Importance of Reflective Journal in Personal Development

This report discusses the importance of developing a reflective journal in personal development. It explores the use of Gibbs reflective cycle to assess the strengths and weaknesses in one's journey of task performance. The report focuses on the use of reflective journal to determine employability and study skills that were developed.

Reflective Journal

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
Gibbs reflective cycle..................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
There is huge importance of developing reflective journal. This help in determining that
what skills were developed while going from the functioning of any task along with those which
were weaken. This is the process of assessing overall journey of task performance in
identification of aspects that were went good or bad. This further aid in understanding that what
was the cause behind attaining particular kind of experience (Bassot, 2016). This information
further aid in ascertaining that what were strengths and weaknesses exist in personality and how
mind works in the different situations. The benefits associated with such study helps in
determining that how much capabilities are existing and what aspects will be needed to adopt for
further development of personality. The main aim of this report is also to perform reflective
study of previously performed task in determination of employability and study skills that were
developed.
The aspect cover in report includes using of Gibbs reflective cycle in completion of
reflective journey regarding earlier performed task for the purpose of ascertaining good or events
along with skills which were developed during that process.
MAIN BODY
Gibbs reflective cycle
In 1988, the American humanist and clinician Graham Gibbs distributed his Reflective
Cycle model in his book 'Learning by Doing'. Gibbs Reflective Cycle urges individuals to ponder
the encounters they had during a particular circumstance, occasion or action. Utilizing a hover,
reflection on those encounters can be organized in stages. This frequently makes individuals
consider an encounter, action or occasion in more detail, making them mindful of their own
activities and better ready to modify and change their conduct. By taking a gander at both
antagonistic and constructive effects of the occasion, individuals can gain from it. The Gibbs
Reflective Cycle begins at Description and afterward proceeds with Feelings, Evaluation,
Analysis, Conclusion and closures at Action plan, to at long last come back to Description. Here
the cycle is finished (Bruno and Dell’Aversana, 2017).
The detailed description of all these stages along with own experience ascertained during the
performance of earlier task is presented below:
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Description: This is the step that includes the basic description about the exercise or
situation in detail without ascertaining any kind of conclusions at the end of situation or exercise.
It is important activity in the direction of identifying what was performed, who was involved,
what was own role in exercise, what other people do and what was the result of such actions.
Here, task is performed by me related to identification of leadership styles have by Jeff Bezos
and how these were used to get success in business along creating such a large business empire.
Jeff Bezos is owner of Amazon and world’s richest person. He started an e-commerce
organisation and attains the mark of world richest person. Currently, an organisation has business
operations at global level where it provides the platform to all different organisations to sell their
products electronically to their consumers. This business model of an organisation has huge
success in current period of time where consumers loved to buy items from their home along
with at discounted rates. This was the main cause that organisation is able to build the huge
customer base and recognition in market where consumers have trust over their services. Mine
role in the project was determining leadership styles have by Jeff Bezos that were further used
for creating such a vast business empire. I noticed that he has transformational leadership style
along charismatic vision. This helped entrepreneur to influence the behaviour of their employees
and motivate towards the direction of hard work where they get benefits with success of an
organisation. This was the reason that he builds such a good team which is always ready to
perform tasks in any kind of situation in the direction of accomplishing organisational objectives.
In end the result of this exercise was ascertained in the manner of improved understanding where
determined that how a good leader shapes the growth of a business along with importance of
team building and motivation behind the success of an organisation (Cheng, 2017).
Feelings: This is the phase that includes description of feelings which have been triggered
by a particular event. This also includes the description about someone’s thoughts which were
arouse during the time of event or activity. In overall manner, this includes the answer of certain
questions such as what was the feeling while leading up the event along with in during and after
the completion of an event. Also, how looking back to the situation and the opinions of other
about an event. While leading up the activity of identifying Jeff Bezos leadership style, I was
very nervous. I had no idea that from where needed to start and how going to finish the same.
The main reason behind such feeling was unexperienced nature of researching about the personal
attributes of any person. During the period of performing such exercise, I took the help of peers
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and tutors. They told me that I have to read about the personality aspects of Jeff Bezos along
with education experience. The same was did good work for me where I was able to identify that
Jeff Bezos has transformational leadership style that help in building of such a great business
empire. After completion of the exercise, I understood that there is huge requirement of
researching skill in life for ascertaining success. This will help to gain information and
knowledge which help to attain future targets. I also noticed that I am good in communication
and have confidence that allowed me to ask with tutors that what approach needed to adhere.
Others must have the feeling during the period of event that I was unable to complete the
exercise because I don’t’ have research skill. But, after the successful completion, they all have
belief on my competencies (Cheng, 2020).
Evaluation: This step includes the evaluation experience that it was good or bad. While
performing the work the aspect that gone well with me was that I got the support of tutors. They
told me the approach that needed to adhere for collecting information on Jeff Bezos. This was
well because this aid me to ascertaining leadership style followed by Jeff Bezos along with
successful completion of project. Also, the point that went good with me was that I had good
communication skill that allowed to ask with tutor without hesitation. The aspect that not went
well with me was lack of research skill. This created nervousness and stress in me that how I had
to approach or start work related to ascertaining leadership style followed by Jeff Bezos. In
overall manner, mine contribution was good after getting the support from tutors. I was able to
complete the exercise along with ascertaining all necessary information which is important to
understand the personality of Jeff Bezos.
Analysis: This step includes the information about learning from the situation. Here, I
understood from the completion of exercise that always required to build positive attitude
towards work. This will help to grab the right directions along with making effective decisions.
Also, ascertained that there is huge need of all different kind of skills in life at some point of
time. So, whenever the chance came needed to gain the same. Now, in future if I have to perform
same task then going to utilise the gained research skill along with tutor’s approach in
completion of work successfully (Dumlao and Pinatacan, 2019).
Conclusion: This is the step that includes the information about what else a person could do
earlier in same situation. Here, I understood from the positive experience that needed to maintain
the calmness and patience in hard situations as this will help to made effective decisions. If, I
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followed the same in earlier kind of situation then able to safeguard myself from unnecessary
amount of stress. Also, in similar situations I am going to perform differently where focus over
key terms which are necessary to understand about aspect. This help to further gain reliable
amount of information.
Action Plan: This step includes the solutions to deal with future situations. Here, I gained
the information whenever the situation comes where I don’t have knowledge than focus over
adopting calm and patient behaviour. Also, always tried from myself in direction of attaining
preferred solution that will help in successful completion of exercise. In overall manner, going to
build the positive attitude while performing any kind of task (Vicary, Young and Hicks, 2017).
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the above report that there is huge need of reflective journal
in understanding of the aspects which were went good or bad. This further aid the persons to
ascertain that what strengths they have and the areas in which they required to work. To perform
this overall exercise model of Gibbs is effective. This help in understanding different aspects in
different phases.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bassot, B., 2016. The reflective journal. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Bruno, A. and Dell’Aversana, G., 2017. Reflective practice for psychology students: the use of
reflective journal feedback in higher education. Psychology Learning & Teaching. 16(2).
pp.248-260.
Cheng, G., 2017. The impact of online automated feedback on students' reflective journal writing
in an EFL course. The Internet and Higher Education. 34. pp.18-27.
Cheng, T. L., 2020. Student Teachers’ Perception of Reflective Journal Writing in Placement
Practicum: Experience from a Hong Kong Institution. Asia-Pacific journal of research in
early childhood education. 14. pp.27-51.
Dumlao, R. P. and Pinatacan, J. R., 2019. From Practice to Writing: Using Reflective Journal
Instruction in Enhancing Pre-Service Teachers’ Professional Developments. International
Journal of Instruction. 12(4). pp.459-478.
Vicary, S., Young, A. and Hicks, S., 2017. A reflective journal as learning process and
contribution to quality and validity in interpretative phenomenological
analysis. Qualitative Social Work. 16(4). pp.550-565.
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