The Training Post - Summer Reponses

“When my office reviews a new application, we use ArcGIS to make a map of the project site. In making these maps, I reflect on my historical knowledge of the project area (24 yrs.) and how the current application can be improved based on what went before.”

Jean Montgomerie NJ Pinelands Commission

“After reviewing forms that are submitted to the office, I find the most frequently made errors and come up with a solution(s) to resolve the issue.”

Diana Bauer Department of Health

"In this IT world we live in, it is better to routinely sign in to access our work computers daily, instead of storing our pass word for entry. This reflective practice enables us to use the left side of our brain to expand memory, as well as insuring access security.”

John Chojnowski Juvenile Justice Commission

"The question your newsletter posed was a good one, I feel. What I do to reflect on my work routine is pretty simple. I have a mental checklist each day that I aim to complete and at the end of the day I review the list to ensure I have completed all the tasks I had. If I did not complete everything, I think about why and what I can do to ensure I complete my tasks for the next day.”

“I have always been one to reflect on my actions, choices and decisions and believe I have done well for myself because of it.”

Melissa DM. Hornsby, M.S. Department of Environmental Protection

"I am not sure if this qualifies as a reflective practice but I will give it a go. Whenever I make changes to working network connections, I make sure that the connection is working before making the change. In this way we ensure that the change is not the cause of the connection not working.”

Michele Mann Office of Information Technology

"Although I totally agree that incorporating reflective practices is important in any job, I do not find in my position that I have any time to do so.

Jean Donnelly Toms River Adjudication Office “I start each day with Life and the Author of Life. That helps bring this waking time into order. All of the workplace routines flow from there. As Russell Kirk states, “Order is the first need of the soul” (Kirk, The Roots of American Order, 6).”

Charles Brodowicz Department of Transportation

"The personality of, and behavior of, a professional makes a difference in the way we treat our clients.

The need to work at increasing self-awareness, as well as learning the knowledge and procedures, can be an effective reflective practice. You must have a willingness to accept failures and criticisms, as well as praises. Also you must accept your limits and it will eventually contrite to your success, or at least satisfaction.”

“As important as methods may be, the most practical thing we can achieve in any kind of work is insight into what is happening inside us as we do it. The more familiar we are with our inner terrain, the more sure footed our [work] – and living- becomes.” P. J. Palmer (cited in Skovholt, T. M., 2001)

The quest for self-awareness or self-understanding is a major component:

Steps of Reflective Practice *1. Evaluating own performance *2. Developing self-awareness *3. Monitoring potential for burnout *4. Ensuring adequate self-care

Carrie Groff Department of Human Services

"My job includes summarizing the hearing conducted to adjudicate the claim for Unemployment Benefits. The ‘introduction’ includes the type separation issue, when it was made known to the Division plus the basic details of the claimant’s last employer. Once I have completed the fact-finding of both the employee and the employers; I review the details. My objective is to clearly identify the issues, and provide details of what and when did the incident(s) occur, how it was verified, and why the incident was a separating issue (i.e. policy violation). The summary also includes the conclusion, which is a determination, the applicable code and the disqualifying period. Reflective practices included:

• use of Introduction to make clear the issues to be clarified with hearing

• a summary which includes an explanation and details of the issue

• a Conclusion, i.e. determination of issue (Allowed or Denied or No Issue)

• Specificity; inclusion of details and rationale to justify the Determination

M. Chin Newark Adjudication Center "I keep my to-do list as both a long checklist, and as a weekly schedule. Each morning, I review the weekly schedule and consider what’s changed, what’s been accomplished and what needs to be moved or expanded. On Friday afternoons, I review my long checklist and reflect on what’s changed, completed or needs to be prioritized. I then create my weekly schedule for the following week. By daily and weekly reflecting on the progress of my projects and tasks, I am best able to manage the workload and get things accomplished on-time and to the best possible degree.

I didn’t actually realize that I was spending time in reflection while putting my schedule together until I read the article in the Training Post. But, that’s exactly what I am doing when I review the tasks and assign them the time needed to accomplish them.”

Danielle Bursk The New Jersey State Council on the Arts

"I maintain a working journal, which I utilize to record actions and outcomes of cases investigated. When I come upon a situation that is troubling, I am able to review past similar cases I have worked, the recorded outcomes of cases and using these cases I am able to attempt to improve / correct deficiency on future work.”

Robert J. Gilmartin NJ Department of the Treasury