The Six Key Questions Reflection Strategy
Reflective learning changes your brain and the way you think.
What are the six essential questions for reflection? And why are they important?
The questions below can guide reflective thinking and help you make meaning of your experiences, both in personal and professional contexts.
By reflecting on these questions, you can better understand yourself, your actions, and the world around you, which can lead to personal growth, learning, and improved decision-making.
Six Key Questions Reflection Strategy
Whenever you set out to do a task, you want to observe what happens, why it happens, what you could have done better, what went well, what you learned from the experience, and how you can apply your experience in the future. Let’s break each question down.
What happened? (What did I observe, see, or experience?)
I recommend writing your observations down each time you experience something of importance. An example of a situation you might encounter is when you are trying to make a career change. You have to update your resume (CV), and skills/qualifications, and apply for jobs. When you go through an interview process you can use the six key questions to better prepare yourself before and after the interview.
Why did it happen? (What are the underlying reasons or causes?)
If you failed or succeeded, ask yourself why it happened that way. Think of all the possibilities and write them down. Your answers could be simple or complex depending on the situation. Usually, when dealing with other people your answers will be more complex.
What could I have done better? (What was my role or contribution?)
There will always be something that you can do better even if you succeeded. So, dig deep and write down all the things you could do better next time. I also recommend using a digital note-taking app like RemNote to keep track of all your thoughts and feelings about the important things you have learned and experienced.
What went well? (What successes could be repeated?)
It’s always a good idea to celebrate your wins and even if you didn’t win, there are still bound to be areas you did well. Record what you did well and take special note of what you think could be repeated. You can then double down on what you did well the next time you are put in the same situation. There isn’t any use in trying to recreate the wheel if you already figured out a way to get the best results. But, always remember that there will always be ways to improve and that to get stuck in a rut means you will gradually die.
What did I learn? (What insights or understanding did I gain?)
Was there a major learning point you can take note of? If yes, write it down and reflect further on it. Try figuring out how you can apply these learnings in your life in different ways.
How can I apply this learning? (What actions can I take based on this new understanding?)
After reflecting on all the previous questions, you can now think about what steps you’re going to take now. How can you continue to pursue what you have learned? Do you need to study further or take more action to improve your results? Continue digging deeper and take the necessary steps to achieve your goals.
What are your thoughts?
Now that we have briefly discussed the six questions reflection strategy, in what situations are you going to apply these in your life?