Gibbs' Reflective Cycle
When to use it
'Tell me about a mistake you made', 'a time you failed', 'something that upset you on work experience', or any question where acknowledging emotion strengthens the answer.
The steps
- 1
Description
What happened? Keep it short and factual.
- 2
Feelings
What were you thinking and feeling at the time? Honesty here signals maturity and self-awareness.
- 3
Evaluation
What went well and what went badly? Be balanced.
- 4
Analysis
Why did it happen? What factors — yours, others', the system's — contributed?
- 5
Conclusion
What else could you have done? What have you learned?
- 6
Action plan
What will you do next time, and what have you already changed? Evidence of change is powerful.
Worked example
Description: 'I missed the deadline for a chemistry coursework draft because I'd agreed to cover extra shifts at work.' Feelings: 'I felt embarrassed, and at first defensive.' Evaluation: 'I did tell my teacher before the deadline, which helped, but I'd said yes to too much.' Analysis: 'I struggle to say no, and I hadn't mapped out my commitments.' Conclusion: 'Saying yes to everything isn't reliability — it risks letting people down.' Action plan: 'I now plan my week on Sunday and check new commitments against it. Since then I haven't missed a deadline, and I've learned to say "not this week".'
Try it yourself: Tell me about a mistake you have made. What did you do about it?
Common mistakes
- Choosing a 'mistake' that is really a strength ('I work too hard').
- Blaming others entirely in the Analysis stage.
- Skipping Feelings — it is where insight often comes from.
- An action plan with no evidence it has been put into practice.