Understanding Self and Others: A Reflective Journal on Personal Development

This reflective journal explores the importance of understanding oneself and others in personal development. Through a series of reflective journal entries, the author examines four core skills: focus and attention, team working, time management, and public speaking. Each entry includes a self-assessment, feedback from peers and a tutor, and an analysis of relevant theories and concepts. The journal concludes with a summary of strengths and weaknesses, and a personal development plan outlining specific actions to improve identified areas.

Understanding self and others
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Contents
Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................3
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................4
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY PRO-FORMA 1: Focus and Attention..................................4
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY PRO-FORMA 2: Team Working..........................................6
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY PRO-FORMA 3: Time Management....................................8
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY PRO-FORMA 4: Public Speaking......................................10
Summary and Action plan.............................................................................................................12
Personal Development Plan...........................................................................................................13
References......................................................................................................................................14
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Executive Summary
Understanding self and others areimportant so that things went done in the right direction. With a
proper understanding of own aspects, an individual becomes able to improve areas as well as
utilise key areas to accomplish their targets. By assessing weakness, each and every
drawbackdetermines properly so that things went done in the right and suitable direction and
modify with the signified course of time. This improvisation gets done by using various theories
and models so that each and every aspect fulfils their agreed wishes. Moreover, a personal and
professional development plan is helpful in defining each and every stance effectively and
improves them in the near future course. This results in made essential improvement in own
aspects so that effective understanding for others get done.
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Main Body
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY PRO-FORMA 1: Focus and Attention
What is the core skill to develop?
One of a major core skill which will need improvement is Focus and attention. I have to
maintain appropriate focus and attention towards aspects so that activities and operations get
done in a better manner. The focus is defining as such ability under which an individual
becomes able to gather and direct their attention. More focused individual enhance their
ability to improve their attention. This skill is essential to improve so that work gets done in a
better and effective manner.
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant
theories and concepts to support your answer)
This core skill is important for me to improve my future activities. This skill enables me in
enhancing my concentration towards various aspects so that defining results get
accomplished. This skill is chosen by me just because I found many times to lose my
concentration and focus from work. This resists my abilities to perform things properly and
choose wise decisions as well. With more focus and attention, my abilities to control mind
enhance and reflect positivity in operations. Problems solutions determine more
frequentlywith appropriate decision-making skills. One of an appropriate theory which
enables me to improve Focus and attention is Johri Window and taking feedback from peer
and Tutor.
Reflect on your current competence regarding this skill. How did you assess your
competence? (use your self-assessment findings, feedback from peers and your tutor,
plus your own reflections on your thoughts, feelings and behaviours to answer this
question)
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My current competencies against this skill are low relatively compared with others. Focus and
attention skill assess properly by taking feedback from peer and tutor. They
completelyreflected towards me that I have to work on my attribute properly. Sometimes, I
lose my focus while working on an object. My current competency is 3 out of 5 which need
improvement by taking feedbacks and using Johari Window.
Can you identify any contradictionsfrom your analysis above? For example, is there a
match between how you see yourself and how others see you, or not?
This skill affects my ability to perform things and operations properly as I lose my focus and
attention many times. This getsassess from my tutor and feedbacks from peers. There would
be no contradiction as all such sources are reliable for me. Others define that I have to work
on my focus and attention skills properly. Moreover, Johri Window considers as an essential
source which facilitates me to improve my focus and attention skills properly (Ryanand
Gottfried, 2017).
How might this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
Focus and attention help in the future course of the momentbecause there are certain benefits
are associated with this attribute. This will be going to support my professional career because
it will enhance my control over myself so that positive things gain properly (Guided Mind,
2018). Moreover, my problem-solving ability tends to improvise through which my
management and managerial career get improved. With such aspect, more clarity will be
going to take inability which facilitates to deliver proper message to others.
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REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY PRO-FORMA 2: Team Working
What is the core skill to develop?
Whenever working in an association to take place, a person needs to work on the teamwork.
A team identify a certain group or thread of individual which come together to meet a
common purpose (Open, 2018). Teams usually perform such task which is complex in nature
and hard to accomplish. Thus, I have to improve my team working attribute because with this
aspect I become able to manage diversecontext.
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant
theories and concepts to support your answer)
Team working is a core skill of mine because in future I will be going to work in an MNC.
Thus, for that consideration, I have to improve my team working skill. To improve this
aspect, I can use Belbin team working model as well as take feedback from team members
regarding work. But this skill quite improvement because in my college project I work
properly in a group presentation with 4 other individuals. But in an association, I have to
improve this skill properly by using such theories so that options to draw better working
perform.
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill. How did you assess your
competence? (use your self-assessment findings, feedback from peers and your tutor,
plus your own reflections on your thoughts, feelings and behaviours to answer this
question)
My current competency of this skill is 7 out of 10which facilitate in doing aspects properly. I
always put my complete efforts for team working projects so that effectiveness and efficiency
in task reflected properly. A major thing for team working is communication and coordination
between differ stances so that each and every factor perform properly. To assess competency I
have utilised PPD plan which assists in identifying and analysing competency against the
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various attribute. Moreover, PPD also provided to teammates so that they can provide own
views and aspects regarding my competency and performance while working as a team
member.
Can you identify any contradictions from your analysis above? For example, is there a
match between how you see yourself and how others see you, or not?
No, not so much contradictions found out from analysis and comparison of my skills and
others opinion. Yes, there is a match between how I see myself and other see me which obtain
through survey and distribution of PPD plan of mine. Like I rate myself 7 out of 10 whereas
others provided 8 out of 10. This is my strength but certain things need improvement so that a
better outcome would be assessed. This gets done by using Belbin team working model and
taking feedback from team members.
How might this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
This skill is helpful in future and creating my career as in any MNC, team working is
essential. In further future, I am going to be a part of the famous MNC where I have to work
in a team so that agreed and stated objectives get accomplished. By using this skill in regular
practice, my competency would be improved so that each and every stance gets accomplished
effectively (Al Salman and Hassan, 2016).Moreover, I also become able to utilise Belbin team
working model properly so that in near future it facilitates to draw effective and beneficial
outcome.
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REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY PRO-FORMA 3: Time Management
What is the core skill to develop?
Another core skill which needs working and little care is time management. Time
management is a procedure which facilitates and support managing and planning various
activities with proper time duration (Mind Tools, 2018). I have to understand this aspect so
that future-orientedtask and activities perform in an effective manner. Thus, it is a core skill of
mine which needs to develop and grow in an appropriate and effective manner.
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant
theories and concepts to support your answer)
This skill is important for me so that in future I am going to perform the task in desired time
duration. This skill gets selected by me to reflect as many times, I missed the deadlinefor
projects assigns by the authority to me. This made a negative influence on activities and
operation which not consider as appropriate in the frame. The aspect which aids in improving
stance properly is BlakeMoultonManagerialGrid. Under this theory, I become able to perform
activities under proper time frame so that better gain to be taken.
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill. How did you assess your
competence? (use your self-assessment findings, feedback from peers and your tutor,
plus your own reflections on your thoughts, feelings and behaviours to answer this
question)
I assess my time management skill and its competency is 4 out of 5. It is important for me to
work on my time management aspects where each and everythinggets design properly.
Assessment of my skill gets done by using a PPD plan as major toolkit which signifiesthe
rating of my attribute. This level is more than normal and suitable for me which required quite
care to work upon. Moreover, I also take assistance from my subordinates regarding time
management and they clearly stated to me that I have to work on it. I thought that I have to
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improvise time management skill properly so that each and every task performed properly.
Can you identify any contradictions from your analysis above? For example, is there a
match between how you see yourself and how others see you, or not?
Yes, I found a major contradiction from analysis of mine and of my colleagues. There is a
dissimilarity between my opinion and others opinion. Others rate me 2 out of 5 whereas my
rating was 4 out of 5. This signifies that I have to work on my skill so that future related
targets accomplished properly. Hence, I have to improve this skill properly by using a proper
skill which describes as Blake Moulton Managerial Grid.
How might this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
This skill improves my future career as incorporate time management is a must and essential
(Swanwick, 2017).With proper time management, I become able to divide work among team
members properly with appropriate deadlines.This skill comes into practice by the clear
formulation of checklist and plans regarding activities. Thus, to accomplish stated targets
properly, effective time management is must and improvement to drawn properly.
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REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY PRO-FORMA 4: Public Speaking
What is the core skill to develop?
A major core skill which needs proper and suitable development is public speaking. It is
important for an individual to speak in front of the public on a timely basis like at the time of
the meeting and another phase (Mind Tools, 2018). An appropriate public speaking person is
one which never gets hesitate in front of others while communicating any aspect. I have to
work on my public speaking as it needs improvement.
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant
theories and concepts to support your answer)
I already work on my every aspect but a major thing which needs some modification is public
speaking. All the time I speak clearly in front of others but a reflection to understand the
importance of this attribute for me consider as important. To improve my public speaking I
have to use MBIT theory which assists in enhancing my ability to speak in front of others in
more clear form.
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill. How did you assess your
competence? (use your self-assessment findings, feedback from peers and your tutor,
plus your own reflections on your thoughts, feelings and behaviours to answer this
question)
The current competency for public speaking of mine is 4 of 5. This gets assess by taking
feedback from peers, tutor so that they can reflect more properly views of their own regarding
me. Thus, my thought is just to work on such attribute properly so that my future related gains
tend to rise and improved in an effective manner. I feel so much positive when defining about
such skill as it will be going to enhance my ability to interact with others.
Can you identify any contradictions from your analysis above? For example, is there a
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match between how you see yourself and how others see you, or not?
No, there is not even a single frame of contradiction evaluated from my analysis. Others think
similar about me like I am thinking about me. They provide similar assessment so that things
not lead to modifying so much.
How might this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
This skill helps me in the future because as a leader I have to interact with individuals
properly. This results in me in dealing with others properly and communicates with each and
every single stance properly with others (Carnegie, 2017). Hence, my abilities to interact with
others get to develop with public speaking improvement in near future course of time.
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Summary and Action plan
It is important for a person to assess their own personal strength and weakness properly. By
evaluating them, an individual becomes able to work on such skills properly so that they could
operate in the further world effectively. Strength enables in accomplishing targets properly
whereas weakness held back an individual towards concern objectives (Ding, et. al., 2017). Thus,
to accomplishdesired targets, it is important to assess strength and weakness. There are various
theories get evaluated which support in overcoming from define weakness and drawbacks of a
person.
Strength:
Team working is a major skill of mine which supports in dealing with various individuals
properly and handles cooperative working as well. In this context, to provide more strength
towards work I can use Belbin team working model so that each and every stance perform
effectively. There are certain dimensions analyse for Belbin model which aids in crafting
appropriate team and suitable work.
The strength of mine is Public speaking. This assists me to interact with others and model which
will be going to use for this perspective is the MBIT theory. With this theory, an individual
becomes aware to get to know regarding the typeof personality they specially belong to(Kaye,
2018).
Weakness:
One of a major weakness is focus and attention which need improvement so that it will be going
to aid in a future scenario. This gets improved through Johri Window so that each and every
aspect gets done properly. Johari Window enables me to understand the relationship of mine
with other so that a proper evaluation of things gets done.
Another skill is time management which needs to improvise and consider as a major weakness of
mine. This gets modify by using Blake Moulton Managerial Grid. By using such Grid proper
understanding of the style of working evaluated so that excellence would be brought down in
projects.
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Personal Development Plan
Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Timely
Focus and
attention
Improve my
focus so that
things get
properly
understand.
Measure by
taking
feedbacks
from peers as
well as create
a table for
proper
assessing.
The work on
this skill gets
done through
proper focus
by taking
classes of
meditation.
With proper
focus and
attention
towards
targets each
and every
aspect fulfil
properly.
This need to
achieve
within one
month; 31st
September
2018
Time
management
Manage
things to meet
the deadlines
of the project.
Create a
balanced
scorecard as
well as take
feedbacks
from
managers.
By using
Blake
Moulton
Managerial
Grid this
target is
relevant to
concern issue.
Formulation
of schedule
task get
accomplished
and finished
on time.
Accomplish
within two
months till 1st
October 2018
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References
 Al Salman, W. and Hassan, Z., 2016. Impact of Effective Teamwork on Employee
Performance.
 Carnegie, D., 2017. How to develop self-confidence and influence people by public
speaking. Simon and Schuster.
 Ding, M.H., Tang, Y.H., Wang, L., Ma, D.Q. and Wang, R.G., 2017, September. A study
of tensile residual strength of composite laminates under different patch-repaired series.
In IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering(Vol. 242, No. 1, p.
012018). IOP Publishing.
 Guided Mind, 2018. 6 Benefits of Being More Focused. [Online]. Available through:
https://www.guidedmind.com/blog/6-benefits-of-being-more-focused. [Accessed on 1
August 2018].
 Kaye, J., 2018. Why I Use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) in Public Speaking
Coaching. [Online]. Available through: https://speakupforsuccess.com/mbti-and-speaker-
coaching/. [Accessed on 1 August 2018].
 Mind Tools, 2018. Better Public Speaking. [Online]. Available through:
https://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/PublicSpeaking.htm. [Accessed on 1 August
2018].
 Mind Tools, 2018. What Is Time Management? [Online]. Available through:
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_00.htm. [Accessed on 1 August
2018].
 Open, 2018. Team working. [Online]. Available through:
http://www.open.ac.uk/choose/unison/develop/my-skills/team-working. [Accessed on 1
August 2018].
 Ryan, T.G. and Gottfried, J., 2017. Elementary supervision and the supervisor: Teacher
attitudes and inclusive education. International Electronic Journal of Elementary
Education, 4(3), pp.563-571.
 Swanwick, T., 2017. Leadership theories and concepts. ABC of Clinical Leadership,
pp.9-19.
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