Developing Leadership: Understanding Self and Others Assignment Report

This assignment is a self-assessment report focused on the development of leadership skills through self-reflection. It includes reflective journals and SWOT analysis to evaluate strengths and weaknesses. The report examines core skills such as public speaking, team working, assertiveness and conflict resolution, and the giving and receiving of feedback. Each skill is analyzed in terms of its importance, current competence, contradictions, and future applications. The student reflects on their abilities, identifying areas for improvement and outlining action plans to enhance their leadership potential. The assignment emphasizes the importance of these skills in organizational settings, highlighting how self-awareness and the ability to manage interactions effectively contribute to individual and organizational success. The student provides insights into their current capabilities and areas for development, with a focus on how these skills will aid in future career progression, particularly in leadership roles.

Understanding Self and
Others

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK...............................................................................................................................................1
Pro- forma of public speaking skill .......................................................................................1
Pro-forma of team working skill............................................................................................2
Pro-forma of assertiveness / conflict resolution.....................................................................4
Pro- forma of giving and/or receiving feedback.....................................................................5
Summary and action plan.......................................................................................................6
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Understanding self and others is a procedure which is used to visualise the specific skills
of a person that can be utilised in an organisation (Sosik and Cameron, 2010). Several skills are
addressed in the present report that are needed in order to improve the performance of an
individual. By analysing these skills, someone can manage difficult tasks effectually and get an
idea of dealing with it properly. By this concept, a person generates confidence level and self-
awareness that ultimately helps the organisation in getting effective output. In this report,
reflective journals are represented which are proved to be very helpful in improving the learning
skills of self and others. Additionally, SWOT analysis is also used here for examining the
strengths and weaknesses of an individual.
TASK
Reflective journal – This journal is very important as this is utilised by students for
keeping their personalised records and by this way, they are gaining good experiences to
improve their future. This also helps in increasing self-interpretation by measuring various
aspects so that their skills as well as learning can be upgraded in different circumstances. People
achieve their personal and professional aim in specific time frame by accomplishing their tasks
in a less time period (Wiklund Gustin and Wagner, 2013). Different attributes and characteristics
are present in a person which are used by him for controlling as well as managing the entire
personnel of enterprise. Thus, it is improve to increase the skills and qualifications in an effectual
manner as it is beneficial for both; workers as well as complete venture. Hence, I need to explore
my core skills and knowledge so that I can control all types of works and jobs in an organised
and systematic way by taking care of actual facts and figures.
Pro- forma of public speaking skill
What is the core skill to develop?
The skill of being capable of communicating with large number of public or crowd is needed to
be developed (van Dijk and et. al., 2011). This attribute is commonly present in a leader. So,
this would help a person in becoming a successful leader. A good leadership is reflected from a
person when he is able to speak in front of huge public and convey information in proper way
so that everyone will be able to understand his speech and motive behind same.
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Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on?
This skill is very important as being a leader, I should have the capacity to draw attention of
people at large by speaking among them. If I have not build my self-confidence then I will not
be in a condition to speak a single word in front of people (Salvatore and et. al., 2012). So, I
must be full of confidence and determination at the time of expressing my ideas and opinions to
such a large crowd. To improve this skill of public speaking, I need to focus on listening
capability as well because a good listener can be a better speaker. After hearing carefully the
voice and views of people, I will be able to solve their issues and present appropriate solution
among them. Besides this, it that aids in creating mutual understanding between associates as
well as leaders.
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill. How did you access your
competence?
In context of this skill, I have good listening ability and because of this, I can carefully
concentrate on someone's idea without deviating to other things. This helps me in accessing
important information as well as facts that are provided by others. So, while speaking among
people, I can use those points and data to make my opinions valid. By this way, public also
support my statement as this is similar with their views (Serrat, 2017). In addition to this, I have
good command over speaking as well as writing. This supports me in transferring real
information at the time of speaking within a particular time period. I access these competencies
by focusing on other's views, discussing with my team members and reading newspapers.
Can you identify contradiction from your analysis above?
I am not good in writing impressive contents in less time period that is why I am not able to
attract more people via my speaking capability. I also have lack of confidence as I feel fear in
talking with others. I have to overcome these problems from myself as soon as possible so that I
can speak fluently in crowd and seek their attention towards my speech.
How this skill will help me in the future?
This is an important skill which assists me while giving presentation in front of superiors. This
also supports me when I will become a good leader. This aids me in motivating people by
spreading awareness among masses.
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Pro-forma of team working skill
What is the core skill to develop?
I need to develop my skill of working within a team. This will help me in creating a a strong
bond with my colleagues and I can accomplish my job by taking help of them in a particular
time frame.
Why this core skill is important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on?
This attribute is very necessary as in each and every organisation, work is done by creating
certain teams (Gonzales and Hancock, 2011). Team work is good as it is easy to acquire the
aim and objectives when more than one person contributes for a common goal and help each
other in completing their tasks. A situation emerges when I feel helpless and need support of
our friends for doing some jobs. So, I chosen this skill for the purpose of reflection as no one
can achieve their ambitions without taking help of others.
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill. How did you access your
competence?
I used to work in a group since my college as teachers ask me to prepare projects by working
within a group. So, I can learn this skill immediately. Besides this, I can generate trust among
my colleagues as I am of decent personality and always speak clearly with everyone. So, these
are my competencies that would help me a lot while working in a team.
Can you identify contradiction from your above analysis above?
I have a drawback of dealing with people of different natures or behaviours. If some one
playing applying any strategy for breaking trust of others from mine, I would not be able to
identify this (Rochat, 2014). So, I can say that I cannot understand any one's nature from their
working style and behaviour. Besides this, I also have a dominating nature and I used to prove
my job rights in comparison to other associates. Such limitations need to be removed from me
so that I can smoothly work in a group.
How might this skill help me in the future?
The ability of team working also assist me in future as my dream or target is to become a good
leader. For this I require to learn working with my colleagues as after becoming a leader I have
to perform jobs by working with members of my party. And this would my responsibility to
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make understand each and every member of my group about our main aims and objectives and
inspire them to do the same.
Pro-forma of assertiveness / conflict resolution
What is the core skill to develop ?
I required to develop skill of assertive communication and conflict resolution. Assertion simply
refers to standing up for what we want. Here all the needs should be clearly stated. Conflict
resolution is noting but minimising conflictual situations that may created due to
misinterpretation in any person.
Why is this core skill important ? Why did I select this skill to reflect on ?
This skill is very significant as this helps me in expressing my views clearly or calmly and also
by respecting others' perspectives. This also assist me in resolving the reasons of disputes so
that work can be done effectively without facing any kind of threat (Cozolino, 2014). I have
chosen this skill to reflect on because I realises so many conflictual circumstances at my work
place. I found there is a gap between lower and higher level of workers as due to this so many
problems are rising that is negatively affecting ion the performance of my firm. Therefore, these
all issues needs to be solved or remove in effectual manner as fast as possible so that work can
be performed properly.
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill. How did you access your
competence ?
I am good in listening information from both sides or parties and after that I give them proper
solution. Also, I have negotiation skills through which I negotiate with people and come with a
resolution which develops win- win situation (Deci and Ryan, 2010). Therefore, I am able to
minimise the disputes very effectively. I access this competence from discussing problems of
my friends as they come to me to solve their person issues.
Can you identify contradiction from your above analysis above?
There is a contradiction as I am a person of dominating nature ad due to this I mostly under
estimate other's opinions and think that my decision is always correct. This attitude needs to
removed from me as this deviate me from right track of concentrating on everyone's views.
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How might this skill help me in the future?
As its my dream to become a successful leader and for that these characteristics are very
important as assertiveness helps me in stating my thought clearly in front of others. Besides
this, it also assist me focusing on views of other people so that I can resolve their disputes in
appropriate manner.
Pro- forma of giving and/or receiving feedback
What is the core skill to develop ?
Here the main skill on which I have to focus is giving and receiving feedbacks from other
people. It is necessary to receive feedbacks from others on our work as it helps in exploring
those areas which are not covered by you (Baron-Cohen, Tager-Flusberg and Lombardo,
2013). Additionally, giving any one feedback is also good as they come to know about our
demands and after that work as per that.
Why is this core skill important ? Why did I select this skill to reflect on ?
This attribute is very essential as this assists me doing things in accordance to public. If I am
offering any idea or implementing any policy then, it is necessary to collect views of others
because this supports in taking a better decision (Baumeister, 2013). I select this skill to reflect
as if any idea is imposed on anyone without asking them then the possibilities of refusing and
conflicts increases very much. So, it is better to gather views of others so that objectives can be
accomplished easily along with supports of associates.
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill. How did you access your
competence ?
I believe in mutual profits, thus it is my aim to provide benefits to all from my job. So, thinks
about everyone before coming to any decision. My nature is very friendly so this helps in taking
opinions from my colleagues as well as superiors.
Can you identify contradiction from your above analysis above?
As there is a job of giving or taking feedbacks, I am not able to accumulate everyone's ideas as
making a decision after that is too complex. I have lack of patience so I cannot wait for a long
time in doing any work. This is proved to be a contradiction regarding the above mentioned
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skills.
How might this skill help me in the future?
In becoming a good leader, this skill of taking and giving feedbacks to others will help a lot as
in the field of politics, it is very essential to emphasis on other's point of view. If any work is
done by me through taking feedbacks of public , this gives a good impression of mine on them.
Apart from this, I can also give suggestion to my competitors about their policies.
Summary and action plan
For enhancing my knowledge and skills, I require to find out all the opportunities present
which will be very advantageous for me so that I can maintain a good position in marketplace.
This reflective journals helps in evaluating the attributes through which objectives can be
achieved from suitable and well – structured planning. In addition this, I can also analyse my
strength and weaknesses that supports me in giving best performance. Capability and weak
factors identified by me listed below :
Strength : From the above based journals, I determined different strengths present in
myself. My speaking ability is too good and because of this I speak fluently in front of large
number of people within my organisation. This will help me in future as I want to become a
leader. So, it is necessary for me to speak and express my views among huge crowd and should
have the power of seeking their attention. In addition to this, my team working skill is also so
impressive as I contribute my best in achieving mutual goals by helping my colleagues. For this,
trust is very essential and I know how to develop trustfulness among others for myself. So, I
consider this as a strength. Besides this, I also resolves conflicts due to my assertiveness attribute
where I take stand for myself and listen to others as well.
Weaknesses : Each and every person has some weak points. I also realised some of my
weak factors. I am not able to deal with people of different natures and due to this team
performance decreases because disputes occur at workplace. I also have a dominating nature that
is why I disregards' other opinions and prove myself right among others. This act as obstructors
for me.
By evaluating the strengths and weaknesses, I come at the conclusion that I need to
improve some areas so that personal development can be done which are stated below :
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Improvement in interpersonal skills : These are skills that we use everyday while
doing communication with other persons, both separately or within a team or group. Such skills
are like listening skills, negotiation, problem solving, assertiveness, communication, behaving
politely, etc. It helps me in achieving my aims and objectives very easily.
Motivation : I need to motivate myself for doing any kind of task so that I do not feel
helpless and should not loose hope of attaining my targets while dealing with difficulties. This
inspiration can be gained from any one like my family members, friends, colleagues, etc.
Change in behaviour or nature : As I have a atrocious nature of dominating others,this
negatively affects on my career. I want to be a good leader, for this I have to listen views of
others. But as having dominating personality I will fail in agreeing my fellows as well as public.
So, I must have to change this attitude and focus on collecting feed backs from others. I also
need to keep patience for this job.
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REFERENCES
Books & journals
Baron-Cohen, S., Tager-Flusberg, H. and Lombardo, M. eds., 2013. Understanding other minds:
Perspectives from developmental social neuroscience. Oxford University Press.
Baumeister, R. F. ed., 2013. Self-esteem: The puzzle of low self-regard. Springer Science &
Business Media.
Cozolino, L., 2014. The neuroscience of human relationships: Attachment and the developing
social brain (Norton series on interpersonal neurobiology). WW Norton & Company.
Deci, E. L. and Ryan, R. M., 2010. Self‐determination. John Wiley & Sons, Inc..
Gonzales, A. L. and Hancock, J. T., 2011. Mirror, mirror on my Facebook wall: Effects of
exposure to Facebook on self-esteem. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social
Networking. 14(1-2). pp.79-83.
Rochat, P., 2014. Early social cognition: Understanding others in the first months of life.
Psychology Press.
Salvatore, G. and et. al., 2012. Vulnerable self, poor understanding of others' minds, threat
anticipation and cognitive biases as triggers for delusional experience in schizophrenia:
a theoretical model. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy. 19(3). pp.247-259.
Serrat, O., 2017. Understanding and developing emotional intelligence. In Knowledge
Solutions (pp. 329-339). Springer Singapore.
Sosik, J. J. and Cameron, J. C., 2010. Character and authentic transformational leadership
behavior: Expanding the ascetic self toward others. Consulting Psychology Journal:
Practice and Research. 62(4). p.251.
van Dijk, W. W. and et. al., 2011. Towards understanding pleasure at the misfortunes of others:
The impact of self-evaluation threat on schadenfreude. Cognition and Emotion. 25(2).
pp.360-368.
Wiklund Gustin, L. and Wagner, L., 2013. The butterfly effect of caring–clinical nursing
teachers’ understanding of self‐compassion as a source to compassionate
care. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. 27(1). pp.175-183.
Online
Top 10 Leadership Skills. 2017. [Online]. Available through: <https://www.thebalance.com/top-
leadership-skills-2063782>.
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