1st Campus Session

Focus: Reflection as a Catalyst for Change

Yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting Paula Nottingham and other individuals on the BAPP Programme at the Middlesex University Hendon Campus. It was the first campus session of the academic year with Module 1, 2 and 3 students present.

Being a Module 1 student, it was so useful to have others there who had progressed further on the course and could therefore offer advice and give you the opportunity to see how each module develops and gathers momentum towards your final enquiry. Many interesting discussions were had and the points raised could have been taken even further had we had the time.

So what did we discuss...

Key words and phrases:

• Catalyst for change
• Risk society
• Critical reflection
• Agency
• Reflexivity
• Positionality
• Failure and success
• Appreciative inquiry

Key individuals:

• Tony Ghaye
• Stephen D. Brookfield
• Stella Cottrell (she has a range of fantastic books which I checked out online last night which are definitely worth your time)
• Anthony Giddens
• Edward de Bono
• Jack Mezirow
• Mary Harthog
• Ulrich Beck
• Donald Schon
• John Dewey

Let's start at the beginning; by 'catalyst for change', we thought about how you can theorise then physically implement change in your place of work. Key things to think about would be who/what can you change, how can these changes happen and subsequently result in improvement and finally, upon reflection, how will you know that these changes have actually caused sustained improvement?

It seems a hefty task to ask of yourself! Change is often a scary thing and something that requires a lot of time, effort, will power and courage. I have been asking myself how I would go about breaking the ice to allow change to happen. Who would I express my ideas to and to what area do I want improvement to be directed?

Asking yourself these sorts of questions can make your mind race (and maybe your heart a little bit too) as we all know that putting yourself out there in the first place means that your ideas can fall flat and not be taken seriously. But what is the harm in trying? We would never get anywhere with anything if we just chose to settle and get comfortable with the environment we are in. It is the practical activity of moving against the tide, standing up to something which you think needs to be altered, having a VOICE.

Think of yourself at work; how long have you been there? Are you getting bored? Do you feel too settled and comfortable? Do you miss having a challenge, something to push yourself?

If questions such as this make you think "yes, maybe I am too relaxed, sometimes complacent and starting to get bored at work", then it's probably time for a CHANGE. I myself hate feeling like I am a loose part, like I don't have enough to keep myself busy and pre-occupied. In situations such as this, change is good, change is very good.  

I have recently been through big changes in my life; graduating from ballet school, moving on to university, working out in the real world. I am not going to lie and say it's a walk in the park as this change in particular has probably been the hardest thing I have ever had to do. But it is also the best thing I have ever done! Do not be afraid of change, take the new opportunities when they come and if they don't, make them happen - be an advocate for change!  

Closely linked to the 'scary' thought of change is the idea of a 'risk society'. Paula mentioned this yesterday and I decided to look into it further. Raised in the 1980s and popular in the 1990s, this term was particularly adopted by both Ulrich Beck and Anthony Giddens:  

Risk refers to hazards that are actively assessed in relation to future possibilities. It only comes into wide usage in a society that is future-oriented - which sees the future precisely as a territory to be conquered or colonised. Risk presumes a society that actively tries to break away from its past - the prime characteristic indeed of modern industrial civilisation.

(Giddens, 1999)

This idea of 'modern industrial civilisation' is a fascinating one and we are all part of it. I do not think it incorrect to say that we are all obsessed with the future, especially in technological terms. But the future is essentially the fear of the unknown. We have no idea what our world will be like in 5, 10, 15 years' time and this is what Beck and Giddens are getting at. The industrial revolution which occurred mostly throughout the 1800s is still happening today, we just don't notice it as the changes in our society do not appear to be as drastic as they would have been around 200 years ago. We see technology, transport, efficient manufacturing on a daily basis; but do we know what these industries will be like in the future? This is where 'risk society' comes in because we, as a collective, can decide to sustain or destroy our world through the changes we make now that can affect our future.

Although I think what I really want to get at is this idea that change is a risk or something to be wary of. To a certain extent I agree; a theory needs to be well thought out with a high chance of success for it to be put into practice. However this does not mean that we should hold back from change as if we do, nothing will ever get done. I think it's the case of just putting the effort in and saying I will make a change but will ensure that it is the right one, that it is implemented properly and that the benefits will be visible within our society.

LEARN THEORIES ----- APPLY THEORIES ----- EXPERIENCE CHANGE

Theory and practice go hand I hand. If you know something, it is no good just knowing it in theory if you do not practice it. Use your knowledge of theory and your experience of what works and what doesn't to make changes. Progressing further on this point, compare your thinking to the knowledge of others. 'Critical reflection' is essential in the course of change as it allows you to take into consideration others' thoughts and feelings on a matter. It also assists you in bettering whatever it is you are trying to change and is absolutely key in becoming a successful reflective practitioner. Compare yourself to others in a constructive way in order to improve and expand your own knowledge.   

Next, I want to explore the idea of agency. In sociological terms, this word can be defined as the capacity of individuals to act independently and to make their own free choices. So to be an instrument of change, an individual who sets something in motion to achieve something of social value.

Paula discussed with us how we can apply agency to the BAPP programme. We thought about how it surrounds our own ability to make changes in our life and potentially in others' lives. We also considered that in a professional role, we are the ones who are in control and therefore have the power to learn, grown, challenge ourselves and confidently succeed in our professional lives. It is about being active and using both your knowledge and the evidence before you to act independently and allow innovation to thrive.

How can we have agency?

• Be open-minded
• Be responsible
• Be wholehearted
• Be passionate

These 4 things are fundamental to being a successful practitioner who has a sense of agency. Being open-minded and responsible seem like fairly obvious ones as it is always necessary to consider what is going on around you and to be accountable for the work that you are doing. But being wholehearted and passionate are the two that stood out to me as they exist on more of an emotional level. Being wholehearted in your workplace/place of study can often be difficult, especially if you are pre-occupied, stressed, having a bad day or if you do not get on so well with your fellow colleagues. I think it is immensely important therefore to remember that in your place of work, you are having to share your time and effort with those around you who are, more often than not, experiencing the same situation and feelings as you. So being wholehearted in how you approach others and how you approach your work will keep you grounded, humble, genuine and more likely to succeed.

Now onto passion. It is a word that seems to carry a lot of stigma, especially in the arts industry. During our campus session we discussed how you are repeatedly expected to be overly enthusiastic and show a level of passion which over rides that of anyone else's in the room. It is almost expected from you as a way of showing how much you want to be involved in a particular project and quite honestly it can get tiring and irritating. So I would urge all artists out there, if you are dropped in this kind of situation where you are forced to plaster on a smile, widen your eyes and pretend you have never been more interested in something in your entire life, just do it! If it gets you the job that you really wanted or propels you further on a particular project then no harm is done.

But I would equally urge you to not allow yourself to get lost in this idea that you have to put on a show and fake your enthusiasm. You can be so passionate about something but do it in a way that you feel comfortable with. Whether this is taking on a more subtle, background role or whether you are really rolling your sleeves up and mucking in it doesn't matter so long as you are applying your upmost level of passion. You'd be surprised but acting in this way can be equally noticed by directors, producers, choreographers or whoever it may be. People are more likely to warm to you, listen to your opinion and value your input if you are authentic in your approach. So don't worry about being yourself and applying yourself in a way you feel appropriate where your skills are being exploited, with passion, to the best of your ability.

I would just like to briefly touch on the terms reflexivity and positionality with a quick definition:

Reflexivity - an act of self-reference where constant reflection and analysis of the cause and the subsequent action, and later the effect, are revised by the individual who initially implemented them.

Positionality - where an individual is defined not by their identity but by their position within shifting networks of relationships, so their power in society and how they constantly analyse and change this level of power.  

We can apply both of these terms to the BAPP programme. An individual at the campus session brought up a really interesting point that has reminded me about this circular relationship between cause and effect as defined by reflexivity. She expressed that reflection is almost like setting out a business plan. You ask yourself:

1. Where are you now?
2. What would you like to implement to initiate change?
3. Where would you like to be?      

I thought that this was a really useful analogy as it sets out before you an easy way to plan a project and ask yourself what you want to get from that project. Similarly with positionality, ask yourself what your level of power is within your social networks, how you exert this power and what you could do to change/improve this power. We all have a voice, so reflect on these two terms to discover how you can better use your voice through learning, acting and changing. 

Failure and Success; two words which we use to define how well we are doing. Both can be a catalyst for change but to differing degrees. During the campus session we discussed that failure can be a greater provocateur for change as it urges us to want to make a difference and improve upon what we have found failure in. On the other side of this, success can halt change as we can see that whatever we have taken on, we have accomplished and therefore do not necessarily need to make any changes. This can be a dangerous trap to fall into as it stops us from reflecting and wanting to make things better than they already are. Also, how do we measure success? It is of course an individual thing as you are in tune with your capabilities and whether or not you have completed something to the best of your ability. So think about these two situations whilst you are working and reflect upon whether, regardless of if you have failed or succeeded, further change could be beneficial.

Following further discussions had at the campus session regarding de Bono's 'Six Thinking Hats' (which you should definitely look into), we were introduced to the idea of appreciative inquiry. This is a method of asking yourself whether something is working and if not how can you take it forwards. In many organisations that exist today; hostile culture, positivism, constructivism, performance targets and means-end instrumentalism exist. As an artist these can either have a positive or a negative effect. Some people are urged to push themselves further in order to reach targets set for them yet others suffer under performance targets and feel suppressed and beaten down by a blanket of criticism placed upon them. 

So how do you deal with these kind of situations? I personally feel that they are too prevalent in the art world and you have to very quickly learn to ask yourself:

1. What did I do that was perceived as being wrong or under achieving?
2. How can I evaluate and move on from it?
3. Do I need to go back and try again?
4. Do I need to just move forwards and trust in myself?

I have been through a process just like this very recently and it is so useful to be able to evaluate your own performance, praise yourself for what was good and learn from what could have been better. But all of this has to be done in a constructive way without succumbing to an organisations system of performance targets and means-end instrumentalism.

Within an organisation, if you are a lower member of staff or if you have not been working there for an extended period of time, it is sometimes the case that you will feel victim to hostile culture. As the 'newbie' you can feel as though you are not as valued, as though your role and your actions are not as meaningful to the organisation and you have to therefore exist beneath those who 'know best' because they have worked there longer than you have. Sometimes I 100% agree with showing full respect and loyalty to either a boss, director, team leader or a person who genuinely does hold a far higher position than you and therefore needs to be followed. However it equally important that, regardless of your place in the pecking order, your voice is heard and respected too. 

In order to influence change and get a proposition across, you have to consider those around you, the context within which you are working and at whom you want to direct change. The difficult bit, especially within a hostile culture, is getting your voice heard thus enabling influence to expand, evolve and grow. I am all for putting yourself out there in your professional work place but direct it towards the right people, at the right time and with respect. Remember to be open-minded, responsible, wholehearted and passionate!        

My favourite part of the campus session had to be the two creative exercises initiated by Paula. I hadn't taken part in anything like them before and I was so fascinated by how much they genuinely fed my rain and helped my ideas to flourish. The exercises were as follows:

1. Writing exercise - for this, Paula gave us 4 minutes to write about a memory we had. We were not allowed to stop writing during that time and we literally had to put down whatever came to our mind in that moment. I wrote about a situation I had at English National Ballet School last year. It was a shock to me that that was the first thing that I was subconsciously wanting to document and I honestly just let it pour out. It was such an incredible way to let go of emotions and subsequently discover concepts and ideas which can be used in later research. Once the 4 minutes were up we had to pick out key words/phrases from our memoir which stirred something in our brain. My key words/phrases were:

• Catalyst
• Life changes  
• Hard work
• Not holding back
• Better person
• Reflecting

After thinking further about my selected words/phrases, I have found a subtle cycle within them that follows the journey I have been through over the last year. Isn't it amazing that this is something I did subconsciously without knowing what the result would be and whether it would be of any real use. I can now use these simple words/phrases to launch new ideas and delve further into my experiences. 

2. Drawing exercise - for this, Paula asked us to draw a head and fill it with all the things that we were thinking about in that moment. I am going to be really honest with you, when Paula mentioned drawing my stomach lurched and I started to feel a bit nervous about what I would have to do. I don't particularly like drawing. Actually I don't think it's that I don't like it, it's just that I am really not very good at it and therefore feel extremely self-conscious about any drawings that I produce. For me it is a bit of a fear barrier to get over. I would much rather express my thoughts and feelings through either writing or movement so drawing for me was a totally new experience of getting them out in the open. But I did it and actually enjoyed the whole process. Once again it was another tool which can be used to visually take in what is on your mind. From there you can prioritise and decide what needs to be done first and whether what you are worrying about is actually worth it!

Paula also mentioned the word unpacking. It sounds strange to relate it to these exercises but if you physically think of systematically unpacking whatever is on your mind, you can then work on re-packing in a more organised and stress-free way. This can benefit you massively in your professional life as it is very easy to let everything pile up on top of you without taking a moment to actually think about what your priorities are and how you can go about completing them.
    
So to round this blog off, the campus session today was hugely beneficial and it was lovely to meet Paula and some of the faces on the course! I really hope this blog helps you to come to terms with many of the things that we discussed and have fun researching things for yourself and forming your own opinions on 'Reflection as a catalyst for change'.

Comments are always welcome!

Lil' Blogger

Giddens, Anthony (1999) Lecture 2 - Risk, BBC Reith Lectures, Hong Kong