Understanding Self and Others: Effective Communication

This assignment emphasizes the importance of understanding oneself and others in various aspects. It suggests that individuals should develop self-awareness by communicating with others, receiving feedback, and acknowledging their weak points. Assistance from people surrounding them can also help gain knowledge about different aspects. The assignment provides references to books and journals that support this concept.

Understanding Self
and Others

Executive Summary
Understanding self and others refers to connection in between people so that they can motivate
themselves as well as others. This comprises of wide range of techniques such as charismatic,
transformation and many others which will aid to deepen the values associated with core
beliefs. This report will cover 4 different skills which a person needs to have while working on a
project, or performing at workplace. Furthermore, it will look into different aspects that are linked
with positive and negative aspects at the same time (Baron-Cohen, Tager-Flusberg and
Lombardo, 2013).

Table of Contents
Executive Summary.....................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................5
What is the core skill to develop?............................................................................................................6
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant theories and
concepts to support your answer)...........................................................................................................6
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)...................................................................6
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?..........................................................................7
How might this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)........................7
What is the core skill to develop?............................................................................................................8
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant theories and
concepts to support your answer)...........................................................................................................8
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 behaviors to answer this question).....................................................................8
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?..........................................................................9
How might this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)........................9
What is the core skill to develop?..........................................................................................................11
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant theories and
concepts to support your answer).........................................................................................................11
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).................................................................11
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?........................................................................12
How might this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)......................12
What is the core skill to develop?..........................................................................................................13
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant theories and
concepts to support your answer).........................................................................................................13

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).................................................................13
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?........................................................................14
How might this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)......................14
Summary...............................................................................................................................................15
Personal development Plan...................................................................................................................16
CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................................17
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................................18
INTRODUCTION
Understanding self and others can be defined as ways in which individual can judge
oneself and others on basis of certain points like attitude, knowledge, skills and many others
(Tennant, 2012). This will help individual to know more about themselves, by which they can

acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses. This assignment is based on different skills which
should be possessed by individual, why they are required, assessment from others and
contradiction with what other thinks about individual and what individual thinks about
themselves. Furthermore, summary is presented which describes strengths and weaknesses of
skills and what all skills are must to be developed.
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY PRO-FORMA 1

What is the core skill to develop?
There are different skills which must be developed before entering into a professional world so
that individual can have competitive edge. As per me I would like to develop this skill:
 Focus and attention: This is important skill as without focus nothing can be attained
in life and for this it is mandatory to have some goal towards which I can work with all
my efforts. When goal is clear then it becomes easy to focus and all my attention will
be on its achievement.
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant
theories and concepts to support your answer)
There is a reason behind each skill I have chosen to develop. I know my flaws and know what
I have to develop by which I will be able to attain my goals after my studies. These skills are
essential for me as focus and attention will provide me where I want to go and what can be
done to attain that. Focus and attention is crucial as without this nothing can be attained. An
example can be taken to understand this perspective. Like being a student, many things
influences and goals changes like if a new technology comes within market, my goal changes
like I want to become a python developer when android came my goal was to become Android
developer and when there was growth in other sectors I wanted to get into that sector. This
means there is no stability and focus which can be seen from example that there is fluctuation
in goals. For this it is mandatory to be focused so that I can work from this moment to attain
particular goal (Foucault, Davidson and Burchell, 2010).
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)
At present as per my views and others reflection is provided on basis of these skills.
Skills Feedback

Tutors Peers Me
Focus & attention Careless attitude
towards different
activities.
Not focused,
remains confused
with respect to
future.
Focused for few
days but again goal
changes if any
problem arises.
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?
Perspectives vary from individual to individual. Everyone has their own point of view either
its related with person or some situation (Komives and Wagner, 2016). As per above
feedback , given by tutors, peers what they think about me is similar in some manner to what I
think. I need to work on this so that I can have affirmative result from tutor and peers. By
going through the information which has been shown above there exists higher prospect that
contradictions have been identified. Tutor has mentioned that that I have a careless attitude but
it is wrong as I am serious in class room but towards my goal or aim I am nor attentive. I have
been curious to know that what other are doing so that I can attain knowledge with respect to
same.
How might this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument).
Focus is something that is needed at every level while carrying out a project or any other
responsibility. This type of scale will lead me to be an influential person due to high
concentration on specific area. This will lead me to reach the details of project which will lead
to reduction within risk associated with break in submission.
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY PRO-FORMA 2

What is the core skill to develop?
In this context the following skill can be developed
 Time management: Nothing can be attained if time is not managed properly suppose
after completing my education I want to give entrance exam to enter into Google, but if
I am not prepared within certain time limit then I won’t be able to get into that position
and after some time I may not be eligible for same profile. I have to learn time
management skill so that I can attain my goal. This also indicates that I lack focus and
attention (Baron-Cohen, Tager-Flusberg and Lombardo, 2013).
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant
theories and concepts to support your answer)
Time management will assist me to manage my skills in a way that after completion of my
studies I can grab my goal. I have analyzed that time do not stop for anyone while carrying out
tasks. Handling of every activity within peculiar time leads to accomplish task within time
such as submission of college project within peculiar time frame which is given by tutor. A
theory is given by Pareto and known as 80/20 rule. By this rule I have found that it depends on
input and output which hardly fits with one other. Thus, both input and output of job or task
comprises of uncertainty with imbalance factor. To understand this an example can be taken
such as I am doing my project and in this need to give my 20% efforts through which 80%
results can be attained. It is essential for me to acquire this skill so that I can complete my
project within time.
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 behaviors to answer
this question)
At present as per my views and others reflection is provided on basis of these skills.
Skills Feedback

Tutors Peers Me
Time management Works on deadline,
but need start working
with time so that at
end moment any
problem do not occur.
Works at last
moment which
creates lots of stress.
I like to work within
time but it is not like
that I start working
from starting but I
think work must be
completed doesn’t
matter when it was
started and end. It
should be before
deadline.
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?
Depending upon findings I do not start working when projects are assigned but I try to
complete them before deadline. I have to acquire this skill so that it can benefit me in near
future in context of business or job. As per the feedback I have been completing my project on
the last date only. Therefore, I need to improve my this skill so that if any problem is faced by
me then I can complete it before deadline by having effectual guidelines from tutor and peers.
By taking into consideration the information I found that analysis given by tutor and my
investigation are similar in some manner. Thereby, I can see contractions within feedback
given by peers as well as self analysis.
How might this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument).
By this I can execute all tasks as well as programs at specified duration of time.

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY PRO-FORMA 3

What is the core skill to develop?
At present scenario, it is crucial for me to acknowledge myself by taking reviews from people.
This skill has been illustrated below
 Giving and receiving feedback: I hardly give feedback as I don’ want offend anyone
as I know that people do not like when anyone interrupts them or tell them about their
weaknesses. I am not open to feedback I don’t like when someone points out at me but
sometimes it seems that if I will listen what other says about me then it will help me to
grow in a better.
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant
theories and concepts to support your answer)
Receiving feedback will let me to acknowledge my weaknesses by which I can know what
needs to be improved (Dzhogleva and Lamberton, 2014). Giving feedback will assist me to
find flaws in myself and help them to overcome those, this will also help me to identify
whether I need to improve that point in myself or not. By acknowledging my weaknesses I can
work on them to transform into strengths.
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)
At present as per my views and others reflection is provided on basis of these skills.
Skills Feedback
Tutors Peers Me
Giving and
receiving feedback
Hardly talks with other
and when it comes to
own listens to tutors
but sometimes gather
certain good things
and more often
Not open to negative
comments. It is not
harmful but still
thinks how they
pointed out at me
and thinks that they
It’s true I am not
optimistic. I don’t
like when someone
says that you don’t
listen. I think its my
own life and I know

ignored. are biggest enemy. which way to go.
But at certain
moment of time I
feel that they are
right and they are
saying for my own
good.
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?
It has been analyzed that I am not open to feedback or reviews given by tutor and peers. I
know that it will assist me to improve myself. As per tutor I ignore negative comments but by
acknowledging them I can make relevant improvisation in myself.
How might this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument).
This skill will aid me to develop myself by receiving reviews given by tutors and peers.

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY PRO-FORMA 4

What is the core skill to develop?
Team work leads to make person more productive within organization. Sustainability of an
individual can be reduced while working as a single unit but becoming a pack will lead to
attain desired result.
 Team working: Sometimes it feels like it is better to work alone as I can work on my
own terms and conditions and with my own ideas. But sometimes it becomes difficult
as no one can find flaws in their work and it becomes difficult to identify whether it is
feasible to attain definite goal by certain method or not. For this I need to develop this
skill by which I will gain knowledge in other perspectives also (Baumeister, 2013).
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 have found that team working has important role in an organization. I have chosen this skill
as at present scenario I am not not able to work with other people. For this Tuckman's theory
has been given which comprises of four stages. They includes, orientation, testing stage which
defines period that has been defined by a degree of conflict. This then leads to socially
cohesive phase. Finally groups are established to a functional phase in which emphasis is on
role relatedness. To summaries this Tuckman coined terms such as forming, storming,
norming and performing.
Apart from this, Johari Window can be used for building relations with other team member.
This will assist me as well as entire team to attain stipulated goals and objectives within
specified time duration. I have observed that, there exists wide range of elements which
included blind spot, open area as well as hidden and unknown area through which I found
exact position of team. It will also aid me to acquire skills such as knowledge, coordination
and cooperation with reference to various aspects. Team work will help me to work with
different people who may be from different cultures, countries or many more, this will also
help me to grow, like become a team leader within short interval of time.

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)
At present as per my views and others reflection is provided on basis of these skills.
Skills Feedback
Tutors Peers Me
Team work He has knowledge
about different
perspectives and when
he will work within
team those ideas can
give enhanced results
as his ideas can be
polished by others.
He can work within
a team effectively
but only drawback is
that he wants to
work on his own
terms and conditions
which is always not
possible.
I like to work with
my own ideas, terms
and conditions that
is the reason I hardly
work within a team
as there are certain
rules and regulations
which I don’t think
should be followed
when you want to
grow as experiments
needs to be done,
then only one can
know about practical
feasibility.
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?
From present competencies, it has been observed that I am not good at team working and this
is the reason that I need to build up this skill in short time frame as it will aid me to
accomplish project within specified time duration. It is not bad to take guidance from others as
they may assist me to accomplish this task in stipulated time duration. As per the tutor, same
that by working within team my performance can be improvised.
How might this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument).
While working within a organization I have work in a team. It will assist me to execute my
responsibilities in appropriate manner. But on the other hand, it can be risky to adopt to a
change. Thereby, by adoption of changes can lead to have better results.

Summary
Till now four skills have been discussed, they are focus and attention, time management,
giving and receiving feedback and team working. They have their own strengths and
disadvantages. Focus and attention assist in focusing on individuals or team goals. It assists in
concentrating on one rather them diverting to what others are doing and how they are doing.
Team working assist in working with different people whose objective is same and they work as
a single unit for attaining their goals. Time management skill will aid to complete goal in
required time duration which will also result in high efficiency. While working within a team
giving and receiving feedback assists a lot as by giving a feedback other person can change their
way of working and by receiving a feedback individual can overcome their own weakness which
will assist complete team to accomplish their goals. As such there are no disadvantages but still
then there are some while working within a team. Like if a single individual is not focused
towards their own job role then it will become difficult for entire team to complete their project.
Conflicts can arise within a team if mutual decision will not occur.
Action Plan
GOAL PLAN TO REACH
GOAL
Ratings given to self How can I improve it
To enhance team
working skills
My plan is to attain
almost 9 rating from
10 within 5 months
3 out of 10. Making use of Johari
Window approach as
well as spend more
time with team
members.
To improvise time
management skills.
At least 8 point from
10 will be beneficial
for this.
7 out of 10. Along with this Johari
window approach can
be utilized for the
same.
To increase focus as
well as attention skills
Priority level plan will
aid me to attain 10
ratings within period
of around 10 months.
6 by 10 With respect to this I
can make use of yoga
and meditation skills.
By developing
appropriate behavior
as well as knowledge

with respect to certain
aspect will lead me to
manage time as extra
time will not be
required for
completing them.
Strengths:
Communication is the is one of the crucial skill which is possessed by me which aids to
connect with people. Along with this, I have strong decision making skill which yields
affirmative results. This aids me to get out of certain problems which occurs in day to day
activities. Like by looking into decisions made by me in past will lead me to take effectual
decisions at present.
Weaknesses:
Time management, team working and focus and concentration skills along with time
management needs enhancement so that I can accomplish given tasks at given duration of time.
All these factors have caused negative impact on entire performance.
Personal development Plan
Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Timely
Development
Area 1
I want to
enhance my
skill set with
respect to
priorities
within time.
Activities
which were
performed by
me
previously
took less
time.
I used to
complete my
tasks late
than
formulated
time.
Analytical
formulation
of targets as
well as
situation
depending
upon task.
Around 1
year.
Development
Area 2
Concentration
level must be
Around 30%
of
Required
skills are
It is
important as
At least 7
months

improvised by
20% from
existing.
improvement
in needed
with respect
to this skill.
beneficial for
higher post.
within given
time frame
concentration
as well as
performance
of entire
organization
gets affected.
Development
Area 3
Team work
must be
improvised by
30%
Near about
40%
improvement
will be made
with respect
to this skill.
This skill
will make
my work
smoother and
easier by
assistance of
others.
It is crucial as
this will lead
me to acquire
wide range of
knowledge.
Around 3 to
4 months.
CONCLUSION
From above it can be concluded that, it is essential for individual to understand
themselves and others. This will assist them to know them and simultaneously develop what they
lack. For this individual need to communicate with others by which they can receive feedback
and review, this will aid them to acknowledge their weak points and develop them in themselves
effectively. Furthermore, assistance can be taken from people surrounding them to know more
about them and gain knowledge about various aspects.