Reflections

     Reflections are not just an important part of leadership; it is THE most important part.  You must take time to look back on the successes and failures that you make and grow from them.  The ability to write down things that you think about along the way will help when reflecting on them at a later date.  Discussing why things happened and what can be done to improve is vital to becoming a better leader.  No matter how small the correction of mistake was, you can continue to grow from them for a lifetime.  

     

     I was able to reflect on the course assignments by reading and looking back through the feedback I was given by the instructor.  They would provide feedback on certain assignments and I was able to improve on my later assignments due to reflecting on his comments and advice.

     

     We were asked to comment on the blogs of our classmates along the way.  The comments that were left for me were very beneficial in making corrections to my vita and my other assignments that were posted.  I looked forward to hearing from the other students in class about my thoughts and work.  It aided in making necessary correction.

     

     These logs allowed for reflective practices by allowing discussion with Dr. Creel as well as my campus supervisor Linda Parker.  They forced me to discuss what I learned and thought about many of the logs and hours that I had complete. 

     

     The tests allowed me to reflect on what I had learned so far and to decide if the way I had been working was sufficient.  I knew that I had to read more after the first test and actually look at the optional reading.  Taking these tests and asking yourself why you missed certain items prepares you for the superintendent certification test.

     

     The conferences with other students as well as Dr. Creel were very beneficial.  I enjoyed the conversations which always led to more reflection throughout the course.  I feel like I reflect on everything.  Conversations I have, emails I read, and assignments always force me to think about the way I am doing things and I can become more efficient.

           

          Sometimes in leadership we have to make decisions without all of the complete information.  Using reflective practices allows you to use you intuition.  Having good intuition means to be able to reflect on passed experiences and make the best decisions based on that.  This is why it is crucial to reflect regularly.