The Curious Virtue of Reflection: Matching our intentions with reality.

Image generated by Copilot

Today's post is inspired by a LinkedIn post I read yesterday on how inclusion starts at home with the decisions we make. As a co-chair of a recent conference centered around the power of reflection, my reflective antennae have been finetuned to be more reflective. It made me reflect on our busyness, where decisions are made in the blink of an eye in the midst of the complex challenges around us and how those decisions shape organisational and individual outcomes.

Granted, there are times when the choice is taken from our hands, but for some, at least at an organisational level, we make micro decisions daily. I wonder if we ever paused and not stopped to think for a moment about the outcome of our choices rather than the output we are seeking. I argue that many do; many are trying to do the best they can with the limited information they have at the moment. This is because we all use heuristics to inform our decisions and the judgment calls we make, and this is not a bad thing, as it is our way of easing the cognitive load in decision-making, which is informed by our previous experience.

However, we know that sometimes, this can lead to cognitive bias, this is where reflection could help. Reflection is not just a luxury, but a powerful tool that can align our intentions with our daily practice. It can help us check if our decisions are truly in line with our values and goals, leading to more effective and meaningful outcomes.

This is where curiosity comes in, the spark that ignites our desire to seek other viewpoints or lens or frame on a matter, the fuel that drives us to challenge our own views. Curiosity, even for curiosity's sake, can be a powerful tool in reflective practice. One of our speakers from the conference this week used the concept of motivational interviewing to support reflective practice. By asking open-ended questions and actively listening to our inner dialogue, we can uncover deeper motivations and values that drive our decision-making process. This self-awareness not only enhances our efficacy but also promotes authentic connections with those around us, fostering a culture of trust and collaboration.

I can cite research upon research that speaks to how reflection supports individual and professional growth. I am sure we have read something about how it improves performance. According to Harvard Business Review, people who reflect 15 minutes a day perform 23% better. Many of us are driven by increasing productivity. Why is it elusive?

Sometimes, we don't want to check under the hood, and rightly so. Sometimes, we are driven by fear; sometimes, we don't know how to reflect as our antennae are jammed up with our to-do list signals. Regardless of our rightfully earned reasons, it is worth trying; after all, it is something we already do unconsciously. Our plenary speaker reminded us that many of us will remember something that didn't go well, an awkward interaction or meeting, or when something went really well, and we try to make sense of it to do it again or not. So we do them at two poles of experience, either when things are going well or not. Why not make it a daily practice. And I saw a post from Steven Bartlett yesterday that read:

• Saving $8 a day = $3000 per day
• Reading 20 pages per day = 30 books per year
• Walking 10,000 steps per day = 70 marathons per year

Never Underestimate the power of small habits.
​
Rather than aim for 23%, let's aim for five minutes a day, which is approximately 7.67% better for performance. That's a win already, and here are my reflections from the conference and recent events

---