Personal Development Reflective Journal: Enhancing Key Skills

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UNDERSTANDING SELF AND OTHERS

Table of Contents
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY FOR FOCUS AND ATTENTION......................................................3
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING...............................................................5
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY FOR TEAM WORKING.................................................................7
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY FOR ASSERTIVENESS/ CONFLICT RESOLUTION............................9
SUMMARY AND ACTION PLAN...............................................................................................11
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................13

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY FOR FOCUS AND ATTENTION
What is the core skill?
The focus and attention can be defined as the ability of the brain to target the particular goal,
for a specific period of time. The focus and attention deal with the internal as well as the
external stimuli. In order to provide the successful completion of work with 100% efficiency, the
focus and the attention serve as an important factor. The focus and attention vary from person
to person and from task to task, depending upon the area of interest of an individual (Johns,
2017).
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use
relevant theories and concepts to support your answer)
I have selected this skill because this skill helps in increasing the thinking capability of my brain
as the concentration increases within the brain. There are many theories which are defined
within the skills of the focus and attention such as the Erotetic theory of attention which helps
in knowing that when distraction serves as the defect in practical life (Majid, 2016). The
Kahneman’s attention theory provides a detailed explanation of attention with the aim to
attend the more set of tasks within the limited period of time. The Broadbent’s filter theory
helps to regulate that the stimuli are filtered at an early processing stage (Carey et al., 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 behaviors to answer this question)
As this skill helps in developing the attractive set of strategies which help in defining the
balance among the demand and the leisure. The attention and focus serve as important skills in
terms of determining effective learning. There are the set of questions which help in the self-
evaluation, that can be defined as:
Q.1. When the teacher explains the lessons, am I able to understand at my best?
 Never
 Rarely

 Sometimes
 Frequently
 Most frequently
In the same manner, the set of questions are created and asked on the basis of which the
evaluation of an individual is done in determining the attention and focus skills within him/her
(Carey et al., 2017).
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 order to determine the successful implementation of the skills, it serves necessary to
maintain the tasks in a scheduled way, the contradictory element for the focus and attention is
the distraction (Cavanagh et al., 2015). By having the distraction for the long amount of time,
the focus and Attention cannot be enhanced, which can serve as the barrier between the
productivity and development of the skills. Thus, increasing the ways of the distraction can lead
to the failure in skill implementation (Cavanagh et al., 2015).
How will this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
The focus and attention both play a vital role in increasing the skills of an individual in an
effective way such that the capability of thinking and working according to the situation
increases. It also helps in finding the solution of the problem, increase in the memory, ability to
learn new things etc. (Griswold, 2017).
If there is the proper development of the focus and attention within me, than it can make my
future, then it can help in creating the quick learning skills within me, through which the
implementation of the ideas can be done in a faster way, resulting in the development of the
mind by knowing about the various set of ideas (Griswold, 2017).
.

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING
What is the core skill?
Public Speaking can be defined as the way of speaking in between the live audience in such a
way that every single word said by the speaker should be understood by the audience in an
easier way. It can be further classified into many ways such as face-to-face interaction,
interaction in the verbal and non-verbal form. It serves as the most important way of
communication because it ties the audience with the topic which increases the listening and
thinking capability of the audience (Cavanagh and McMaster, 2015).
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant theories
and concepts to support your answer)
The public speaking serves important because it helps in establishing the social connections
among the audience, through which the chances of getting new opportunities increases. It also
establishes the path of motivation for the audience in the defined topic.
I have selected this skill to achieve the following goals:
 To overcome my fear of speaking in public with hesitation
 To improve the way of speaking
 To develop the growth of the career
 To become the way of giving the motivation to others
 To enhance my skills in terms of communication (Griswold, 2017).
Despite the above motives, the set of theories which help in increasing the public speaking skill
are The Scientific theory, Theory of classics, Taxonomic theory etc. which help in enhancing the
communication skill within the public, which serves as the important factors in terms of public
speaking (Griswold, 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 behaviors to answer this question)
To achieve the skill of public speaking in an effective way, the self-evaluation helps in enhancing

the skills required for the communication, such as the use of the easy and fluent language can
hell in easy understanding of the topic to the audience. By providing the effective non-verbal
way of communication, the audience can seem to be convincing, The introduction being given
should serve as the most effective set of words which help in increasing the concentration of
the audience towards the topic (Johns, 2017). The thirty of criticism helps in creating the
confidence in the speaker if in case the lecture said by the speaker is not appreciated
inappropriate manner. Theory of classics says that the speaker should follow the standard way
of communication in terms of verbal and non-verbal (Cavanagh and McMaster, 2015).
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?
The contradiction within the public speaking can be the inappropriate way of a response of
feedback from the audience and the problem of hesitation within the speaker. When the
feedback from the audience is not accepted in the proper way, then this can lead to the
decrease in the level of confidence within the speaker, due to which the speaker may face
several challenges to speak again in front of the different set of audience (Watanabe, 2016). On
another side, if the speaker feels heisted in front of the audience that this could lead to the
incomplete way of sharing the information with the audience, defining the irrelevant delivery of
the thoughts according to a topic (Watanabe, 2016).

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY FOR TEAM WORKING
What is the core skill?
In any organization, the team has been defined as the most important asset for the company
and teamwork is defined as the group of people determined towards the achievement of the
single goal within the organization. With the aim to increase productivity within an
organization, the teamwork serves as an important factor. As within the organization the
efficiency of the single employee cannot compete with the efficiency of the team, thus
teamwork enhances the performance of an organization as a whole (Naeger et al., 2015).
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 skill is important because it helps to generate the interactions among the employees of an
organization, which helps in knowing the level of difficulties faced by an organization according
to the way of the employees resulting in taking the effective decision in terms of increasing the
profit within an organization (Prior et al., 2016).
I have selected this skill because working with the group of people gives the new experiences, it
provides the free platform to determine the set of ideas, it helps me in the appropriate
utilization of the resources. It provides flexibility inside me to deal with the different set of
people (Prior et al., 2016).
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?
It also helps me in creating the feeling of determination towards the work by providing the
100% accuracy within the work. If the teamwork within an organization is done with the
satisfaction, the development of an organization is assured on the basis of the working
capability of the team. It has also helped me in increasing the way of interaction among the
people, creating a friendly environment for employees (Campbell, 2017).
How will this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
In future this skill will help in knowing the level of difficulties faced by an organization according

to the way of the employees resulting in taking the effective decision in terms of increasing the
profit within an organization and working with the group of people will provide the new
experiences, free platform to determine the set of ideas along with the appropriate utilization
of the resources, which will provide the flexibility inside me to deal with the different set of
people (Campbell, 2017).

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ENTRY FOR ASSERTIVENESS/ CONFLICT
RESOLUTION
What is the core skill?
Its human nature to have conflicts within life, but conflicts in the form of well-organized can
generate positive changes and advantages in terms of relationships and productivity. In order
to achieve the resolution of conflict the way of communication serves as an important factor.
Assertiveness is the quality which determines the confidence and self-assurance without
showing aggressive behaviour (Burrows and Harkness, 2016).
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant theories
and concepts to support your answer)
The conflict resolution and assertiveness serves important skills as these skills helps in
managing the problems of an individual in its own way, it helps in the decrease of tension
within the employees. The assertiveness helps in creating a better understanding between the
employees (Gardiner and Rieckmann, 2015).
I have selected this skill because these skills help in establishing the healthy relationship among
the employees, during the bad situations of the company, it helps the employees to be together
and think towards the development of a company. The assertiveness helps in creating the
aggressive-free environment, where the employees can think in a relaxed way and could
generate an effective set of ideas leading to the high generation of profit within the company
(Wilbur, 2016).
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 behaviors to answer this question)
The conflict resolution has been achieved in the appropriate way by focussing towards the 5
major factors which serve helpful in achieving the resolution towards conflict inaccurate way:
Avoiding, in this situation, the best way to resolve the conflict is to avoid the set of arguments
which serves to be useless (Johns, 2017).

Competing, in this the person having an assurance of winning the conflict serves within the
competitive field.
Accommodating, the situation where one team follows the rules defined by other team
members.
There best way to resolve the conflict is to compromise with the situation or collaborate with
the team for the betterment of the company (Johns et al., 2017).
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?
The contradiction caused by the conflict resolution results in the decrease of confidence,
overconfidence by discussing the points which serve invaluable for the growth and
development of an organization. Another contradiction according to me is the compromising
ability, which may be observed in less number of people when there seems the need to follow
the suggestions of the other person (Bruno and Dell’Aversana, 2018).
How will this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
I have selected this skill because these skills help in establishing the healthy relationship among
the employees, during the bad situations of the company, it helps the employees to be together
and think towards the development of a company. The assertiveness helps in creating the
aggressive-free environment, where the employees can think in a relaxed way and could
generate an effective set of ideas leading to the high generation of profit within the company
(deBettencourt et al., 2018)

SUMMARY AND ACTION PLAN
With the aim to enhance the services and the products within the business, it is necessary to
include the collection of skills which helps in creating the successful plan implementation within
the organization considering the weakness and strength of the employees working within the
organization (Husebø et al., 2015). The four major skills which contributes towards the
development and growth of the employee as well as the organization includes the conflict
resolution skill, teamwork skill, focus and attention skill and the public speaking skills, where
Focus and attention helps in enhancing the thinking capability along with the implementing
capability within the brain, which helps in the completion of the assigned set of tasks in an
efficient and interesting way, public speaking increases the interaction with the people,
teamwork helps in achieving the targeted goals in group of people (Brown, 2016).
To determine the skills, many theories have been applied such as The Tuckman theory has
helped in increasing the level of confidence along with the proper management towards the
ideas (Brown, 2016). The Belbin Theory helped in dealing with the role in an effective manner. It
also helped in following the personal traits within the team and the set of theories which help
in increasing the public speaking skill are The Scientific theory, Theory of classics, Taxonomic
theory etc. which help in enhancing the communication skill within public ,within the skills of
the focus and attention the theories such as the Erotetic theory of attention which helps in
knowing that when distraction serves as the defect in practical life (Bassot,, 2016).
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Areas of
Development
Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Timely
Focus and
Attention
This pays
more
emphasis
towards the
fulfillment of
the work in
an accurate
and effective
way.
This can be
managed by
determining
the set of
values which
helps in
enhancing the
concentration
power of the
This can be
attained by
providing an
easy level of
understandi
ng among
the people.
The focus
and
In order to
develop a
high level of
focus and
concentration
, the set of
new prizes
and the
rewards can
Such
type of
skill can
be
develope
d within
6
months.

brain by
introducing
the set of new
methods and
plans
attention
can also be
increased by
applying the
set of
theories
be introduced
Public Speaking This focuses
on the way of
enhancing
communicati
on among
the people.
This can be
measured by
providing the
platform for
communicatio
n.
This can be
achieved by
providing a
sufficient
amount of
training
within the
organization
More and
more events
should be
held, where
the
employees
can learn the
way of
communicatin
g.
Such
type of
skill can
be
develope
d within
6month-
1year
Teamwork This focuses
on the
establishmen
t of a healthy
team spirit.
This can be
measured by
determining
the growth of
tasks
assigned.
This can be
attained by
defining the
task within
the
frequency
interval of
time
The team
building
activities
should be
introduced
which helps in
making
interaction
with team
members
Such
type of
skill can
be
develope
d within
3-4
months
Assertiveness/
Conflict Resolution
This focuses
on defining
the
environment
where the
conflicts are
rarely seen.
By providing
equal
opportunities
to the
employees it
can be
measured.
This can be
attained by
establishing
a platform
where the
exchange of
ideas is
made
possible.
The team
building
activities
should be
introduced in
order to
understand
the nature of
each other
Such
type of
skill can
be
develope
d in
6months