Reflection...continued

In the book Work Based Learning: Bridging Knowledge and Action in the Workplace, Joseph A. Raelin writes about the importance of reflection for professional growth. Before we go any further, let's stop for a minute and think about how often you reflect while at work?  Is there a 'culture of reflection'? Does your boss encourage reflection?

Raelin contends that a "work team becomes a learning team when it spends time clarifying it’s thought before and after action."  Think back to the last time you worked on a team project.  Prior to each team meeting did you all explore your thoughts?  After the meeting did you discuss how productive you were?  What could have been done differently?  Did everyone feel included?  Did everyone have an opportunity to contribute?  Were questions thoroughly addressed?


In this super busy world, taking the time to reflect on our progress and effectiveness may seem like a luxury we don't have.  Really though it's a necessity we can't afford to do without.    As competition increases, those organizations that take time to reflect and improve performance based on reflection will have the advantage. 

Reflecting on the Value of Reflection

Within the MSLOC program there is a significant focus on the value of reflection in terms of leadership and organizational development.  Although I've been a "journaler" (one who journals) for most of my life, I've never considered myself a deeply reflective person; until recently. My next few posts will focus on the value of reflection, lessons I've learned from a variety of sources.  Here's a brief tidbit to get us started with reflecting on reflection:

I think the ‘reflection’ part of your brain (if there is such a thing) must be like a muscle.  The more you exercise it the stronger it gets.  In my MSLOC program we’ve had many discussions about how to find time to reflect when we’re all so busy.  We’ve talked about reflection-on-action and reflection-in-action (the latter being the ideal).  Personally, I think we can all reach the ideal, eventually, if we just take baby steps; if we exercise our ‘reflection muscles.’  

So perhaps try spending just one moment a day reflecting on a task, your performance or a thought; then maybe a few more moments, and then five minutes once a day, then five minutes several times a day…you get the point.  I wonder if eventually, we couldn’t train our minds to reflect automatically; to basically do something - reflect, say something - reflect, think something – reflect.  I think we can and I don’t know about you but the benefits of reflection, which we'll discuss in more detail, are such that I’m willing to give this little exercise a try.