Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful.
- Margaret J. Wheatley, Author of Leadership and the New Science
Constant Learning
It may feel obvious, but it can not be overstated. In order to be fast and effective when the future is uncertain, individuals and teams must have a radical commitment to constant learning. On one hand, this is a mindset: it's about being humble, curious, and exploratory, we talked about it in the first session this week. On the other hand, it's an active practice: reflecting together, harvesting learning, and deliberately putting new insights into action.
At Hyper Island, we use David Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle as our go-to model for constant learning. We use it to structure reflection sessions and guide the design of learning experiences.
Thinking about your team, to what extent do you practice constant learning? What is your dominant mindset related to learning? What habits and routines do you have that support ongoing learning?
The following technique, Reflection, will help you and your team cultivate the habit of constant learning.
Power of Reflection
Margaret J. Wheatley shares how reflection can help us process our experiences and improve future performances.
The purpose of a Reflection (or Retrospective if you will) is to enable change or improvement. It’s a dedicated time to look at our own behavior and to look at how we work together as a team, and tweak that! Reflections deal with the hairy, human side of work and how to collaborate better. At Hyper Island's perspective, Reflections enable that in three ways:
1. Allow time for (self-)reflection
During the daily grind, it’s incredibly hard to sit down and think about the way that you worked today, or yesterday. Reserved time helps.
During the daily grind, it’s incredibly hard to sit down and think about the way that you worked today, or yesterday. Reserved time helps.
2. Create a shared understanding of the team
Everybody sees the world a little bit different. In Reflections, we can find out how our team members perceive and interpret events.
Everybody sees the world a little bit different. In Reflections, we can find out how our team members perceive and interpret events.
You will make a start this week already, to reflect together with your team. Make sure to book a timeslot for the end of the week to make this happen!
3. Agree to try new things: action items
Reflections give room to think through several improvement ideas: How can I act and behave in a more effective way, the next time this happens. Or, pick an action item that all team members commit too, that will improve the way of working as a team.
How to Facilitate a Reflection?
Starting point
Choose a specific situation you would like to learn from.
It could be anything you like: a meeting you just had, an ongoing project, or even last night’s family dinner. Take some time to think about it in your head, and proceed to the next step.
Once you have decided what experience you or your team want to reflect on, then you dive into what we call the Well of Knowledge. Basically, reflection does not happen at once; it requires 4 steps:
1. Remember
What has happened, exactly? Try to describe it in at least 3 steps. Remember, there’s no rush so take the time you need.
2. Feel
What did you feel? Don’t be afraid to share your experience. Detail any emotions or observations throughout the process.
3. Relate
Why did you feel that way? Attempt to decipher some possible reasons for experiencing certain emotions. Don’t worry, there is no right or wrong answer.
4. Reflect
What can you learn from the experience? What will you do differently next time? This is the last question, take your time to write your answer.
Moderate a Reflection Session
- Decide with whom you want to do a Reflection Session. Nudge your colleague, try it out in your weekly team meeting, consider your family dinner, or, phone a friend - whatever works, it could be anyone!
- Bring post-its or paper with you, and pens, so that answers can be written down. Hand-out the post-its, and explain that the purpose of the Reflection Session is. Use the Well of Knowledge steps above to drive the conversation.
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Make sure you document what happened and how the experience was like, so that you can answer Doris' questions when you submit.
Submit to Doris
- When you have completed the task, go back to Doris in Workchat.
- Doris will help you to submit your work. Simply follow her questions.
