Steve,
The "present" is always our condition (whether we know it or not).
Reflecting "before" (as I understood Bill's contribution) is a process of
considering potential consequences and preferred outcomes prior to acting.
The fruit of this reflection is deliberate (intentional, conscious,
purposeful...call it what you may) action (rather than reaction). We
reflect "now" about a future that hasn't happened yet. My experience is
that this may take as little as a fraction of a second...when the
adrenalin is pumping.
Reflecting "after" is a feedback (learning) process which generates new
possibilities for our present and our future. My experience is that this
process (which happens "in the present" may consume huge amounts of
time...or only a fleeting moment.
At an individual level, experiential learning that's tied to emotional
responses seems to make quite an impression on each of us. Beyond this, I
suspect developing one's own personal mastery is a means to improve the
capability of retaining learning. It occurs to me that this is a
manifestation of wisdom...and that wisdom's source is from listening to
others first (clarify, inquire, reflect) and then being (becoming-being)
intentional (action, speech, silence, non-action).
Organizationally, I see the development of organizational memory (where we
capture information, knowledge, experience and wisdom within an
experiential context and pattern of collective experience) as critical to
growing a truly effective learning organization. It's also true (IMO)
that learning organization practices and principles are critical to
adopting a truly effective knowledge management capability. These two
ideas are not separate...they are systemically linked and integrated one
with the other. This systemic approach can manifest itself in a
just-in-time "remembering" capability (at an individual
level...just-in-time knowledge, wisdom, experience or information shared,
used and improved by others available for me to use in creating my own
experience right now).
> This distinction between "Before-the-fact" and "after-the-fact"
> reflection has peaked my curiousity. Whether framed in terms of
> individuals or organizations, these two concepts seem to relate to
> Planning (before-the-fact reflection) and Control (after-the-fact
> reflection). Yet, I wonder if these are artificial distinctions. I'm
> always in the midst of action. Therefore, when I reflect in the midst of
> that action, I am simultaneously thinking about what has happened and what
> will happen. Consequently, past and future are present in every moment.
> Is it possible to separate the two? Is it practical to separate the two?
> What methods could/should be used in separating the two?
>
> Bill also indicated that he learned from this experience that he needs to
> better retain the lessons he learns from reflection. I'm sure this is a
> global sentiment. What methods do you recommend for improving the
> capability of retaining lessons--at individual or organizational levels?
regards,
Doc
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