Thank you for coming!
I do not know, yet, what brought you to this website. May be someone told you about me or we have been on a session together, and you have something that you need help with? You have been told to do more reflection, go on a leadership course, have a mentor or a coach? Whatever the reason, you are welcome. Have a look around and if you like it then get in touch.
Beware I am not going to teach you anything, especially as I am still learning myself. However, I can tell you what I have learnt so far and together we can figure out a way to support you.
Rajan Madhok
What is Reflection?
Reflection to me is the key to becoming a better, happier and effective person. You can read all the books, take various courses, have a mentor/coach but they can only take you so far without reflection, that essential ingredient, the secret sauce if you will!
I do not see reflection as an additional activity, it is the way I live and work – it is my operating system, always in the background whenever I am doing anything. Yes, I do take time out, now and then, to make my learning explicit and you can see some of this stuff in later sections. And reflection is what has helped me live my life mantra: Do good, have fun and make (modest) money.
I am surprised at how much stuff there is about reflection on the internet, and for healthcare workers it is being rammed down their throats; reflection it seems is the latest fad. It does not have to be that way - you reflect because you want to, since it will help you live a good life, and it can be easy.
Do not believe me? Read more
About Me
My professional story is now part of the NHS archives and stored at the British Library - to access it, please go to http://sami.bl.uk/ and type C1887/1172 in the simple search screen. You can also see the documents at the bottom of this section for further details.
I could list some of the main roles and accolades – and there were a few – but one of the lessons I have learnt is that it does not matter what you did, it is what you do now and how you treat the person in front of you that will decide whether you are any good. So, on that basis, here is my short bio. I am a public health doctor who came to the UK in 1980 after initial training in Delhi and over the years worked my way up the system and held senior medical management positions in the NHS. I am now retired from full time work but do hold a number of Board level positions with various public and charitable organisations. I live in North Wales and am interested in sharing my own learning - selfishly as I believe it will help me to grow as a person - in case this can help others.
Here are the key documents that summarise my work in the NHS:
1. Personal reflections on the NHS- Volume 1 - The compendium of reflective writings (2013)
2. Personal reflections on the NHS- Volume 2 - the Jarrow March (2014)
3. Personal reflections on the NHS- Volume 3 - paper for the NHS 70 interviews (2018)
4. Personal reflections on the NHS - Volume 4 - paper for the NHS 75 conversations (2023)
5. An anthology about my views on life
6. A tribute to my teachers
7. Indo-UK health collaborations
Why Me?
By three methods we may learn wisdom
First, by reflection, which is noblest
Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and
third by experience which is the bitterest.
- Confucius
I have made the mistakes, so you do not have to. My journey was not smooth – there were major unheavels – and these ‘defeated’ me at times, and so some of what I share is from bitter experiences. Whether it will resonate with you is for you to decide and in any case one of life’s mysteries is why do not we, as humans, learn from others; the generational gap being the oft quoted lament:
Parent’s lament
When they were ready to learn
you were not
now when you want to teach them
they are too busy
to talk to you about
love, life, loss, peace and joy
You missed the chance, they say
but how could I have taught them
without knowing myself first
now they must make own mistakes
find the hard way, its all avoidable
and the cycle goes on
NEED HELP?
Well, I can try. I am not looking for work, and you do not need to feel obliged. My basic premise is that one must get under the labels- mentoring/coaching/leadership – and decide what you really need; each of these initiatives has its own place in the scheme of personal development but by organising them in a particular way these also limit you (you get boxed into a particular way of thinking and doing). The trick then is to rise above them, not see them as separate initiatives but approach your personal development ‘in the round’ and that is where reflection plays a crucial role.
To be upfront, I have no magic wand, I can be there to celebrate or commiserate with you but in the end, it is your life and you are incharge. I will be there to talk through, share my experiences, and create the ‘space’ for you to reflect to realise that you are ‘enough’ and it is all within you. As the Persian poet Hafiz said: “I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being”.
Read more
My Projects
I have been working with some organisations to promote reflection and add value to their programmes/projects – below is further information but please liaise directly with the relevant organisation to learn more about their specific programme.