Reflection in Action: Leadership Rooted in Presence

I used to think reflection happened after everything was done.
The meetings.
The emails.
The tension.
I thought it was the moment we sit down after the work and try to make sense of it all.

But I’ve come to understand something different,
Reflection isn’t what happens after.
It’s what must happen before.
And often, right in the middle of everything.

In a world that keeps telling us to move fast and do more,
Calm leadership chooses presence.
It pauses before reacting.
It notices tone, posture, and silence.
It listens first, thoroughly,  and responds from a place of intention, not urgency.

Sometimes that means asking myself:

What part of me is reacting right now?
Is this coming from fear? Or from clarity?

That’s what Reflection in Action looks like to me.
It’s not passive.
It’s not soft.
It’s powerful.
Because it shifts the atmosphere of your leadership.
And it changes how people feel when they’re around you.

Reflection Isn’t a Luxury: It’s a Leadership Necessity

Let’s be honest,  in early childhood education, there are a thousand opportunities a day to react.
To move fast.
To put out fires.

But if we lead from pure reaction, we miss the deeper work.

We’re not just guiding routines.
We’re shaping relationships.
We’re influencing how people, big and small, experience safety, learning, and belonging.

That kind of leadership requires reflection.

And the research backs it up.

Studies have shown that when leaders create space for reflection:

• They regulate their emotions more effectively under pressure (Siegel, 2010)

• Their teams experience stronger engagement and trust (Kets de Vries, 2014)

• They make decisions that are more values-driven and aligned with long-term goals (Dane & Pratt, 2007)

Reflection helps you show up with intention, not just momentum.
It helps you tune in to what matters most — and tune out the noise.

How I Practice Reflection in Action

This is personal for me.
Reflection doesn’t always look like journaling or silence, sometimes it looks like small shifts in how I lead.

Here are a few things I’ve done lately that have made a difference:

• Calm Leadership Prompts
  I keep a sticky note next to my laptop that says:
  “What did calm leadership look like today?”
  That one question changes how I close my day.

• Team Reflection Wall
  We started using a reflection wall,  just a small board with notes of gratitude, insight, or growth.
  It’s nothing fancy, but the energy in the room shifted.
  People feel seen.

• Thanking Thoughtful Pauses
  This week I thanked a teammate, not just for what they did, but for how they paused when things got tough.
  That kind of gratitude multiplies calm.

The truth is, every time we reflect aloud or model stillness,
we give others permission to lead that way, too.

From Reflection Comes Renewal

There is real power in stillness.
In that tiny space between what happens and how you respond.

The leaders I’ve admired most over the years weren’t the loudest ones.
They were the ones who carried quiet clarity.
The ones who didn’t need to dominate a room, because their presence spoke louder than performance.

So if no one’s told you lately
You don’t need to be perfect to lead well.
You just need to be present.

This Week’s Gentle Invitation

🪷 What does Reflection in Action look like for you, right now, in this season?
🪷 Where can you practice one intentional pause today?
🪷 Who can you thank for how they lead with calm?

Write it.
Say it aloud.
Start your own ripple.

🔁 Stay Connected to Reflection

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📚 References

• Dane, E., & Pratt, M. G. (2007). Exploring Intuition and Its Role in Managerial Decision Making. Academy of Management Review, 32(1), 33–54.

• Donaldson-Feilder, E., Lewis, R., & Yarker, J. (2013). Promoting effective leadership in the workplace. Institute for Employment Studies.

• Friedman, H. S. (2007). The role of reflection in professional growth. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 38(3), 261–267.

• Kets de Vries, M. F. R. (2014). Mindful Leadership Coaching: Journeys into the Interior. Palgrave Macmillan.

• Siegel, D. J. (2010). The Mindful Therapist: A Clinician's Guide to Mindsight and Neural Integration. W. W. Norton & Company.