Understanding Self & Others: A Reflective Journey on Core Skills for Personal Development

This reflective journal explores the importance of core skills like teamwork, time management, giving and receiving feedback, and resilience for personal development. Through self-assessment and analysis, the author identifies strengths and weaknesses in each area, creating a two-year personal development plan to enhance these skills. This study emphasizes the crucial role of self-awareness and interpersonal skills in navigating personal and professional challenges, fostering growth, and achieving success.

Understanding Self & Others

Contents
Executive summary.........................................................................................................................1
Reflective journal entry for Team Work.........................................................................................2
Reflective journal entry for time management................................................................................5
Reflective Journal entry for Giving and Receiving feedback..........................................................7
Reflective journal entry for Resilience............................................................................................9
Summary & action plan.................................................................................................................12
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15

Executive summary
Self development is everybody’s mission because to cop up with the changing world with the
success it is really crucial to understand self as individual with internal and external quality and
skill development. Increased completion, globalisation, increases stress level demands the strong
personality who can face this adversity and become the successful. For the individual
development everybody needs or requires some skills or competencies that make him unique and
for that self assessment is must so here in this study it is given about those important skills which
are necessary for individual development with strengths and weakness assessment.
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Reflective journal entry for Team Work
What is the core skill to develop?
In team work, employees combine their individual skills to pursue their organisational &
individual goals. It includes helping, guiding, persuading and sharing openly with strong
willingness, showing an active participation, being flexible and showing strong commitment. It
is crucial part of business as it is necessary for colleagues for performing together and to try with
their best efforts in every circumstance (Eubanks, et.al, 2016).
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on?
Performing in a team is very important as companies are more likely for performing well when
their workforce work in efficient manner as team. An effective team working skill creates
synergy that is combined efforts and impacts apart from that it enhances organizational
performance in terms of production. As Belbin’s theory of team roles defines the role of team
that are very important and crucial for individual & organizational development.
According to this theory a team plays different roles such as;
 Shaper – it is the role of driving work forward and gets things done. This role gives clear
idea of the desired direction of travel.
 Implementer – this role is also to get things done and looks for ways for turning talk into
action and creates practical activity.
 Finisher – this role focuses on finishing tasks and finding the loose ends.
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 Coordinator – it is the role of managing group dynamics especially in a leadership role.
 Team worker – this role helps to perform effectively by providing supportive personal
relationships.
 Resource investigator – this role works for collecting resources and information to
support the team.
 Plant – it is the role that generates ideas and solutions not necessary all are practical.
 Evaluator – this role critically evaluates and monitors the ideas and proposals for decision
making.
 Specialist - this brings expert knowledge for the members for effective functioning.
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill. How did you assess your competence?
For team work an effective communication is must and most essential competency because if
any individual is not able to communicate no team work is achieved. Teamwork gives increased
productivity and sense of morale and this is only possible with good communication. If the
communication channels in teams are properly established and flow of information is easy
between teammates then it increases the ability of staff members in terms of interacting. If the
communication is effective team will perform its duties in a better manner (Mathieu, et.al, 2014).
In team it is very easy to asses own communication skills as an individual can easily check that
important things are communicated or not by asking to others, peers and superiors.
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?
Poor communication is the major contradictory situation and it outcome generates as conflict
among the team. If things are not communicated in a manner that the others can understand
actual things it means there is something lacking in being effective. Peers can feel it if they are
not aware from the important issues. If an individual is not able to interact with the superior it
creates the situation of dissatisfaction (Kong and Ko, 2017)
How might this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
Team work skill is very essential for future growth as everywhere every task is assigned on the
team basis and every organisation is nothing but a team of its members as employees so for any
individual if he/she wants success and development of capabilities and abilities it is must
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required skill to develop. Team work boosts the morale and individual with boosted morale can
work in more efficient and effective manner that ultimately gives the desired outcomes in terms
of individual future benefit and organisational benefits as well.
4

Reflective journal entry for time management
What is the core skill to develop?
Time management is defined as process of planning and exercising control, of time spent on
some particular activities, that conscious, for increasing effectiveness, efficiency with increased
productivity. This skill is really helpful in getting result on timely basis with stress free
condition. Individual needs to effective in prioritising the task with effective planning in
proactive basis (Kong and Ko, 2017)
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on
Time management is very important skills to have for stress free actions, works can be
categorized and according to that planning can be done.
It is theory or matrix that is according to Covey, this theory says about two main criteria on
which tasks are evaluated that are Urgency and Importance. Urgent tasks need immediate
attention; important one gives contribution to the mission, values and goals of individual or
organization. Quadrant II includes relationship building, to identify opportunities, planning and
prevention. Quadrant I is not considerable that is filled with crisis; Quadrant III includes
interruptions and unnecessary meetings; and IV Quadrant includes busy work and time wasters.
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill. How did you assess your
competence?
Time management is the most important skill while someone is thinking to achieve his/her goals
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on timely basis. Time management decreases the stress level because stress is the major issue
when activities are not competed on timely basis so for stress free condition it is really required
to achieve goals on timely basis (Mathieu, et.al, 2014). Prioritising activities helps in smooth
planning in proactive basis so if any unexpected thing is occurred its solution can be found in
easy manner with appropriate basis. Timely result can be helpful to assess this skill.
Can you identify any contradictions from your analysis above?
If any individual wants to achieve his/her desired outcome he/she needs to manage or priorities
the task or activities with effective schedule. The effective management needs planning in
proactive basis with dividing the activities in urgent and important basis. This time management
skill helps to work with free mind and with efficiency and quick solution for problem.
How will this skill help me in the future?
For individual development in terms of career development or personal development, time
management plays an important role as if someone works with time management strategy he/she
would be able to attain his/her goal that lead towards the growth as promotions because desired
outcomes can be found through the time management skill (Kowalski, 2017)
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Reflective Journal entry for Giving and Receiving feedback
What is the core skill to develop?
Giving and receiving feedback is very clear and effective skill that improves the situation or the
individual’s performance and being harsh, critical and offensive this cannot be achieve. It can be
defined as art to make understand someone about his/her attributes and any weaken side in
positive manner so efforts can be made towards that (Prater and Allen, 2016)
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on?
Feedback is valuable information that is used to take important decision at every level. Feedback
can be defined as process through which something can be communicated to the others about the
behavior, output, work, attitude and etc.
 Feedback can improve performance
 feedback is always there
 Feedback is effective listening
 Feedback motivates
 Feedback improves performance
 Feedback is a tool to learn continuously
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill. How did you assess your
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competence?
Listening about the self negatives and positives works very rightly for personal development as it
shows the path on which an individual needs to go, listening skills or receiving feedback must be
in a manner that it is taken on serious note to put more on the weaken side and turn this weaken
side into strength side. Apart from that giving feedback is also must be in a way that the other is
really changing his/her negative side into positive side. The feedback also must be descriptive,
on behavior and in simple manner (Eppich, et.al, 2015)
Can you identify any contradictions from your analysis above?
If any individual makes same mistakes again and again regarding the task, attitude and behavior
it means he/she did not receive his/her feedback well or someone did not effectively give them
the right feedback. If in any organization it is not working well it is reflecting the scenario where
communication procedure is not happening in appropriate manner so people are not able to give
or receive feedback in proper manner with positive desires.
How might this skill help me in the future?
Receiving feedback is very essential part of the success every successful person has this quality
to listen carefully and selecting the best and the right feedbacks for the self development. If any
individual wants long lasting success and growth he/she has to be capable enough to take his/her
feedback positively o grow as feedback provides the pros and cons so person can utilize this for
personal growth and development.
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Reflective journal entry for Resilience
What is the core skill to develop?
Resilience is a skill that shows an individual’s ability to adapt to stress and adversity. It can be
personal or professional stress that can be generating for any reason.
It is a reaction that an individual do at the time of facing challenges.
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on?
The Resilience theory says that resilience is determined by both the factors risk and protective as
well.
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The risk factors that pose threat to caregiver resilience and mental health such as isolation,
stigma, occupational restrictions and other factors (Yates, et.al, 2015)
The protective factors are those which foster or facilitate the resilience with positive conditions.
It improves the caregiver’s response to stress and strain, producing positive outcome.
 Acceptance
 Hardiness
 Mastery
 Optimism
 Self efficacy
These are the protective factors which have to be focused by individual in terms of enhancing
them.
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill. How did you assess your
competence?
Resilience is very essential as so many changes in society and business are taking place that
creates difficulties for self and organizational development. It is an individual ability for adaption
the stress and providing solutions to the problems & hurdles. If an individual is giving his/her
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100% in adverse situation also that means he/she possesses the resilience skill.
Can you identify any contradictions from your analysis above?
Sometimes it may happen that an individual cannot cop up with the stress and adverse situation
but this kind of scenario always makes him/her weak in terms of delivering performance.
How might this skill help me in the future?
For learning, for development, for teaching, for success and for growth at every level whether it
is individual or organizational, resilience is must because nowadays stress is very common
because of lifestyle apart from that some adverse scenario can emerge so all these situations
needs to be handled with full efforts and that resilience gives for future success (Oettingen, et.al,
2015)
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Summary & action plan
Strengths and weakness are very important part for self assessment actually these two elements
provide base for future development as strengths give idea to work for the positive side so goals
can be achieved and weakness give knowledge to work on weaken area so it can complement the
goal achievement process for self and other’s development (Forsyth, 2017).
Strengths Weakness
Team work
Team work helps to build the skills of
understanding others and communicating self
to others in effective manner. It promotes self
efficacy and increases productivity (Firth, 2017)
Team work
If the other persons such as peers do not
understand the exact communicated things due
to any reason so it becomes difficult to work in
team as it generates conflicts.
Time management
This helps in prioritization of the tasks and
categorization of tasks as urgent and
importance so timely outcomes are attained.
Time management
Lacking in time management skills makes life
more stressful as things do not get done on
time and it increases pressure.
Feedback giving & Receiving
This skill helps to assess self by knowing the
flaws and plus points in work or personality, it
gives scope to recognise positivity and
negativity with the help of other so makes
improvement on the other hand giving
feedback helps to make surrounding better as
some else one can be better in every level (Job,
et.al, 2017).
Feedback giving & Receiving
Every individual cannot take feedback
positively as he/she can take the feedback in
negative way and can keep same feeling for
other while giving the other’s feedback. There
is a line between giving feedback and being
judgemental so that needs to be taken care.
Resilience
To tackle stress and work with all the best
efforts in adverse situation to defeat that is
really big thing in terms of development and
growth.
Resilience
Dealing in stress and with adverse situation is
not easy task and it needs support from the
surroundings and if the peers and superiors
create some issues that situation becomes more
stressful.
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13

Personal development plan for two years
Objectives Success criteria Actions Implementation
To get more resilience
at any situation.
If any individual is
able to perform in
adverse situation as
he/she expected good
appraisal from peers
but he/she dint receive
and still he/she is
working with them
with the same team
spirit.
Being patience
towards the problems,
understanding them
with more
consciousness then
reacting with the
correct solution.
Working with more
enthusiasm with the
same team member.
To be perfect in time
management
If someone’s is
getting things done
within the time limit
and getting outcome
on timely basis with
accuracy.
Setting the SMART
goals is the most
appropriate practice
apart from that
prioritising task would
be so helpful to
achieve result timely
with accuracy.
Working on big task
and giving result in
timely manner,
planning in proactive
manner to find out the
solution for potential
hurdles.
To be skilled in
conflict resolution
If any individual is
successfully handling
the conflict situation
by resolving it with
the concern of every
party is conflict
handler. It is very
important to learn as
conflicts are very
common but its
Working in a team
with effective
communication makes
easy to understand
every individual so at
the time of conflicts
the solution can be
made according to the
understanding of the
team members.
Giving and taking
feedback with
positivity really good
in terms of conflict
resolution (Greene,
2007)
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resolution is not that
much common it
needs sensitive and
effective actions.
Conclusion
This assignment worked well to understand the need of core skills for self development as self
development helps in organizational and societal development. This study has given two year
self development plan as every individual needs to prepare a plan which helps him to remind
his/her goals in life for development and success. All the given skills in this study are equally
important as if any individual is lacking in any skill it can be the reason for his/her back step so
after recognizing the weaken skill an individual can work upon that to achieve that in better way.
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References
Books and Journals
Eppich, W.J., Hunt, E.A., Duval-Arnould, J.M., Siddall, V.J. and Cheng, A., 2015. Structuring
feedback and debriefing to achieve mastery learning goals. Academic Medicine, 90(11),
pp.1501-1508.
Eubanks, D.L., Palanski, M., Olabisi, J., Joinson, A. and Dove, J., 2016. Team dynamics in
virtual, partially distributed teams: Optimal role fulfillment. Computers in human behavior, 61,
pp.556-568.
Firth, N.C., 2017. Communication and Teamwork. Routledge.
Forsyth, P., 2016. Successful time management. Kogan Page Publishers.
Greene, R.R., 2007. Social work practice: A risk and resilience perspective. Recording for the
Blind & Dyslexic.
Job, V., Walton, G.M., Bernecker, K. and Dweck, C.S., 2015. Implicit theories about willpower
predict self-regulation and grades in everyday life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,
108(4), p.637.
Kong, E. and Ko, S., 2017, December. A Team Exercise as a Teaching Tool for Online Students:
Learning for Knowledge Sharing, Team Skills and Resource Management. In 14th International
Conference on Intellectual Capital Knowledge Management & Organisational Learning:
ICICKM 2017 (p. 139).
Kowalski, K., 2017. Giving and receiving feedback: Part I. The Journal of Continuing Education
in Nursing, 48(9), pp.395-396.
Mathieu, J.E., Kukenberger, M.R. and D’Innocenzo, L., 2014. 2 Time and teams. Time and
Work, Volume 2: How Time Impacts Groups, Organizations and Methodological Choices, 2,
p.6.
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Oettingen, G., Kappes, H.B., Guttenberg, K.B. and Gollwitzer, P.M., 2015. Self‐regulation of
time management: Mental contrasting with implementation intentions. European Journal of
Social Psychology, 45(2), pp.218-229.
Prater, L.S. and Allen, S.S., 2016. Truth or Consequences: The Significance of Giving and
Receiving Evaluation Feedback. Innovative Teaching Strategies in Nursing and Related Health
Professions, p.449.
Yates, T.M., Tyrell, F.A. and Masten, A.S., 2015. Resilience theory and the practice of positive
psychology from individuals to societies. Positive Psychology in Practice: Promoting Human
Flourishing in Work, Health, Education, and Everyday Life, Second Edition, pp.773-788.
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