In this guide
Why it matters
Reflection turns an outcome, including a mistake, into better future practice.
What you will understand
- Identify what an outcome taught you.
- Separate a lesson from a generic statement of improvement.
- Connect CPD to changed practice.
Core material
Record what surprised you, which assumption held or failed, what you would repeat and what you would change. Reflection is useful even when a project succeeded. It can reveal a need for more technical learning, a different check, better communication or earlier specialist review.
Engineering example
A calculation was correct but relied on supplier information obtained too late. The learning is a change to the information request and review sequence, not simply “communicate better”.
Reflection questions
- What would you do differently next time?
- What evidence shows the change improved your work?
Practical exercise
Choose a recent decision and write a three-sentence reflection: expectation, outcome and a specific change to future practice.