Reflective Essay on Leadership and Teamwork

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REFLECTIVE ESSAY
I was very excited when I found out that we were going on a trip to gain some personal
experience in leadership, team working, effective social interaction, communication skills, and
personal attributes.Our trip was started with a big group of 22 MBA students. The teams were
randomly divided, and the groups were made into small groups. We were 6 students in our group
and the trip was for 3 days. There were overall 10 tasks involved in the whole trip. On Day 1, we
had 5 tasks, Task 1 had no name, and other tasks were maze task, sheep and shepherd task,
solving the puzzle task and the obstacles task. Day 2 had two tasks, the task of buying and selling
of materials and a business activity. A business activity was also considered and it four many
tasks; rope task, tunnel task, canoe task and pamper bamboo task. This trip was a great
experience for me as well as for my other group members.
On Day 1, the activity 1 was started with 6 students those who have We completed the task about
70 to 80% with the lot of team work. I played best role as good teamwork
Instructor: All of you have to travel from one side to another side with the help of boxes without
touching the ground.
Me: Can we start from any side?
Instructor: Yes,
Another Group Member: Ok. I have 1 question. If we touch the ground?
Instructor: Touching the ground is nor allowed. You will disqualified from the task.
For Task 1, I felt that we took more time to understand the task and so we had very less time to
complete the task. I had gained knowledge that teamwork is the joint effort of a team for
completing the task most efficiently. I worked together on this task with the other group
members and enhanced the interests of the team for more ideas and provided information to the
team members. My team members also agreed with me on the common motive to provide
transparency within the group team to make it a successful task. As a team worker, I had attained
5 in relationship management.
The activity 3 was a sheep and shepherd task, I was the only person who was not able to reach
the right place on the given time. The instructor was one of our group member with the whistle.

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Remaining members in the group were considered as sheep. For Task 3, I felt that I took too
much time to listen and understand the instructions of the instructor. For Task 3, I feel I have to
improve my listening skills.
Instructor: All your eyes will be closed during the task. I will help all the team members to move
to the right place.
Other Group Members. Ok
Me to Instructor: Can you please repeat the instructions? I cannot hear you due to some noises.
Instructor: Yes surely. All your eyes will be closed during the task. I will help all the team
members to move to the right place.
Me: Ok. Now I am clear about the task.
Before starting the task:-
Me: I have some idea regarding the task. I want to share it with all of you.
Other Group Members: No. We had too much time to listen to your ideas. We are already late.
Me: But, it will take few minutes.
Other members: We are already late. Let us start the task.
Me: Ok.
In Task 3, other group members did not accept my ideas and thoughts before starting the task due
to lack of time. I came to know that I have to improve my listening skills which is one of the
communication skills. A good listener is one of the best methods to be a good communicator. If
one is not a good listener, it will be difficult to understand what one is being asked to do. One
must not only able to communicate effectively; he or she must listen to the other persons and
participate in their interaction with the other persons. I had attained 2 in listening skills.
The execution of task 4 provided me immense learning regarding the solving of various issues.
Instructor: The task is to solve the puzzle where all of you have to solve the puzzle with the
wooden planks and construct the bridge.
Group Members: Ok.
Instructor: 6 people will be divided into two groups with 3 members in each group.