The Power of Reflection: Building Success Together
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We had an outstanding leadership class on Monday, October 28, 2024. Great job to all the participants who focused on our objective: understand the value of reflection and recognize why reviewing outcomes is essential for personal and organizational growth.
We used a tower-building activity to demonstrate the importance of reflection after an event. In the beginning, teams built towers without communicating or after-event reflection. After the second build, teams could reflect on their building strategies, leading to new insights and better teamwork. Guess what happened on round three of the build - it was the most successful, showing how reflecting on our actions can unlock greater results.
Key Takeaways from After Event Reflection Activity:
Thoughtful planning is essential for success.
Reflecting after an event allows us to identify improvements for future outcomes.
Accountability within the team is key, including using specific metrics to assess success.
Reviewing outcomes helps us set new, more effective directions for next time.
Kyra Carmack shared a recent team reflection event at her place of employment, Bear Library. After community events, reflection is a standard practice. Kyra shared that an example of improvement was at the face painting station, which led to smoother operations and happier participants. Because of their dedication to reflection, the event was a resounding success.
I congratulate all of the members of our leadership team. Thank you for committing to constant improvement and striving to become outstanding leaders. Great job!
Mentoring perspective:
I share information about planning in my book, Mentor Them, or They Will, Expert Advice for Youth Mentors Who Teach Self-Discipline Life Skills:
P – priorities
L – leadership
A – accountability
N – new directions.
After-event reflection activities are a great way to demonstrate accountability and choose new directions.
Teaching planning as a mentor is essential. Mentees need this fundamental life skill but remember to also teach "reflection" after an event or activity. Identifying opportunities and problems and taking a new direction will lead to more effective outcomes.
Questions:
Identify an event that you planned. What did you learn from it, and what could you do to improve the outcome next time?
Why is it important to evaluate or reflect on an event after it's over?
How do you measure success in events? Is measuring success necessary, and if so, why?
What is the link between accountability and event success?
What measurements or criteria do you use to hold yourself accountable when planning activities?
