Reflection & Reflexivity

About Reflection and Reflexivity

Reflection and reflexivity help us to answer the intelligent leadership questions of ‘what’ and ‘why’ and ‘where’ and ‘when’ and ‘who’ and ‘how’. It concerns, first reflecting in the mirror, but then followed by looking through the mirror

The First Step

“Looking at our actions in the mirror is the first step on the road to Adaptation".

This is defined as learning and development by reflecting on what you - as a leader - were thinking at any point in time during a leadership challenge. It involves how you think others perceived the event and your leadership. Reflection involves a detailed consideration of the events or situation beyond yourself. This can be an individual activity or supported by others. Ask the intelligent questions; what, why, when, how, and where and who?

Reflexivity looks forward to find ways in which you can proactively question your process of thinking concerning the situation and your relationships with others. Ask the six intelligent questions but, this time, in proactively seeking to increase your influence over the leadership situation by questioning your own attitudes, values and behaviours and the impact that you had on others around you.

Take responsibility for the limits of your own knowledge, taking a step back from your habitual ways of thinking and action. It is about ‘inside-outing’ - looking at yourself from the outside - and making a commitment to continuously improve your leadership. Take responsibility for your role in the situation, the impact of your presence and perspective and be honest to yourself and others.

Reflection and reflexivity will only be of benefit if you respond to it. Looking through the mirror requires a demonstrable commitment to make a difference. Take an objective stance in the actions that you are going to take. Plan for improvement and then implement it. Ask yourself ‘what will be different?’, ‘how can I make this difference’ and ‘how will I’, and ‘others, know that it is different?’