The Weekly Praxis Review
A Simple Habit for Aligning Action With Values
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”
— Aristotle
Every leader talks about learning. Every team claims to be agile, reflective, and values-driven. But how often do we stop long enough to actually ask ourselves:
Did we act on our values this week?
Did our outcomes reflect our intentions?
Where did we drift and what can we do differently next time?
If you’re like me, you need to build habits that introduce time in your schedule. In a fast-moving workplace, reflection is often the first thing sacrificed. But skipping reflection doesn’t just cost us insights. It severs the connection between our values and our actions. Over time, that drift turns into dissonance: a slow erosion of trust, clarity, and confidence.
Praxis is the antidote. Not just abstract thinking, and not just getting things done. Praxis is the integration of the two: thoughtful, intentional doing. And like any meaningful practice, it isn't built once. It's cultivated over time.
That cultivation doesn’t require a sabbatical or a retreat. One of the most effective ways to develop a praxis mindset is also one of the simplest: a weekly reflection ritual.
Why a Praxis Review?
Most retrospectives and performance reviews focus on what we did or what went wrong. But a praxis review centers on something deeper:
Why did we act the way we did?
What values were (or weren’t) expressed in our decisions?
How did we show up, not just what we accomplished?
This isn’t therapy. It isn’t performance management. It’s a discipline of alignment. The goal isn’t to feel good about what happened. It’s to become more intentional about what happens next.
Over time, this kind of reflection changes how we see our own leadership. It builds muscle memory for asking not just, "Did it work?" but also, "Was it right?" and "Was it worth it?"
“Follow effective action with quiet reflection.
From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.”
— Peter Drucker
Weekly Praxis Review Worksheet
You can use this solo (in a journal or reflection doc), with a team (at the end of a sprint), or even during 1:1s or peer coaching. It works best when you pick a regular rhythm and stick with it. Set aside time and ask yourself the following questions.
1. Reflect on Action
What decisions or actions stood out this week?
Where did I/we make a real choice and not just follow the script?
Think about moments when you were presented with a fork in the road: a hiring decision, a client negotiation, an internal disagreement. Which of these required your judgment, rather than routine execution? If your week felt like a blur, what small act or decision felt meaningful?
Example: You might reflect on how you responded to a sudden client escalation. Did you take immediate ownership, or did you defer and wait for someone else to lead?
2. Explore Alignment
What values did that action express?
Where did we act in alignment with our values, and where did we drift?
Name the values that guided your choices: honesty, curiosity, humility, equity, and decisiveness. Then name the ones that should have. This isn’t a guilt exercise. It’s a chance to sharpen your moral compass.
Example: You said transparency matters, but chose not to share a key update with your team. Why? What would alignment have looked like instead?
3. Notice Tension or Discomfort
Were there moments I justified something that felt off?
What was the pressure? Time, politics, fear, ambition?
Most misalignment doesn’t start with bad intent. It starts with rationalization. Look for moments where your internal voice said, "This isn’t ideal, but..." That’s where praxis work begins.
Example: You pushed through a project that violated your team’s stated process because leadership expected results. What got compromised in the name of speed?
4. Shift From Judgment to Insight
What surprised me about how I/we acted?
What would I want to try differently next time?
This step is where growth happens. Replace blame with curiosity. Did you learn something about how you respond to conflict? Did your team handle a challenge more thoughtfully than expected? Surprise is a signal.
Example: You were more reactive in a meeting than usual. What triggered that? How would you handle a similar conversation next week?
5. Set an Intention
What value do I want to practice next week? Not just to believe in, but act on?
What’s one decision I’m likely to face where I can bring that value to life?
Praxis isn’t just retrospective. It’s prospective. Anchor your learning in a real opportunity ahead. Name the meeting, decision, or conversation where you can test your alignment in action.
Example: You want to practice courage. You know you’ll need to give tough feedback in a 1:1. That’s your arena.
Download a copy of the worksheet here, and you can print it for easier contemplation away from the screen.
Make It a Ritual, Not a Chore
You don’t need a fancy system. You need a rhythm.
Solo: Take 15 minutes on Friday afternoon or Sunday evening.
Team: Reserve the last 15 minutes of your weekly standup or retrospective.
Peer: Partner with someone and check in for 10–20 minutes. Even a short voice note exchange can help.
Use a shared doc. Keep it personal. Print a copy and put it next to your desk. The point isn’t the format. It’s the habit of reflection, alignment, and intentional action. Like all habits, it gets easier over time.
The Practice Makes the Leader
You don’t need more frameworks. You need more consistent moments to ask:
Did my actions reflect what I say I care about?
Praxis isn’t about perfection. It’s about direction.
This simple weekly practice won’t solve every leadership challenge. But it will help you show up more grounded, more intentional, and more clear-eyed about how your values shape your work. It builds the kind of clarity that doesn’t just react to the week that was, it informs the week to come.
That’s the heart of leadership. That’s the practice of praxis.
We need never be bound by the limitations of our previous or current thinking, nor are we ever locked into being the person we used to be, or think we are.
— Allan Lokos