From Reflection to Action – Using September as a Leadership Reset Button
Written by Santarvis Brown, Leadership Engineer
Dr. Santarvis Brown has spent 15+ years serving as a leader, innovator, and changemaker in education, showcasing in-depth insight as an administrator, educator, and program director.
There is something about September that whispers possibility. The air shifts, routines restart, and the year’s final quarter begins to take shape. For leaders, this month is more than a marker of time, and it is an invitation to pause, reflect, and reset.
Leadership is not static. It is a living practice shaped by choices, habits, and the ability to adapt. Too often, leaders rush from quarter to quarter, chasing deadlines without taking the space to evaluate how they are showing up. September offers a rare moment to step back, recalibrate, and translate reflection into action.
The power of reflection
Great leaders know that growth begins with honest reflection. Reflection is not navel-gazing, it is clarity. It is asking questions like:
Where did I lead well this year?
Where did I miss opportunities?
How did my leadership affect those around me?
Reflection requires courage. It is easier to highlight victories than to acknowledge blind spots. Yet leadership is strengthened not by perfection but by the willingness to see clearly and to grow intentionally.
Resetting habits that no longer serve
Every leader carries habits, some helpful and others hindering. September provides the perfect “reset button.” What daily practices are fueling your leadership, and which are draining it?
Maybe it’s a reliance on endless meetings that stifle creativity. Maybe it’s neglecting time for strategic thinking because urgency has overtaken importance. Maybe it’s failing to prioritize well-being, both for yourself and your team.
Resetting means identifying habits that no longer align with your vision and replacing them with ones that do. It’s less about radical overhaul and more about consistent course correction.
From reflection to action
Reflection without action is like a syllabus never opened or a playbook never used. Leaders must move from insights to implementation. This means setting intentional goals for the months ahead, not only for organizational outcomes but also for personal leadership growth.
Action could look like:
Scheduling regular listening sessions with your team.
Setting aside weekly time for strategy and creativity.
Establishing accountability partners to ensure your reset commitments last beyond September.
Small, consistent actions compound into transformation. The reset button works only if pressed with purpose.
Inspiring your team through renewal
When leaders embrace September as a season of reset, they give permission for their teams to do the same. By modeling reflection, transparency, and change, leaders cultivate cultures where renewal is not feared but embraced.
Imagine the impact of a leader who openly shares their reset goals with their team. “Here’s what I’ve learned about myself this year. Here’s how I want to grow. And here’s how I hope we grow together.” That kind of authenticity ignites trust, accountability, and collective ownership.
The September invitation
This September, don’t just keep moving. Stop. Reflect. Reset. Then act with intention.
Leadership is not measured only by year-end reports or strategic plans, but by the willingness to grow in real time. September’s invitation is simple yet profound, step into renewal, align your actions with your values, and lead in a way that sets the tone for the future.
When you use September as your leadership reset button, you are not only preparing for the final quarter, you are preparing to step into the next season with clarity, courage, and conviction.
Santarvis Brown, Leadership Engineer
Dr. Santarvis Brown has spent 15+ years serving as a leader, innovator, and changemaker in education, showcasing in-depth insight as an administrator, educator, and program director. A noted speaker, researcher, and full professor, he has lent his speaking talent to many community and educational forums, serving as a keynote speaker. He has also penned several publications tackling issues in civic service, faith, leadership, and education.
