Essay: Negotiation, team-work, time management & written communication (reflective)

Career growth and development involves continuous acquisition and improvement of various skills. There are several opportunities for career development including formal education, seminars, workshops, and on-the-job experience. It is important for an individual to identify critical areas of improvement and consequently focus on the necessary core skills. The areas of focus largely depend on the career direction. For example, a nurse will require some special skills that differ from an engineer. However, certain core skills are common among several career options. For instance, effective communication, conflict resolution, negotiation, leadership, teamwork, focus and attention, and time management are necessary for all professionals. For example, team-working skills are important in healthcare and engineering because it is important for a person to collaborate with others in the workplace.
In this reflective essay, I focus on four core skills, which include negotiation, team-work, time management, and written communication. I start by conducting a thoughtful analysis of each of the four core skills after which I provide a summary alongside the development of an action plan. I endeavor to use the developed action plan to improve on the areas of deficiency as I prepare towards my future career in management. I strive to become a highly competent senior manager with renowned global firms after which I plan to engage in business as an entrepreneur. The skills I will develop will also help me in my entrepreneurial endeavors.
First Skill
Core Skill Developed
I developed negotiation as one of the core skills. In its most succinct definition, negotiation involves engagement in a discussion aimed at reaching an agreement. A skilled negotiator is capable of communicating own stand or opinions, listening carefully to understand and analyze facts, take appropriate compromise, and lead in reaching a mutually beneficial agreement that ends a conflict.
Importance of the Core Skill and Reasons Why I Selected to Reflect on It
I feel that negotiation is a vital skill in everyday life. People face conflicting scenarios often, but they cannot avoid the responsibility of resolving them. In business or contract, the strength of a person’s negotiation skills determines whether the firm will record profit or loss. Strong negotiation skills are also required in politics. Effective negotiators or diplomats have taken a role in ending longstanding political crises saving countries or regions from total failure by helping in brokering a beneficial deal between warring parties. However, Gates (2015) argues that being a good negotiator takes a great deal of effort to develop the required traits. They include assertiveness, curiosity, numerical reasoning, self-discipline, humility, creativity, caution, tenacity, instinct, and nerve. Other important characteristics include being persuasive, an effective listener, ability to communicate with clarity, and respect diverse opinions (Gates 2015). Therefore, I decided to reflect on this skill because of its importance in my day-to-day life. In addition, I understand that I cannot acquire the skill easily. Instead, I need progressive development. Therefore, in the course of reflecting on negotiation skills, I intend to document my journey while outlining plans to improve.
Reflection on My Current Competence Regarding the Skill and Ways in Which I Assess My Competence
I have assessed my competence on negotiation, and I can confidently report that I am doing well even if I have not fully mastered the skill. I have used various tools on the internet that test various negotiation skills including analytical capability and decision-making skills. For example, I am capable of solving analytical issues although I take long before attaining an answer. Therefore, I must improve on speed so that I can address issues effectively.
I have also used my reflections to assess my competence on negotiation. I remember one time when I was in a disagreement with my siblings regarding the best month and day to meet for a family gathering. Every person had a special preference. However, I led them to reach the best time that suited all of us. In selecting the time, I looked into the most suitable month, which we found to be December. We then used elimination method to rule out days we could not meet because one of us would be committed. Finally, we agreed on date 15th because we found that the probability that any of us would be committed to social or work issues was low. I have also been involved in solving conflicts in other places including school, and I have helped people reach an agreement. Therefore, I feel that I am slowly becoming a skilled negotiator.
Identification of Any Contradiction from My Analysis Above
I see there is a match between my perception of my negotiation skills and the way other people view me. For example, I feel that I am a good listener because I try as much as possible to understand every detail from different parties. My friends indicate that I am a good listener. However, I am surprised to learn that I am not good at respecting the opinions of others especially when I have a direct interest in the conflict or issue under consideration. One of my friends noted that I am overly protective of my stand.
Ways in Which this Skill Might Help Me in the Future
As an aspiring manager, I expect to solve conflicts in the workplace especially in areas where teamwork is involved. Therefore, I feel that negotiation skills will help me to resolve disputes and work towards achieving optimal performance. I also plan to engage in a business where I expect to negotiate a lot, especially when dealing with contracts. Therefore, I expect this skill to help me succeed in my entrepreneurial endeavors.
Second Skill
Core Skill Developed
I worked on developing team working as a core skill. It involves collaborating with others to achieve a common goal. Working in a team requires being a good leader and follower.
Importance of the Core Skill and Reasons Why I Selected to Reflect on It
Teamwork is an evidence-based job design approach that improves organizational performance. For example, multidisciplinary teams in the healthcare industry have been associated with the delivery of high-quality care at reduced costs (Leach et al. 2017). Therefore, I expect to work in teams as a leader or follower and I require team-working skills to collaborate with others effectively. Consequently, I plan to develop team-working skills and my reflection will help me track my progress while establishing a way to achieve the highest level of competence.
Reflection on My Current Competence Regarding the Skill and Ways in Which I Assess My Competence
I have used assessment tools and feedback from my peers to assess my current competence on this core skill. The assessment has made me realize that I am a good encourager, compromiser, idea person, and evaluator but scores lowly as a leader, clarifier, and recorder. Notably, I am good at presenting ideas and analyzing them although I take time on evaluation. However, I am not good at being organized and directing others to take action. Therefore, I feel that I perform better as a follower than a leader.
Identification of Any Contradiction from My Analysis Above
I feel that I am an excellent follower but not good at leadership. Indeed, personal assessment using tools available on the internet shows that I should assume followership position in teamwork especially presenting and evaluating ideas. However, some of my peers inform me that I am an excellent leader particularly because I possess essential leadership qualities, such as being influential, active listener, problem solver, and conflict solver. Others feel that I am not quick in making decisions, which makes me fail in team leadership.
Ways in Which this Skill Might Help Me in the Future
Teamwork is inevitable today and in the future. I aspire to be a manager in a multinational organization where I expect to work with diverse teams. Therefore, team-working skill will help me to be a successful manager because I will form, develop, and maintain high performing work teams. This core skill will also help me to collaborate with other people in completing tasks or undertaking projects.
Third Skill
Core Skill Developed
I focus on time management as the third core skill that I have developed. This skill concerns the ability to make maximum use of available time for maximum productivity. It encompasses other skills, such as keeping schedules, the establishment of to-do lists, prioritization of tasks, delegation, and ability to say no to the tasks that might interfere with one’s schedule.
Importance of the Core Skill and Reasons Why I Selected to Reflect on It
Time is limited, yet we have too much to do. If we do not plan our time properly, we cannot achieve our visions and goals. I have interacted with various professionals, and I have noted that days become busier as one grows in a career. For example, an executive manager will have tight schedules compared to an entry-level employee. Unfortunately, we cannot do everything that we desire or comes our way. Therefore, we must learn how to achieve the best balance between tasks we do and the time we have to achieve the best outcomes regarding the quality of work and the decisions we make. Consequently, time management is of great importance. Therefore, I selected this core skill for reflection to work towards improving it so that I will achieve maximum productivity and performance in the future.
Unfortunately, time management is not a skill one can acquire without practice. For example, one requires experience to differentiate between urgent and important, urgent but unimportant, non-urgent but important, and non-urgent but unimportant tasks (Desai 2018). Distinguishing between these types of tasks will help in planning and prioritizing. Further, one requires practice to be effective in delegating tasks. Delegation involves knowing the jobs to give and people to assign based on skills and experience. Therefore, I chose to reflect on this core skill to understand my development and areas where I need further improvement.
Reflection on My Current Competence Regarding the Skill and Ways in Which I Assess My Competence
Self-assessment through reflection shows that I am yet to become a competent time manager. I perform poorly on this core skill. Often, I have been late to complete assignments because of the tendency to keep tasks until the last minute. I have been focusing on unimportant tasks such as watching movies and meeting with friends instead of revising for exams and completing assignments. As a result, I often find myself rushing during the last minute and consequently submitting work that fails to score maximum points.
I also remember a time when we were completing an academic activity with a classmate. I disappointed him because I was always late for meetings. I would engage in unimportant tasks especially watching seven o’clock news instead of attending planned meetings on time. Eventually, I would arrive late. One time, my friend asked me to improve my time management noting that I could improve greatly on my academic performance. I also feel that if I practiced this core skill throughout my time in college, I would record immense performance.
Identification of Any Contradiction from My Analysis Above
I do not find any contradiction in my analysis. What people say about me agrees with my reflection. I feel that I underperform on this core skill.
Ways in Which this Skill Might Help Me in the Future
Time management will be essential throughout my personal and career life. I need this skill to manage the tight schedules that I expect in the future. I plan to record high levels of productivity and performance while preventing the buildup of work-related stress through time management.
Fourth Skill
Core Skill Developed
The fourth core skill involves written communication. People send written messages to relay the desired information. Effective communication is a vital aspect of life especially in maintaining strong and fruitful relationships.
Importance of the Core Skill and Reasons Why I Selected to Reflect on It
Written communication comprises a core element of management that includes language contained in words. Most common forms of written communication include letters, memos, reports, budgets, and project plans. School assignments and written examinations are also forms of written communications because they facilitate the exchange of information between tutors and learners.
People need to communicate daily. Quite often, we engage in informal and unwritten communication, and sometimes, we are required to use formal and often written communication. For example, I usually write letters to various institutions seeking services such as education. The ability to communicate effectively using written methods, such as letters and memos determine the results of the process. For instance, a poorly written memo may spark protests. On the contrary, writing a good application letter will increase the chances of a person qualifying for the applied position. I decided to reflect on this core skill so that I can work towards improving and perfecting it since developing written communication is a process.
Reflection on My Current Competence Regarding the Skill and Ways in Which I Assess My Competence
Good written communication requires proficiency of language and writing styles alongside the ability to use the right words to elicit the required response. I can confidently state that I am a competent communicator. I am capable of writing compelling letters and memos. I have practiced this skill for quite some time, and I have now mastered the art although I need to improve in some areas. I love reading and writing articles, and my hobbies have helped me to develop excellent writing skills. I once participated in a writing contest, and I emerged among the winners. This opportunity motivated me to further my interests in reading and writing.
Identification of Any Contradiction from My Analysis Above
I do not identify any contradiction with my analysis. However, I have not sought the opinions of my peers and tutors regarding this skill, but I expect their view to coincide with my analysis.
Ways in Which this Skill Might Help Me in the Future
I expect to engage in formal communication during my career as a manager and businessperson. Therefore, I foresee written communication helping me greatly in my career by writing good letters and memos.
Summary and Action Plan
I have focused on four core skills, which include team-working, time management, written communication, and negotiation. I found these core skills to be critical in my everyday life and my future career as an executive manager with a mega-corporation and later as an entrepreneur. My analysis, assessment, and reflection indicate that I perform poorly in time management. I am a poor time manager particularly because I am unable to differentiate between important and non-important tasks. I find myself spending too much time on unimportant tasks, which makes me work hurriedly on important tasks. Consequently, my poor time management has prevented me from achieving optimal performance.
I have noted that I am excellent in written communication. I have mastered language and writing style over time especially because of my involvement in reading and writing. Further, I perform averagely in negotiation. I can engage warring parties to reach an amicable solution. My team-working skill is average. I am a good encourager, compromiser, idea person but underperform as a leader. Therefore, I would play the best role as a follower than a leader.
I wish to improve my expertise by addressing skill deficiencies. In particular, I want to improve on three areas, which include time management, team leadership, and speedy decision-making. The action plan I discuss below will help in closing the identified gaps. On time management, I endeavor to be an excellent time manager so that I can achieve maximum productivity, quality, and effectiveness within the limited time available. I plan to read at least three articles on time management skills by December 2018 so that I learn about various strategies to achieve my objective. I also plan to practice scheduling, task prioritizing, focusing on the activity at hand by eliminating distractions, delegating, and saying no to unnecessary work every day from now henceforth. I hope that by mid-2019 I will have perfected personal time management.
Team leadership is a core element of team-working skill. I endeavor to become an effective team leader capable of influencing people to achieve a vision by the end of 2019. I plan to read widely on leadership to accomplish this goal. I purpose to read at least five articles on this issue by the end of 2019. Extensive reading will help me to learn about various leadership qualities and behaviors that I must develop. I also plan to attend at least three workshops, seminars, or conferences about team leadership. Further, I will be taking personal leadership assessments every four months to track my progress and hence make the necessary interventions.
Slowness in making decisions is hampering my negotiation skill. I understand that I must be quick in making decisions, which requires quick analysis of facts. I purpose to engage in decision-making challenges requiring analytical work to improve in this area. I endeavor to undertake at least three tests every two years so that I can gain speed in decision-making.