The power of reflection

A day for reflection. Something I tell everybody else to do. Something that is vital for learning and should be part of every project close. But something that is rarely done. If it's done we call it a debrief, book a meeting room in the office, put up a flipchart and take an hour to make two lists: what went well and what do we need to improve for the next time.

That is not really the same thing as allowing space for reactions and thoughts to come and go in a free flow. That takes time. And it requires a break from more information and a restricted structure. Real quality reflection is definitely not possible in the office environment.

So that is what I've been practicing today. Not just to practice what I preach but because it works, it's calming and it's vital.