Understanding People and Organizations

Understanding People and Organizations
Reflective Journal 2

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Reflective Journal 2: Clifton Strengths Finder by Gallup
Self-awareness plays a very essential role in discovering our natural talents and helps
attain success in our studies and career ahead. When we have an understanding of our strengths
our chances of getting selected in a job increase and we end up doing what we actually like doing
(Trivellas, Gerogiannis & Svarna, 2013). The Clifton Strengths Finder talents survey by Gallup
is a useful tool to identify strengths and work in them in the future. I have learnt a lot about
myself after using this tool and attending the coaching sessions. I learnt about my skills, my
talents, my reasons for joy and things that always kept me alive. I learnt what I was passionate
about and how I was distracted by things that were not meant to be for me. It was such great
experience learning with my coach who supported me at each step and pushed me to challenge
the possibilities and shine with all the light I already had within. I was really feeling proud of
myself of being so strong and adapting to changing situations so easily. After I discovered my
strengths I learned how I can develop them in a professional way for a bright future. The
assessment was totally practical, interactive and helped me get most out of it. The courses and
survey also provided me with a direction to diverse my skills in a professional context and attain
training ideas.
After I saw the results of my survey, I was really shocked at first. This was not because
they were far away from reality but as they were so accurate. I felt like I have written the
descriptions for each of those five talents on my own. I immediately turned the screen of the
computer and showed the description of Positivity. Her initial response was, ‘Wow! You are
positive all the time!’ She then started reminding me all of the times I used to say that,
‘everything happens for a reason’ and ‘it will work out in the ways you never imagined’. I
laughed how I never knew this was my talent and I radiated positivity throughout with my
personality and smile around people. The description was perfect for what I was as a person. I
continued to scroll down through the strengths report and I had a similar kind of reaction by
viewing my other strengths as well. Honestly, I really liked discovering myself through such
assessments as receiving relevant results are satisfying.
Once I asked my family friends to write affirmations about me and they started doing the
same and mailed them to me. After seeing those I felt overjoyed and humbled. I could not

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believe the amazing things they said about me. I was really feeling proud about the person I am
who depict talent themes of Adaptability, Harmony, Positivity, Developer and Restorative.
Because of these strengths I adapt easily to situations, stay happy, give more to others and feel
free. This then helps me to achieve my goals and find solutions.
I have always seen myself as a developer because I enjoy recognize and cultivate the
potential in others. This is the strength I resonate with the most. I like to help people improve by
recognizing signs of small progress. This helps me to get satisfaction seeing their progress. My
mom acknowledged this ability of mine, ‘to help younger children and my natural curiosity of
the world’. She tells me that ‘I am unique’ which supports me to inspire everyone and get the
best solutions. This is a skill that has defined by academic career throughout as it has allowed me
to find confidence in myself and vision big dreams. My open and talkative styles have always
helped me to get positive attention of everyone. My teammates have always told me that I was
supportive and inspiring. This is the reason why I want to be an entrepreneur in the future and
start my own venture. My father’s perspective of my talents showed me that it is just not the area
I am strong in, but a strength that is evident to the people who know me the best. I respect my
father as a mentor and I value his opinion. I feel honoured that my parents see my developer
mind as one of the keys to success.
Over the past few weeks, I have discovered that I have really not struggled to understand
academic concepts that were taught by our trainer. I have become more organized in order to
stay away from the mess and build my objectives. Also, I rarely struggle with time management.
My plans seem to execute in a better way and I get ample time to process my ideas in order to
complete my work on time. This is an accurate description of my Restorative strength (Schutte &
Loi, 2014). My mom always ascertained and told that ‘You solve my problems so easily and
quickly figure out what is wrong’. In the affirmations about me, my friends usually wrote
paragraphs describing me as supportive and how I was a good problem-solver. My friends’
views regarding me reminded me of those beautiful times and how much I miss them. I have
literally spent hours to solve the problems of my friends figuring all possible pros and cons.
Considering their thoughts in writing proved that my friends see me as a person they can go for
help and take my advice. This is because they trust my ability to see problems with the best view.
I feel privileged that this is something that I am known for.