Building reflective practice through creative documentation: fostering a developmental culture in researcher development teams

Researcher developers face a persistent challenge: capturing evidence of our impact and achievements for career progression, fellowship applications, and annual reviews. Like the researchers we support, we often struggle to recall and articulate our<br/>contributions when needed (Kensington-Miller et al., 2015). This challenge is compounded by the intensive, relationship-based nature of researcher development work, where much of our most valuable practice occurs through informal interactions<br/>and iterative support.<br/><br/>To address this, our team at GCU adopted a creative approach combining monthly reporting with structured reflection using the ERA model (Event, Reflection, Action). Rather than viewing documentation as purely administrative, we reframed it as<br/>developmental scholarship (Felten, 2013), dedicating just one hour monthly to recording activities and each reflecting on one challenging or exciting experience. Crucially, we share these reflections ahead of team meetings, creating space for<br/>collective learning and peer support.<br/><br/>This practice has yielded dual benefits. Individually, team members - both academic and professional services staff—built evidence portfolios that supported performance reviews, identified skills strengths and gaps, and fostered confidence through peer recognition and validation of expertise. Collectively, the shared reflection process created a supportive team culture where we celebrate successes, troubleshoot challenges collaboratively, and learn from each other's experiences. Our approach<br/>demonstrates how creative adaptation of routine administrative practices can simultaneously support diverse career pathways and build stronger developmental cultures within researcher development teams - addressing the sector's need to "do<br/>more with less" while maintaining professional growth and community.