Hansei (反省) is a Japanese concept that means deep self-reflection with the intention to learn and improve. It’s not just thinking about what went wrong, but taking responsibility, identifying what can be done better, and committing to change.

How to practice Hansei

• Don’t batch hansei. Reflection, learning, and behavior correction are easier and more effective in small, consistent doses. Regular check-ins, like those practiced in hoshin kanri and daily management, create built-in moments for review and course correction. Don’t wait for annual or bi-annual evaluations—pause often to learn while experiences are still fresh.
• Reflect as a team. It can be difficult to hold up the mirror alone and see ourselves clearly. Engaging others in honest feedback gives multiple perspectives and reduces blind spots. While individual reflection matters, team-based hansei deepens learning and accountability.
• Do hansei whenever you hold an expectation. Expectations are targets—we anticipate a certain outcome, and hansei helps us compare what we hoped for with what actually happened. If a result falls short or remains unclear, that is a signal to reflect, understand the gap, and take corrective action.
• The reflective nature of hansei echoes the wisdom: “Know yourself, know what is good, know when to stop.”
• Know yourself: Look honestly at your actions, decisions, and patterns—individually or as a team.
• Know what is good: Reflect against clear targets or facts, not assumptions or opinions.
• Know when to stop: The purpose of hansei is learning, not self-punishment. Stop once you identify a few meaningful lessons and end on a constructive note.

Hansei invites us to treat reflection not as an occasional activity, but as a steady discipline that turns experience into growth. By regularly examining our actions, comparing outcomes to expectations, and committing to small, consistent improvements, we build the kind of leadership and character that evolves over time. In practicing hansei, we learn not only from our efforts, but from ourselves.

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