🧩 Navigating Tough Choices: How Reflection and Critical Thinking Helped Me Solve a Workplace Dilemma

(Nicoleta Sofronescu)

ENTRY 1

Have you ever faced a tricky situation at work where there wasn’t a clear “right” answer? I recently encountered one that made me realise how important it is to combine reflection and critical thinking to find the best way forward.

🚨 The Situation

At the warehouse, we had to quickly reorganise a shipment because of a delay from a supplier. My team was under pressure to move stock fast, but I noticed that some products were damaged during unloading. My dilemma was this:

• Should I report the damage and slow down the process, risking delays and pressure from management?

• Or should I keep quiet and push through to meet deadlines?

On one hand, the warehouse demands efficiency and speed. On the other, I knew damaged stock could cause problems down the line for customers or other departments.

🤔 Reflecting on What Mattered

I used Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle again (Gibbs, 1988) to work through the situation:

• Description: Damaged stock noticed during a rushed unloading.

• Feelings: I felt stressed — worried about disappointing my team and management but also uneasy about ignoring the damage.

• Evaluation: Reporting the damage might slow everything down and upset my manager, but ignoring it could cause bigger problems later.

• Analysis: From my Health and Social Care studies, I know how important it is to prioritise safety and quality, even if it means speaking up in difficult situations (Skills for Care, 2022). Critical thinking means weighing the risks and benefits thoughtfully (Paul and Elder, 2014).

• Conclusion: The ethical thing to do was to raise the issue, even if it wasn’t the easiest path.

• Action Plan: I chose to inform my supervisor immediately and suggested we inspect the damaged stock properly before continuing.

💡 What This Taught Me About Critical Thinking and Reflection

This experience was a practical example of what I’ve learned through my studies:

• Reflection helps you step back and understand your feelings and values before deciding (Bolton, 2014).

• Critical thinking helps you evaluate options logically and ethically, even under pressure (Thompson and Thompson, 2018).

• Combining both lets you navigate dilemmas in a thoughtful, professional way — exactly what Health and Social Care workers need every day (Skills for Care, 2022).

I realised that being thoughtful doesn’t slow you down; it helps you make better decisions that protect everyone involved.

💬 I’d Love to Hear From You

• Have you ever faced a work dilemma where you had to balance pressure with doing the “right” thing?

• How do you reflect on tough choices? Do you have a model or process that helps you?

• If you’re studying or working in Health and Social Care, how do you handle ethical dilemmas on the job?

Share your experiences and tips below — let’s learn from each other’s journeys!

ENTRY 2

References

Bolton, G. (2014) Reflective Practice: Writing and Professional Development. 4th ed. London: SAGE.

Gibbs, G. (1988) Learning by Doing: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods. Oxford: Oxford Polytechnic.

Paul, R. and Elder, L. (2014) Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Learning and Your Life. 3rd ed. London: Pearson.

Skills for Care (2022) Core Skills in Health and Social Care. Available at: https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk (Accessed: 10 July 2025).

Thompson, N. and Thompson, S. (2018) The Critically Reflective Practitioner. 2nd ed. London: Palgrave.