Empathize While Intervening From a Bird's-Eye View: The Mindset for Reflection and Dialogue

This article explores the theme of reflection and dialogue, summarizing what both the person facilitating reflection and the person deepening their reflection should be mindful of, and clarifying the relationship between reflection and dialogue.

Introduction

Hello, I'm Takashi Yuto, a reflection specialist who helps transform worries and anxieties into positive action.

I research organizational theory, particularly focusing on reflection, and develop web services and host workshops.

On this blog, I share information about organizational theory and practical methods for reflection that I learn daily, as well as insights from my work. I also share information about IT automation from my experience as an engineer.

Discover a New Self Through Reflection and Dialogue

In this article, I'll write about the theme of reflection and dialogue. Some of you might be thinking, "Isn't reflection alone enough? Is dialogue also necessary?" I'd like to explain what effects reflection and dialogue can have and organize the key points you should be aware of.

The Johari Window

Have you heard of the Johari Window?

The Johari Window

This is a psychological model represented by a four-quadrant matrix.

▼ Here's a helpful explanation:

Through reflection and dialogue, the Open Area expands.

By disclosing yourself while also receiving feedback from others about aspects of yourself you weren't aware of. What's interesting is that discoveries can emerge from the Unknown Area—things that neither you nor others knew about. Through reflection and dialogue, there are moments when things that neither party knew about are drawn out.

The Effects of Reflection and Dialogue

Now, let me explain what can be achieved through reflection and dialogue.

I understand reflection as gaining some kind of awareness by facing and dialoguing with yourself.

▼ For more on reflection, please see:

内省(リフレクション)っていったい何？内省で自己を解き放とう！

今回は、多くの人が聞いたことはあるけれど、具体的に説明するのが難しい「内省」というテーマについてお話しします。自己成長や人生の質向上に欠かせない内省の本質に迫ってみましょう。

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内省・リフレクション

However, there are limits to reflecting alone.

We inevitably tend to think within our own range of perspective, so it's difficult to expand the Open Area as I explained earlier. Of course, you can gain new discoveries by reflecting on each day and dialoguing with yourself, but going deep into yourself for reflection can be quite challenging.

What happens when dialogue is present? You receive unexpected questions from others, and moments arise where you think "that hit a nerve" or "I hadn't considered that perspective." In these moments, rather than pleasant feelings, you often experience discomfort or pain. However, by continuing to dialogue with yourself and put things into words, your feelings become organized, and you develop more positive emotions than before the dialogue.

The space for reflection and dialogue has the effect of forcibly triggering emotional fluctuations within yourself, but precisely because of this, you can face yourself head-on, and it becomes fuel for your own growth.

Creating a Space for Reflection and Dialogue

So what do you need to consider to create an effective space for reflection and dialogue?

I'll describe what should be considered from both the perspective of the person facilitating reflection and the person doing the reflecting.

I've also written an article about 1-on-1s:

「1on1ミーティング」の目的は 「信頼関係の構築」と「学習の促進」！

1on1ミーティングを実施する目的がわからない。なんとなく会社としてやらなければいけないことだからやっている。 ということに悩まれている方の参考になれば幸いです。

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おすすめ

The Mindset Needed When Facilitating Reflection

Ensuring Psychological Safety

First, "ensuring psychological safety" is the most important thing.

Don't make statements that deny the other person's character. Keep conversations confidential. Have an empathetic attitude.

Without this atmosphere, you can't have a conversation with peace of mind. Instead of a mindset of opening yourself up, you inevitably go into a defensive posture.

Separate Facts from Emotions in Conversation

The attitude of "separating facts from emotions in conversation" is also important.

When intervening with someone in conversation, be mindful of whether you want to draw out facts or emotions.

When these get mixed, you lose sight of what you really want to discover, and it becomes cloudy. It's like the searchlight becoming blurry on what you want to illuminate.

Therefore, ask questions carefully, separating facts from emotions in conversation.

Empathize While Intervening From a Bird's-Eye View

Finally, "empathize while intervening from a bird's-eye view."

By showing an empathetic attitude, the speaker feels that this is a place where people who understand them have gathered, enabling them to speak more actively.

At the same time, it's important to maintain an attitude of viewing the conversation from above, changing the speaker's perspective, asking questions that encourage concretization or abstraction, and giving questions while being conscious of what kind of questions would deepen their reflection.

▼ Recommended approach for bird's-eye intervention:

誰でも深く内省ができるORIMDの仕組みとは！？

「内省って大事だと聞くけど、具体的にはどう進めるの。」と悩んでいませんか。この記事は、悩みや不安を解消したい社会人、成長意欲や学習意欲の高い社会人の皆様に、効果的な内省のプロセス、ORIMDの仕組みについてわかりやすく紹介します。

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内省・リフレクション

The Mindset Needed When Doing Reflection

Verbalize in Your Own Words

In spaces for reflection and dialogue, various questions will be asked.

Among them, there will be questions about things you often think about and things you don't think about much. Accept those questions properly and verbalize them in your own words.

Even if you can visualize it in your head, putting it into words deepens your understanding anew.

Protect Yourself

This might sound like the opposite of verbalization, but it's also necessary.

While I want you to actively disclose things about yourself, there are also areas you don't want others to step into. In such cases, properly communicate that you can't answer in this setting. That's not a bad thing.

Speak Your Feelings and Thoughts Honestly

In conversation, speak your thoughts and feelings honestly.

I think it's important to speak what you genuinely think, without trying to be logical or thinking about what would be appropriate to say in this setting. The person you're dialoguing with will help organize the conversation.

The key is to have a conversation without putting brakes on your own thinking.

Summary

I've covered the following topics:

I hope this serves as an opportunity for you to be mindful of how to approach dialogue, whether you're in a position of facilitating someone's reflection or deepening your own reflection.

Reference Pages for Deeper Learning About "Reflection and Dialogue"

Here are external pages about reflection and dialogue:

Recommended Books for Deeper Learning About "Reflection and Dialogue"

RefCla

For those who want to clarify their worries, anxieties, and vague concerns about the future. RefCla is a tool that supports people who want to transform their worries and anxieties into positive action. It helps you face yourself naturally and supports effective reflection.

TIELEC aims to create a self-actualized society through improving reflection capabilities across society.