Reflection on the Value of the Skills of Reflection

Reflection is an important skill in leadership that allows reconsidering actions after the fact and develops expertise, (Martin and Wright, 2005, p104). A leader needs to have a knowledge base and use prior experiences to take action and adjust using reflection to make changes on the go. According to our text, School Leader Internship, on page 104 and 105 the authors give six things expert leaders learn to do better than novices, (I.E., recognize the perspectives of others, accommodate how others learn, understand how hierarchy filters information, anticipate problems, prioritize relevant detail, be comfortable with ambiguity), (Martin and Wright, 2005, p104 & 105). Reflection can be done by thinking through problems more deeply, charting an action plan, or journaling before action and after action takes place in reevaluation. 

I plan to use reflective practice to improve my leadership skills by including time for reflection during weekly staffing and during conversations with staff and mentors when appropriate. I plan to continue to use my blog, Brenda’s Best Blips, as I defined blips as “journal entries that are ‘a spot of light’ (blip) on education reform causing a brief upturn (blip) in transforming traditional education by small amounts (blips)”.  I plan to journal on my blog and on paper when not connected to the internet. I plan to like it is stated in our text, School Leader Internship on page 106, “King and Kitchener (1994) make reflective thinking actively constructed within each specific context I am a part of and ground my conclusions in relevant data and continue to reevaluate all situations. Specific ways I plan to apply the skills of reflection are as follows: journal, blog, tweet, attend TASA conferences, network with peers and mentors, reevaluate decisions, research, read, attend professional development opportunities. I will continue to develop the art of reflection in practice and the art of reflection on practice. I will reflect on decisions, actions, changes, adjustments, and mistakes (Martin and Wright, 2005, p106).