Personal Effectiveness Report: MSc Management Module - BPP University

This report, prepared for the MSc Management module on Personal Effectiveness, delves into the leadership skills of Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, examining his decision-making, problem-solving, creativity, and interpersonal skills, and their effects on Google and its employees. The report utilizes the CEO Genome Project for evaluation and includes a personal skills appraisal, highlighting strengths such as being energetic, creative, persistent, and a self-learner, while identifying weaknesses such as lack of concentration, distractions, fear of failure, and procrastination. Applying Gibbs' reflective model, the report analyzes these weaknesses and their impact on employability, alongside strategies for improvement. The report also covers learning methods and concludes with a comprehensive self-assessment test analysis, offering insights into personal and professional growth.

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Table of Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................................2
Case study review...........................................................................................................................2
Sunder Pichai’s Leadership Skills and Behavior...........................................................................2
1. Decision making and judgment.......................................................................................2
2. Complex problem solving................................................................................................2
3. Creativity and innovation................................................................................................3
4. interpersonal skills..........................................................................................................3
Effect of Sunder Picha’s behaviors and skills on employees and Google....................................3
Evaluation using CEO Genome Project.......................................................................................4
Personal skills appraisal..................................................................................................................4
Summary of self-assessment test...................................................................................................4
Procrastination...........................................................................................................................5
Applying Reflective Model..........................................................................................................5
The impact of flaws on employment..........................................................................................6
Learning methods Discussion.........................................................................................................6
Strategies to improve weakness.................................................................................................6
Conclusion......................................................................................................................................7
Appendix.........................................................................................................................................8
The Self-Assessment Test's results.............................................................................................8
References....................................................................................................................................11

Introduction
“The ability to adapt one's interpersonal style, skills, and qualities so that high quality
results are achieved. Modifying behaviours to accommodate tasks, situations, and
individuals". A person can achieve their goals in both their professional and personal life
by making use of all of their available personal resources, such as their talent, skills,
energy, and ability to manage their time effectively. You'll have more control over your
daily routine, you'll be more focused, and you'll have the sense that you've accomplished
something when you improve your living skills. When people live virtually, they have
more energy and are better able to control themselves in the necessary ways. They are
more likely to be able to keep their stress under control and trust in their capabilities and
potential, and they have an easier time dealing with the unexpected.. (Liberman, 1975)
As part of the CEO Genome project, this research examines the traits of Google CEO
Sundar Pichai and how they could impact the company as a whole as well as individual
Google workers. My strengths and shortcomings are also included in this report. The
report also contains a strategy for addressing my areas of weakness.
Case study review
This section describes the leadership skills of Sundar Pichai and their effect on Google
and Google employees.
Sunder Pichai’s Leadership Skills and Behavior
Sundar Pichai has the following Leadership Skills and Behaviors as we study in future
predictions of skills required for personal effectiveness.
1. Decision making and judgment
The capacity to assess a predicament and choose which course of action would be most
beneficial for one's organization is an essential quality in a leader. It is feasible to limit
the amount of conflict that occurs throughout the process of decision-making by setting
clear expectations and eliminating the opportunity for misunderstandings... (Vroom and
Yetton, 1973) Sundar Pichai has a great "Decision-Making Ability," which is one of his
strong suits. Because he is the owner of the firm, making sound decisions is very
important, and this is where he gets his decision-making abilities from. According to
Pichai, there will be times when we will have to make decisions that are challenging.
Then, by all means, go with the endeavor if you are sure of yourself and have full trust in
your group. (Bos et al. 2015).
2. Complex problem solving
It is necessary to have strong problem-solving skills if one aspires to hold a position of
leadership in an organization. Leaders utilize the process of problem-solving as an
opportunity to bring members of their team closer together, which in turn inspires those
individuals to perform to the best of their abilities. (Reiter-Palmon and Illies, 2004)
Sundar Pichai's capacity to motivate other people to perform to the best of their abilities

is one of the most significant aspects of his professional portfolio. He is a good member
of the team who believes in providing others with the resources they need to be
successful. Because of his capacity to triumph over any challenge, he deserves the title of
a real leader.
3. Creativity and innovation
Even in complicated or changing settings, creative leadership is the capacity to come up
with and implement new ideas. When everything is changing and new methods aren't yet
understood, the best leaders are those who can keep their staff focused on a single goal
despite the chaos. (Hughes et al., 2018). Pichai calls himself an "innovative and critical
thinker," which is how you can best define him. Along with the progression of
technology comes an increase in the need for original thought. In addition to this, he
values novel concepts, particularly those that have the prospective to have a large impact
in the not-too-distant future. Sundar Pichai believes that innovation is the basis for all
inventions, and he approaches it as if it were (Verikas et al. 2016). Because of this, a
person who can think creatively and critically is more useful than a person who can just
think normally and gets higher marks. He is already aware of how novel ideas might
contribute to the formation of the next structure. His advice to those who want to start
their businesses is to focus on innovation and include it into their regular thought
processes, and ensure that they have a plan in place at all times.
4. interpersonal skills
When a leader has good interpersonal skills, their ability to engage and support their
team, overcome challenges, and get to the root of poor performance is significantly
improved. It has been shown in some studies that leaders who possess high levels of
emotional intelligence can develop teams that are more cohesive and energizing.. (de
Vries, Bakker-Pieper, and Oostenveld, 2010b)It is commonly recognized that Sundar
Pichai can communicate well with a diverse group of individuals, including customers,
partners, and VPS. When he communicates with another person, he does it in a way that
is honest, open, and with a keen knowledge of what is going through their thoughts. To
achieve success and earn the respect of their contemporaries, leaders need to be able to
communicate in an efficient man.
Effect of Sunder Picha’s behaviors and skills on employees and Google
For a company to remain competitive, its employees must possess the right personalities.
To be able to respond appropriately, leaders need the ability to both foresee and identify
the potential sources of resistance. Leaders need to be able to communicate to their
employees not just why change is needed but also the good and bad repercussions that it
will have to reduce the amount of resistance they encounter. To improve and evaluate
their plan, they need to slow down. The ideas and ideals that the upper management of a
firm hopes will be embraced by all of its workers serve as the basis for the choices that
are made. Pichai has high expectations that the company's skills will grow and those new
techniques will be introduced. Adjusting to the new circumstances will take a significant
amount of time. He makes sure that everyone is on board with the move by energizing
and detailing its merits, both to people and the company since he knows that the success
of the team is dependent on it (Troyani, 2017). Workers in Sunder Pichai get a feeling of
security and self-assurance that they wouldn't otherwise have if it weren't for the presence

of a successful boss. This is something that they wouldn't have otherwise had. Following
(German et, al 2021) For Sundar Pichai to accomplish the goals of the corporation,
policies are developed, and then Sundar Pichai relies on those policies. The execution,
strategy, objectives, and outcomes are all directly impacted by the policies and
procedures that are in place. He does not hesitate to rely on already established
procedures to convince people to join him in his endeavors.
Pichai said that he found it challenging to communicate with the fast-growing staff of the
firm. The Google executives who have been critical of Mr. Pichai's leadership in the past
have recognized this fact and have said that he is a leader who is thoughtful and
empathetic. When Mr. Pichai took over the company six years ago, Google was not as
disciplined or organized as it is now, according to sources. His coworkers awarded him
an approval rating of 86 percent after participating in a survey about him. The executives,
several of whom worked closely with Mr. Pichai, said that Mr. Pichai's attempts to cool
things down had the opposite impact, enabling problems to fester while ignoring Google's
strong and often contentious viewpoints.
Evaluation using CEO Genome Project
Even though they often lack experience, chief executive officers are professionals at
being determined, which is an aspect of decision-making that is more significant than
making the right selection. Because of this, it was determined that the danger of arriving
at the wrong conclusion was larger than the risk of arriving at the wrong conclusion too
quickly. Despite this, it seems that Sundar Pichai is cautious to provide an opinion
according to what was described in further depth in the previous paragraph.
Personal skills appraisal
This section discusses my strengths and weaknesses using Gibb's reflective model and
the effect of my weaknesses on my employability perspective.
Summary of self-assessment test
The "case study" examination of my personal growth and development that was
conducted by Google CEO Sundar Pichai has provided me with a crystal clear picture of
how I am growing. It enlightens me about the facets of my personality that I should work
on developing. Everything in life is potentially attainable with the appropriate mix of
natural ability and inventiveness, in addition to satisfactory levels of personal and
professional development. Self-discipline is very necessary if one wants to be successful
academically. It's possible that a student's capacity to study is being hindered by things
like procrastination, a lack of concentration, and distractions like social media. According
to what I have learned and what I have faith in, there is a wide gap between the starting
point and the finishing point of every endeavor that is effective (Lohuis et al. 2016).
Assessing numerous areas of self-improvement and the right execution of these parts may

be done by seeing how well an individual practices exceptional personal effectiveness
and professional progress (Almutairi, 2016). In my perspective, the presence of strong
leadership ensures that workers participate, that the workforce is adequately staffed and
that the product is generated effectively.
The concepts of remarkable activities and self-awareness, as well as personality,
communication skills, and appropriate professional growth, are addressed in a variety of
different ways across various training seasons and personal development programs.
Therefore, industrial experience is required to accomplish these objectives, and this is
extremely significant for the adoption of organizational culture and the requirements that
must be met to accomplish these objectives (Agbemava et al. 2016). As far as I'm
concerned, I'm able to perform the duties of a competent leader while still preserving the
company's established norms and values. As a result, I am better able to evaluate
acceptable methods for my own personal and professional growth and development in
connection to the management of organizations.
Weakness
lack of concentration distractions
Fear of Failure Procrastination
Strengths
energetic creative
persistent Self-Learner
Applying Reflective Model
I have applied Gibbs’ reflective cycle to my strengths and weaknesses as follows
idealistic A visionary or impractical person. a person
who represents things as they might or should
be, rather than as they are. They can imagine
an outcome that is better than anything
otherwise conceived of. I think it is my
weakness.
Self-criticism the tendency to engage in negative self-
evaluation that results in feelings of
worthlessness, failure, and guilt when
expectations are not met; it was originally
seen as particularly relevant to the
development of depression and I think such a
thing is present in me.
Team player At a fundamental level, every team needs
competent and committed people. Leaders
must be prepared to identify and appropriately
address any obstacles related to the skills or

commitment of their team members through
training, coaching, performance management,
or corrective discipline. Such a thing is
present in me and I count it as my strength.
Communication Having good communication skills in the
workplace is all about being able to convey
information to people clearly and simply, in a
way that means things are understood and get
done. I count it as my strength
The impact of flaws on employment
To assert that life is challenging and that we are unable to succeed due to the nature of
our surroundings or the state of our circumstances is simple, but it is a lie. My ability to
provide a compelling case for why I am powerless to affect any kind of change is not
difficult at all. We are limited in many ways, including our intellectual capacity, physical
prowess, and other elements of our existence because we are human. My point of view is
that nobody can be entirely independent, and even if they were, they wouldn't be able to
do as much as they could if they collaborated with other people. because of your
dependence on yourself, you run the risk of missing out on opportunities to make
relationships with others who may be helpful to you in difficult times. When you think
about your professional life, your physical appearance, your state of health, or your
financial condition, you could experience feelings of annoyance. If you already have a
goal in mind and a general idea of how to get there, then the only things standing between
you and achieving that objective are time and action. People who are actively working to
improve themselves experience this kind of thing often. Because the consumption of new
information and the acquisition of new knowledge offer us pleasure, happiness, and a
surge of dopamine, we get a sense that we are making progress while doing so. This
method was one that I worked on for a while. Because you are not taking action, which is
the single most important item to focus on to get any outcomes, you are slowing down
the progress of everyone around you. It's conceivable that we're reluctant to attempt new
things because we're worried about making mistakes or getting negative feedback. Even
though we are aware of what others have been successful in doing, the fact that we have
not yet done so may cause us to feel defeated.
Learning methods Discussion
Strategies to improve weakness
To make better relationships with others I have come up with the following strategies:
i. Partner With Complementary People
Because of my knowledge, I've had the opportunity to collaborate with some very
remarkable people throughout my career. My skill in marketing allows me to assist my

business partners in the development of original products. My apparent shortcomings, on
the other hand, have proven to be assets in the establishment of both successful
businesses and teams. My recommendation is that you concentrate on your strong points
and form alliances with people who can help make up for any of your shortcomings in
any domain.
ii. Request Feedback from Your Team
Through talking to others around me and asking for their opinions, Since my
colleagues are aware of my strengths and weaknesses, I make it a point to solicit
their feedback regularly so that I may continue to grow professionally. Having
weaknesses is not anything to be ashamed of; rather, it is merely a natural part of
the learning and development process. Because we are all human and so have
blind spots, it is beneficial to listen to what other people have to say about
themselves.
iii. Ask Questions When You Need Help
I find that asking a lot of questions is the most effective strategy for me. Asking for help
or inquiring about something that interests you is one of the easiest and most convenient
ways to increase your knowledge and improve your performance for the organization you
work for. There is no shame in asking questions, and the fact that there is no guilt in
doing so encourages my colleagues to do the same. There is no such thing as a stupid or
irrelevant question, and if you have one, there is a good possibility that many other
people have as well. I believe that by doing so, I will be able to enhance the processes at
your organization while also getting us closer to achieving your goals.
iv. Develop Your Weaknesses One At A Time
Even while it is not difficult to recognize our failings and have the intention of making
amends for them all at once, this is not always attainable. To improve my performance, I
prefer to zero in on one area that needs improvement at a time and concentrate on it
consistently for a period of at least half a year. To improve my abilities in public
speaking, for instance, I sought the guidance of a coach and enrolled in a course in which
I was forced to give a presentation every week. After completing the first half of the
assignment, I felt confident enough to go on to the next one without experiencing any
feelings of being overburdened.
v. Treat Them Like A To-Do List
I make a quick list of the things that I need to get done as soon as possible. I make it a
priority to work on improving these weaknesses and turning them into assets, even if it
means enrolling in a class, picking up new skills from others, or stepping outside of my
comfort zone. My opinion is that if you want to learn anything new, you shouldn't be
hesitant to ask questions about it. I do my best to educate myself on topics that are
outside the scope of my knowledge by participating in discussions, reading relevant
literature, and asking as many questions as I can think of them.
Conclusion
A modeling framework was used to carry out an assessment of Sunder Pichai's leadership
capabilities as well as his behavior. The ability to make decisions and use sound
judgment, solve difficult problems, be creative and inventive, and have strong

interpersonal skills are among the most important talents and behaviors. Workers at
Google don't seem to be happy, even though the company's success over the last several
years can be directly attributed to the positive effects that the skills and routines of its
employees have had on the business as a whole. These impacts have been investigated
with the help of the SEO genome project. It assisted me in determining both the strengths
and weaknesses that are unique to me as an individual. Some of my strengths include
self-control and having a clear goal in life, while some of my faults include not having
many meaningful connections with other people.
Appendix
The Self-Assessment Test's results
Proficiency
Habit Very
poor
Poor Fair Good Very
good
Outstandi
ng
Category 1
I am in control of my life 1 2 3 4 5 6
I focus my efforts on things I
can do something about
rather than on things
beyond my control
1 2 3 4 5 6
I take responsibility for my
mood
and actions rather than
blame others and
circumstances
1 2 3 4 5 6
Category 2
I know what I want to
accomplish in
life
1 2 3 4 5 6
I organize and prepare in a
way that reduces having to
1 2 3 4 5 6

work in a
crisis mode
I begin each week with a
clear plan
of what I desire to
accomplish
1 2 3 4 5 6
Category 3
I am disciplined in carrying
out plans (avoiding
procrastination,
time wasters, and so forth)
1 2 3 4 5 6
I do not allow the truly
important activities of my
life to get lost in the busy
activities of my days
1 2 3 4 5 6
The things I do every day are
meaningful and contribute
to my overall goals in life
1 2 3 4 5 6
Category 4
I care about the success of
others
as well as my own
1 2 3 4 5 6
I cooperate with others 1 2 3 4 5 6
When solving conflicts, I
strive to
find solutions that benefit all
1 2 3 4 5 6
Category 5
I am sensitive to the feelings
of
others
1 2 3 4 5 6
I seek to understand the 1 2 3 4 5 6

viewpoints of others
. When listening, I try to see
things
from the other person’s
point of
view, not just my own
1 2 3 4 5 6
Category 6
I value and seek out the
insights of
others
1 2 3 4 5 6
I am creative in searching for
new
and better ideas and
solutions
1 2 3 4 5 6
I encourage others to
express their
opinions
1 2 3 4 5 6
Category 7
I care for my physical health
and
wellbeing
1 2 3 4 5 6
I strive to build and improve
relationships with others
1 2 3 4 5 6
I take time to find meaning
and
enjoyment in life
1 2 3 4 5 6
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