What is Reflective Leadership? 

Reflective leadership refers to our use of introspection to manage our own inner life and growth.  It is a primary means of both overcoming the stagnation of defensive reasoning and also a way to creatively expand potentials.  An easy introduction to reflective leadership is through questions a leader can use for self-inquiry, ones linked to being an instrument of change and a guide to others.

 

For example, a leader might ask:

• What is my true vision? 

• Where now do I find my joy?

• What is the meaning of the restlessness I feel?

• How do I move past my setbacks?

• How does my background and conditioning influence the way I lead?

• What is my genuine purpose?

• Who am I called to be?

• What real value am I adding? 

• What have I learned from the mistakes I have made?

 

Reflective leadership is based on the quality of personal ownership for one’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors. 

 

Neuropsychiatrist Dilip Jeste in his book, Wiser: The Scientific Roots of Wisdom, Compassion, and What Makes Us Good, says self-reflection is different from self-awareness per se, calling it out as seemingly “a uniquely human trait.”  Other animal species may recognize their individuality and in that sense be self-aware, but only humans appear to introspect, meaning we are able to examine “our own mental and emotional processes to better understand their fundamental nature, purpose and essence…a profoundly important and obvious element of wisdom.”  (Dilip Jeste, MD, with Scott Lafee, Wiser: The Scientific Roots of Wisdom, Compassion, and What Makes Us Good, Boulder, Co: Sounds True, 2020, pp. 168-169)

​

In line with an ethic of thinking for oneself, you are encouraged to meditate on what your own definition of reflective leadership might be and what the core principles it is based on might be for you.  Having given some time to that reflection, you may want to compare your results to a list of fifteen principles generated by ChatGPT in October 2023.  You can see it here.  While it is a fine list of definitions and principles, you can ask yourself:  

​

What would I change, add, modify or delete?  What is most meaningful to me?  Why?

​

​