Creating the Reflective Habit: A Practical Guide for Coaches, Mentors and Leaders

Description

Reflection is a critical skill which can enhance the quality of our professional and domestic lives. Yet in a world of "busy", reflective practice often falls to the bottom of the list. We are not alone in the struggle to use the pause button well. This book is here to help. The book offers a practical toolkit which shows you how to create a sustainable reflective habit. We begin by exploring the meaning and territory of reflection, drawing from the literature to provide context and understanding. The following chapters contain prompts and exercises which will appeal to different processing preferences. The intention throughout this book is firstly, to show that reflection means so much more than journaling, and secondly, to encourage an appetite for experimentation that results in a desire to reflect on a regular and sustainable basis. We invite you into an immersive experience, playing with the multitude of reflective possibilities on offer. It is only through repeated trial and error, enlightenment and frustration that we will come to create our own reflective habit. Written by a coach and coach supervisor, this practical book is an invaluable resource for helping practitioners, but will also be immensely helpful to anyone and everyone who wants to get their pause button in good working order. The book also provides Learning & Development professionals with a suite of tools and materials to help build the reflective practice skill set in their organisation. Cover Endorsements Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Figures About the author Contributors Preface Acknowledgements Introduction - How to use this book Reference 1. Understanding the territory of reflective practice What is reflective practice? Why is reflective practice important? A formative perspective A normative perspective A restorative perspective When do we reflect? What do we focus our attention on? Looking inwards Emotions Strengths Knowledge and justification Assumptions Looking outwards Vehicles for reflection Strengthening our reflective muscle Conclusion References 2. How to develop your reflective habit 1 Preparatory experiment (space): Identifying protected time 2 Preparatory experiment (content): Determining what to reflect upon 3 Preparatory experiment (process): Deciding which reflective prompts to work with 4 Preparatory experiment (structure): Organising your reflective activity 5 Preparatory experiment (purpose): Clarifying why you want to develop your reflective habit Formative purpose Normative purpose Restorative purpose Commercial purpose 6 Preparatory experiment (reinforcement): How will you celebrate your success? 7 Preparatory experiment (review): How will you evaluate your reflective practice? 8 The opportunity for meta-reflection Resources References 3. Cognitive prompts to aid reflection An introduction to reflecting with cognitive prompts Reference 1 Critical incident analysis Why this framework appealed to me A pathway for reflection Reference 2 Deepening your reflective writing Why this framework appealed to me A pathway for reflection Reference 3 Competency frameworks Why this framework appealed to me A pathway for reflection Resources Reference 4 Four Ps for contracting Why this framework appealed to me A pathway for reflection Reference Further reading 5 Hi's and Lo's Why this framework appealed to me A pathway for reflection Reference 6 Naikan Why this framework appealed to me A pathway for reflection Resource Reference Further reading 7 Re-count, re-live, review, revise, re-route, refresh Why this framework appealed to me A pathway for reflection Reference Further reading 8 Sentence stems for journaling Why this framework appealed to me A pathway for reflection References Resource 9 The Big 'R' framework by Pamela Fay Why this framework appealed to me A pathway for reflection Reference 10 The three "What's" Why this prompt appealed to me A pathway for reflection Reference 11 Three-Two-One Why this framework appealed to me A pathway for reflection Reference 12 Writing in and out of the Labyrinth Why this framework appealed to me A pathway for reflection Resource References Anecdotes from practitioners using cognitive prompts Critical incident analysis - Reflective learning form What shifted as a result of the exercise? How did you feel about the reflective experience? Three-Two-One What shifted as a result of the exercise? How did you feel about the reflective experience? 4. Visual prompts to aid reflection An introduction to reflecting with visual prompts Reference 1 Blobs Why this prompt appealed to me A pathway for reflection References 2 Kintsugi montage Why this prompt appealed to me A pathway for reflection Resources 3 Kwirkeez Why this prompt appealed to me A pathway for reflection Resource Reference 4 Liminal muse conversation cards Why this prompt appealed to me A pathway for reflection Resources Reference 5 Metaphorical drawing Why this prompt appealed to me A pathway for reflection Reference 6 Murmurations Why this prompt appealed to me A pathway for reflection Resource 7 Optical illusions Why this prompt appealed to me A pathway for reflection Resources 8 Rethink.ly by David Tinker Why this approach appealed to me A pathway for reflection Resources Further reading 9 Self-reflective shapes by Hannah Butler Why this prompt appealed to me A pathway for reflection Reference 10 The boy and the butterfly Why this approach appealed to me A pathway for reflection Resource 11 Three little birds Why this prompt appealed to me A pathway for reflection Resource 12 Timing map Jigsaws Why this prompt appealed to me A pathway for reflection Anecdotes from practitioners using visual prompts Three little birds What shifted as a result of the exercise? How did you feel about the experience? Blobs (river) What shifted as a result of the exercise? How did you feel about the reflective experience? 5. Auditory prompts to aid reflection An introduction to reflecting with auditory prompts Musical Soundscapes Soundbaths and binaural beats Reference 1 Experimenting with binaural beats by Dr. Ir. Stéphane Pigeon Why this approach appeals to me A pathway for reflection Resources 2 Create your own playlist by Claire Kitay A pathway for reflection Resources 3 Location soundscape: Cityscape by Margaret Macafee A pathway to reflection Reflective prompts Resources 4 Location soundscape: Forest by Margaret Macafee A pathway for reflection Reflective prompts Resources 5 Location soundscape: Mountains by Margaret Macafee A pathway for reflection Reflective prompts Resources 6 Location soundscape: Seashore by Margaret Macafee A pathway for reflection Reflective prompts Resources 7 Recorded music to facilitate a change of response by Claire Kitay Why this approach appealed to me A pathway for reflection Resources 8 Self-immersed reflective practice using soundbaths by Sue Dawson A pathway for reflection Resources Further reading 9 Using music to heighten awareness and bring focus by Claire Kitay Why this approach appeals to me A pathway for reflection Resources 10 Weather soundscape: Thunder by Margaret Macafee A pathway for reflection Reflective prompts Resources 11 Weather soundscape: Rain by Margaret Macafee A pathway for reflection Reflective prompts Resources 12 Weather soundscape: Wind by Margaret Macafee A pathway for reflection Reflective prompts Resources Anecdotes from practitioners using auditory prompts Ocean Sounds - (No Music) - Ambient Soundscapes - Sea Waves, Ocean Waves What shifted as a result of the exercise? How did you feel about the reflective experience? Binaural beats What shifted as a result of the exercise? How did you feel about the reflective experience? 6. Kinaesthetic prompts to aid reflection An introduction to reflecting with kinaesthetic prompts References 1 Connecting with nature by Louise Schubert Why this approach appealed to me A pathway for reflection Further reading 2 Daring to be by Claire Davey Why this approach appealed to me A pathway for reflection Resources Further reading 3 Emotions body maps Why this approach appealed to me A pathway to reflection Resource References 4 Forest bathing by Jo Bond Why this approach appealed to me A pathway for reflection Resource Further reading 5 Helicopters and chairs Why this approach appealed to me A pathway for reflection References 6 Leveraging motion Why this approach appealed to me A pathway for reflection 7 Our humanity@work: The 7Cs lens for insight, learning and change Why this approach appealed to me A pathway to reflection ... Reference Further reading 8 Reflect to create! by Elaine Patterson Why this approach appealed to me A pathway to reflection Resources Reference Further reading 9 Reflective movement by Sue Dawson Why this appealed to me A pathway for reflection Further reading 10 Shaping modelling clay Why this approach appealed to me A pathway for reflection Reference 11 Using textures to explore by Liz Ford Why this activity appealed to me A pathway for reflection Further reading 12 Walking reflections by Liz Ford Why this activity appealed to me A pathway for reflection Further reading Anecdotes from practitioners Working with the 7C's What shifted as a result of the exercise? How did you feel about the reflective experience? Shaping modelling clay What shifted as a result of the exercise? How did you feel about the reflective experience? 7. Poetry to aid reflection An introduction to reflecting with poetry A pathway for reflection References 1 A deeper meeting by Henry Campion A pathway for reflection Why this poem appealed to me References 2 Connected by Marie Quigley A pathway for reflection Why this appealed to me 3 Each of us is like one drop of rain by Nicholas Gordon A pathway for reflection Why this appealed to me Reference 4 Earth, fire and water by William Yeats A pathway for reflection Why this appealed to me References 5 Fire by Judy Brown A pathway for reflection Why this appealed to me Reference 6 Liminal places by Charlotte Housden A pathway for reflection Why this appealed to me 7 Metamorphosis (in the flow) by David Crowe A pathway for reflection Why this appealed to me Further reading 8 Nine types of silence by Paul Goodman The piece A pathway for reflection Why this appealed to me Reference 9 Start close in by David Whyte A pathway for reflection Why this appealed to me Reference Copyright notice 10 Teach your children by Ted Perry The piece A pathway for reflection Why this appealed to me Reference 11 The way it is by William Stafford A pathway for reflection Why this appealed to me References 12 Untitled by Alastair Kidd A pathway for reflection Why this appealed to me Anecdotes from practitioners Fire by Judy Brown What shifted as a result of the exercise? How did you feel about the reflective experience? Liminal Places by Charlotte Housden What shifted as a result of the exercise? How did you feel about the reflective experience? Index