Leadership in Action: Experience Counts: Learning Lessons from Key Events

THREE STAGES

After the key event occurs the critical reflections process moves through three stages.

Exploring

In this first stage the goal is to put the group and its individual members back in the moment of the key event. Leaders should ask each member of the group what actually happened. What was the sequence of events? What was each person thinking? What was he or she feeling? What did he or she do? The purpose is to allow the group members to relive the event—to share perceptions and appreciate differences and overlaps in their personal experiences.

Reflecting

Now it's time to interpret the event. What assumptions were operating? Were there instances of cause and effect? Why did the event occur? The reflecting stage of the process uncovers ...