Our Memories

Each of our unique experiences can be analyzed in ways that enhance our learning paths and ability to utilize the knowledge gained. Ultimately, we strive to leverage experience to build confidence and make us more proactive, creative problem solvers. In the theories and knowledge underlying reflective practice, memories should not hold us back. Instead, analysis of our past experiences can enable us to add new skills and address even more complex, real-world situations with genuine confidence in the future.

We Can Be Lifelong Learners through Reflective Practice

The goal of a reflective practice devotee is really to be a lifelong learner and one who strives to improve the way we work and interact with one another each day. It is synonymous with learning from experience, but with an added twist. This practice extends beyond casual reflection, in which you might think about the events and feel frustrated or recognize that something should have been done differently, to a deeper practice of conscious reflection. You make a conscious effort to analyze and gain insight from the events and the experience, however difficult or painful those events were to endure.

Real Common Ground: We All Make Mistakes

We all make mistakes, but those who actively reflect on their experiences (both positive and negative ones) are more proactive. By addressing difficulties thoughtfully, you can increase your ability to explore our beliefs and assumptions in ways that lead to new, often creative answers. Those who use reflective practice strive for successful outcomes based on previous knowledge and an evaluation of what we can do rather than what “should” have been done at the time.

What Is Reflective Practice?

Reflective practice begins with our conscious analysis of an experience to gain insight into ways to improve. It is not always done alone or in isolation, and in many work settings, reflection is essentially a job requirement emphasized during evaluations and improvement plans. The decision to become a critical, creative thinker who utilizes reflective practice techniques regularly is one with the power to set you apart and lead to increased success in your personal and professional lives alike.

Mindfulness Programs

Reflective practice goes hand in hand with mindfulness. Mindfulness is more than just a tool to be used at work. Living in the moment, and appreciating life in present time, helps us appreciate the entire world around us. With proper mindfulness, you can view your mistakes and the mistakes of others as opportunities to learn, grow, and improve.

The Art of Reflective Practice

Asking questions is a key component and skill in the art of reflection. For instance, in Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle, there are six steps, each accompanied by a question:

1. Description: What happened?
2. Feelings: What did you think and feel about it?
3. Evaluation: What were the positives and negatives?
4. Analysis: What sense can you make of it?
5. Conclusion: What else could you have done?
6. Action Plan:  What will you do next time?

To achieve the best results from this exercise in a work setting, every member of the team must be prepared to answer these questions with thoughtful, honest responses. That is not as easy as it seems. People are not accustomed to being asked how things made them feel, and many are not initially comfortable with it. Further, it’s easy to describe actions, but the question, “How did it make you feel?” requires some deep, honest, emotional insight. This may take time to instill. It is important to realize that sharing emotions can be very personally challenging for some participants.

The Process

The reflective process is ongoing and never over. When you reach the end of an exercise and satisfactorily answer the question “what will you do next time?”, you must then implement those actions into step one. Repeat the cycle using the new information and assess the results. If the system works properly, you should see ongoing continual improvement through every problem-solving cycle.

In Neil Thompson’s book, People Skills, the author goes deeper in developing a proactive thinking process rooted in critical, constructive, and creative thinking. He lists six steps:

1. Read: Gather information and learn about various topics.
2. Ask: Learn from others and ask questions.
3. Watch: Notice everything that is going on around you.
4. Feel: Be aware of your emotions.
5. Talk: Share your views and experiences.
6. Think: Don’t look at reflection as wasted energy; instead, value the time you spend reflecting.

Johns’ Model

The highly regarded Johns’ model of structured reflection centers on five questions that encourage an understanding of a given experience, its processes, and its outcomes. The questions may vary, but they always involve a description of the experience, reflection upon it, factors that influenced the specific course of action taken, whether the action could have been better, and what was learned. Johns’ model focuses on empirical data, moral understanding, self-awareness, and personal experience. This model supports learners working with a supervisor throughout the reflective process with a structured diary.

The Theoretical vs. the Abstract

All reflective practice models can feel both theoretical and abstract because they are. In Rolfe’s Framework, three prompts are used to guide you through proper reflection on an experience: What, So What, and Now What? These prompts and their associated questions are simple but practical and impactful.

How Will Reflective Practice Help in My Work?

There is a particular need for reflective practice in Human Resources work, and honestly, in every department within a collaborative work environment. This can be the primary means of employee behavioral training and development if properly thought out.

Example: New Employee Orientation

Consider how you currently handle new employee orientations. You may show a presentation an employee must click through or a series of presentations given by current employees. This approach may leave a minimal impression. By implementing a reflective practice, however, HR managers often discover paths to improvement that may not have been apparent before. It is critical to keep the training fresh and ensure it remains relevant, accurate, and meaningful for your new hires, of course.

Benefits Of Using Reflective Practices

If properly implemented, reflective practices can reduce employee stress, making the workplace a more enjoyable and productive environment. Reflective work creates a more supportive culture, where an employee’s opinions matter and they believe that is true. This gives employees a feeling of ownership and security as integral, valued parts of the team. Reflective practices also increase emotional intelligence, boost creative thinking, and foster the development of active and engaged employees.

Some statistics emerging from the implementation of mindfulness programs are astonishing. One study showed that four months of mindfulness training with reflective practice led to an 88% increase in subject employees’ ability to remain focused on a task. The same study suggested that 76% of workers recognized a sharp increase in cooperation and positive relationships among coworkers.

How To Get Started

It will take a top-down effort to put a mindfulness program using reflective practices into place and start building momentum with your team. Things will change, and some may be things that have been done a certain way for a long time in your organization.

Sufficient time and space will be required to maximize the effectiveness of your program. Participants must feel comfortable taking the time to attend to their mindfulness goals. Again, some things may be personal, but individuals across your entire team, from the CEO to entry-level contributors, should have opportunities to reflect and learn.  Groups sessions are great for getting information out, but be ready to provide individual support through other tools and responsiveness to questions.

Conclusion

Numbers don’t lie when it comes to implementing reflective practice and mindfulness in the workplace. There are challenges involved, but the best way to bring these benefits to your environment is to commit to it as an ongoing practice. A strong reflective practice must become part of the culture.

A good way to begin may be to keep a journal of your own learning experiences, including thoughts on how you react and reflect upon them. This will help you focus on the number of times these events occur and get used to thinking more critically about them. This personal reflection will be invaluable in fueling your effort to improve many aspects of your work environment and your life as a whole.