The Art of Reflection: A Leadership Practice

Reflection and reflexivity help us to answer the intelligent leadership questions of ‘what’, ‘why’, ‘where’, ‘when’, ‘who’, and ‘how’. It concerns, first, reflecting in the mirror, but then looking through the mirror.  Knowing what to reflect upon out of the whole of one’s professional experience is not a straightforward process.  For this reason, we argue that reflection and reflexivity start from the challenge/s you face as a leader.  You draw on your knowledge of your experience within the challenge by applying reflective practice, which combines both reflection and reflexivity

Reflection is not a luxury—it’s a leadership discipline.
In a world of constant action, leaders often move from one challenge to the next without pausing to consider what they’ve learned, how they’ve led, or what could be done differently. The art of reflection is the intentional practice of stepping back to observe, question, and make sense of experience. It transforms activity into insight—and insight into wisdom.

Why does it matter?
Reflective leaders make better decisions, build stronger relationships, and grow more consciously. Reflection helps uncover patterns, explore blind spots, and align actions with values. It strengthens self-awareness, supports adaptive change, and turns uncertainty into opportunity.

How to reflect in practice:

• Ask powerful questions: What happened? Why did it matter? What does it reveal about me, my team, or the system?

• Capture insights: Use journaling, peer dialogue, or structured tools like the RE Cycle (Reimagine, Rethink, Reinvent…) to turn experiences into learning.

• Make it a habit: Build reflection into the rhythm of leadership—daily, weekly, and during key transitions.

Reflection is not about overthinking; it’s about meaning-making. It is a pause with purpose. On these pages, we invite you to engage with curated questions, themes, and visual prompts to deepen your leadership practice through reflective inquiry.