Einstein had some pretty quotes but my favourite one is the one that goes:  "insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results" .  It's short, sharp and shockingly true.  How many of us keep doing the same things, in the same way, hoping that something different is going to happen.  Most of us aren't even aware that that's what we're doing.  And companies are no different.  How many times have you seen a project go wrong only for the exact same mistakes to be repeated in the next project?  Sound familiar?

Why I mention this is that the skill (ability?  habit?) of "reflection" is vital to the development of both individual leaders and organisations.  If I had to define the purpose of reflection, I would define it along the lines of "taking time out to assess what is and isn't working, identifying ways to improve what isn't working, putting the changes into play and seeing if the results are more effective".  In short, reflection increases our chances of changing the inputs so that the outcomes might be different (and better).

Reflection is equally as important for an individual as it is for an organisation.  Learning from our mistakes, identifying how we can do things differently, both as individuals and within an organisation, allows us to grow, improve and innovate.  Some suggestions on building the habit include:

At the end of each day, assessing what went well, what didn't and what could have been done differently.  Implementing the change and reflecting on the outcomes.  Then repeat the process.  In coaching terms, this is called "Trial and Success".

Recognising the importance of Reflection and scheduling in "reflection time" as part of the day.  It might sound like a "luxury" but it's what gets us off the treadmill of "same old, same old" and keeps our sanity levels in-check.

After a project, have a group meeting and reflect on the project, identify improvements and implement them for the next project.  A company that builds this into their every day life gives themselves a serious advantage over their competition that don't do this.

If you actively take time out to reflect, as an individual or an organisation, what techniques do you use?

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