Reflexive Personality

Turbulent times call for professionals who are open, flexible, and reflective as opposed to decisive and resolved, traits traditionally valued. Termed “reflexive practitioners,” these professionals are eager for the options created by ambiguity and variability, and do not try to hide the existence of options, suppress options, or prevent options. They have discarded thought processes, such as denial, distortion, isolation, acting out against colleagues, and unexamined responses to cognitive dissonance that favor quick, firm decisions. Instead, they prepare for more turbulence, indulge intellectual curiosity, and develop consensus work products arising from a transparent, collaborative process. They produce living products. They avoid closed door deliberations that crank out official responses and marching orders, but add nothing of value to professional dialogues and provide little support for growth. Reflexive practitioners see that understanding ultimately creates more potential than resolve. Reflexive practitioners value the quality of life fostered by use of an open process over shortterm material gain. Openness and flexibility can create problems when applied to tasks needing decisiveness, but are instrumental in creating professional growth in turbulent times.