Over time the concept of coherence with the principles and methodologies of Reflect has become increasingly important. Reflect is not just a grassroots methodology and should be used to encourage reflection and analysis in all contexts at any time. This is what we understand by coherence – a consistency in how we work with all the different groups involved – and how we reflect on our own reality – using the Reflect approach in our own work.
Why is Coherence important? As Reflect practitioners we recognise that power relations are replicated, and the way we act in our private lives and institutions will influence the way we work and the impact our work has. Our own systems and practices often contribute to the very inequities that we seek to redress. Thus if we do not examine our own attitudes, behaviour and power relations within our organisations we will not be able to facilitate democratic space for reflection, analysis and action for others.
How do we ensure coherence?
Training workshops: In early training workshops participants were encouraged to ‘simulate’ situations where they could practise tools and techniques. This artificial process gave priority to the learning of the tool or technique rather than to the “process” - treating trainers and facilitators as instruments for the delivery of Reflect rather than as active agents or subjects. Applying the concept of coherence to training implies using Reflect techniques within a workshop, enabling people to focus on their own leaning and reflection process. This means that people will internalise the approach through analysing their own positions in life – gaining a real sense of Reflect and becoming active agents in adapting it to other contexts.
Manuals: Another example of this has been the move away from any pre-defined “manuals”, developed by a core group of people according to local conditions, and used to train facilitators. Coherence suggests facilitators produce their own local manuals. In this way they are constructing their own local texts in the same way that participants in a Reflect circle develop theirs.
Institutions: Another dimension is the focus on institutions that are promoting Reflect. The creation of democratic space for reflection and analysis is a challenge everywhere. In order to understand how an institution functions it is important to analyse the links between communication and power in its own practice – starting with the individual and the specific dynamics or each unique group.
Networks: Reflect networks or forums at national level or regional level are increasingly applying Reflect to their own process. At an international level this has led to the development of CIRAC – the International Reflect Circle – a democratic space for key practitioners around the world to share experiences and learning and to collectively construct their own texts / resource materials.
