The Notion of Reflection - Essay Example

The notion of reflection Reflective thinking is an important aspect of all levels of life because it determines how well individuals are able to handle the different problems that they are likely to face. Despite this being the case, there are more instances than not of individuals going through their activities without carefully reflecting on their actions. In the modern competitive environment, it is quite difficult for individuals to find time for reflection. This is because it is within such an environment that meanings are created and the behaviour of individuals is regulated. Furthermore, it is within such environments that there is a refining of values and this is often done without ensuring reflection is made an important aspect of thinking. It is important to ensure that reflective thinking is developed and made an essential part of individuals because it is the only way through which they can challenge assumptions, and make an assessment of their intuition, and learn more about themselves. It is important to note that some of the biggest barriers for many individuals in achieving their objectives is their lack of reflection (Bowden, 2008, p.4). This is especially because I have realized that many people tend to repeat the patterns and behaviours, which contribute to their failures. However, when they adopt an attitude of reflection before undertaking what they are aiming at, they come to achieve genuine results and personal growth. I find that reflection enables individuals to discover their ability to gain what they want, making it the key to success because without it, all actions are meaningless. Through my own experiences, I have discovered that reflective thinking is a matter of problem solving, which requires an individual to see things in a new way independent of the way that they normally see these problems. It is through their looking at problems differently that individuals are able to find solutions to them in ways that they did not expect (Edwards, 2010). Taking time to reflect on a problem from a different perspective other than the habitual one, especially for a leader within an organization, is extremely important because it makes the individual to have time for constructive thinking. Through thinking outside the box, following Kolb’s reflective model, a leader is able to develop a better understanding of the problem facing the organization and take necessary action to ensure that the solution he comes up with is not only relevant, but it can be applied in a manner that does not threaten organizational wellbeing. In addition, find it essential to note that taking time to deal with issues reflectively allows for the best decisions, insights, and outcomes to be developed. It is a way through which individuals, especially decision makers, are able to make meaningful decisions concerning different circumstances in their lives. In an environment where I interact with others, I often find it necessary to reflect before taking any action because to act impulsively might create a chaotic situation rather than one where there is complete harmony among those present. It is only through creating time to think critically concerning problems and their outcomes that individuals can develop an understanding, in a context outside what they would normally do, of actions that they are required to take to make things work (Megginson and Whitaker, 2007). Furthermore, reflection is necessary because it allows individuals to take time off from their normal routine with the purpose of allowing them to make meaningful decisions. It forces individuals to consider the most significant and pending decisions in such a manner that they are able to go beyond the usual cursory overviews and quick responses, which might end up having negative results (Stanton, 2009). There are often times when I find that there is a need for myself or small groups to take time out from their usual schedules to determine to reflectively make decisions that are not based on their being pressured. In line with Argyris and Schön’s double loop learning theory, there has to be recognition and correction of any errors that individuals have made through reflection. It is through these times of reflection that individuals are able to reconsider long held assumptions, efficiency of their past decisions, as well as possible consequences of future decision that they are likely to make (Ryall, 2010). It is normally during these periods that individuals have an opportunity to come up with ideas that are not only totally unexpected, but also brilliant. Individuals cannot ignore the value of taking time to reflect before making important decisions. In most circumstances, my colleagues find reflection time to be a luxury, which people cannot waste within a highly competitive environment. This is something that one cannot afford to do because without time to reflect on decisions before they are made, it is difficult to gauge their results as well as how these results might end up affecting others (Drucker, 2007). Taking time to reflect before making decisions in the modern business environment makes it possible for only meaningful decisions to be made because they determine the way that a business is able to navigate safely when compared to its competitors. Making decisions without first thinking about their consequences has a negative impact on not only individuals but also for the organizations to which they belong. Reflection allows me to see the reality that I face and helps me to take action necessary to make decisions that have a positive effect on himself and for those around him. Therefore, in such circumstances, reflection helps in the expansion of perspectives in such a manner that additional options are revealed while at the same time helping me to get a true sense of what is actually going on around me (Childs, 2005). Reflection allows me to discover what they did not know and in this way, I am able to act on it so that positive outcomes can be achieved. The modern world is increasingly becoming specialized and this has made individuals to develop narrow thinking based on their own specialties. As a result, reflective thinking is slowly but surely being pushed out of normal thinking processes and such a situation would be disastrous. Reflection allows for thinking outside the box so that diverse circumstances are viewed in ways that are not part of routines in a bid to bring about new possibilities and solutions (Cottrell, 2011). Therefore, when individuals get more myopic in their thinking in a bid to become more useful, what they are in fact doing is that they are reducing their usefulness because they are not able to think widely outside of their safety zones. While specialization makes work easier in some circumstances, it is quite detrimental for the thinking process of some individuals because they are normally not able to back away from wrong decisions so that they can develop a situation where there is varied thinking. Circumstances involving individuals who cannot remember the decisions that they made shows that they did not reflect upon those decisions before implementing them. There should be recognition that reflection is an important discipline because it allows individuals to develop thoughtful insights, which cannot normally be made immediately a problem arises (Hunt, 2001). Moreover, I have found that it is important for me to make time for reflection on a daily basis and this period is often dedicated only to reflection to the total exclusion of routines. In this way, I am able to use up the full power of reflection in making important decisions in my life in a manner that is calm and perceptive. It is important for individuals to set aside time for reflection without any inconveniences resulting from using technology. At my place of work, I have realized that the increasing use of technology such as the internet has made it harder for individuals to make time for reflection. Swiftness in attaining information has created a situation where individuals make decisions too quickly without consideration for the consequences. Information attained from the internet is in some cases not accurate, and when one chooses to base his decisions on it rather than taking time to reflect upon its authenticity, there is a possibility that it might result in negative consequences. It is therefore necessary for individuals to be educated concerning the need not to rely completely on technology, but to also put importance to reflection as a tool for decision-making. In this way, it is possible for there to be a balanced approach that enables positive decisions to be made. Furthermore, individuals, even though they might have busy schedules, should make time for reflection since it allows them to think about what they are doing and the best way to proceed in a constructive manner. In conclusion, reflection can be considered to develop an understanding concerning how individuals as connected in their activities. As I have show above, it is important to ensure that reflective thinking is developed and made an essential part of my life because it is the only way through which I can be able to challenge assumptions, make an assessment of my intuition, and learn more about myself. Reflective or thoughtful behavior is necessary in decision making because it makes possible a better understanding of the situation at hand, hence positive solutions and outcomes. The rise in technology use as well as a busy schedule has made it difficult for reflective thinking to be a part of my life. As a result, it has become essential for me to create time for reflective thinking because without it, I am likely to make decisions whose consequences are based on chance. If such decisions were to be made by all people in the world, the consequences would be disastrous for all sectors of social life and more needs to be done to encourage individuals to make reflective thinking a part of their lives. References Bowden, J. 2008, Writing A Report: How to Prepare, Write and Present Really Effective Reports. New York: How To Books. Childs, M. 2005, "Beyond training: new firefighters and critical reflection", Disaster Prevention and Management, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 558-566. Cottrell, S. 2011, Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis and Argument. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Drucker, D.F. 2007, Managing Oneself. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School. Edwards, P.M. 2010, “Theories-in-Use and Reflection-in-Action: Core Principles for LIS Education,” Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 18 – 29. Hunt, C. 2001, “Shifting shadows: metaphors and maps for facilitating reflective practice,” Reflective Practice, vol. 2, no. 3, pp.275-287 Megginson, D. and Whitaker, V. 2007, Continuing Professional Development. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Ryall, E. 2010, Critical Thinking for Sports Students. Exeter, Devon: Learning Matters. Stanton, N. 2009, Mastering Communication. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Read More