Pause. Reflect. Move forward.
By: Reap Benefit
Tags: Reflection, Teamwork, Solve Ninja, Reap Benefit, Reflect

Reap Benefit is an action-oriented organisation. We’re always looking to see what we can do that has a beneficial impact on the civic and environmental well-being of our communities. But that doesn’t mean we don’t understand the value of taking the time to pause, reflect and learn. Reflection is also a part of Reap Benefit’s DNA. Every meeting and Town Hall, event and initiative is followed by Solve Ninjas coming together to reflect on what went well and more importantly, what could have been better? What did we learn? What made us go ‘wow’? These moments of reflection help us learn from the past and shape future efforts. We believe that with each reflection we get better.

Executive Coach Jennifer Porter writes this about reflection in the Harvard Business Review:

‘Reflection gives the brain an opportunity to pause amidst the chaos, untangle and sort through observations and experiences, consider multiple possible interpretations, and create meaning.’

And so as this bewildering, sad, difficult year draws to an end, it seemed natural that we paused to reflect one last time. Here’s what some team members shared.

The power of a single word

To get warmed up, team members shared one word that best described the year that was. Here are some of their responses.

I, me, myself

2020 saw many of us struggle with and adapt to new ways of working, learning and socialising. We faced ill-health of loved ones, job losses and the saw first hand the toll the pandemic took on society’s most vulnerable. We took on new roles and responsibilities at work and at home.

What did we learn about ourselves?

Team members said this year taught them they could do anything if they put their minds to it. Some learned they were more resilient and sensitive than they had earlier imagined. Others realised this year where their passion really was.

Nikhila shared she was ‘happiest when I’m making/building something with my hands — watching things slowly take shape is so satisfying.’

Gouri Lekshminarayan discovered the power small changes this year:

‘Small changes to the things I do can have a major impact on how I feel, perform and commit. A haircut, a playlist, a new DIY hobby can lead to much bigger things than anticipated.’

And others discovered that while we may wish to do it all, it’s not always possible. ‘I want to do well, whatever I do — parenting, work, volunteering, people and I end up taking on too much! With the problem identified, I am working towards solving for it. :)’ wrote Archana Hari.

Is work-life balance still a thing?

It’s been hard to separate the personal and the professional this year, what with all of us Zooming in from our kitchens in pyjama bottoms, but working from home taught us something about our work selves too. What was it?

What did you learn about yourself in a professional context?

Joseph found out that monotonous tasks are soothing in their own strange way, while Sunitha learned how to manage things on her own.

Nikhila who works in our data team, had an interesting ephiphany: ‘It’s strange to go back to the very things I hated earlier on in my education/career and finding joy in them. I’m trying to find out what parts of this I enjoy and what parts I don’t.’

Some, like Ashish say they this year made them realise what they were capable of. ‘I could design and continue an initiative from the start and work end to end with support.’

Go Team Ninja!

While we couldn’t meet our teams face-to-face, we did come together virtually every day on Slack, Google Meet and Zoom.

What did you learn about your team?

Resilient, extremely adaptable, quick learners, mission oriented and driven, supportive, reflective, committed and energetic were some of the words used to describe teams.