Why weekly reflections and coaching guides help you stay on track

It’s easy to get lost in the day-to-day grind and forget to pause, look back, and figure out what’s actually moving the needle. That’s where weekly reflections and coaching guides come in. They give you a regular moment to check in, see what’s working, and spot what needs attention—before things pile up.

With Factor’s Weekly Reflections, you don’t have to remember everything or chase down updates. The system prompts you, helps you organize your thoughts, and even uses AI to draft summaries based on your recent work. Coaching Guides then show up at the start of the week, giving you a clear plan and advice for your top priorities. It’s like having a personal coach and a project manager rolled into one, right in your workflow.

How to use weekly reflections and coaching guides

Here’s a step-by-step guide to get the most out of these features in Factor.

1. Start your weekly reflection (Friday morning)

• On Friday morning, you’ll see a “get started” button at the top left of your screen, just above your name.
• Click “get started” to launch your Weekly Reflection.

2. Select which priorities to review

• In Step 2, you’ll see a list of your current priorities.
• Select or deselect the ones you want to review this week.

3. Update and plan for each priority

• For each selected priority you own or co-own, you’ll be prompted to add your reflection.
• Factor.AI will auto-populate a draft based on your recent activity.

• Edit the draft to make sure it’s accurate. Delete anything that’s outdated or off-topic.
• If you’re collaborating with others:
  • You’ll see who else has edited the post (look for the “real-time collaboration” chip).
  • Anyone editing live will have their avatar shown next to the “AI Assist” menu.
  • Agree on a way to work together—like labeling your edits with your name, editing together on Zoom, or setting a deadline for final review.

4. Finish and set up notifications

• When you’re done, Step 4 will confirm you’ve updated all your priorities.
• You’ll also get a reminder about where to find your recent reflections after submitting.

To check your email notification settings:

• Click the three dots to the right of your name (top left).
• In the purple menu, under Account, select View Profile.
• In the side panel, go to the Settings tab.
• Make sure notifications are enabled and set how often you want to get emails for @mentions or activity.

5. Find and use your coaching guides

• Coaching Guides show up in your news feed every Monday morning.
• Use them to plan your week, organize your work, or get advice on your priorities.
• If you dismiss a Coaching Guide, you can always find it again:
  • Click the Board app (top left, under your name).
  • On your personal board, scroll to your Inbox—that’s where Coaching Guides are saved.

Tips for better reflections

• Factor’s AI drafts your reflection based on your stack and cards. Keep these up to date for the best results.
• When updating, note:
  • Decisions made
  • Progress achieved
  • Insights gained
  • Challenges or places you need help
• Take meeting notes directly in Factor and tag colleagues for updates or questions.
• You don’t have to wait for Friday—engage asynchronously all week.

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