Leadership in Action: In Focus—Leadership Wisdom—Some Sage Advice for Leaders

TWO TYPES

There are two types of reflection, both of which are important in moving from experience to wisdom. Surface reflection is reflection on behaviors and action. Deep reflection is reflection on the assumptions and values that underpin action.

If you take an iceberg as a metaphor for your experience, surface reflection is about understanding the tip of the iceberg—actions and behaviors that contributed to the experience and are also evident to other people. This includes reflection on things you said to other people and your reactions to the actions of others. Deep reflection looks at the more hidden and much vaster iceberg beneath the surface of the water, considering the values and assumptions that underpin your actions.

Surface reflection ...