Leadership reflection & reset
Senior leaders, CEs, founders
Self-directed day template
Full-day (Quarterly)
A Clearing Day is a structured day away to clear your head, stretch your thinking, and go back to work with direction. It is a leadership rhythm. You don't need a crisis to justify reflection. You need a habit. This template gives you a structure for a day that clears your head, stretches your thinking, and sends you back to work with direction.
Before you begin
Date [e.g. Wednesday 2 April 2025]
Location [Beach, bush, backyard...]
What I'm coming in with [A rough sense of what's sitting heavy]
What I'm hoping to leave with [Direction, clarity, one decision...]
Set your ground rules
Disconnect. No inbox. No phone. Properly out.
Location matters. Beach, bush, backyard. Somewhere that isn't a screen.
Let people know. Tell your team you're out. Block the calendar. Mean it.
Morning: Clear the head
Journal, wander, sip something warm. Don't rush to the work yet.
- Journal, wander, sip something warm
- Reflect on: What matters now?
- What's pulling you off track?
- What's this next chapter asking of me?
What matters most right now?
[Write freely. This isn't for anyone else.]What's been pulling you off track?
[The noise, the drift, the things eating your attention...]What is this next chapter asking of you?
[Not what's urgent. What's important.]Late morning: Idea space
Stretch your thinking. Don't fill it yet. Let the threads tangle a bit.
- Read something you've been putting off
- Sketch or brainstorm — no structure required
- Let the threads tangle a bit
What ideas or threads are emerging?
[Rough notes, connections, things that won't leave you alone...]Midday: Lunch and light planning
Nothing fancy. You're looking for a short list you believe in.
- What stood out this morning?
- What's worth pursuing?
- What can wait?
What stood out?
[Themes, moments of clarity, things that shifted...]Worth pursuing
[3 things max.]Can wait
[Name it. Put it down. Move on.]Afternoon: Shape and commit
This part's about traction.
- Draft a rough plan, map, or framework
- Capture next steps
- Note what you'll let go of too
My rough plan or framework
[It doesn't have to be polished. It just has to be honest.]Next steps
[What you'll actually do. Who owns it. When.]What I'm letting go of
[Decisions made. Things deprioritised. Clarity about what's not yours to carry.]End of day: Close the loop
Then log off properly. Let it settle.
- Review where you landed
- Set one intention
- If it helps, share a takeaway with someone
Where did I land today?
[One honest paragraph. What shifted?]My one intention going back in
[One thing. Not a list.]Habits make the leader. You don't need a crisis to justify reflection. You need rhythm. Clearings are an important part of any climb.
🌿 Want support with what came up?
If the day surfaced a decision you're not quite clear on, a Pressure Clarity Session is a focused 60 minutes to slow it down, see it properly, and leave with one concrete next step. Call, text, or email using the details at the top of this page.