We include Reflect as a step in the journey after Action, even though you will have reflected a lot already.

Reflection means thinking (and feeling) through different ideas and experiences and shaping an attitude or opinion.

We ask you to reflect consciously while experimenting with your Action Plan.

Conscious reflection means purposefully asking lots of questions.

The Action Plans are an experiment to see whether this behavioural change works. To understand the results of your investigation, you need to ask questions like: what is working? Why is it working? How might I adapt the Action Plan?

When we were at school, our teachers did most of the hard work of learning by making up the questions for you to answer. Now, the power of learning is in our own hands; we must become skilled at making these questions up for ourselves.

Six question starters can help us get going. These are: 

  • What?
  • When?
  • Who?
  • Where?
  • Why?
  • How?

Using these as prompts, we can start to reflect on our Action Plans. For instance:

  • What worked?
  • When did it work well?
  • Who benefits from this Action Plan?
  • Where else might I try this?
  • Why is it working out this way?
  • How might I do things differently?

This is one example of a set of reflective questions. Here’s another:

  • What will help me make this successful?
  • When was I last good at this?
  • Who can help me?
  • Where is the best place to get started?
  • Why do I want to do it this way?
  • How is this helping me?

Your turn!

If you'd like to watch our 30 minute LinkedIn live on how best to reflect, click here.

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