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Step Back: Bringing the Art of Reflection into Your Busy Life
How to find clarity amid the turbulence of work and life
We all wish we had more time to pause and reflect about small decisions and big goals—and everything in between. But since we live and work in a vortex of tasks, meetings, decisions, and responsibilities, we rarely get the chance to step back.
In this practical guide, bestselling author and Harvard Business School professor Joseph Badaracco argues that you don't need long periods of solitude and tranquility to reflect well. In fact, reflection can take place in the cracks and crevices of your very busy life, and these moments can help you understand your feelings, look at problems from different perspectives, focus on what really matters, and, ultimately, lead a better life.
Building on candid interviews with over a hundred executives and professionals, as well as on the classic works of Marcus Aurelius, Michel de Montaigne, and Ignatius of Loyola, Badaracco offers simple, customizable principles and ideas for reflection that lend a gentle discipline to an otherwise nebulous process.
Concise, smart, and pragmatic, Step Back is the guide you need to make reflection a positive force in your work and life.
We all wish we had more time to pause and reflect about small decisions and big goals—and everything in between. But since we live and work in a vortex of tasks, meetings, decisions, and responsibilities, we rarely get the chance to step back.
In this practical guide, bestselling author and Harvard Business School professor Joseph Badaracco argues that you don't need long periods of solitude and tranquility to reflect well. In fact, reflection can take place in the cracks and crevices of your very busy life, and these moments can help you understand your feelings, look at problems from different perspectives, focus on what really matters, and, ultimately, lead a better life.
Building on candid interviews with over a hundred executives and professionals, as well as on the classic works of Marcus Aurelius, Michel de Montaigne, and Ignatius of Loyola, Badaracco offers simple, customizable principles and ideas for reflection that lend a gentle discipline to an otherwise nebulous process.
Concise, smart, and pragmatic, Step Back is the guide you need to make reflection a positive force in your work and life.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published July 14, 2020
26 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 23, 2020
Anyone serious about being a reflective person should read this book. It's the perfect length for a nonfiction book on a topic that is both straightforward and not. It has a ton of superb quotes, questions, and ideas for both those who are new to reflection and those who are needing a refresher. I will be referencing this book in all future sessions I facilitate on the habit of reflection.
October 15, 2023
Pretty boring, I think I would have enjoyed it as a Ted talk or presentation of some sort. Not worth the read.
March 18, 2021
Joseph Badaracco has written a very thought-provoking book about the importance of reflection, but he has adapted it for the fast-paced frenetic age in which we live. He notes how today’s successful leaders, rather than going to a mountain top for a month to contemplate, snatch moments in their day to reflect -- whether at the gym, in the car or on the way to work. They reflect on what is happening, think about next steps and then act. Rather than isolated long periods of quiet contemplation, he advocates and outlines a more practical approach of more frequent, shorter periods of reflection.
August 4, 2025
Excellent
I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. Upon first reading the description, I thought it would be a ‘business book’ but, in fact, it was more of a ‘life’ book that happened to use interviewees from business as examples. The principles are universal and the techniques can be applied to anyone. I liked that it was not prescriptive, and offered many different ways to reflect, versus logical thinking.
I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. Upon first reading the description, I thought it would be a ‘business book’ but, in fact, it was more of a ‘life’ book that happened to use interviewees from business as examples. The principles are universal and the techniques can be applied to anyone. I liked that it was not prescriptive, and offered many different ways to reflect, versus logical thinking.
April 25, 2021
Good collection of tips based on serious series of interviews with many many people. I really like how the author does his best to keep things simple, and summarise everything under four themes "aim for good enough" "downshift occasionally" "ponder the tough issues" "pause and measure up". And then many ides to test, taking away a few of the biases we see around reflecting 😁.
December 28, 2021
In college, I was a philosophy/theology/history major(s), and in grad school theology. Then one day I found myself in the world of business primarily technology. I have found all of Dr. Badaracco's books to be helpful and most insightful. His approach is to discover from the work-a-day world what is really going on and draw insights to help others navigate. This book is no exception.
April 14, 2021
Couldn't finish it. Too boring. Didn't like it.
July 16, 2021
Main takeaway - “mosaic reflection”
July 16, 2020
Many of us are so busy living our professional and personal lives that we don't spend some time reflecting on what is happening to us. This is exacerbated by the increasing demand for our attention brought about by work tasks, social media notifications, interruptions, and incessant need for instant gratification.
This short book by Joseph Badaracco provides business professionals with helpful pieces of advice on how we can step back from the fray and take some time to reflect. He also provides reasons why we need to do this more than ever.
In addition to the soothing writing style, the book also narrates several inspiring stories on how people such as Marcus Aurelius, Michel de Montaigne, and Ignatius of Loyola dealt with the demands of their own time and still able to reflect.
The recommendations will be helpful for readers who will take the time to follow thru with actions.
This short book by Joseph Badaracco provides business professionals with helpful pieces of advice on how we can step back from the fray and take some time to reflect. He also provides reasons why we need to do this more than ever.
In addition to the soothing writing style, the book also narrates several inspiring stories on how people such as Marcus Aurelius, Michel de Montaigne, and Ignatius of Loyola dealt with the demands of their own time and still able to reflect.
The recommendations will be helpful for readers who will take the time to follow thru with actions.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews