate a high-stakes meeting, a tough conversation, or just a heavy week, I walk through a four-step mind journey: Plan, Pause, Pivot, Plan.
Here is how it works:
Plan. This is the proactive setup. Before you step into a room, a meeting, or the day, set up an intentional mind frame. Instead of just reviewing your agenda items, set a clear idea of your intended outcome. This doesn’t have to be formal—sometimes just a quick review of why you’re going into the space is all that’s needed.
Questions to ask yourself: “What is the intended outcome of this situation? How should I show up, and what skills will be needed?”
Pause. This is your real-time check-in. And it’s where most busy leaders get tripped up. The day starts moving fast, adrenaline kicks in, and we run on auto-pilot. But it doesn’t take long to pause. Again, it’s nothing formal or dramatic. It’s not a 20-minute meditation in your office with a yoga mat. It’s a deliberate 5-second breath mid-event to step outside yourself and observe the room.
Questions to ask yourself: "What am I noticing right now in the energy of the room? What about my own internal reaction?"
Pivot. This is active adjustment. Once you pause and notice a pattern, give yourself permission to shift course in real time. If a conversation is turning defensive, pivot to curiosity. If a meeting is off the rails, pivot back to the core purpose. You might even say out loud, “I think we’re getting off track. Everybody good with a quick review of our intended outcome?”
Questions to ask yourself: "Is my current approach serving the end goal? What micro-adjustment can I make right now?"
Plan. Yes, plan again. Once the event in question has been concluded, this is the forward-moving application of what you’ve learned. It’s closing the loop. You don’t just ask, "How did that go?" Instead, you’ll turn your reflection into immediate forward momentum.
Question to ask yourself: "Based on what I just learned about myself and my team, what will I do next time?"
Notice how this cycle keeps you in the driver’s seat. You start with a plan, you catch yourself in the act, you adjust on the fly, and you land with a clear next step. That is proflection in action—it turns every daily experience into direct fuel for your growth.
That’s what proflection looks like in practice.
My challenge to you: Run through plan ➡️ pause ➡️ pivot ➡️ plan on just one event on your calendar today.
And voilà! You’ll be proflecting.
That’s all for this week. Have a wonderful week of leadership!
Jen
P.S. If you’d like a code for a discount on the audiobook version of You’re the Principal, let me know. If you’re someone who oversees multiple people who are new principals this year, I can also connect you with Echo Point Books for bulk orders.