Personal Reflection on Skills for Academic and Business Success

This essay presents a personal reflection on the development of skills essential for success in both academic and business contexts. Through self-assessment, the author identifies strengths and weaknesses, formulating SMART goals to overcome shortcomings. Key skills discussed include verbal and written communication, teamwork, numeracy, ICT proficiency, problem-solving, and time management. The reflection highlights specific strategies for improvement, such as participating in writing competitions to enhance written communication, fostering collaboration to improve teamwork, and setting clear objectives to enhance time management. The essay concludes that continuous self-evaluation and targeted skill development are crucial for attracting opportunities and achieving personal and professional growth, emphasizing the importance of turning weaknesses into strengths through focused effort and strategic planning. Desklib provides access to similar essays and study resources for students.

PERSONAL
REFLECTION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY............................................................................................................................3
Personal reflection..................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Performance evaluation is a significant approach for maintaining communication flow
among teams within the organization. Performance evaluation offers opportunity to set goals
both as individual and as a team (Chen and et.al, 2017). Performance evaluation is also
known as performance review for performance appraisal where supervises analyze the
performance of the employees. This report is a personal reflection which will represent the
approaches which has been used for developing skills to perform effectively in academic and
business prospects. This study outlines the self-appraisal approach and goals of improvement
which has been used to improve the required skill set.
MAIN BODY
Personal reflection
With the help of self-assessment, I was able to analyze my strengths and weakness
and create innovative strategies and SMART goals which supported in overcoming
shortcomings. When it comes to academic and business context, there are various skills
which supported me in performing effectively and focusing on achievement of organizational
objective and in attracting greater opportunities for career growth and development
(Duckworth and et.al, 2019). There are various skills that supported me in performing
effectively which supported in development, gaining new skills, continuous improvement and
identification of objectives which needs to be accomplished. Some of the skills are discussed
below:
Communication (verbal and written) skills
I think communication is a valuable spelling where I can actively listen to be opinions
of other members and encourage them to share their opinions which will be helpful in
creating a positive relationship while interacting with customers. With the help of verbal
communication skill, I was able to communicate with greater number of people and create
strong interpersonal relationships with them. With the help of my verbal communication
skills, I was able to represent my opinions and ideas to people accurately which supported the
in gaining brief insight and sense of direction. Whereas, my written communication skill also
supported me in delivering the message in accurate format and supported in forming and
maintaining strong interpersonal relationships with others.

With the help of self-assessment, I analyzed that I need to enhance my written
communication skills, as I was not able to communicate effectively and share the appropriate
message. For enhancing the written communication skills, I planned to enhance such skill in
3 months period where I can understand the value of sentence framing through which I can
share the accurate message and create a connection with the other member through which
flow of information can be created and maintained (Jena, 2020). In order to enhance my
written communication skills, I participated in writing competitions, read more grammar
books, practiced writing daily and take criticism, positively which was helpful in shaping and
enhancing my skill.
Teamworking skills
I believe that my team working skills and my ability to work in team played a
valuable role. I was active in my academic year and business area where I actively shared all
my opinions and ideas with confidence. As a team member, I focused on listening,
understanding and valuing others opinion as well which supported the team in performing
effectively and meeting desired objectives. Meanwhile in working with my fellow mates in
which each team member had their own perspectives and coming to a conclusion altogether,
my communication and ability to group all people and analyze factors as a team supported us
in meeting the desired objectives.
While working in a team I realized I can be too controlling and do not give enough
space to fellow members of the team to develop or share their ideas. In order to enhance my
team working skills, I will focus on communicating with others, define clear team roles, show
gratitude to others, accept differences of each other which will support in creating positive
working environment (Lock, 2019). I believe the proper flow of information, coordination
and cooperation will be helpful in enhancing the performance of whole team and grow
altogether through which expected outcomes can be met and knowledge can be enhanced.
Numeracy skills
Numeracy skills were the skills which supported me in using, interpreting and
communicating all mathematical information. With the help of my numerical skills, I was
able to manage some calculations which supported in completing my task effectively and
efficiently. My numerical skills offered me basic knowledge of numbers which was also
helpful in understanding the relationships between numbers.

As numerical skills are more than addition and subtraction, my inability to understand
the statistical data affected my ability to perform effectively and meet all desired objectives.
Due to lack of budgeting skills, ability to understand trends and analyzing the data, I
established some SMART goals where I focused on practicing some calculation and focuses
on understanding and reading statistical data through which I can improve my skills and
knowledge base.
Information and Communication (ICT) skills
My ability to use digital technology and technological mediums in daily activities has
been average. The understanding of social media platforms has supported me in connecting
with many people which strengthen my network base. The understanding and knowledge of
measures of using the technology in daily operations has supported me perform effectively
and incorporate technology in daily operations effectively. My knowledge of digital
technology supported me in performing basic level functions and meeting possible results.
In order to enhance my technological skills, I will engage in learning activities
through online and offline mediums which will be helpful in getting insight of the use and
application of technology and how it can be used (Lüdeke-Freund and Dembek, 201). For
enhancing my information and communication skills, my objective will focus in daily
practice of all the learnt knowledge through online and offline mediums through which I can
refine my skills and strengthen them which can support in attracting better opportunities.
Problem solving skills
Problem-solving is an essential skill which supports in resolving conflicts. My
opinion of resolving problems is based on determining the problem and create an action plan
after analyzing the issue that needs to be resolved. During times, I was able to demonstrate
my problem-solving skills where I also valued and considered the opinions of other fellow
members through which creative solutions can be determined. My problem-solving skills
supported me in finding innovative ideas through which conflicts can be minimized and
positive scenario can be maintained.
I realized from the course that I need to work on my problem-solving skills as I was
highly dependent on my fellow members and lacked creativity where I will strive to enhance
my awareness which will be helpful in boosting my confidence and creativity that will
support in forming innovative strategies for resolving problems (Thornton, 2017). I will focus

on finding the solution rather than just focusing on problems which will help me in
simplifying things. My smart goal for enhancing the problem-solving skills will focus on
simplifying things and listing out alternatives which can be helpful in resolving problems.
Time management skills
With the help of self-analysis or assessment approach, I was able to determine my
time management skills. I was able to observe that I can create a layout of strategies by
planning all the activities that needs to be performed which supported me in prioritizing all
the activities as per the deadlines. With the help of my time management skills, the flow of
work was easily maintained and this was helpful in bringing discipline and punctuality in my
daily life. My time management skills also supported me in getting time for me to engage in
other activities as well through which I was able to improve my performance and shape my
personal and professional attitude.
Through observation I was able to analyze that I was not able to meet deadlines which
represented execution of my poor time management skills. The inability to complete the work
on or before deadline, this created immense pressure and stress which affected my
performance and outcome (Marques, 2014). In order to enhance my team working skills, I
created a smart goal which supported me in prioritizing all the task, scheduling task as per
deadlines, organizing workplace, using required breaks and focusing on following the
planned objective.
CONCLUSION
From the above study, it can be concluded that various skills play their own role in
shaping career through which an individual can effectively perform and this will help them in
attracting various opportunities for development and growth. It can be understood that self-
evaluation and appraisal is essential which helps in determining the strengths and
shortcoming through which improvement strategies and smart goals can be formed for
enhancing the overcoming.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Chen, P and et.al., 2017. Strategic resource use for learning: A self-administered intervention
that guides self-reflection on effective resource use enhances academic
performance. Psychological Science. 28(6). pp.774-785.
Duckworth, A. L and et.al., 2019. Self-control and academic achievement. Annual review of
psychology. 70. pp.373-399.
Jena, R. K., 2020. Measuring the impact of business management Student's attitude towards
entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial intention: A case study. Computers in
Human Behavior. 107. p.106275.
Lock, D. A., 2019. Constructing careers: Self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-efficacy
amongst undergraduate business students. In Employability via higher education:
Sustainability as scholarship (pp. 373-388). Springer, Cham.
Lüdeke-Freund, F. and Dembek, K., 2017. Sustainable business model research and practice:
Emerging field or passing fancy?. Journal of Cleaner Production. 168. pp.1668-1678.
Marques, J., 2014. Engaging in Self-Reflection: A Deeper Look Within. In Leadership and
Mindful Behavior (pp. 53-71). Palgrave Macmillan, New York.
Thornton, N., 2017. A personal reflection. The Routledge Companion to Inter-American
Studies. p.263.