Index

Reflective models are less useful in our long-term (20 years to life time) development as they are generally used for considering specific, temporary situations. Additionally if this time scale was adopted, by the time we reach the ‘end’, my environment may have completely changed to the point where the aim is not feasible. Alternatively I may have changed the measurement for personal success, all rendering this futile. To remedy this my long term goal needs to be fairly loose, or perhaps just guiding sentiments. This may leave my resultant plan weak and under-defined. I will therefore focus on a more short term actions (a few days to months period).The cyclical models of Kolb and Fry (1975), and Jarvis (1994) have created an understanding that the process of reflection is important. As a structure of reflection has also been noted as important, I am adopting the relevant parts of Johns (2000) model, which was discussed on my last blog. The questions of course need to be tailored on my needs as a marketer, rather than for the nursing industry, for whom it was created. As my goal is reflecting on my general position today, rather than on a specific situation, the focus needs to centre on my feelings and experiences. A question like “How were others feeling” is therefore less relevant here than it would be in nursing situations. Similarly “consequences of alternative actions” will only be considered for myself rather than patients etc. Despite these points arguably being quite obvious, I think that in certain situations I would not take the time to think about these elements- as often I am consumed by emotional and irrational thought. Thus, ensuring the 5 areas suggested by Johns (2000); aesthetics, personal (feeling), ethics, empirics and reflexivity are all considered to provide a holistic understanding is important.

The criteria set out below is an interpretation of Johns (2000) areas for reflection.

1. Understanding the events of what happened (in the situation)

2. The ethics surrounding our thoughts and actions at the time

3. Our personal feeling and interpretation of the situation

4. Understanding what knowledge or understanding would have changed the situation

5. Understanding if this resulted from past experience, how it fits in with my beliefs and how I feel about things in retrospect (after reflecting on the last points)