Page 12 - GreenMaster Fall 2023

Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle
Reflective Cycle
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2. Clearer direction and focus in life.
3. Increased effectiveness, leading to more meaningful results.
4. Enhanced motivation and greater resilience to face life’s challenges. 5. More fulfilling relationships, enhancing your emotional and physical
well being.
THE POWER OF REFLECTION
Reflective practice is the action of thinking about or reflecting on our experiences. It is the ability to look closely at a past situation, evaluate what happened and decide what we would do differently next time to achieve a more positive outcome. Fundamentally, it is the process of learning from our experience, rather than learning from more formal academic situations. It is the ability to bring together theory and practice within the context of our own work situations and is a powerful tool toward personal and professional development.
For golf course superintendents, this reflective practice can be applied to decisions about nutrient water, and topdressing inputs, and the results these actions yield. Reflecting on these actions allows us to improve our methods and achieve better future results. The five benefits of using personal reflective practice include:
1. Encourages lifelong learning.
2. Identification of personal strengths.
3. Realisation of areas needing improvement.
4. Identification of educational needs.
5. Facilitates the acquisition of new knowledge and skills.
The use of reflective practice in professional development is vital to better serve the golf operation and ourselves. Reflecting on situations and interactions with colleagues both above and below will help us achieve more successful outcomes through greater emotional intelligence.
Superintendents have demonstrated the ability to learn from past experiences, modify behaviour and adapt new strategies (trying not to repeat mistakes) not only increases their potential for success but builds their self confidence and that of the people around them.
The five benefits of using professional reflective practice include: 1. Strengthen emotional intelligence.
2. Reinforces integrity and core values.
3. Boosts confidence with colleagues.
4. Better understanding of others.
5. Improves engagement in work processes.
IMPLEMENTING REFLECTIVE PRACTICE
It is important to create an environment that is conducive for reflective practice. There are two very simple methods we can use to help us reflect. The Gibbs reflective cycle (developed in 1995) requires the individual to search their feelings, as well as their practical involvement, to reflect on possible better outcomes. It requires deep thought and through mental conclusions, drives possible new actions to resolve the same issues if they arise again.
In much the same way, so too does the Kolb method of reflection (1984). It challenges the individual to search for a more conclusive way of tackling the same problem in different ways to achieve better outcomes.
Finding quiet moments in your daily routine for reflection can be immensely helpful. Engaging in discussions with fellow superintendents and sharing experiences also stimulate reflective practice and facilitate learning. Incorporating reflection into performance reviews, teams, and individual planning and learning activities can significantly boost both personal and professional development.
In the quest for self-empowerment, learning and development should take centre stage in our lives. This commitment will empower you to take control of your destiny, enabling you to navigate through any challenges that come your way, be it in your personal life or professional career.
All of the above has a place for us to create alternative strategies, open opportunities of influence and help us learn so we can deliver success for ourselves in the future. When learning and development become priorities in your life, you will feel more confident and focused on the things you hope to achieve.
As superintendents, we often focus on nurturing the greens we supervise. However, it is just as crucial to nurture our personal and professional growth. By making learning and development a priority, we ensure not only our success but also the success of the facilities we serve.
To all the superintendents out there, embrace the journey of self- empowerment. Trust in your ability to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. It is important to remember that the path to self- empowerment is a journey, not a destination. It is about continuously learning, growing, and becoming the best version of ourselves. This is the essence of self-empowerment, and it is a journey worth taking. GM
12 • CGSA • GreenMaster
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