Paul Catchlove

Reflection is about learning.

It's about looking at the events of our lives without judgment, but with a critical lens.

I really like the way leadership professors James Bailey and Scheherazade Remen describe it.

It requires taking an honest moment to look at what transpired, what worked, what didn't, what can be done and what can't.

Reflection requires courage.

It's thoughtful and it's deliberate.

So how do we do this, then?

Let's take a look at sports.

I grew up in Australia, and one of the most popular games played was cricket.

Consistent high performance from batters, bowlers and fielders is essential.

But given it's a team sport, it's not just about how the individual performs, but about how the team performs collectively together.

Cricketers reflect during a game, after a game and over time.

During a game, they might think about a missed catch or how they could bat or bowl better the next delivery.

After a game, they might come together to watch video replays to look at what worked and what didn't, which might differ from what they actually experienced during the game itself.

And then over time, they might look to the patterns of their wins and losses to glean even more meaningful conclusions and insights.

The same process can and should be used in the workplace, and I don't think we need to watch video replays of our meetings to dissect what took place.

I don't know about you, but that might feel kind of creepy.

Reflection can be done through a variety of different formats.

Purposeful thinking, written journal entries, audio notes, pictures, a discussion with a mentor or honest friend.

The point is to find what works for you and to make a regular commitment, to examine the events and experiences of your lives, what worked, what didn't and why, and then to think about what and how you would like to do things differently next time.