Reflection- A Careful thought

Last year around this time, I had deliberate exposure to learn through reflection. Hardly I knew how I should reflect and possibly because I didn’t know what to reflect. Even if I had done it in the past, it was unconscious.

All of us have studied well, obtained good educational degrees. Everyone has a style or approach to learn. As long as you want to learn, you will end up learning. When I was studying, things/concepts which I didn’t understand, I used to look at the possibility of that concept coming in the University’s annual examination paper. I would refer to the last 5- 6 years’ question papers from the library and find out the probability of this concept/question coming in this year’s annual examination. If I felt it would come, I would spend some time to get it. 40-50% of the time I used to get my probability right and it was good enough for me. This helped while studying to see if I need to learn or can afford to skip. In today’s context I cannot afford to be selective. If something is not clear, I have to find a way to learn as cost of not learning is huge and in the recruiting business , the impact is seen for the candidates, employees, clients and my teammates.

Few people whom I know, apply themselves really hard in different forms to learn. They would ask lot of questions, put many ‘why’ to a given situation and move ahead by finding answers whenever they got stuck. They will take lot of help from others by sharing their mind map, insights and don’t give up till they get it. When I was exposed to learn by reflection my first thoughts were: -

·????????What is this reflection

·????????I am busy to reflect

·????????I have few emails to send, few reports to complete and I would spend my energy and remaining part of the day's time there

·????????Reflection will slow my work

·????????I know my work and business, so what is there to reflect?

Few days later I said to myself, let me try. Once I started to reflect, I was more in victimized mode for all situations and found it quite convenient to externalize things. It took some time for me to understand that through reflection I need to figure out what worked or what didn’t work. This would give some actions for myself to move ahead and do things differently. One situation which gave me lot more clarity, on how to reflect is this one- I was talking to a candidate who had once declined our offer and stated that he wanted to go on an adventure trip for few months and then start to work again. As a recruiter this didn’t connect with me. When I was speaking to him after a year, I asked him on why he didn’t come back to us once he decided to work again. He said, it didn’t look to me that you were convinced with my story earlier. It hit me hard and post this I started to be curious on what candidates have in their thoughts and started to understand what makes them to think in the way they think. It helped me to not just to serve the candidate but also my client by sharing with them on what perspectives candidates carry…

Peter Drucker says “follow effective action with a quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action”. In my experience, desire is what it takes to start something if you have been avoiding something. Rest can fall in place once you have the desire. Be sincere to listen to your coaches and not discount the suggestions. Do speak to your peers who are in the similar journey. Many people reflect through writing a small journal. As long as one is reflecting and not complaining, it is fine. You can sit, walk, run, drive or be alone – any process to reflect can be selected that will match your preference. Like for anything new, start small even if it is for 10 mins in a day. Write your questions. Look at opposite of what you initially think (quite difficult to think like that) and speak to your coach.

Jennifer Porter – an executive and team coach says that “when people find out I am an executive coach, they often ask who are my toughest clients... Inexperienced leaders? Senior Leaders who think that they know everything? Leaders who bully and belittle others? Leaders who shrink responsibility? – the answer is none of the above. The hardest leaders to coach are those who won’t reflect- particularly leaders who won’t reflect on themselves. My first article on LinkedIn was about everyone being a leader and to embrace the journey of leadership. This note from Jennifer should further strengthen the thought for everyone to become a leader and reflect..