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Barriers to Reflective Practice?
What are the barriers to reflective practice?
There are many barriers to reflective practice that combine uniquely for each individual. If you experience barriers to your reflection, it is useful to identify them such that you can direct your effort to overcome them.
Time consuming.
Preconceptions that it is difficult or not worth doing.
Lack of motivation and experience (low self-efficacy).
Lack of self confidence about opinions in front of others.
Uncomfortable past experiences with reflective practice.
Frustration through impossibility of change resulting from reflection in the given context.
Inflexible culture of the organisation.
Disagreement between members of team reflection. (Nonetheless, this can be beneficial for developing cooperation and a diversity of opinions enriching reflection.)
Gender tendency towards or away from reflection.
Honesty with self.
Stress.
How can these barriers be overcome?
Establish routine reflection time and location.
Establish clear terms of reference and routine process for the reflection.
Focus your reflection on events or issues directly relevant to the terms of reference and the purpose of reflection.
Don't be afraid to brainstorm or write/speak what comes to mind first. Be spontaneous.
Use concept maps, charts or diagrams to aid discussion or personal reflection.
Give it a go, the beginning is the hardest part.
Make anonymous submissions to the group meeting before the discussion commences and discuss submissions without directing negative feelings.
If you are writing, try to ask yourself a series of questions and write down simple answers to start with. Deeper reflection will come automatically.
Don't judge yourself, anything you reflect upon will help your understanding and professional practice.
Realise that the world won't change immediately nor do the problems you find rest entirely on your shoulders.
Establish process for resolution of disagreements when reflecting in groups and set rules for discussion.
Be honest with yourself, no one else can do this better than you for you.
Try to relax. Remember that reflection on an event/issue can reduce the stress related to that event/issue. It can provide a more objective and rational perspective and allow deeper understanding of event/issue and your thoughts.
Use other relaxation techniques to reduce general stress in your life... If all else fails see your doctor, stress is a serious condition that shouldn't be allowed to plague your life.
"Laughter may be the best medicine for your body, but reflection is the best medicine for your brain". Smith
"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but noone thinks of changing himself". Tolstoi
