Reflexive practice involves an individual thinking about or reflecting on his/her actions. The ability to become a critically reflexive practitioner is closely related to the practice of individuals learning from their past experiences. Reflexive thinking allows an individual to go back and forth between ideas and experiences until he/she can acquire the desired results. Critically reflexive practice should not be confused with having simple thoughts about the past. The main difference between critical reflexive practice and mere nostalgia is that the former requires individuals to critically think about their assumptions and actions and develop useful insights from them. On the other hand, nostalgia is a simple reflex that does not require critical evaluations. This paper outlines means of becoming a critically reflexive practitioner and the role that reflection plays in this process.
Becoming a critically reflexive practitioner involves three major dimensions namely “reflex interaction, critically reflexive questioning, and reflective analysis” (Cunliffe, 2004). Consequently, an individual who wishes to become a critically reflexive practitioner has to engage in interactive practices such as listening, reading, watching, talking, thinking, and asking. Successful reflexive practice requires an individual to develop an intimate knowledge of the processes of other practitioners. Reflexive practice also involves listening and exploring the ideas of other people. One common habit that is often associated with becoming a critically reflective practitioner is journaling. Maintaining a journal enables individuals to accomplish various goals that promote the mastery of critically reflexive practices (Cunliffe, 2004). For instance, a person can theorize about how a certain experience was affected by his/her expected outcomes. In addition, a journal can give a practitioner the chance of experimenting with future and past reactions. For instance, an individual has the chance to find out the actions that have the most impact on a set of experiences.
Reflection can greatly contribute to an individual’s quest of becoming a critically reflective practitioner because it is an important constituent of emotional intelligence. In addition, reflection enables individuals to improve their careers by promoting their workplace relationships. For example, reflection will encourage individuals to engage in useful workplace discussions that might impact their careers in a positive manner. Another feasible benefit of reflection is that it is very applicable in personal appraisal situations such as job interviews. Critically reflective individuals also have the capacity to maintain their strategies without unnecessary deviations.
Reference
Cunliffe, A. L. (2004). On becoming a critically reflexive practitioner. Journal of Management Education, 28(4), 407-426.