University Self-Reflection Report on Skills and Competencies

This report presents a student's comprehensive self-reflection on their skills and competencies. The student identifies their strengths, such as patience and inquisitiveness, and weaknesses, including communication apprehension and difficulties with deadlines. The report details the student's self-assessment, discusses areas for improvement like communication skills and goal setting, and includes an analysis of their role model, Barack Obama, highlighting leadership qualities like commitment and confidence. The student sets short-term goals and emphasizes the importance of rational approach and evaluation for professional growth. The report concludes with references to relevant literature on professional development and self-reflection, providing a well-rounded perspective on the student's journey towards self-improvement and career advancement. The student aims to improve communication skills, build confidence, and enhance their overall professional capabilities.

Running head: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Self-reflection on the skills and competencies
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Self-Introduction
I am a simple, fun loving person. My introvert nature is the reason for having a few and
selected friends. While communicating, I usually become nervous, thinking of what others might
think about me. However, I feel my patience in terms of listening skills is an advantage in terms
of silently working towards my targeted goals. Most of the times, my friends complain that I do
not respond to their messages. I lack words in explaining them that it is my incapability to carry
on a communication. Here, I have no doubts in asserting that I prefer the cozy comfortness of
home rather than the crowds and noise. Hence, whenever my friends makes plans for meeting
outside, I reject the offer kindly. This kindness makes me popular among my friends.
I am passionate towards reading motivational books and listening to soft music, which
asserts that I am a person, with no relationship with conflicts and quarrels. When I am assigned
with duties and responsibilities, I take time in executing them. For this, I hear scoldings from
managers for missing the deadlines. However, regarding the quality of the works, the managers
are full praises for me. I have no hesitations in saying that I am not at all good in doing target
based tasks.
I lack effective communication skills while talking with the managers and the clients. I
often mumble and get stuck between words. This also happens when I am amidst a large group
of people. When I am instructed to give presentations, I become nervous. Therefore, I avoid eye
contact with the audience. On the contrary, when I am with selected friends, I feel free to voice
out my opinions. This is because our mentalities match and there is no fear of facing mocking
and taunts.

2
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Inquisitiveness towards learning new things acts as an opportunity for me in terms of
expanding my knowledge, skills and expertise. However, I need the right platform, where my
talents would be valued. Apart from this, I need such a helping hand, which would motivate me
in terms of enhancing my capabilities. However, I need to expose rationality in terms of selecting
my mentor. This is because of getting the proper guidance towards achieving proper
development. Evaluation would enhance my awareness regarding the effectiveness,
appropriateness and feasibility of the plans in terms of my identified and specified goals. I think
consistency in the execution of evaluation would help me to upgrade the standard and quality of
my performance.
Self-analysis of the skills and competencies
Patience and inquisitiveness are my greatest strengths. Proper utilization of these
strengths would help me to enhance my personality. Attending Spoken English classes would
help me in altering my personality. Along with this, it would also help me to polish my
communication skills. Practicing fluent English speaking with the friends, relatives and peers
would result in positive outcomes. As a matter of specification, it would enhance my status
within the society.
Inquisitiveness is good in terms of enriching my preconceived skills and knowledge.
However, too much curiosity is a cause of irritation for the people. Patience needs to be
rationally exposed. Patience is sometime good, but exposing patience towards an unethical
behavior is bad for me in terms of losing my self-respect. I think rationality is of utmost
importance here.

3
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Lack of effective communication skills is obvious as no man is born with a silver spoon
in mouth. The kind of upbringing one gets, is reflected in his communication with the neighbors.
If the individual takes birth in a sophisticated environment, his communication would be
polished and refined. I think these kind of people are the boss’ favourite in terms of dealing with
the foreign clients. On the other hand, people like me, who are born in a middle class family
have to struggle in all phases of life including sharpening the communication skills. This is just
to expose the corporate mask before the clients. What I do not understand is the need for
refinement in the communication skills. It is not that I cannot talk at all. I accept that fluency is
missing in my communication with large group of people. I can be assigned the task of
communicating with the clients, who are from the same dialect and customs. I understand that it
is not possible. It is I, who has to take initiative in overcoming the weakness of communicating
in a large group.
Consciousness needs to be my prime attribute in terms of bringing improvements in my
communication skills. Negligence towards upgrading the communication skills would compel
me to encounter more taunts and mocking from the managers. I think setting short term goals
would help me in improving my focus. Consideration of action plans would be an effective tool
in measuring my progress. Adherence and compliance to the set goals is crucial for me in terms
of achieving positive results. Leaving the process in between would add vulnerability to my
position within the workplace.
My role model
From my childhood, I possessed the dream of becoming a good orator like Barack
Obama. He served as 44th President of United Stated from 2009-2017. Inspite of being on such a

4
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
high position, he never boasted himself. Rather he credited the people for his success. Delving
deep into his character, his commitment, dedication and perseverance are the lessons, which the
people need to inculcate in their life. I think these attributes are also important for me in terms of
improving my concentration to the works, which I am doing.
He envisioned alteration in the scenario of the United States. For his, he undertook a
strategic approach. This is one of the other qualities, which I need to incorporate for
systematizing the works according to their priority. Obama believed on his capability to bring
this change. However, I lack confidence regarding alteration of my personality, unless I am
motivated and encouraged. I feel belief in himself made him a great leader.
Collaboration made him a people’s leader. He helped the team members willingly in
terms of sharing the success. Therefore, I need to bear in mind that success can be more enjoyed
when it is shared among the people, who have toiled hard to assist me in getting the success.
Acknowledgement makes a man great, kind, compassionate and down to earth. This is what
comprised of Obama’s leadership strategy. This is also my inspiration in terms of progressing to
the path of leadership.
Confidence regarding approaching to the challenging and enduring tasks made Obama a
popular personality. I lack this confidence due to the fear of failure. Herein lays the
appropriateness of believe in oneself, which made Obama overcome all the hurdles in his path. I
also need to incorporate this in my life for overcoming the obstacles that might come in my path.
I think confidence is the greatest strength, which assists in moving on in life. However, this
confidence does not come easily in cases of challenging and enduring tasks.
Summary

5
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
For moving on in life, I need to be confident, dedicated and commited to the tasks, which
I perform. Obstacles would come in my life, however, I need to stay focused for the achievement
of the goals and objects, which I have set for me. Referring to various sources would broaden my
perspective. I need to expose rational approach towards selecting the prospective source, who
would help me in gaining personal as well as professional development. Evaluation of the
selected source would enhance my awareness regarding the effectiveness of the ways and means
selected for enhancing my personality.

6
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
References
Baldwin, M. (2016). Social work, critical reflection and the learning organization. Routledge.
Benson, C. (2015). A year on: a critical reflection on entering the world of practice
development. International Practice Development Journal, 5(1).
Cartwright, S. (2016). A critical reflection on my learning and its integration into my
professional practice. Gifted Education International, 32(1), 67-75.
Clegg, S., Stevenson, J., & Burke, P. J. (2016). Translating close-up research into action: a
critical reflection. Reflective Practice, 17(3), 233-244.
Girvan, C., Conneely, C., & Tangney, B. (2016). Extending experiential learning in teacher
professional development. Teaching and Teacher Education, 58, 129-139.
Harris, H., & Sandhu, S. (2017). Effective Use of Reflection and Research Activities in Teaching
Business Ethics. In Responsible Leadership and Ethical Decision-Making (pp. 49-61).
Emerald Publishing Limited.
Jackson, D. (2015). Employability skill development in work-integrated learning: Barriers and
best practice. Studies in Higher Education, 40(2), 350-367.
Jones, M., & Charteris, J. (2017). Transformative professional learning: an ecological approach
to agency through critical reflection. Reflective Practice, 18(4), 496-513.
Smith, K. (2016). Reflection and person-centredness in practice development. International
Practice Development Journal, 6(1).

7
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Taylor, E. W. (2017). Transformative learning theory. In Transformative Learning Meets
Bildung (pp. 17-29). SensePublishers, Rotterdam.