...theoretical frameworks vs experience...

...Theoretical frameworks can be very helpful in raising a manager’s awareness and understanding, but research shows that managers learn most from reflecting on experience.

Reflection is the process of thinking that helps turn experience into learning.

Learning from experience and reflection is easier if the manager works in a climate where
a)mistakes are seen as learning opportunities – not things to be covered up in order to avoid blame
b)facilitative questions get asked e.g. “what is there for us to learn from this situation?” and “what do we need to do differently in future to improve the way we do things?”

It is also helpful not to make the kind of judgements that conclude change is impossible. Yet this is very common, and leaves people at all levels feeling they are helpless victims of their own personality! Managers do not learn effectively from experience if they think like victims.