Developing Crucial Professional Skills: Self-Reflection

This article discusses the importance of developing crucial professional skills like teamwork, assertiveness, time management, and feedback sharing. It includes a self-reflection on the current competence of the author and an action plan for improvement. The subject is professional development and the course code and college/university are not mentioned.

Running head: SELF REFLECTION
SELF REFLECTION
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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First skill: Teamwork
What is the core skill?
Teamwork can be defined as the ability by which individuals can work in a collaborative
manner with a group of people. This is mainly done to achieve a goal or an objective that is set
by an organization. Teamwork can be defined as the crucial part of the business as it enables
employees to not only cooperate and coordinate in their different activities but also enables each
of them to use their individual skills and knowledge and providing constructive feedback to
achieve success in the organization (Brock et al., 2017). Present day workplaces promotes the
concept of teamwork to achieve success where employees in the workplace can act as team
members and thereby plan ahead, work cooperatively to assign tasks, assess progress and thereby
deliver the proper work on time (Matteson, Anderson and Boyden, 2016). This reduces the time
taken by individual if he does the work alone and reduces the chance of failure of the assignment
as more than one mind are acting for achieving the organizational goals.
Why is this core skill important?
Teamwork skill is very important in workplace as it has number of different benefits in
workplace. Individuals who can successfully engage in teamwork can develop an environment in
the workplace that fosters creativity and learning. This helps the organisation to overcome many
crisis in an innovative way which might not have been possible in traditional methods were
applied (Briiton et al. 2017). The second benefit is that it helps in blending the complementary
strengths that helps in achieving the organisational gaols much easily. For example, when one
individual has a skill of creative thinking and other has a skill of organization and planning, both
can work as team to achieve the goals easily. It also gives scope to team workers to build trusts

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easily, learn the ways of conflict resolution skills, develops a wider sense of ownership and
encourage healthy risk taking (Felstead et al. 2016)
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill
One of the most important attribute that prevents me from effectively participating in
teamwork is my introvert nature. Due to my introvert nature, I am not bake to express my
concerns and feelings when in participate in any teamwork. Due to my introvert nature, many of
my friends and colleagues negatively perceive me and think that I suffer from superiority
complex or that I am avoiding them purposely. In many other cases, as I am not able to express
my views on any topic, they take me as less competent and tend to lose their trust on me. As I
cannot engage in effective feedback sharing sessions, they feel that I am disinterested in the
project and assume that I might withdrawn or not complete my projects effectively. The negative
perceptions about me affect my teamwork and in turn, the organisational mission and visions are
also affected.
Can you identify any contradictions from your analysis above?
I have conducted the Johari window where my introvert nature was identified as the skill
that was both known to me as well as known by the team members. My very close friends had
been able to identify my introvert nature and had advised me to overcome such nature gradually
as this might affect my future professional lives, therefore, I will retry my best to overcome my
introvert nature so that I can participate in team working effectively.

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How will this skill help me in the future?
Effective team working skill would help me to develop bonds and relationship with my
colleagues and would help me to work cooperatively (Ali et al., 2017). I would be able to
contribute my ideas and suggestions successfully and thereby would help my team members as
well as my organization to reach the zenith of success.
Second skill: Assertiveness
What is the core skill?
Assertiveness can be defined as the ability by which an individual professional develops
the ability to tell others of their feelings, beliefs, opinions, suggestions and needs in a honest
manner without hurting the emotions and feelings of others. Individuals with high level of
assertiveness can clearly express their concerns regarding the tasks that they are not comfortable
in doing and hence cannot perform them if assigned (Siu et al. 2017). Many researchers have
also described this as the ability by which individuals are able to stand up for themselves. Many
people are low on assertiveness that means that they feel guilty when they try to speak up for
themselves (Warland et al. 2014) . They are therefore seen to keep themselves quite which
makes them feel bad, hopeless and powerless. Individuals who are assertive are always found to
be self-assured and therefore they can gain power from this to get their point across firmly, fairly
and even with empathy.
Why is this core skill important?
When an individual is assertive, it would not be possible for any other employees to
exploit the former and take advantage of the individuals. This skill would also help the individual

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to be not easily intimidated by superiors who are bossy. When others realise that the assertive
individual is not open to any unethical or irrelevant demands and requests and is sincere and
truthful, they will start respecting the individual (Fullagar and Demourti 2016). Moreover, those
individuals who are high on assertive skills are also seen to effectively control their emotions and
maintain a proper workplace environment. Assertive people become more successful in setting
boundaries that adds clarity in professional relationships. It also helps the individuals to build
their judgements and thereby improve their body language (Charoensap et al., 2016). It also
gives the individuals the confidence to ask for what they want and teaches them to deny
accepting any unethical requests.
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill
I am quite low on assertiveness level and therefore I am not able to deny any requests that
are done by my friends and colleagues. A dear friend of mine takes advantage of my poor
assertiveness power and always requests me to complete his part of the work stating of his
personal problems. In many cases, I have found out that he lies about his personal issues but I
had never been able to confront him on this topic. I feel bad to turn him down and therefore
always accept his request. Therefore, I have decided to develop my assertiveness level and do
not allow anyone to mis-utilize my potential. I will go through important internet resources,
evidence-based articles and would engage in discussion sessions with my mentors to develop my
assertiveness skills. I believe if I am able to improve my-self awareness and self-confidence, I
will be able to develop my assertiveness.

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Can you identify any contradictions from your analysis above?
I had conducted Johari window analysis that had helped me to understand that I am quite
poor in my self-awareness skills as well as my self-confidence skills. Therefore, these may be the
main contributing factors for which I do not have high level of assertiveness.
How will this skill help me in the future?
This skill is extremely important for future endeavours. This is mainly because it helps an
individual to thrive successfully in place even when the situation becomes ambiguous (Creswell
et al. 2015) . These individuals are able to stand up for themselves in ways that does not hurt
other feelings. This would help me to be transparent in my feelings with my colleagues as well as
engage in clear and honest communication. I would be also able to generate positive results by
controlling my immediate environment effectively in a positive manner.
Third skill: Time management
What is the core skill?
Time management skill can be defined as the skill by which individuals develop the
capability to organize as well as plan about proper dividing of time between different specific
activities that the individual need to conduct. Researchers are of the opinion that good time
management skills help people to act smarter and not act harder (Certo et al. 2018). Therefore,
such individuals are able to complete more amount of work in less time even when the time is
short and pressures are high. Failure of management of time results in damaging the
effectiveness and causing stress in the individuals. In short, this skill can be defined as the
procedures by which an individual is able to organize and thereby plan specific amount of time

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that he or she would be allocating for specific tasks for their speedy completion. Researchers are
of the opinion that time management skills help tasks seems less daunting to professionals and
more organized (Grissom et al. 2015). This would help the individuals to complete the task in a
timely manner and in a more productive manner.
Why is this core skill important?
The different benefits that remain associated with effective time management skills are
greater productivity and efficiency in the organisation. Moreover, those individuals who can
mange time effectively are never seen to miss deadlines and complete their work on time that
results them in gaining better professional reputation. Moreover, as these individuals are able to
complete the work on time, such individuals are seen to go through less stress. Such individual
also have increased opportunities for advancement in their lives (Bolden 2016). The individuals
who have proper time management skills are seen to achieve important life as well as career
goals that help them to reach the peak of success in their lives (Wilson 2018). They are never
seen to miss deadlines for which the organisations never suffer loss and go into crisis period.
Individuals who are seen to fail miserably in time management are seen to suffer from inefficient
workflow, poor work quality, poor professional reputation and high stress levels.
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill
I am quite efficient in time management. From the early period in my life, I had always
been very active in my work activities and always used to plan my schedule in the early morning
of the day. I use to allocate specific time slots to each of my activities. I used to adhere by the
division of the time slots very leniently and therefore, I always completed my work in a timely
and disciplined manner. The habit of mine has helped me to develop time management skills

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efficiently. With my effective time management skills, I can always adhere to the deadlines
given to me and completed them within time. Therefore, my mentors are always very happy with
the responsibility the assignments that they give to me as I complete them efficiently. Therefore,
my productivity is very high, for which the organisation can meet its goals effectively.
Can you identify any contradictions from your analysis above?
I have assessed the appraisal data, post-academic reports and absenteeism data that have
also reported the same result about my time management skills. My colleagues also praise me
about this skill and want to know how they can develop such skills like me.
How will this skill help me in the future?
In my future endeavours, time management skills would help me to complete my tasks,
jobs or projects within the tome without missing the deadlines. This would help me to increase
my productivity and develop reputation (Brundiers and Wiek 2017). I also may be appointed to
the level of manager, as I would be able to help my employees complete the task within timeline
helping them to achieve goals successfully.
Fourth skill: Feedback sharing and receiving skills
What is the core skill?
Feedback giving and receiving skills are mainly considered to be an important aspect of
effective communication skills. Researchers are of the opinion that when individuals engage in
effective feedback and giving skills, interpersonal conversations become effective, as both the
members feel respected and cared for (Brink and costigan 2015). In teamwork, it is mainly seen
to be an important aspect as it helps individuals in not only developing their skills and

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knowledge but also helps in providing innovative ideas by which problems can be solved much
easily.
Why is this core skill important?
Feedback is considered to be important in every organisation as constructive feedback
has the capacity to help people realise their mistakes or help them to develop their quality of
work on a better way. Moreover, constructive feedback also has the calibre to motivate people in
such a way by which they can work beyond their potential and achieve the targets much easily
(Meulenbroek et al. 2016). Feedback is extremely important as leaders can use effective
feedback sharing procedures by which they can help in improvement of the employees working
under the team. Moreover, it is also seen to be an effective method of receiving suggestions as
different employees coming from different backgrounds can suggest new ideas as effective
feedback giving that can help in development of productivity of the organisation and helping the
organisations to overcome crisis (Delaney et al. 2017). Feedback is an effective tool for
continued learning where employees are able to align with the goals, create strategies,
improvement of relationships, develop products and even service improvements.
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill
I have moderate level of feedback giving and receiving skills as I can participate in
constructive feedback and receiving sessions. However, one backlog that I have is that I often
become defensive when someone suggests me to develop my professional attribute. It becomes
very difficult for me to accept it and therefore, I tend to argue when someone criticises my skills.
This sends negative vibes to the speaker and he withdraws himself in order to avoid conflict.

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Therefore, I need to be open towards criticism, as such, criticism would help me to develop my
attributes and prepare me as a better professional for future.
Can you identify any contradictions from your analysis above?
Both johari window and feedback from my peers had helped me to identify this issue.
How will this skill help me in the future?
In future, if I get promoted to managerial as well as leadership role, this skill would be
extremely helpful. This would help me to engage with my team where I can help my
subordinates to develop their skills and they could provide me effective feedback by which I can
achieve the organizational target or manage entire projects effectively (Prince et al. 2015).
Summary and action plan:
From the entire discussion above, I have easily identified four important skills that need
to be developed by me. These are the feedback exchange skills, team-working skills and my
assertiveness level. It has been found that apart from the feedback skills (on which I score
moderate), other skills are also not developed enough and these may become a barrier in my
pathway towards professional success. Therefore, I need to develop action plan on these three
important weaknesses that I have identified through these requirements. However, I have
identified that my time management skill is high and therefore, I will try my best to keep up with
such skills so that I can benefit from it in my future endeavors.

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Goals: development of assertiveness, feedback giving and receiving skills and team-working
skills
Specific: I will be joining workshop in my community that helps professionals to help them
develop their professional skills. The mentors there take regular assessment and practical classes
to make individual future-ready for their professional lives. I will be working on these three
attributes mainly. Besides, I will go through evidence-based articles where the researchers have
given recommendations that help individuals to develop their particular attributes and come out
as successful professional.
Measurable: the workshop takes examination on a weekly basis and therefore the marks of this
assignment will help me to know how well I am developing my skills. In addition, I would take
feedback from the enter so that I can understand how much I have developed and how much I
need to work more on this attributes. Moreover, I can also reflect on my improvements.
Reflection is an important tool that gives good amount of information about elf developments
well (Lippman et al. 2015).
Attainable:
The workshop is present within the community and is help in the evening session. Therefore, it is
attainable for me as I could complete my university in the afternoon and attend the workshops in
the evening. Moreover, it is within a walking distance and therefore, it would be also require less
time for me to go there. Moreover, the money required for admission is also affordable. I have
free access to digital library in my university from where I can easily search or the important
articles required by me. Therefore, the actions are all attainable.

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Relevant:
Joining workshop classes would be relevant, as I would be training under eminent mentors. I will
be under their guidance and they would be helping me to realize my mistakes. They would also
help me to learn how to overcome my barriers and come out victorious. The evidence based
articles are easier ways to get accommodated with the organizational behaviors expected on the
modern generation and the recommendations there would help me to develop myself in a way by
which I can match up to the requirement with proper sets of skills.
Timeframe: This would be completed with 5 to six months.

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