Personal Reflecting Blog : Using Gibbs' Reflective Cycle

(Nicoleta Sofronescu)

Topic: Handling a conflict between co-workers at the warehouse

🧠 When Conflict Hits the Workplace: A Lesson I Didn’t Expect

Have you ever witnessed an argument at work and didn’t know what to do? That happened to me recently, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since.

Working in a warehouse isn’t usually seen as emotional or ethically challenging — but human emotions don’t stay out of any workplace. Two of my colleagues got into a loud disagreement about workload, and it blew up right in front of everyone. One stormed off. The rest of us? Just stood there awkwardly.

I didn’t say a word. But I haven’t stopped reflecting on it since.

😬 How I Felt in That Moment

I felt frozen. I didn’t want to get involved, especially since I’m not in a leadership role. At the same time, I felt sorry for both of them and wondered if I should’ve said something calming.

Afterwards, I checked in privately with one of the people involved, just to ask if they were okay. It wasn’t much, but it felt like something.

Emotions often play a big role in how we respond in these moments — recognising them is an important part of reflective practice (Thompson, 2017).

🔍 What I Learned from Reflecting

Using a simple reflective model (Gibbs, 1988), I realised I actually missed a chance to grow — both professionally and personally.

• I didn’t help de-escalate the conflict.

• I avoided getting involved because I wasn’t confident.

• But I did feel empathy and wanted to support someone in distress.

Reflective practice helps us see not only what we did but also what we avoided and why (Bolton, 2014). Handling conflict, showing empathy, and communicating under pressure are exactly what care professionals need to do every day (Skills for Care, 2022).

Argyle (1972) highlights the importance of non-verbal communication in social interactions, which I now see I could have used more effectively.

🎯 My Takeaway? Speak Up (Even a Little)

What surprised me was that this simple warehouse disagreement made me think deeply about the kind of professional I want to become. I might not be working in care yet, but I’m learning what kind of person I want to be in any workplace.

💬 Let’s Talk

• Have you ever been caught in a workplace situation and weren’t sure how to respond?

• Do you think speaking up is always the right thing to do — or are there times when it’s better to stay silent?

• If you’re working in care, how do you handle conflict between people around you?

I'd love to hear how others think about this — especially if you’re also studying Health and Social Care or working in emotionally demanding jobs. Share your thoughts in the comments 👇

References

Argyle, M. (1972) Non-verbal Communication. London: Methuen.

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.

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

Thompson, N. (2017) Effective Communication: A Guide for the People Professions. 2nd ed. London: Red Globe Press.