Gibbs Reflective Cycle – 6 Stage Model Comprehensive Guide

Updated on: 29 August 2023 | 11 min read 

IN THIS GUIDE

• What is the Gibbs Reflective Cycle?
• The Six Stages of Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle
• Application of Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle in Real-World Scenarios
• Embracing Gibbs Cycle in Your Organization
• What is the Difference Between Kolb’s and Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle?
• Gibbs Reflective Cycle Pros and Cons
• Tips to Use the Gibbs Reflective Cycle Effectively
• The Value of Reflective Practice

Reflective practice involves engaging in a thoughtful examination of your actions, feelings, and responses to experiences. This process enhances self-awareness and promotes continuous personal and professional growth. Reflective practice encourages critical thinking, improving decision-making and problem-solving abilities. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the Gibbs reflective cycle and how you can use it for personal and professional reflection and development.

What is the Gibbs Reflective Cycle?

Professor Graham Gibbs introduced this model in his 1988 book, ‘Learning by Doing: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods.’ The Gibbs Reflective Cycle provides a systematic method for reflecting on experiences and drawing valuable lessons. It comprises six stages: Description, Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion, and Action Plan, giving individuals a structured approach to reflect, analyze, and learn from their past experiences. Each stage aims to delve deeply into different aspects of an experience, from the initial description to devising actionable strategies based on the reflection.

The Six Stages of Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle

The Gibbs Reflective Cycle provides a step-by-step, structured approach to reflective practice, ensuring valuable lessons are drawn from past experiences. Reflecting through the six stages—Description, Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion, and Action Plan—facilitates personal and professional growth.

1. Description: The First Step in Reflection

The description stage is crucial as it sets the foundation for the entire reflective process. Here, the focus is on objectively recounting the experience without any judgments or analysis. Key questions to ask include:

• What happened?
• When and where did it happen?
• Who was involved?
• What was the outcome?

This step ensures a clear, unbiased account of the event, making it easier to delve deeper into the following stages.

2. Feelings: Dive into Your Emotional Response

The feelings stage allows you to explore your emotional reactions to the experience. Consider both your initial and subsequent emotional responses, as well as those of others involved. Reflect on:

• What were your thoughts during the event?
• How did you feel before, during, and after the event?
• How might others have felt?

Acknowledging these emotions provides a deeper understanding of your responses and helps maintain emotional awareness in similar future scenarios.

3. Evaluation: Objectively Assessing the Situation

During the evaluation stage, objectively analyze the positives and negatives of the experience. Useful questions include:

• What went well during the experience?
• What did not go well?
• What was your role, and how did you contribute?

This stage encourages a balanced view, acknowledging both achievements and areas needing improvement.

4. Analysis: Delving Deeper into the Experience

The analysis stage involves understanding why things happened the way they did. It requires connecting theories or professional knowledge to the event. Key questions and activities include:

• Why did the outcomes occur as they did?
• What influenced the positive and negative aspects?
• Refer to relevant academic literature or other resources to gain deeper insight.

This comprehensive analysis helps identify the underlying factors affecting the experience, fostering a deeper understanding.

5. Conclusion: Drawing Learnings from Your Experience

In the Conclusion stage, summarize the lessons learned from the experience. Reflect on:

• What did you learn about yourself?
• What skills or knowledge did you gain?
• What could have been done differently?

This stage is about crystallizing the insights gleaned from the previous stages, preparing you for future situations.

6. Action Plan: Preparing for Future Application

The final stage is the action plan, where you outline specific steps and strategies for applying what you’ve learned to future scenarios. Consider the following:

• What will you do differently next time?
• How will you develop the skills you need?
• What preventive strategies can you implement to avoid past mistakes?