03/27/2025
03/27/2025
03/27/2025
Leadership isn’t static—it’s always evolving, shaped by complexity, relationships, timing, and the unexpected. Many women leaders don’t feel like they have the time to lead—let alone the space to lead effectively. They’re moving fast, juggling priorities, and navigating constant change.
At FRONTIER Leadership, we support women in engaging reflective practice not just as a way to look back, but as a way to become more aware, present, and prepared for what’s ahead. Many of the women I coach arrive feeling stretched between external expectations and their own leadership instincts—uncertain how to act on what they know to be true. They are doing the work, but they aren’t always pausing to ask:
This is where Reflection IN, ON, and FOR Action comes in.
Donald Schön’s Reflective Practice Model (1991) provides the foundation, distinguishing between:
At FRONTIER Leadership, I take this one step further with Reflection-FOR-Action, which introduces:
Through executive leadership coaching, we introduce women to reflective practice as an adult learning technique, helping them use structured reflection in coaching sessions and independently through journaling. This approach provides the space for deep insight, transformation, and intentional leadership growth.
These are all states of awareness, and while many leaders naturally excel in one, true leadership presence requires developing all three.
These reflective modes differ in both timing and purpose:
While many leaders naturally develop strength in one area, true leadership presence requires awareness across all three.
Let’s explore how each of these plays out in real leadership scenarios.
These reflective modes differ in both timing and purpose:
Let’s explore how each of these plays out in real leadership scenarios.
These reflective modes differ in both timing and purpose:
While many leaders naturally develop strength in one area, true leadership presence requires awareness across all three.
Let’s explore how each of these plays out in real leadership scenarios.
What It Is: Reflection-on-action occurs after the fact. It’s the process of looking back to assess what happened, how you responded, what patterns emerged, and what can be learned. For many leaders, this is the most familiar and accessible starting point. It allows them to pause, process, and begin making meaning of past events.
When Monica first arrived in coaching, she was recovering from a series of difficult workplace dynamics in the aviation sector. While the environment was male-dominated, the leadership challenges she faced were more nuanced—rooted in outdated norms, unconscious power plays, and leadership behaviours that compromised others rather than empowering them. These patterns were sometimes reinforced by both men and women in senior roles.
Through reflection-on-action, Monica began to make sense of the moments when she had been silenced, overlooked, or “put in her place.” She had internalized those experiences, often questioning her own leadership instincts and second-guessing whether she was doing enough.
In our coaching sessions, we worked together to:
This process wasn’t just about scripting a conversation—it was about restoring agency. By engaging in forethought and drawing on the principles from Negotiating Your Worth, Monica was able to walk into the negotiation grounded, clear, and self-assured.
The Result? Monica’s readiness deepened—what we often call, in leadership, the moment a leader arrives. She was no longer questioning her value or waiting for permission. Through Negotiating Your Worth and reflection-for-action, she prepared not just for one conversation—but for leadership moments still to come. She was ready to enter whatever came next—grounded, clear, and self-assured.
Reflection-for-action became the quiet catalyst that helped her lead with foresight, presence, and intention.
What It Is:
Reflection-on-action occurs after the fact. It’s the process of looking back to assess what happened, how you responded, what patterns emerged, and what can be learned. For many leaders, this is the most familiar and accessible starting point. It allows them to pause, process, and begin making meaning of past events.
Client Example: Monica’s Turning Point (Client name changed for confidentiality.)
When Monica first arrived in coaching, she was recovering from a series of difficult workplace dynamics in the aviation sector. While the environment was male-dominated, the leadership challenges she faced were more nuanced—rooted in outdated norms, unconscious power plays, and leadership behaviours that compromised others rather than empowering them. These patterns were sometimes reinforced by both men and women in senior roles.
Through reflection-on-action, Monica began to make sense of the moments when she had been silenced, overlooked, or “put in her place.” She had internalized those experiences, often questioning her own leadership instincts and second-guessing whether she was doing enough.
In our coaching sessions, we worked together to:
This process wasn’t just about scripting a conversation—it was about restoring agency. By engaging in forethought and drawing on the principles from Negotiating Your Worth, Monica was able to walk into the negotiation grounded, clear, and self-assured.
The Result?
Monica’s readiness deepened—what we often call, in leadership, the moment a leader arrives. She was no longer questioning her value or waiting for permission. Through Negotiating Your Worth and reflection-for-action, she prepared not just for one conversation—but for leadership moments still to come. She was ready to enter whatever came next—grounded, clear, and self-assured.
Reflection-for-action became the quiet catalyst that helped her lead with foresight, presence, and intention.
2. Reflection-FOR-Action: Intentional Leadership Preparation
What It Is: Reflection-for-action is a forward-looking state of awareness. It’s the ability to anticipate challenges, mentally rehearse important conversations, and prepare intentionally for leadership moments before they happen. It’s about strengthening foresight and self-trust.
Client Example: Monica Prepares for Senior-Level Negotiation
As Monica prepared to step into a new leadership opportunity, she felt hesitation about advocating for her compensation. Though she had grown in confidence, there was still a lingering doubt: Would she be seen as too much? Would asking for more backfire?
Using reflection-for-action, we worked together to prepare intentionally:
This process wasn’t just about scripting a conversation—it was about restoring agency. By engaging in forethought and drawing on the principles from Negotiating Your Worth, Monica was able to walk into the negotiation grounded, clear, and self-assured.
The Result? Monica’s readiness deepened—what we often call, in leadership, the moment a leader arrives. She was no longer questioning her value or waiting for permission. Through Negotiating Your Worth and reflection-for-action, she prepared not just for one conversation—but for leadership moments still to come. She was ready to enter whatever came next—grounded, clear, and self-assured.
Reflection-for-action became the quiet catalyst that helped her lead with foresight, presence, and intention.
What It Is: Reflection-in-action is the most advanced form of reflective practice. It happens in real time—when leaders are in the moment, reading the room, responding strategically, and adjusting their approach with presence and intention.
Many leaders only arrive here after developing strength in the other two states. It requires emotional regulation, deep self-awareness, and the ability to stay centered even when the stakes are high.
Client Example: The Opportunity to Lead in the Moment
For Monica, this growth came full circle when the Vice President of her company unexpectedly asked her to call him the next day. It was a subtle but critical leadership moment—a chance to advocate for her progression.
In the past, she might have deferred, hesitated, or softened her stance. But this time was different.
She took a moment to pause and ground herself. She reflected on her recent growth, her preparation, and her values. In the conversation, she drew on all three dimensions of reflection—especially in action—to speak with clarity, advocate for herself, and name her aspirations without shrinking.
This real-time shift was a defining moment in her leadership journey:
This is the heart of leadership: reflection translated into action, presence, and purpose.
Reflective Practice as a Pathway to Leadership Growth
Monica’s story illustrates how reflective practice, integrated through executive leadership coaching, can create lasting and meaningful transformation. But this isn’t just about one leader—it’s a developmental arc available to all women navigating the complex terrain of leadership.
When women begin to work with Reflection IN, ON, and FOR Action as states of awareness, they begin to lead differently. More consciously. More strategically. More fully aligned with their values, instincts, and vision.
Reflective practice is not about looking back—it’s about seeing more clearly, stepping more intentionally, and leading with greater presence.
When women leaders develop reflective capacity, they are better able to:
Developing reflective capacity is at the heart of transformational leadership development. Through executive coaching, women gain not only insight—but also the space to grow, the structure to reflect, and the courage to step into leadership moments with clarity and intention.
Your Reflective Leadership Practice Starts Here
Reflective practice isn’t a side note to leadership—it’s the foundation. It’s how we make meaning, move forward with intention, and stay grounded in who we are—especially in the moments that matter most.
As you lead, ask yourself:
Leadership isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being present, responsive, and rooted in your values.
If you’re ready to deepen your practice—explore our upcoming trainings and events or schedule a consult with us.
Let’s build this reflective leadership arc—together.
At FRONTIER Leadership, our niche specialty training offers a highly integrated program for individuals in leadership, negotiation, career advancement, and entrepreneurship.
Individuals advance into rewarding roles, gain promotions and progressive compensation, elevate their language, gain leadership presence, develop robust strategic networks, and receive increased mentorship. We prepare them to make an impact in their organizations.
We believe it is critically important for organizations to establish innovative initiatives to enable a sustainable pipeline of confident individuals in leadership.
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