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Table of Contents
Title page……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1
Table of contents…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….2
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3
The skills developed by the module…………………………………………………………………………………..4
My strengths…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..5
My weaknesses……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6
The action plan for the improvement of my weaknesses………………………………………………………6
Conclusions……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………8
References……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..8
Appendix………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………10
Introduction
In order to live a fulfilling life where you are capable of actualising all your potentials then reflections on your life becomes inevitable. Reflection is therefore very crucial to everyone interested in improving from his present situation into a better one (Griffin and Moorhead, 2009). Thus the writing of this reflective report will greatly help me so much in reflecting on what I have studied in this module and evaluate its impact on me towards being an effective manager. The reflection process is very crucial mainly because a large number of employers nowadays require employees to be reflective practitioners who are able to undergo continuous development personally and professionally (Bolton, 2010).
This reflective report will greatly help me in recognizing the existing skills and knowledge gaps. Thus it is crucial in evaluation of my life while taking this module in order to determine how is has influenced my life, as well as the actions am supposed to undertake in order to improve on my current situation. Therefore the process itself will be a contemplation of various interventions (Jasper, 2007). Hence in the process of reflection I’ll also reevaluate my skills and competencies as well as how they have been influenced by doing this module (Johns, 2009).
Therefore this reflective report will start by evaluating the skills that I have developed as a result of this module. Secondly, a reflection on my strengths that are very vital in developing an effective manager in the context of the modern environment of global business will follow (Throop and Castellucci, 2003). Thirdly, the identified weakness will also be represented in this report and finally the action plan to improve the identified weaknesses will also be presented in the report with clear timelines required to improve the weaknesses.
The skills developed by the module
As a result of reflective process and learning of this module I have developed various skills that are vital in enhancing the execution of managerial responsibilities in the drastically changing business environment (Johns, 2009). Therefore since managers in the modern working environment are responsible for executing their duties by directing other peoples’ activities as well as undertaking the responsibility for the attainment of the organisation’s objectives through their efforts. Thus in order for successful management which is implemented by effective managers seems to mainly depend on various managerial skills developed my managers such as human, conceptual and technical (Griffin and Moorhead, 2009).
Moreover, there are various human skills that have developed in course of the module. These skills will be help me in my ability to work with other people as a team hence the importance of team dynamics has been instilled within me. I have also developed an high level of interpersonal skills which will be helping me to communicate effectively with my colleagues in a working environment (Bolton, 2010). These skills are very vital for an effective manager because they help him/her in understanding and motivating other people both superiors and subordinates (Arul, n.d.).
Hence with human skills that are highly developed I will be aware of my assumptions, beliefs and attitudes about groups and other individuals as well as being able to determine the limitations or usefulness of these feelings. I will also be sufficiently sensitive to the motivations and needs of other people in the organisation so that I can be in a position to judge any prevailing reactions, outcomes as well as various possible courses of action that I will be supposed to undertake (Throop and Castellucci, 2003).
In addition, the other crucial skills that I have developed are the conceptual skill which has enabled me to begin seeing the organisation as a whole. This is due to the fact that I have developed the ability to recognise how different functions of the organisation I will be working for are dependent on one another as well as the expected changes as a result of interaction between the various functions of the business (Jasper, 2007).
The technical skills that I have developed implies that I am now in a position to understand as well as be proficient in virtually all the kinds of activities that I will ever be involved in. The most preferable skills among this category is the ability I have developed in my analytical skills which are important in helping me to be in a position to analyse various scenarios and determining the best option for the organisation (Badley, 2009).
My strengths
The reflective report writing process as well a training obtained in this module has led me in the process of reflecting on my skills and abilities as a result I have determined my strengths which are very crucial in the process effective management (Arul, n.d.). I have been able to determine my interpersonal skills strength which involves interacting with people very well as well as being in possession of excellent communication skills that very vital for an effective manager. I also possess very good personal organisation abilities which have been enhancing me to organise my tasks both personal and professional ones effectively (Badley, 2009). This abilities are very crucial for an effective manager since they facilitates efficient and proportional allocation of duties thus ensuring they are thoroughly done. Team working is the other strength I have and is able to help me work very effectively while in groups as well as managing them. Moreover, the other strength that I possess is efficient decision making whereby I have realized that I am capable of overseeing a well informed decision making process in an organisation as a result of extensive consultation (Sen, 2010).
My weaknesses
The process of self reflection has so much helped me to determine my weaknesses which can hinder me from being an effective manager. These weaknesses include lack of proper time management skills, lack of confidence in myself as well as lack of ability to control my stress and anger (Griffin and Moorhead, 2009). The lack of proper time management skills greatly hinders my progress mainly because I usually take commendable amount of time on simple tasks which could have been done easily upon planning and organising my time well. Lack of confide is also another weakness hindering me from attaining my full potential since many are the times when I don’t have a strong standing on my decisions. Moreover, lack of effective way of stress and anger management has also been a weakness which could hinder me from being an effective manager (Throop and Castellucci, 2003).
The action plan for the improvement of my weaknesses
The weaknesses identified needs to be improved through an action plan in order help me to change the current situation in which I am in into a better or desirable situation (Bolton, 2010). For instance, the lack of confidence will require an establishment of an effective method to achieve the desired results. Hence the process will involve implementing an NLP technique to develop confide and reading several books on the same topic. The other weakness which is the lack proper time management skills will require an implementation of a timetable which outlines the time required for each activity (Arul, n.d.). Moreover, a diary will also be very crucial since it helps in planning in advance about the activities to be carried out. However, lack of stress and anger management skills requires attending a local stress and anger management class and frequent meditations (Moon, 2004).
An appropriate action plan can only be effectively implemented upon realisation of the real issues to be addressed throughout the process. This is mainly because the aim of an action plan is usually to improve someone’s condition from his or her current state to the desired one. However, in my action plan I have prioritised the weaknesses which I felt could hinder me from been the most effective manager I can be. The prioritised weaknesses for improvement requires both time and resources in order for the action plan to be properly implemented. For instance, lack of proper time management skills requires keeping of a diary where I will be recording all the activities supposed to be carried out during the day. The diary together with a well outlined timetable will be very effective tools for facilitating me to properly manage my time. Moreover, prioritisation of tasks is also very crucial in the time management since it ensures that the most important tasks are done first followed by the rest in a descending order. Also I’ll attend the TRAKS workshop so as to improve my skills on proper management of the time I have.
Moreover, other identified weaknesses such as lack of confidence as well as lack of stress and anger management skills will be considered in the action plan. For example, lack of confidence will be improved by reading numerous books on the topic and also practising the NLP technique. Lack of stress and anger management will be improved by attending a local class on stress and anger management as well as implementing a meditation process which will contribute to the improvement on my current state. However, in order to acquire the desired state the action plan will involve both the short and long-term goals which will be crucial in the evaluation of the my action plan implementation progress. The set timescale will ensure there is compliance to all the activities which deserve to be undertaken hence upon strict adherence into the scheduled action plan activities, then it will definitely lead to the desired outcomes.
Conclusions
The reflective report is a very vital tool in facilitating me in the reflecting on my skills and abilities which could be of great help in enhancing me to be an effective manager which is a very vital phenomenon in the modern world of business (Jasper, 2007). However, the skills and abilities developed as a result of the module impact have also been discussed in this reflective report as well as how help someone to become an effective manager. I have also discussed the weaknesses I have identified in the reflection process which are capable of hindering me to become an effective manager as well as developing an action plan on improving on them the identified weaknesses (Bolton, 2010).
References
Arul, M.J. n.d. Managerial Skills. Available at: http://arulmj.tripod.com/mgrlskls.html [Accessed: 1st April 2011].
Badley, G. 2009. A reflective essaying model for higher education. Education + Training, 51 (4), pp. 248 – 258.
Bolton, G. 2010. Reflective practice: writing and professional development. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications Ltd.
Drew, S. & Bingham, R. 2001. The Student Skills Guide. 2nd ed. Aldershot: Gower.
Essential Life Skills for Personal Development. Available at: http://www.essentiallifeskills.net/ [Accessed: 1st April 2011].
Griffin, R.W. and Moorhead, G. 2009. Organizational Behavior: Managing people and organizations. 9th ed. Mason: South-Western, Cengage Learning
Gupta, S.S. 2008. Managerial skills: Explorations in practical knowledge. New Delhi: Global India Publications Pvt Ltd
Jasper, M. 2007. Professional Development, reflection and decision making. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Johns, C. 2009. Becoming a Reflective Practitioner. 3rd ed. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Moon, J.A. 2004. A handbook of reflective and experimental learning: theory and practice. New York: Routledge Falmer
Schon, D. A. 1987. Educating the Reflective Practitioner. San Francisco: Josey-Bass.
Sen, B.A. 2010. Reflective writing: a management skill. Library Management, Vol. 31 (1/2), pp. 79 – 93
Throop, R.K. and Castellucci, M. 2003. Reaching your potential: personal and professional development. 3rd ed. Clifton park, NY: Thomson Learning, Inc
Appendix
Weakness improvement action plan
| Development area | Actions | Support Resources | Timescale to achieve |
| Time management | Keep a diary
Display a timetable Prioritise tasks Attend TRAKS workshop |
A diary to help in organising daily events
A timetable Workshops and seminars |
Start time: 1/5/2011
Short term goal: 31/5/2011 Long term goal: 31/7/2011
|
| Lack of confidence | Buying and reading extensive books on ways of developing confidence
Practice NLP technique
|
Books on confidence development
|
Start time: 1/5/2011
Short term goal: 31/6/2011 Long term goal: 31/9/2011
|
| Loose temper quickly | Local anger and stress management class
Meditation |
Short course on stress and anger management
Time to meditate |
Start time: 1/5/2011
Short term goal: 31/6/2011 Long term goal: 31/9/2011
|
