Connect to Reconnect: Part of our 10 Christmas Gifts series - Gift #10

Gift #10: Leadership Year-End Reflection

We’re celebrating 10 years of Cake People Development by sharing 10 of our favourite tools, snippets and resources from the CAKE Connect library.

This final gift is an invitation to pause before the New Year begins and to spend some intentional time working on yourself as a leader.

This reflection workbook has been designed to help you review your leadership year honestly and constructively and to turn this insight into meaningful actions in 2026 .

Our final gift isn't on CAKE Connect but will be uploaded to CAKE Connect today.

Why This Gift?

Leadership is a lifelong pursuit, one we take very seriously here at CAKE People Development and because reflection is one of the most powerful (and often overlooked) development tools available we've developed this workbook.

This workbook helps you:

·         Recognise progress and growth, you've had a brilliant year;

·         Understand challenges and patterns that you've faced this year;

·         Identify skills you've strengthened and those you need for 2026;

·         Set clear leadership plans and actions for the year ahead;

·         Help you take your reflections and put them into actions.

What the Reflection Covers

Section 1: The Year in Review

You'll reflect on:

·         Your biggest leadership moments.

·         Skills you developed.

·         Feedback that stayed with you.

·         Challenges that shaped you.

This section helps you notice what mattered.

Section 2: Leadership & Development

You'll explore:

·         What you learned about yourself and your leadership

·         Which development activities supported you

·         Which behaviours strengthened and which slipped

·         Habits that helped (and habits to leave behind)

This builds awareness of how you grew.

Section 3: Skills Inventory for 2026

You'll create a practical snapshot of:

·         Skills you feel confident in

·         Skills you need to strengthen next year

·         Situations you want to handle better

This sets direction for future growth in 2026.

Section 4: Setting Intentions for 2026

You'll define:

·         One primary leadership goal

·         Three supporting goals

·         Practical actions for the first 90 days

·         The support or development you'll need

This turns reflection into action.

How to Use This Tool

·         Set aside 30 - 45 minutes before you finish work or in the New Year.

·         Complete it alone or with your team

·         Be honest, this isn't assessed

·         Don't overthink - go with what feels true

·         Most importantly turn insight into action

There are also optional team reflection questions if you'd like to use this in a workshop or leadership session.

Download the Final Gift

Annual Reflection Workbook 2025.pdf

Download PDF • 148KB

A Final Word

Over the past 10 days, we've shared tools, ideas, stories, voices and conversations from CAKE Connect. In our opinion, this final gift brings it all together. Because leadership development doesn't end with a programme, a workshop or a workbook, it is a life long pursuit and passion for many of our friends, clients, learners and followers.

If you'd like support using this tool, or in developing yourself or your team in 2026, we'd love to hear

from you. slice@cakepd.co.uk

You can check out our programmes including both our in-house and open programmes on our website or by getting in touch.

Thank you for joining us this Christmas!