Reflective Journal Entry: Core Skills and Personal Development

This reflective journal entry delves into the analysis of several core skills essential for professional development. The entry begins with an examination of time management, discussing its importance, the author's self-assessment, and its future implications, referencing the Pareto principle and Drucker's insights. The second section focuses on team working, highlighting its significance, the author's strengths as a team player, and its benefits for future career growth, supported by Tuckman's theory and Ndoro's work. The third part examines researching and information finding skills, emphasizing its importance in today's competitive landscape, the author's current competencies, and its future relevance, with references to Smith, Badke, and Ackermann & Hartman. The final segment explores written communication as a core skill, underlining its significance and impact. The author reflects on their skills, identifies contradictions, and considers how these skills will aid future success.

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY PRO-FORMA
What is the core skill?
Time management is that skill which reflects on the capacity of a person to utilise the
allocation of time in the most effective and efficient manner. It is that procedure in which the
designing, implementing and evaluating of time for completing tasks takes place. Here, the
most important step takes place for building the deadlines in order to delegate the work so
that achievement of goals can take place. Along with, it assists in making good decision
making. Further, it shed light on the team management skills by segregating the work on the
basis of priorities and management of maintaining the appointments.
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant
theories and concepts to support your answer)
It is an important core skill to be adopted in life for successful arrangement of scheduling the
tasks to bring a balance in the personal and professional work-front. In this regard, the
Pareto principle has been employed to understand the importance of 80/20 rule to fetch he
best results by concentrating on the scheduling and meeting deadlines in an appropriate
manner. Here, the rocks represent the twenty percent of activities and tasks that need a total
time of remaining eighty percent that signifies the time required to do job at hand.
Moreover, it is evident that one needs small number of reasons and options that lay an
emphasis on converting them into productive effects by maximising the allocated resources
in the best possible manner. This has been formulated by an economist Pareto who stated
that about twenty percent of people from his village in Italy had occupied the major eighty
percent of money/capital which puts light on this 20:80 rule effectually (Kerzner and Kerzner,
2017).
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)
Personally, I lack good management skills and it has affected me in adverse manner.

Moreover, my impression in front of my peers, family and others has also been not in good
taste. My reliability has been questioned frequently and the total time allotment whenever
given to me, it has always been suspicious. I think due to procrastination, this lack of time
management in finishing my tasks occurs. My family and friend have always complained
about the same. I can start my project or assigned tasks on time, however, I always do it
when the deadline is about to get expired leading to unproductiveness.
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?
There are no contradictions from the findings of others and what I have found in myself. This
lack of mismanagement has affected my daily activities in an ambiguous way leading to
waste my number of hours on doing frivolous things.
How will this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
There is a great saying “time and tide waits for none”, and this is significant in one’s life to
differentiate their priorities, responsibilities and tasks as per the demand and need of the
hour. One must know that the allotment of time for each person has been done same and
henceforth, their ulterior purpose must be to find themselves in using the maximum amount
of this time in an efficient manner to bring laurels and benefits (Drucker, 2012). Along with,
time management is that skill which means to attain the objectives with effectiveness and not
to focus on creating more time for doing the same task in more amount of time.
What is the core skill?
Team working is the most important core skill in today’s time. With advent of globalisation
and technological advancements, one must understand that a single person is able to finish
tasks but a group of people would finish the task in more convenient and orderly way so that
benefits can be reaped through efficiently and effectively.
It is that skill where cooperation and collaboration of people occurs to complete tasks or
work with the help of people and also by using their skills and knowledge for gaining profits
and generation of financial gains. This includes undivided attention, flexibility with passion
and commitment to only work in the forwarding direction.

Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant
theories and concepts to support your answer)
It is the benchmark that measures the extent of skills in terms of qualitative aspects that
emphasis on the amalgamation of various people skills to attain the maximum amount of
advantages in finishing the tasks through employing suitable methodologies. With reference
to this, Tuckman’s theory can be used to demonstrate an understanding of team building
spirit. This theory involves a number of components such as forming, storming, norming and
lastly, performing. This is one of the most adopted theories for comprehending the current
situational crisis in relation to individuals and organisations as well (Build your teamwork skills,
2018). Further, this involves formation of team of people on basis of their behavioural
aspects along with an inclination towards the skills. Next if storming in which the people are
tend to push against the walls. Then the entire arrangement is set up to accomplish tasks
and lastly, delegation of projects as per the convenience and deadline. These all steps
paved a path that strategic decision making is an essential component to achieve this spirit
in a positive mode.
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)
On a personal note, I am a good team player who an ability to demonstrate empathy and
other qualities to gel with people in easy and natural way. My instincts are in collaboration
with them to fulfil the tasks as per the guidelines. This results in profits and led my family,
peers and colleagues think that I am a good team player. Moreover, my mentors also takes
me in group activities because I have this capacity to make people work together by
maintaining the respect and comfort level among everyone.
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?
Here, there are no contradictions in the overall analysis conducted. It has shed light that
everyone who are connected to me and acquaintance who knows me consider me as a
good team player. This also proves that I work well in different teams with diversified people

and can shine through consistently.
How will this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
This skill has become one of the important fortes of my personality and has led a liberating
experience in my career growth. It has lead the path of constant support from my
surrounding people leading to enhanced productivity at workplace. Personally, it has helped
me to connect with people whom I lost contacts due to studies and job (Ndoro, 2014) . Team
building skills are always useful in building a rapport with different types of people and help
in breaking ice with small talks and such cooperative attitude.

What is the core skill?
Researching and Information Finding is one of those skills which have become an integral
part in an individual’s life. This skill has become one of the foundations of initiating a work
effectively in recent times. With onset of digital technologies and rise of information
technologies and internet, one must be updated to know how to use these tools for their own
benefits (Smith,2011). This skill is important because of the ever-growing accelerating
competition and to excel in all the tasks one has to do to reap benefits in terms of monetary
gains.
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant
theories and concepts to support your answer)
It has become important skill because of increasing competition at all the levels and as
human tendency shed light on doing tasks for financial gain and to mark their presence on
the world, it has turned out to be a significant core skill (Badke,2017). This concept has been
highlighted to understand its contribution in making an individual understand about different
things in short span of time by the use of primary and secondary research analysis with the
best outcomes in all the spheres of life. I selected this skill to make my researching skills
more prominent in completion of my assignments with accuracy and precision. It is important
to know that information finding has become a taxing job these days leading to ambiguity in
exponential manner.
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)
This skill is still trying to find its foot-held in the community as there are still restrictions due
to peer pressure and following the societal norms blindly. My Researching and Information
Finding skills are below average as I get distracted easily and get deviated from the
assigned work. Moreover, it leads to incompetency and low validation from my colleagues at
office. Personally, I believe that Google and other social media platforms has expanded the
fraudery cases, along with cases of abuse and discrimination in exponential manner that has
affected the entire society in both good and bad ways. Thus, one must know where to stop
and come back to the world of reality and follow this researching just like traditional

methodologies where experimental analysis were promoted.
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?
In this regard, there is a definite contradictory evaluation in context to adopting this core skill
in my personal zone. As per my surroundings, these advancements have led to liberating
progression and innovation in the world. However, I feel it has led to ambiguity and false
representation of the information available in the markets.
How will this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
This skill is futuristic and going to stay for a while. People are going to be fiercely competitive
and thus need assistance in outshining their projects with utmost accuracy and concise
order (Ackermann and Hartman,2014). Information gathering has become easy but to gain
advantages, one has turned to various technological tools and techniques making this core
skill a very relevant commodity which must be adopted in the best manner to have an upper
hand and making profits easily.

What is the core skill?
Written communication is one of the significant core skills that have been adopted by all the
professional bodies in a serious mode. This is popularly underlining in the content writing
part. This is defined as that non verbal communication which reflects an individual’s outlook,
perspectives and knowledge base in fulfilling the expectations of their existence through
completion of their assigned tasks in the written form. It is considered as one of the most
effective modes of communication in the business world and slowly making an entry in all
informal presentations as well. It is that skill which brings an individual’s capabilities and
though process through good usage of works. However, when not clearly communicated, it
leads to hampering prospects and losses.
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 is one of the important skills to comprehend and demonstrate the understanding of their
conceptual integrated framework by using words. When one lacks in the other aspects of
communication that comprises of body language, lack of confidence, feeling shy and more,
then this skill comes in handy (Whiteman,2013). Therefore, I chose this skill to put light on its
significance which has been hidden below Neath and must be unravelled for better
arrangement of tasks that support in completion of endeavours successfully and proficiently.
One of the theories is the media equation theory which emphasised on the computation of
the usage of different medias to showcase their written skills to the world.
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 written communication is average and needs improvement in leaps and bounds. This is
one of the drawbacks as I fail in forming sentences with choice of words in formal setup.
Furthermore, my family always pointed on this aspect in the most critical way. However, I am
still struggling and currently, trying to cope with it by the help of my colleagues and friends.
People whom I have this non verbal communication has indicated towards the lack of my
understanding in using appropriate words while transferring the messages to the other
people. For the same, I have become conscious while writing any information, details or

messages whether in formal or informal way that have hampered my confidence levels in
demotivating fashion.
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?
I believe that I am genuinely not that poor in the written communication skills. However, my
peers, family and colleagues are highly critical and that has affected my peace of mind and
lead to decelerating effects in my professional life. According to my surroundings, I have a
scope of improvement which I truly believe that there is a scope in all the aspects of life
whether personal or professional. Thus, hereby I have contradictions with respect to others
opinions.
How will this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
I think that if I will get a hold my command on English language and writing part then I can
excel in my professional life in more prominent manner. My colleagues would respect me
more and would ask me for my assistance (Mascle, 2013). In future terms, written
communication is the ongoing trend and will be evident for another decade, thus this must
be made easier for me to evaluate and improve my abilities in this arena.

Analysis
From the above analysis, it is clearly evident that I need to improve on my written communication
skills, along with time management and researching and information gathering skill. Overall, one can
improve in continuous order and can gain get support from both modern and traditional methods. In
this regard, feedback has become of the effective tools to understand the arenas which needed
improvements.
Furthermore, this analysis also put a significant approachability factor to improvise by employing
various methodologies. Above ll, an action plan is needed to attain the deliverables in the most
effective manner and in most orderly mode.
Moreover, this would be beneficial in making my impression on others efficiently, especially in
context of my professional area. Along with, there is a necessity for self growth and development
that would help me to excel in terms of economic and social status among the people I know of.
Action Plan
Sl No. BASIS AREA OF
DEVELOPMENT
RESOURCES TIMESCALE
1 Written communication This can be
improved by
following latest
news related to
topics or following
the news or
reading journals,
books and
magazines to gain
insights regarding
the current
technologies and
methods used in
the management
stream
Following
channels or
subscribing to
newsletters and
magazines, also
can improve by
joining library and
being update
through enrolling
in online courses
Within six
weeks
2 Researching and
information gathering
At workplace, it is
important to
maintain and
interact with all
different people to
share the
viewpoints, thus it
would help in
collecting data for
research plus
using other
platforms variably
Here, by joining
yoga and
meditation classes
can assist in
minimizing the
distractions and
would also
enhance the
concentration
levels. Also, I can
use different
online courses to
Within four-
five weeks

to improve improve
3 Time management Deadlines are
given so that
individual can
finish tasks
beforehand with
qualitative
approach, thus
one must
understand to
understand the
timescale to finish
the job .task
before time
The inclusion of
to-do-list will help
in keeping a tab
on day-today
activities and can
also aid in
prioritization of
tasks as per the
required timescale
which ultimately
saves time
Within two
weeks

References
Books and Journals
Drucker, P., 2012. The practice of management. Routledge.
Kerzner, H. and Kerzner, H.R., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Ndoro, S., 2014. Effective multidisciplinary working: the key to high-quality care. British Journal of
Nursing, 23(13), pp.724-727.
Ackermann, E. and Hartman, K., 2014. The information specialist's guide to searching and
researching on the Internet and the World Wide Web. Routledge.
Badke, W., 2017. Research strategies: Finding your way through the information fog. iUniverse.
Whiteman, M.F., 2013. Writing: The nature, development, and teaching of written communication.
Routledge.
Mascle, D.D., 2013. Writing self-efficacy and written communication skills. Business Communication
Quarterly. 76(2). pp.216-225.
Smith, K., 2011. Researching the information commons (RIC). Library Hi Tech News, 28(3), pp.20-24.
Online
Build your teamwork skills, 2018 .[Online].Available through:<
https://www.youthemployment.org.uk/young-professional-training/teamwork-skills-young-
professional/>.

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