Self-Assessment of Personal Strengths and Weaknesses

This self-assessment evaluates the author's leadership, communication, teamwork, and negotiation skills while identifying areas for development. The analysis highlights weaknesses such as short temper, stress management issues, and low patience levels. Three key areas of personal growth are identified: managing anger through techniques like meditation and trust-building, improving stress management through organization and time management, and cultivating patience through active listening and remaining calm in challenging situations.

UNDERSTANDING SELF AND
OTHERS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................1
REFLECTIVE JOURNALS......................................................................................................1
SUMMARY AND ACTION PLAN..........................................................................................6
Strength and Weakness..........................................................................................................6
Areas of Personal Development.............................................................................................6
CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES...........................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Every individual has some qualities which are utilised in different areas according to
their applications. Be it leadership, communication, negotiation and persuasion or teamwork;
people must have these skill sets for building healthy relationships in personal and
professional premise. This report helps in understanding basic attributes of these skills.
Personal strengths and weaknesses have also been depicted in this report to develop a
personal development plan.
REFLECTIVE JOURNALS
What is the core skill?
Communication
The core skill is communication. Information and messages when transferred between two
or more people, the medium has to be efficient enough so that no errors take place.
Imagining a situation where there is no communication. This implies people will not
transfer their feelings and emotions. This means there won’t be any growth or development
and the world will be still.
Why is this core skill important?
Communication helps in sharing and exchanging thoughts that lead to further development
in a subject (Arnold and Boggs, 2015). Effective communication is the one in which a
sender sends necessary information or message which is received and interpreted by the
receiver.
How competent are you currently?
My peers and colleagues have been supportive in making the communications process
effective enough. Communication process can be made more effective if both the sender
and receiver are efficient. Often the message is not correctly interpreted because of
inconvenience in speaking or listening. I have witnessed difficulty in developing an
effective communication medium due to my inability or non-fluency in language. My
professional and personal communication skills are different. At workplace I utilise verbal
and non-verbal communication in a formal way while in personal life I merely
communicate in a formal way.
Can you identify any contradictions or allowable weaknesses from your analysis?
An effective communication is the one in which people get error free message with at most
efficiency. The type of information that is to be delivered doesn’t matter but the medium is
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important. For instance, I have to provide information regarding something. Effective
communication skills is the one in which a medium is developed and receiver gives back
an answer in the form of feedback. After complete analysis, I have realised that my
communication skills are hindered because of incorrect choice of medium and the
inefficiency in language. This has caused a lot of inconvenience to me during my working
schedules. Hence, I need to develop my communications skills so that my relations at both
professional and personal levels.
How will this skill help me in the future?
Future growth can be supported if communication skills are improved. This helps in
improving performance and fulfilling job responsibilities efficiently. It is also a part of
effective leadership. The ideologies and philosophies which are developed by organisation
heads have to be delivered and transferred to other individuals so that their activities can be
aligned with aims and objectives of the firm. This skill helps in developing motivation and
also generates a centralised source of information which intensifies the decision making
process. People change their attitudes and attributes according to the communication styles
and mediums. This implies that socialising activities are enhanced when communication
skills are efficient.
What is the core skill?
Leadership
Leadership skill is the core skill. No organisation or group can function properly if there is
no leader or manager. When a person manages a group of people effectively then he/she is
called the leader. This kind of skill can be both inherited and developed with proper
training and development sessions. The use of leadership skills help in building strong
foundations of teams and also initiate smooth functioning (Men, 2014). There are various
theories and principles that help in building leadership skills. Patience, chivalry and
honesty are certain traits which are considered as the part of leadership skills.
Why is this core skill important?
I have developed myself with effective leadership skills. I hold an experience of working
and leading a group of ten people in my organisation. The team members and co-workers
have experienced greater developments in their working style under my leadership. During
one of our group projects, I took up the responsibility of guiding and inspiring individuals
during the course of time. Moreover the entire action plan and schedule of activities was
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organised and managed by myself. All these actions have helped me in effectively meeting
the goals and objectives of the project. Furthermore, I had taken several feedbacks from
my colleagues and team workers to understand and evaluate my performance. Overall
reactions were positive and above satisfaction.
How competent are you currently?
This depicts that I have necessary leadership skills and I am competent enough to depict
the leadership skill in my professional career. Despite of the successful functioning, there
have been certain contradictions and weaknesses which were experienced by me during my
leadership tenure. These include short temperament and high vulnerability to anxiety.
These kinds of attributes in the personality can be harmful in the long run. It is important to
understand that when handling people, anxiety, stress and anger can become threatening
for maintaining collaborations. Individuals will develop disrespect and this automatically
results in dysfunctional groups and teams.
Can you identify any contradictions or allowable weaknesses from your analysis?
Leadership skills help in managing activities and business operations easily. The different
leadership skills and traits have different impact over the organisation. Transformational
and transactional leadership results in overall development of the company. The
coordination and correlating abilities are improved when leadership skills are present. It is
not only one particular attribute but a set of attitudes and qualities which together help in
delivering leadership effectively. The use of this skill helps in developing motivation and
self-confidence. The delegation abilities of a person are improved when leadership skills
are developed in a person.
How will this skill help me in the future?
The ability to build a working environment is enhanced when leadership skills are
improved in a person. Management and on time operations are easily executed so that
growth is stabilised and initiated.
What is the core skill?
Negotiation and persuasion
Negotiation is of key importance which helps in completing own work and aim in desired
manner. Also, persuasion helps in influencing other that aids in accomplishing own goal by
making others to work.
Why is this core skill important?
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Negotiation and persuasion help me in accomplishing my academic role and work in
appropriate manner. Through this, I am able to manage my work in best possible manner
and also able to make proper coordination with other. In academic role, I am able to
negotiate with my peer members to do particular set of work or to participate in any of the
events. This skills helps me in developing a unique image in front of my friends and tutor
and they certainly rely on me to influence others. Negotiation and persuasion essentially
aids in reducing the conflict among my group and also helps me in developing healthier
relations with others. It helps in developing a win-win situation through which better
progress is attained.
How competent are you currently?
On evaluating my negotiation and persuasion skills, I have found that I am well verse with
this skills and hence I am able to get high benefits from it. I am able to overcoming with
unpleasant and adverse situation through this skills and my friends stated the same many a
times. Further, I am able to make communication with others as well through negotiation
and persuasion skills with confident and hence makes healthier relations with unknown
people also. With this skills, I am able to fix best deal for any events and hence able to
develop distinctive personality. However, I have received feedback that I am not polite
many a times while dealing negotiation and this sometimes makes the situation adverse.
Also, I lose my patience early which affects my relations with other members. Therefore, I
really need to work on this part.
Can you identify any contradictions or allowable weaknesses from your analysis?
From this analysis, it is been found that I lose patience easily and also becomes harsh too
early which spoils the deal that been made through my negotiation skills. Further, I have
even found that I am not able to give more options to other party while doing negotiations
and this somewhere affects overall process. I also believe that I don’t really think about the
after effect of negotiation and that is why I lie sometimes. This affects my long term
relations. Hence, I need to work on this part so that such things can be rectified at earliest.
How will this skill help me in the future?
This skill will surely help me in developing a successful career and also aids in securing a
respectable place in society. From this skills, I can easily coordinate with my superiors,
colleagues and customers so that better results can be attained. I can surely get an
opportunity to lead a team in corporate world by having sound negotiation and persuasion
skills. From this, I can make a win-win situation by accomplishing targets for my company
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and team as well (Shonk, 2016).
What is the core skill?
Teamwork
Everyone need to work in a team so that whole task can be completed in far easy manner
and in effectual manner. Team working is one of the key skills that helps in attaining team
and overall goals of the organization. I am able to work in a team as I can coordinate with
other with ease.
Why is this core skill important?
Team working assists in coming with new ideas, gives support, enhances efficiency and
aids in dividing whole work into small number. From this, one can work with full
productivity without getting tired. Also, it increases overall productivity of an individual
and aids in learning new things. Team work helps me in getting work complete in time and
also makes me active to attain particular set of goals. Through this, my communication
shapes better and even my hesitation vanished. Based on it, I am able to overcome
obstacles as well.
How competent are you currently?
From the evaluation, it is found that I am able to work in a team in quite effective manner.
My peer members’ states that I am very well listeners which certainly helps me in
accommodating with others. I listen to everyone and also communicate the required
information in appropriate manner. Also, I am able to manage the conflict and negative
situation very well which also helps me in working in a team. From the feedback, it is even
found that I am very hard working and loyal which helps my team in managing every
situations.
Can you identify any contradictions or allowable weaknesses from your analysis?
From the analysis, I have found that my patience level is weak and due to this, I lose
temper very often. This develops rivalry sometimes among team and spoils the team
interaction. Also, I sometimes becomes commanding which affects the team working in
adverse manner. It is even evident that I am over expressive due to which strategy of team
working reveals in front of others. Beside this, I trust other person very easily and
sometimes it affects my team working as well. Hence, I really need to focus on these
weakness so that such issues can be address in appropriate manner.
How will this skill help me in the future?
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Team working is the essence of working in corporate and hence it will surely help me in
my corporate life. Through this, I can very well settle in new team with new people and
works as per their culture. Also, I can gain new learning and ideas through team working
which will surely shape my personality and competencies. Moreover, it will help me in
developing my talent and critical thinking skills as I can able to make better strategies
through team working (Ross and et.al., 2014). From this, my goals will be attained.
SUMMARY AND ACTION PLAN
Strength and Weakness
Following strength and weaknesses have been realised:
Strengths:
 Can communicate effectively with colleagues and professionals in different mediums.
 I have been able to develop manage my time effectively and perform all the allotted
tasks in given time. This depicts that I am able to meet deadlines and perform all my
tasks effectively.
 The body language of a person is the first expression which depicts the feelings which
one holds for another person. I have good command over my body language and have
been capable enough to depict expressions properly. One of my key strengths is
controlled body language.
 Organisation and management helps in scheduling different activities and meeting the
time limits. I have efficient management skills which help in organising different
roles and duties and also fulfilling responsibilities.
Weaknesses:
 Stress and anxiety is an attribute that can lead to serious deteriorations in personality.
I am too vulnerable towards the stress and anxiety like situations. This has caused
hindrances in the functioning of my leadership. Hence, stress and anxiety has become
one of my key weaknesses.
 Anger and irritation towards a situation or imperfect work has caused a lot of
degradations in my personality. I have been experiencing short temperedness which
has caused various conflicts and clashes with my colleagues. This means I need to
develop patience and calmness in my attitudes for relieving from these weaknesses.
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Areas of Personal Development
On the basis of above analysis, it has been evident that I possess certain set of lacking
and same need to be improved. In this content, following are the 3 areas of personal
development that I need to focus on
1. Short Temper: It is found that I am short tempered hence I need to work on this so
that I can be a good team worker and negotiator. In this context, I will read books on
anger management and patience level so that this issue can be managed. Further, I
will focus on meditation and stress releasing practice so that such situation can be
managed in appropriate manner (Beausaert, Segers and Gijselaers, 2011). Developing
trust is another practice that I will incorporate to manage my anger.
2. Stress Management: It is yet another development area that I need to focus in order
to boost my competency. For this, I will focus on remaining always well organised
and ahead of time so that such issue doesn’t arise. Further, I will focus on time
management and scheduling so that issue of stress can be overcome.
3. Patience Level: It is also required that I must work on patience level so that issue of
short temper and stress can be overcome. For this, I will focus to be an active listener
so that better decision can be made. I will also ensure to remain calm in adverse
situation. Further, meditation is yet another technique that will help me in building
high patience level (Koprowska, 2014).
CONCLUSION
It is evident that I possess certain set of skills in terms of leadership, communication,
team working and negotiation. However, I still need to improve such skills so that my overall
competency can be increased. For this, I will focus on patience level and stress management
in order to overcome my shortcoming.
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REFERENCES
Arnold, E. C. and Boggs, K. U., 2015. Interpersonal relationships: Professional
communication skills for nurses. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Beausaert, S., Segers, M. and Gijselaers, W., 2011. The use of a personal development plan
and the undertaking of learning activities, expertise-growth, flexibility and
performance: The role of supporting assessment conditions. Human resource
development international. 14(5). pp.527-543.
Koprowska, J., 2014. Communication and interpersonal skills in social work. Learning
Matters.
Men, L. R., 2014. Strategic internal communication: Transformational leadership,
communication channels, and employee satisfaction. Management Communication
Quarterly. 28(2). pp.264-284.
Ross, J. and et.al., 2014. The personal development tutor role: An exploration of student and
lecturer experiences and perceptions of that relationship. Nurse education today. 34(9).
pp.1207-1213.
Shonk, K., 2016. The Importance of Negotiation in Business. [Online]. Available through: <
https://www.pon.harvard.edu/daily/business-negotiations/the-importance-of-
negotiation-in-business/>. [Accessed on 24th March 2017].
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