This blog is for you if you currently work within the NHS and are considering leaving to become an independent healthcare consultant.
You might be a GP, practice manager, pharmacist, physio, data analyst, quality improvement specialist, HR director, or finance manager looking to leave the confines of your current role and work on various projects as an independent consultant.
This weekly reflection framework provides you with some reflection questions to ask at the end of each week, and it will help you prepare for the week ahead and align nicely with my previous blog, “The 3% Rule: Why Writing Down Your Goals Could 10x Your Consultancy.”
The Business of Healthcare Consulting –
Let’s jump in!
1. What were your expectations for the week?
Reflect on the goals and outcomes you anticipated at the start of the week. Consider both client deliverables and personal responsibilities, as well as your mood and your energy.
2. How did your plans align with your strategic objectives?
Reflect on how your week’s activities and decisions contributed to your longer-term goals.
3. A highlight of the week and why
Identify a particular moment or achievement that either made you laugh, propelled you forward, or helped you take a small step forward. Write down what made it significant and if you could replicate this.
4. Self-management
Evaluate your effectiveness in managing your time, energy, and resources. Did you work on a task list? Did you proactively take time to look after yourself? How did you manage your emotions and mindset overall?
5. The approach to a challenge
Describe how you handled a significant challenge this week. What worked well in your approach? What would you do differently next time?
6. Do you have any recurring thoughts, and why do you think this is?
Identify any patterns in your thinking or concerns that keep surfacing. Consider if these indicate opportunities for growth or areas needing attention.
What are your five key priorities for next week?
Set one major priority for each working day to maintain focus and drive impact.
I hope this helps.
Making This Framework Work for You
The true value of this reflection framework lies in consistency and commitment. Here’s how to get started:
Make it a weekly practice
- Schedule a recurring 30-minute meeting with yourself.
- Find a quiet space, shut your notifications, and give yourself permission to think deeply.
- Use the same notebook so that, over time, you have a bigger picture of what does and doesn’t work for you.
- Be specific in your responses – capture real examples and concrete learnings.
- Use your daily priorities as your north star for the upcoming week.
I hope this helps.
