Truly reflecting requires us to not just consider what happened and why, but what could happen, what couldn’t, why or why not, and what others think about what we believe took place. Here are tips to reflect more, well, reflectively.
Conduct a pre-mortem
It’s common to conduct a post-mortem, or after-action review, to evaluate decision-making. We typically want to identify what went wrong (because we usually don’t conduct one of these when things go well!). But the problem with a post-mortem is that actions have already been taken; nothing can change the outcome.
A pre-mortem, on the other hand, requires us to wait to make ultimate decisions until we have worked through all of the possible outcomes. While this adds time to the process at the start, it ideally saves time on the end -- thus making this one of the best types of reflecting possible.
Write and record
I’ve learned over the last few years that I reflect more fully when I include my thinking with another activity -- such as writing, note-taking or doodling while I think. The action of moving my pen on paper seems to force me to think more deeply, clearly and critically.
For others, recording audio might be a way to strengthen reflection. Talking to someone else could also be that reflective multiplier. The key is that reflection, as an action by itself, might not be the best way to strengthen our processes of review and consideration.
Ask three then me
Before assuming your reflection is accurate and on point, you can strengthen your effort by checking in with three other people who were involved in the situation, decision, etc. Do their takeaways match yours? What did they experience differently? What might influence your reflection that may not factor into theirs?
Reflecting should never be a solitary activity. We become better at the process through the inclusion of additional perspectives and ideas!
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