Reflecting on Reflection
I’m a staunch advocate of the practice of reflection. The benefits are extraordinary: greater ability in sense making; developing a better understanding of yourself and others; recognising connections between people and practices; creating and maintaining space and reducing cognitive load. It can be easy to drop it in times of pressure, but that tends to be when it has the greatest value.
I had the chance last week to facilitate a retrospective session with a team I’m not a part of. This is a huge learning opportunity as a coach. The less personal investment you have in the outcome of a discussion, the greater the chance to observe dynamics objectively.
We used a new format to frame this discussion — coming up with a bold assertion and asking everyone for examples of their experience that challenged or supported it. We supplemented this with a ‘magic wand’ category, asking what instant change you would make to improve the current situation. At first sight this looks to have worked well, giving attendees the space to discuss their own experience without over personalising. Not everyone chose to use their magic wand, and those that did used it many times. There is something to learn about individuals feeling empowered to bring their ideas to the wider group, or to hold on to some of them until there has been a broader contribution.
