I personally cannot fathom how we’re nearing 2026 already and this time of year (as per every year) many people are setting goals, planning career moves, or simply trying to understand where they stand professionally. The surprisingly common truth is that most of us underestimate how much we’ve grown. Not because we’re not progressing, but because we rarely stop to measure it properly.

As we keep iterating and shouting from the rooftops: Growth isn’t always loud. Sometimes it looks like making better decisions, learning quietly on the job, or simply navigating challenges that would have overwhelmed you a year ago. If you want 2026 to be a year of intentional development, it starts with recognising the progress you’ve already made in 2025.

Here are five self-assessment tips to help you take stock of your growth, and plan your next steps with confidence.

1. Review Your Year in Moments, Not Just Milestones

Traditional goal-setting focuses on big achievements: promotions, certificates, salary increases. However, real growth often hides in the smaller moments. This could look like: a tough conversation you handled better than before, a project you took ownership of, a new tool or system you finally mastered, or a mistake you learned from… instead of spiralling.

List out the moments you immediately remember  – those that shaped your year, even if they felt minor at the time. They’re often the truest markers of development.

2. Compare Yourself to Your Past, Not to Peers

Social media and work culture make it easy to measure ourselves against others, but comparison blinds us to personal, meaningful growth. The only useful benchmark is the you from last year.

Ask yourself:

• What can I do today that I couldn’t do in January 2025?
• In what ways am I more confident, calm, or resilient?
• Which tasks feel lighter or more intuitive now?

When you measure progress this way, growth becomes visible… and motivating!

3. Notice How Your Challenges Have Changed

A subtle sign of progress? Your problems are evolving. In your self-assessment you may realise that last year’s pressures, which may have been disorganisation, imposter syndrome, fear of speaking up, may no longer feel as heavy. In 2026, new challenges may be emerging: delegation, leadership, time-management at a higher level. This shift is evidence you’re operating on a larger playing field.

It may help to write down the challenges you faced last year and compare them with the challenges you’re facing now and then ask yourself how these show an increase in responsibility or competence.

Growth often reveals itself in what no longer scares you.

4. Track the Invisible Skills You’ve Built

Some of the most valuable career skills aren’t tied to job titles at all. They are often called “soft skills” but they are anything but!

• Emotional regulation
• Adaptability
• Prioritisation
• Cross-team communication
• Problem-solving under pressure
• Digital fluency

You may not list these on your CV (although you should!), but they silently shape how others perceive you at work.

Create a simple self-audit: rate each skill from 1–5 and note a real example where you applied it. The patterns will surprise you.

5. Set Goals That Reflect Who You’re Becoming, Not Who You Were

If your goals for 2026 look similar to last year’s, you may be planning for an outdated version of yourself.

Instead, ask:

• What strengths emerged this year that I can build on?
• What did I enjoy more than I expected?
• Which roles, tasks, or environments brought out my best?
• What feels aligned with who I’m growing into?

The most effective goals are not upgrades. Instead, look at them as evolutions.

Growth is Your Advantage

In a job market that’s shifting quickly, your ability to understand and articulate your growth is one of your strongest assets. In the age of AI, employers aren’t just looking for (just) experience; they’re looking for people who have the ability to learn, adapt, and self-reflect.

Before you think about changing jobs, upskilling, or aiming higher this year, take a moment to acknowledge the progress you’ve already made. Self-assessment in itself is an important skill!

You might realise you’re far more prepared for your next step than you thought.