Ruminations on Reflective Practice

Part of the ICF Core Competencies state that coaches should undergo regular reflective practice to enhance their proficiency, however, I know that many people are not natural reflective practitioners. Reflection is a skill, like many others, that needs to be honed through practice and understanding. It also requires some time and space which, in the modern world of work, is often lacking. To think about why it is so important and to raise awareness of why we should make time for it, I have been ruminating on what we actually know about the benefits of reflecting.

“Reflective practice significantly enhances both emotional intelligence (e.g., self-awareness, confidence, emotional regulation) and social intelligence (e.g., teamwork, empathy, communication), with a particularly strong emergence of social intelligence in collaborative settings.” [The Role of Reflective Practices in Developing Emotional and Social Intelligence Noorhuda Abdul Karim, Nuzha Mohamed Taha, Nur ‘Izzatty Muhiddin Faculty of Education and Humanities, UNITAR International University]

As I read the above sentence, I felt that it summed up everything that is important to me about reflecting regularly on my own practice. Many of the health professions advocate reflecting as a purposeful activity that is essential to good learning. Reflection has been found to be one of the most important factors for successful learning, as it helps embed new information within existing concepts and experiences. It helps us learn by creating a record of lessons and ideas, aiding in more effective remembrance.

It leads to better decision making as understanding oneself better through self-reflection can help evaluate options and their impact with more clarity. Past experiences are a great learning tool for future practice, but only if we use them as a learning opportunity.

It is easy to choose not to reflect. I notice in myself, that if something has not gone well, I can quite quickly just pass it off as “one of those days” and move on. However, by finding that place of neutrality and being non-judgemental I can look at those moments and really notice my role, actions and decisions and sharpen up my practice. Sometimes, if I find the reflecting too difficult, if I find I cannot be neutral, then I take it to supervision. With a trained professional I can be aided in not avoiding the difficult questions, but they can be asked of me with compassion and empathy, that I may not be able to give myself. So, while highly beneficial, self-reflection can become harmful if it devolves into rumination, self-criticism, self-judgment, negative self-talk, or comparison to others. This is when reflection is usefully shared.

Back to academia, research has shown that regular reflection leads to changes in the brain structures associated with memory, sense of self, empathy, and stress. Specifically, there’s increased gray-matter density in the hippocampus (important for learning and memory). This is all good news as it helps me become a better practitioner for my clients but also supports me to be kinder to myself. As an added bonus, it has even now been shown to improve cognition later in life and increase glucose metabolism in the brain, which can help reduce the dementia risk.

Regular reflection increases the brain’s ability to reorganise itself and make new connections between events, information and experiences. This neuroplasticity enhances future practice and allows for greater learning and development. It has been shown to improve communication as it leads to being able to express yourself clearly, honestly and with greater empathy. Regular practice allows the mind to relax and for insights to flow more naturally.

All great news, so what are my own guiding principles? If I am finding that I cannot be neutral or am avoiding certain areas, I take them to supervision to explore what is happening for me. If I begin to ruminate, I make myself do something else instead, unless of course, it is a really interesting rabbit hole! I reflect when it feels natural to do so, out walking, writing quietly at the start or the end of the day, or when I just feel like it. It is habitual for me but not structured. I do not force myself to reflect as I am not sure what I would learn that way, but I get real joy from the insights that come my way when I do, so that dopamine hit ensures that I reflect regularly. I know that it does me good both physically and mentally, so it really has become part of who I am.

If nothing else, think of reflective practice as your own well-being and longevity – that might help you find the time for it.