We’re told (too often in our opinion) that the new year is about resolutions. Do more. Be better. Fix yourself. In this episode, we challenge that narrative and talk about what genuinely supports change over time. Reflective practice sits at the heart of effective leadership, yet many women are rarely given the space or structure to do it well. Michelle introduces The Life Audit, a practical tool she has developed and refined over many years to help ambitious women pause, recognise what feels out of alignment, and decide where to focus. The Life Audit begins with an honest assessment of key areas of life, including work and career, finances, relationships, physical wellbeing, time management, joy, social connection, and sense of contribution. Using a spider graph and a scale from crap to awesome, patterns emerge quickly. Those patterns often reveal where energy has been overextended, misplaced, or neglected. From there, the work becomes intentional and contained. Rather than trying to change everything at once, listeners select two to four priority areas and commit to a twelve-week reset. Each week includes a short reflection on what to stop, start, and continue, creating momentum through consistent, deliberate action rather than bursts of motivation. As we discuss in the episode, many women reach a point when life looks fine on paper, yet something feels off. When those signals are ignored, they tend to intensify. The Life Audit provides a structured way to notice earlier and respond with intention, before dissatisfaction turns into exhaustion or disengagement. This episode invites women to approach self-leadership with the same seriousness they bring to leading others, using reflection as a practical skill rather than a vague aspiration. Leave a comment If this episode was useful, there are three simple ways to go further: Subscribe on Substack This is now the home of the Lead to Soar podcast. Subscribers get new episodes, curated guidance from the back catalogue, and written insights to help you navigate leadership and career decisions with sound judgement. Subscribe now Explore the Lead to Soar Network Lead to Soar is a leadership development network for ambitious women and for organisations serious about closing the leadership gender gap. Members get access to group coaching, practical leadership tools, and a network of women actively advancing their careers. Explore Share the episode If this resonated, share it with a colleague, manager, or friend who might need it. Leadership is shaped by what we notice, name, and talk about. Share About Lead to Soar Lead to Soar is a podcast and leadership platform for ambitious women and for organisations serious about closing the leadership gender gap. Hosted by Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher, the podcast goes beyond surface-level career advice to explore what it really takes to lead with clarity, credibility, and impact. Conversations are grounded in research, lived experience, and practical leadership frameworks, including The Leadership Compass. Lead to Soar is about fixing systems, not women, and supporting leaders to do work that matters, in ways that are sustainable and deeply human. Get full access to Lead to Soar Podcast at leadtosoarpodcast.substack.com/subscribe
