ABSTRACT
Retroflection means to turn inward upon oneself. Children learn within their families what thoughts and feelings are acceptable and can be expressed safely, and which are not. Getting it wrong can result in physical or psychological punishment, or both, so the young person learns to keep things to themselves. In families where feelings of any kind have been suppressed and where ‘sensible’, ‘rational’, ‘logical’ thinking is preferenced, it can be very difficult in later life for offspring of that family to understand, let alone express, their emotions. Whilst retroflection clearly impacts at the individual and relationship levels, it can also have a critical impact on organisational performance. Those who have spent their careers in corporate life or who have coached and facilitated teams will know this. Deflection refers to the ways people turn away from or divert attention from a problem or issue. It can be an intentional choice or a habitual pattern that is outside awareness.
