Business Psychology: Skills Development Reflective Journal Report

This report delves into the realm of business psychology, investigating the behavior and perceptions of employees in a workplace context. The primary objective is to develop reflective journals to identify the significance and areas for improvement in crucial skills. The report concentrates on three key skills: time management, team working, and public speaking. Following the journal development, a personal development plan is formulated, leveraging the SMART framework to enhance these skills. The report includes a summary of strengths and weaknesses identified during the journal analysis. Furthermore, it provides an introduction to psychological approaches, outlining various perspectives such as biological, behavioral, psychodynamic, cognitive, and humanistic approaches, and how they can be used in a workplace setting to understand self and others. The report also explores the importance of time management, team working, and public speaking, along with how these skills can be developed and improved using reflective journals. Finally, the report concludes with a personal development plan to enhance these skills.

Business Psychology

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Introduction of psychological approaches.......................................................................................1
Reflective journals...........................................................................................................................2
Time management.......................................................................................................................2
Team working..............................................................................................................................4
Public Speaking...........................................................................................................................5
Summary Action Plan......................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Business Psychology is a study of investigating behaviour and perception of employees at a
workplace in order to develop relevant strategies which can result into effective operations
(Crone and Fuligni, 2019). The main aim of this report is develop reflective journals from which
importance and improvement requirements of skills can be determined. In this report three skills
are selected to develop reflective journals which are time management, team working and public
speaking. After developing these journals, a personal development plan is created in order to
develop the skills using a SMART framework. This development plan will include a summary of
the strengths and weaknesses identified in journal.
Introduction of psychological approaches
Psychological approaches are the perspectives having various assumptions about the human
behaviour. These approaches view every aspect of employees in a way that it can be used to
identify their needs and perception so that suitable decisions can be made (Goer and Elliott,
2019). In a workplace, psychology is a study of mind which focuses on unconscious mental
process of an individual rather than on conscious mind to integrate the knowledge and behaviour
to get desired outcomes. Usually psychologists use techniques of interviews, experiment and
observation to read mind and perception of employees in a workplace.
Psychological approaches or perspectives to make suitable assumptions and predictions.
There are mainly five psychological approaches which are used by contemporary organisations.
These approaches are stated as follows which can be used in a workplace to understand self and
others:
Biological perspective or approach helps an individual to understand how nervous system,
mental state and hormones of an individual impacts their behaviour. It approach assumes that
human body is nothing else but a biological structure which reacts and act as per the needs of
physical body. An individual can get benefitted to analyse behaviour and perception of self and
others by studying the drug history and genetic roots (Kang, Gray and Dovidio, 2015).
Behavioural Perspective is an approach which assumes that a human body reacts according
to their external environment which stimuli their behaviour and responses. This approach is most
effective in the case of a workplace as by this reasons of adverse behaviour can be identified and
then actions can be taken so that full productivity of employees can be enjoyed. This approach is
1

highly used in a workplace, where a leader analysis the external factors which are impacting
performance of followers and then develop strategies by which their issues can be resolved that
their full potential can be gained.
Psychodynamic Perspective is an approach which assumes that every action of an individual
is driven by a cause and that cause is required to be found. It is also assumed in this approach
that a human is not aware about every action done by them and it is their unconscious mind
which let them behave certainly. By using this approach an individual can ascertain why people
behave in certain ways and then identify the cause behind their behaviour (Komives, 2016).
Cognitive Perspective or approach says that behaviour of an individual is determined by the
expectations of that individual (Link and et.al., 2015). This approach is most suitable for
understanding the behaviour of self. This approach involves an assumption that the situations
that an individual perceives and remember are the main causes of the reaction which the stimuli.
By using this approach, an individual can not only understand the behaviour of other but can
understand their own behaviour and then act responsively.
Humanistic Perspective is opposite of behaviour approach. In this approach individual
empowerment is focused over environmental environment. According to this approach,
behaviour of an individual depends on the situation whether or not an individual is feeling good
by themselves.
Reflective journals
Time management
What is the core skill to develop?
Time management is a skill which ensures effective planning and dividing the time among all
the activities which are required to be done (Lysaker, 2018). This core skill increases
effectiveness, productivity and efficiency.
Why did I select this skill to reflect on? Why is this core skill important for your
development (personal and professional)?
The rationale behind selecting the time management skill is its benefits of efficiency and
productivity. Being a first year student, it is important for me to balance my life both
professionally and personally so that all my activities can be completed in a desired time
period. I considerably get less time to enjoy my personal life due to huge tasks of my
2

education. With the help of this skill I will learn how to divide my time into all the activities.
There are various theories which I can select in order to ensure effective time management in
my routine. But I think, the theory of Stephen Covey’s Time Management Matrix is most
appropriate.
Using this theory, I can arrange all my activities in four quadrants according the priority of the
activities. In this theory, a matrix is prepared which has four quadrants. The first quadrant
represents urgent and important tasks, the second quadrant shows not urgent but important
tasks, third one includes urgent and not important task and lastly, the fourth quadrant includes
not urgent and not important tasks. Using this matrix, I will arrange all my activities and
divide my time according to the quadrant’s priority.
This skill is important for me as by this I will be able to balance my personal and professional
life.
Reflect on your current competence regarding this skill. How did you assess your
competence?
My current competency regarding the skill of time management is crucially low and it really
needs to be improved due to my current hectic schedule. I have assessed my competence
regarding this skill from my Tutor’s feedback. My tutor experienced that I am unable to
effectively achieve the tasks given to me and the reason behind this is lack of time.
Due to mismanagement of time and inability to perform important activities has resulted in
low confidence in me. My behaviour has been changed and I tend to be in hurry always. All
these aspects which I have noticed in me and my tutor’s feedback at top of that has evidently
convinced me that I lack in managing my time.
Can you identify any contradictions from your analysis above?
My opinion does not contradict with my Tutor’s feedback at all; as according to me, I am in
distressed need of improving my time management skills. I have identified various
weaknesses due to my lack of time management skills. My behaviour towards my peers and
other people has become annoyed. I am always in hurry and even after that most of my
important tasks are unattended.
How might this skill help me in the future?
In my second year and for the rest of my life, this will be the skill which will help me to grow
myself not only professionally by personally as well. In future, I can learn various more skill
3

just because of spare time which I will gain due to time management skill.
Team working
What is the core skill to develop?
Team work is a skill of combining all employees together in pursuit of the common goal
(Ninomiya, 2018). This skill includes quality of managing all the employees and controlling
the patience which lead to work with other people.
Why did I select this skill to reflect on? Why is this core skill important for your
development (personal and professional)?
I selected the skill of team work due to the importance of working in a team in organisation
which will ultimately improve my leadership skills. I am a kind of individual who believes in
being a leader rather than being manager, so it is important for me to develop skills which
enable me to work with a team. Benefits of this skill include the opportunity of being a
successful leader in future.
This skill is important for an individual to have as it will help for a long time of professional
development. There are various theories which can help in developing the skill of team work
but according to me Belbin Team Roles Theory is most appropriate (Travers, Morisano and
Locke, 2015).
Under this theory, it is assumed that there are total of nine roles which team members in a
team play. These roles include resource investigator, team worker, coordinator, specialist etc.
By using this theory, I can understand importance of each role and how a team can be
managed.
Reflect on your current competence regarding this skill. How did you assess your
competence?
My current competence regarding this skill is moderate and I have assessed this competency
by the opinion of my peers. In various group class activities, my team members felt that I am
moderately able to work in a team.
Can you identify any contradictions from your analysis above?
I have identified a contradiction from the analysis of my skill. I disagree with my team
members and peer’s opinion of me being moderately able to work in a team. According to me
4

I am highly able to work in a team and I have all the skills which require to become a leader.
In think my peers and team members misread my skill of being able to work in a team is due
to my over enthusiastic behaviour of becoming a leader of a team rather than being only a
team member.
This area of my skill of focusing on becoming a leader rather than working as a team member
is a weakness for me as due to this I have to suffer in my future as no organisation will give
me opportunity of becoming a leader without having an experience of being a team member.
How might this skill help me in the future?
Effective acquisition of this skill will help me to enhance my career opportunities.
Public Speaking
What is the core skill to develop?
Public speaking skill is an ability to communicating and addressing an audience with complete
clarity and confidence (Mischel, DeSmet and Kross, 2014).
Why did I select this skill to reflect on? Why is this core skill important for your
development (personal and professional)?
The reason behind selecting this skill is to prepare for future. In the current dynamic corporate
world, where presentation is the most important element, it is important for me to gain skills of
public speaking. Personal development does not require high skills of public speaking but the
professional development highly relies upon the ability of addressing an audience with full
confidence.
The skill of public speaking can even be more enhanced with the concept of Rhetorical
devices (Cottrell, 2015). Using smile, gestures, hand movement, metaphors, allusions etc. are
all techniques which can make a public speaking session even more enduring. By using this
concept, I can be able to effective address an audience.
Reflect on your current competence regarding this skill. How did you assess your
competence?
My current competence of public speaking skill is high and I have assessed this by gaining
feedbacks from my tutor. During various classroom activities, my tutor has experienced by
great communication skills against which they have given me the feedback of being a good
5

communicator.
Can you identify any contradictions from your analysis above?
In this case as well I feel some contradictions. Despite of gaining a feedback of being a great
communicator, I feel only having good communication skills cannot result in being a good
public speaker as well.
I have identified few weaknesses in the area of using Rhetorical devices. While addressing the
audience, my communication area is effectively polished as I use proper language. But when it
comes to use of gestures, smile and other elements, I loose confidence which result in an
average speech.
How might this skill help me in the future?
This skill will help me professionally in future. I can use this skill while facing an interview or
group discussion. This skill will also allow me to address an audience in seminars and
workshops.
Summary Action Plan
From the above journals of skill development, there are various strengths and weaknesses
which I have identified. It has been observed that I am a great communicator and I have effective
communication skills. From the feedback of my peers and tutor’s I have concluded that I am
high capable of effectively communicating. Besides this strength, I have various weaknesses as
well. My skills of being team player and public speaker are my biggest weaknesses which are
followed by my inability of manage time.
My current level of competency in above mentioned three areas in low which needs to be
developed in order to ensure personal and professional development. To development my skills
in above mentioned three areas, it is necessary for me to prepare a development plan for this.
A SMART structured skill development plan is developed as follows.
Skill
objective
Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Timely
Time
management
skill
To gain the
skill of time
management to
This skill can
be measured as
achieved,
This skill can
be achieved
using AI time
This skill is
relevant for my
future personal
6 months
6

ensure balance
between
personal and
professional
life.
when I will
have enough
time to learn
new skills.
tables and
Stephen
Covey’s Time
Management
Matrix from
which I can
designate each
task as per
their priority.
and
professional
growth.
Team
working
skills
To gain the
ability of work
in a team and
to become a
boss of
everyone.
This skill will
be considered
as achieved
when my team
members and
peers will
provide me a
positive
feedback.
This skill can
be achieved by
proper
understanding
the roles in a
team using
theory of
Belbin team
role.
This skill is
relevant for my
professional
career. This
skill will help
me to grab
opportunity of
working in
effective
teams.
4 months
Public
speaking
skills
To gain the
ability of
communicating
and addressing
the audience.
This skill of
mine will be
measured as
achieved when
I will observe
my audience to
take interest in
my speech.
This skill can
be achieved by
practice and
using
Rhetorical
devices.
This skill is
relevant for my
professional
development
as by this I will
be able to
address
audience in
workshops and
seminars.
11 months
The above skill development plan has structure framework about how I can work on my
skills to turn my weaknesses into a strength. These skills are planned to be developed so that
7

needs of year second can be fulfilled. The skills which are planned to be developed by me are the
skills of areas in which I observed as my weaknesses in journal entries.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that the study of business psychology is
important for not only study the behaviour of other people in a workplace but also understand
own behaviour which is impacted due to external environment and internal expectations. A total
of three journal entries are developed above from which it has been observed that it is not
important the individual perspective of having a skill is true. Apart of this, from the skill
development plan which is developed in SMART framework, it is observed that a total of 21
months will be required to gain all the planned skills.
8

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Cottrell, S., 2015. Skills for success: Personal development and employability. Macmillan
International Higher Education.
Crone, E. A. and Fuligni, A. J., 2019. Self and Others in Adolescence. Annual review of
psychology. 71.
Goer, F. K. and Elliott, R., 2019. Understanding of Self and Others: Neurobiological
Underpinnings of Social Cognition. Cognitive Dimensions of Major Depressive Disorder.
p.197.
Kang, Y., Gray, J. R. and Dovidio, J. F., 2015. The head and the heart: Effects of understanding
and experiencing lovingkindness on attitudes toward the self and others. Mindfulness.
6(5). pp.1063-1070.
Komives, S. R., 2016. Leadership for a better world: Understanding the social change model of
leadership development. John Wiley & Sons.
Link, B. G and et.al., 2015. Understanding the importance of “symbolic interaction stigma”:
How expectations about the reactions of others adds to the burden of mental illness
stigma. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. 38(2). p.117.
Lysaker, P. H., 2018. Understanding the course of self-disorders and alterations in self-
experience in schizophrenia: Implications from research on metacognition. Current
Psychiatry Reviews. 14(3). pp.160-170.
Mischel, W., DeSmet, A. L. and Kross, E., 2014. Self-regulation in the service of conflict
resolution (pp. 310-330). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Ninomiya, T., 2018. Performance monitoring in the medial frontal cortex and related neural
networks: From monitoring self actions to understanding others’ actions. Neuroscience
research. 137. pp.1-10.
Travers, C. J., Morisano, D. and Locke, E. A., 2015. Self‐reflection, growth goals, and academic
outcomes: A qualitative study. British Journal of Educational Psychology. 85(2).
pp.224-241.
Online
Approaches of psychology. 2019. [Online]. Available through: <http://mrmcnabb.weebly.com/5-
major-perspectives-in-psychology.html>
Stephen Covey‘s Time Management Matrix. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.planetofsuccess.com/blog/2015/stephen-coveys-time-management-matrix-
explained/>
9