University Reflective Essay: Work and Diversity - MGMT304

This essay examines the application of self-assessment tools, including the Johari Window, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Transactional Analysis (TA), and DISC, in understanding and managing conflicts within a work and diverse environment. The author reflects on how each tool has contributed...Read More

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WORK AND DIVERSITY
Student’s Name
Course Name
Professor’s Name
University Name
City, State
Date

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Introduction
It is essential that a person understands their relationship with other people as
well as themselves. It helps an individual to improve their communication skills and
develop conflict resolution mechanisms. Eventually, this helps an individual to
improve on how they relate with one another in different circumstances. Some of the
tools that help to understand this relationship include Johari Window, MBTI, TA, and
DISC. This essay analyzes these tools and applies them on a personal level to identify
how they have been helpful in managing conflicts in the past (Hedge, 2013). In
addition to this, these tools help an individual to understand their psychology and how
they react to different situations (Reis, 2010). An example is given where I have used
each of the above scenarios in resolving conflicts. I used Johari Window to help me
understand my personality, and hence this helped in resolving the dispute I had with
my employer.
Johari Window
The Johari window is a technique that helps people to understand their
relationship with other people as well as with themselves. The tool was created by a
psychologist named Joseph Luft and Harrington InghI I am. A person is supposed to

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pick some adjectives from a list and select the ones that they feel describe their
personality. Friends of the person undertaking the test should also select an equal
number of adjectives that describe the person (Weiner& Greene, 2013). After this, the
adjectives are put in a two by two grid of four cells. The first cell shows the part of
ourselves that other people and we see. The second cell represents aspects about
ourselves that others see, but we have never noticed them. The third cell represents
the things that we do privately but hide them from others. The fourth is the
unconscious part of us that neither other people or we can see (Straw, 2013).
This technique has helped me a lot in understanding my attitude. One of the
things that have learned after using this tool is that I am good at solving conflicts.
From the adjectives selected by my peers, most of them thought that I am a good
mediator. The skill is reinforced by my excellent listening skills and my patience
when resolving a conflict. My friendliness and my ability to resonate with other
people’s feelings make me good at resolving disputes and improving communication.
The tool also helped to realize that I am open-minded free to listening and
understanding the point of view of the other person. This means that am willing to
enter into a dialogue with people that I disagree with and I am always ready to find an
amicable solution to the problem.
Another thing that I realized is that I have respect towards other people despite
differences in ideologies or any other differences that may exist between us. It is
critical in conflict resolution because the other party to the conflict can gain
confidence that the situation is solved in a fair manner. An example where I used my
knowledge of this tool to resolve a conflict is when I had a with my employer
overpayments. It was my first job after I had just cleared high school. I got a job at a

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small restaurant in town, and the owner agreed to pay me a basic salary and a
commission based on my performance. At the end of the first month, I had performed
exceptionally well, and I was supposed to be paid an allowance equal to half of my
basic salary. To my surprise, the owner of the restaurant backtracked on the promise,
and he insisted on paying the basic wage alone. I was agitated given the hard work I
had put to earn the commission. I calmed myself down and requested a meeting where
we were able to renegotiate the payments. The conflict was eventually solved, and we
had a cordial working relationship ever since.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
MBTI refers to an introspective questionnaire for self-reporting with the intention
of indicating different psychological preferences. It also helps to understand the
perceptions and an individuals` decision-making pattern. MBTI is of the concept that
human beings experience the world in four different ways. They include extraversion
and Introversion, sensing and intuition, thinking and feeling as well as judgment and
perception. MBTI has helped me to realize that am an extrovert who likes dealing
with people, things and situations. Am a person who always makes their feelings
known in all situations. This has brought me at logger's heads with many people since
I tend to express my feelings openly and this ends up offending some people at times.
This has also helped me to solve conflict because am always ready to analyze
situations and engage people and hence helping to solve conflicts. I desire truth and
logical facts and principles that can understand. I like understanding the deep cause of
the problem or conflict before thinking of the method that I will use to resolve the
conflict. I do not attach feelings in my decision-making process to ensure that the
decision I make is logical and purely based on facts. I also realized that I have good

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judgment and I like when everything is orderly. I applied this tool in the past in
solving a conflict that my parents had with a neighbor. One of our dogs had bitten the
neighbor's kid. The neighbor threatened to take the issue to the authorities since the
dog had strayed to their compound. My parents denied that our dog had bitten the kid
and they were not ready to negotiate with the neighbor. The conflict escalated to the
point of almost getting physical. I discussed the issue with both parties, and they
agreed to meet and solve the conflict. I intervened and offered my regrets to the
neighbor and offered to take the kid to the hospital and ensure that the incident would
never occur again in future.
Transactional analysis
Transactional analysis is a psychoanalytic theory mode of therapy where social
transactions are analyzed to determine the ego of a person. This helps to understand
the behavior of a person, and hence it is possible to alter and shape the behavior of
that individual to solve problems that are emotionally related (Harwood, Beutler&
Groth-Marnat, 2011). This method is very crucial in conflict resolution and decision-
making process. The technique explains that the emotional state of an individual is as
a result of inner feelings and conversation between different parts of the psyche (Lum,
2011). By using the technique, I was able to realize that I have high confidence in
myself. Transactional analysis is based on three key concepts. The first concept is the
parent concept. In this, the ego of a person is rooted in their past thoughts, behavior,
and feelings. These behaviors could be learned from parents or other people important
and close to us such as friends. The other concept is the adult concept. In this, an
individual is rooted in the present situation. Decisions and emotions are not
influenced by past occurrences and experiences. The third concept explains that the

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ego of a person is influenced by the thoughts, behaviors, and feelings adopted during
childhood. By learning transactional analysis, I realized that my parents shaped my
character. My experiences with my parents and people close to me as I grew up has
shaped my character and personality to a very large extent. I was taught to be humble
and patient. I also grew up being taught the importance of respecting other people
irrespective of their social class or status. An example of how this technique has
applied in my life is that when I was growing up, many of the people in my village
came to my father to seek his assistance in helping them solve conflicts. The conflicts
raged from family disagreements, land disputes, and other social issues. I gained
negotiation and mediation skills from my father, and this has influenced my
personality and my ability to solve conflicts. It also helped me to realize that I believe
in co-existence and having cordial relations with everybody. I also realized that I
believe in other people and trust other people easily. Using this tool, I analyzed my
past conflict situations and realized that I took the great initiative in finding a lasting
solution to the conflict. The transactional analysis also helped me realize that I need to
improve my communication skills (Straza,2017). I am good at listening, and I have
high concentration ability. However, I am not good at articulating myself and my use
of non-verbal cues is poor. A person's ego and psychological state are crucial in
communication and conflict resolution since it influences a persons readiness to
negotiate and resolve the conflict. An example of where I used the technique to
resolve a conflict is when I had a conflict with my business partner. I had started a
small business, and I invited a friend to contribute capital so that we could run the
company as partners. A conflict later arose as a result of management of the venture
and mistrust of one another. I was able to solve this conflict by using the principles of
the transactional analysis technique.

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DISC
DISC personality test helps to determine the personality of an individual. The
DISC factors include Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Compliance (Fee, 2011).
I tested myself using the four factors, and it helped me realize several things about my
personality. I realized that I have a dominant personality. I like being in control of
most things. I like being dominant both in conversations and at work. This at times
may lead to conflicts arising between myself and my colleagues (Meier, 2010).
However, with time, I have learned to give other people a chance to express
themselves and to respect their capabilities. I am optimistic, but I am not an outgoing
individual. Even in the worst situations, I always believe a solution can be found, and
I do not give up easily. For example, even in my worst conflicts and disagreements
with my girlfriend, I keep believing that there is a way in which our differences can
be resolved no matter how long it takes. No matter how long and what it takes to
solve things, have always managed to fix things between us. I am even-tempered but
accommodating. I only get angry when highly provoked. The test also enabled me to
realize that I am humble. My achievements do not change my personality nor my
relationship with other people. I am patient when I have great determination to
achieve something.
Conclusion
The report analyzes and discusses the four models of Johari Window, MBTI, TA
and DISC. The models are applied in studying the psychology of an individual and
understanding their decision-making process. Using the models, I realized that I have
good communication skills. I am a good listener, but I need to improve when it comes
to the articulation of issues and fluency. The tools have also helped me to understand

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my emotional reactions and how to control my ego to be able to solve conflicts. Real
life examples are given of where I have used the four models in conflict resolution.
References
Fee, k. (2011). 101 Learning And Development Tools Essential Techniques For
Creating, Delivering And Managing Effective Training. London, Kogan Page.

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Harwood, t. M., Beutler, l. E., & Groth-Marnat, g. (2011). Integrative Assessment Of
Adult Personality. New York, Guilford Press.
Hedge, j. (2013). The Essential Disc Training Workbook: Companion To The Disc
Profile Assessment: Add New Meaning And Depth To Your Results.
Lum, d. (2011). Culturally Competent Practice: A Framework For Understanding
Diverse Groups And Justice Issues. Belmont, Ca, Brooks/Cole.
Meier, j. D. (2010). Getting Results The Agile Way: A Personal Results System For
Work And Life. Bellevue, Wa, Innovation Playhouse