Reflection on My Skills - Essay Example

Reflection on skills Humans gain different types of skills and knowledge in their s of life experiences and formal learning. What is most important is what remains and is retained for purposes of applying it in the workplace. This essay is an explanation of the skills and knowledge I have acquired before and currently as a human resource student in our university class and an application of all these in workplace. An important knowledge I have acquired in the university is an understanding of leadership dynamics in the context of an organisation. Many other things in an organisation undergo change over time and so are the organisation’s leadership expected to change.  The shift from being static to dynamic/changeable is motivated by the need to achieve better performance whereas the push for better performance in many organisations is driven by the existing competition. This calls for the delivery of very quality services or production of quality products. This objective is normally well achieved through continuous innovation and creativity in the organisation. Agbor (2008) explains that leaders in organisations are sources and catalysts to innovation and creativity. An organisation’s leadership can be able to drive creativity by encouraging and managing diversity. This means the leaders should initiate a change in the organisation’s culture. According to Zaccaro (2001), the leadership structure of an organisation should be one that can support and sustain innovation process in the organisation. This means that necessary changes should be made to this structure. According to Zaccaro (2001), the factor of time is very important for leaders and this means leaders of an organisation have to choose wisely their time-orientation. This decision is very important considering the limited resource in many organisations. For example, long-term leadership perspectives are aimed at long term prosperity. Short-term orientation is important when aiming at immediate results and pay-offs. This usually becomes a good option if the organisation operates under social systems that are complex and insecure. However, leadership dynamics requires that organisation’s leaders should be able to adapt to the two perspectives because one perspective exploits the resources of the organisation. As an assistant manager, I was able to use time orientation skill in making long-term and short term decisions in the shoe company in response to existing organisation’s needs. I had to make a consideration of the available resources. According to Dyer (1999) competencies refer to context-specific behaviours that define success in a particular setting. I have come to acquire knowledge on diverse professional and personal HR competencies through this course. These competencies are grouped into core, role-specific and role leadership and management competencies, and personal attributes. The core HR professional competencies include compliance, stewardship, coaching and consulting , customer focus, technology expertise, talent, vendor and knowledge management, virtual teamwork, employee advocacy and , assessment and measuring skills (Brockbank and Ulrich, 2003).   According to Ramlall, (2006), personal attributes/competencies include result orientation, continuous leadership, commitment, and honesty and integrity. Leadership and management competencies include vision alignment, strategic thinking, resource management, networking, process excellence, teamwork, goal setting and performance development (Brockbank and Ulrich, 2003).  As an administrator in a beer factory, I utilised the HR competencies I had acquired during my past learning and online research to respond to customer needs. I did this in a way that adds value to the organisation while developing significant customer satisfaction. I also made sure that I handled employee issues in a way that it kept or increased their motivation no matter the situation. I am also knowledgeable on the importance of practical and creative thinking skills in relation to HR. HR require practical competencies which should give attention to creative leadership. According to Schoenderberg (2007), creative thinking skills enable HR personnel to put the organisation on a competitive position. This could be by, thinking critically before hiring and recruiting employees who can think critically. From the practical skills acquired, I have learned not to make assumptions but test everything. Whenever I meet assumptions from other people, I have to challenge them. This has been important in improving my performance in workplace and meeting company expectations. The most preferred methods of learning are the heuristic methods where learning is practical and learner-centred. An example of this in the 21st century working environment is continuous professional development. Others include project-based learning and problem-based learning methods for example action research and case studies. I have also acquired knowledge on psychometric tests. According to the knowledge I have acquired, psychometric tests include aptitude tests and personality questionnaires. They are therefore an objective way of assessing potential employee’s strengths ad weaknesses. Their main significance in a 21st century working environment lies in its utilisation by companies as a tool for selecting staff and employee development.   Since I joined this course, my communication skills have improved. By explanation, communication simply refers to the sending and receiving of messages from the sender to receiver. This means good communication skills should focus on listening and speaking on equal measures as well as reading and writing skills. Examples of listening skills I have acquired include preparing to listen, screening out distracters, focusing on the speaker and concentrating on the message. These are all meant to ensure that I get messages meant for me to the maximum. I have also learned that while speaking, I must believe in my message, know what I want to say, think before taking, control fear, repeat major points and find out what the audience wants. These skills have always enabled me to pass across the messages to my audiences more conveniently and more accurately. Occasionally, I am required to stop talking and listen. This will ensure that I do not get over dominant in a conversation which could make people not raise important concerns or questions or form a bad attitude towards me.  Good communication also entails good writing skills and a good use of non-verbal communication. Good communication skills were of great importance during my post as an administrator in a beer factory because it entailed calling clients and solving problems that affect customers. As an assistant manager, I had to use quality communication skills when booking flights and hotels for my manager and dealing with the company customers on and off phone. The same skills were also critical to my post as a secretary to a shoe company because reception says much about the organisation. Effective communication does not depend on multitudes of words but using lesser words that are powerful enough to obtain a greater influence. When working as an administrator, I used to select few effective, authoritative yet friendly words to use whenever giving instructions. The development of effective presentation skills by way of practical exercises is very important. I have come to acquire these skills through my current course. These include developing the capability and confidence to make good presentations, and to stand before an audience and speak well. This has helped me to improve my presentations to an impressive and professional standard. The presentation skills I have learnt range from those useful  when making oral, multimedia, long planned presentations,  short impromptu presentations, training sessions, lecturers and making PowerPoint presentations. A good preparation for presentation also includes making a summary of the whole process for example, identifying the audience, subject, materials available, my expectations and those of audience among others. Apart from the university class, I had already learnt about presentation skills prior to joining this class. Some of the specific presentation skills I have learned include the use of visual aids where possible, rehearsing through my presentation over and over again before the actual presentation. I have also learned to center my presentations around three major points. The old saying that "a picture is worth a thousand words" still deserves its honour to date. Therefore I ensure that as long as the content can allow, I use visual aids in my presentations. The theory behind the use of visual aids is that people remember about 30% of what they see compared to about 20% of what they hear and 50% of what they see and hear. Studies, for example one done by Decker Communications has proved that the use of visual aids is able to double the objective attainment levels during presentations (McCarthy and Hatcher, 2002). Basing on the same view as that of Decker communications, I try as much as the situation can allow utilize visual slides in my presentations as opposed to the use of bullet points. Though both are visual aids, they have varied retention rates for example the retention rates of the two after three days are about 50% verses 10% respectively. This gives 67% verses 33% in terms of the percentage chance of achieving the presentation objectives for visual slides versed bullet points respectively (McCarthy and Hatcher, 2002). A thorough rehearsal of the presentation makes me confident about what I am presenting making it more convincing. A popular saying states that "Most people would prefer to be lying in the casket rather than giving the eulogy." This is basically an element of fear. Rehearsal enables me to eliminate embarrassing scenes like stammering or trembling. Knowledge and preparation are two important pre-requisites for successful presentations and studies have shown that good preparation and rehearsal help to lower nerves by 75%. This ensures no-one can intimidate me without my consent. Aristotle the great philosopher explained in his book entitled Rhetoric that people have a tendency of easily remembering three things hence ideas best sell in threes. This makes me believe that my audience is likely to remember three things. Basing on Aristotle’s point of view, I plan my presentations in advance to ensure they will have three key ideas. As much as possible, the work should be produced as lists of threes for example three things to remember/note, three things to consider, three things to avoid and so on. Good presentations should be enjoyable and humorous and this impact is within the control of the presenter. I have learned that I need to make selective picking of content and so that I come up with interesting but educative content. The opening or introduction part of the presentation determines greatly the perception and attitude of the audience and consequently its impact. Basing on this, I always make sure I make a good, solid and strong introduction. This should also be thoroughly rehearsed. This stage also requires that I be as natural as comfortable as possible so as not to give room for fear or failure. During my studies at the university, I have gained skills on how to identify career opportunities necessary for the enhancement of career outcomes related to HR. It is important that individuals plan for their careers and make themselves aware of many opportunities relating to them (Bloch and Richmond, 1998). The individual will have to asses the roles of the person in their desired position in order to see if holding the same position will enhance their HR career outcome. The expected and the available jobs should have little or no difference. If any difference it should be one that provides challenge and not encourage the disuse of learned HR knowledge. I have also gained the skill of identifying the competencies and professional learning needs required in the workplace. Professional learning is important for professional growth. It is therefore important that all prospective professionals have their professional development plan. This is usually developed after the person has conducted needs analysis regarding the specific knowledge required   for them to perform well in their careers. For example, the specific skills and knowledge required for human resource managers, administrators, accountants or teachers. An employee or an unemployed graduate will be able to identify their professional learning needs by making a comparison between the expected professional knowledge and skills verses their learning outcomes. Professional learning needs are also identified in the work place. An employee compares their learning outcomes and the professional demands of their work. Where a gap exists, it becomes a good point of identifying the professional learning needs. One has to choose the best way to acquire the ‘missing’ knowledge. One can identify the competencies required in the workplace by going through the list of qualifications expectation and roles related to the particular position. The individuals should also factor in the issue of changing roles or competency expectations especially in competitive sectors where everything as to respond to increasing competition. A mismatch between these and their learning outcomes will also form a basis of identifying professional learning so as to meet the required competency level. Apart from the professional skills and knowledge, presentation and communication skills, I have also gained some practical skills that are important and applicable in my workplace for computing skills. These have been of great help to me in this era where almost everything involves the use of computer at one or many stages or aspects. So far, I am able to use a computer and related technology at the levels of elementary use of computer programs to advanced levels of problem solving using computer programs. Computing skills have helped to make soft copies of my work and records and conduct online research relating to human resource. Putting this information in my laptop has also enabled me to work from any point without being limited to office time. I have been able to utilize my knowledge in word and excel during my position as a secretary, administrator and assistant manager because they involved producing and printing company documents. Knowledge on PowerPoint has helped me to become very effective when making presentation that require less conspicuous visual aids, for example the use of bulleted points. Personal learning skills and experiences Human resource is more about leadership and my role as a team leader when I was a professional handball player enabled me to acquire this skill. It caused me to learn ways of coordinating all managing team members, ensuring there are no conflicts or attending impromptu to any which arises. I have got qualifications for IT, excel, powerpoint and word, and certificate in PA/secretarial all of which have been applied to all the positions. Exceptional are the nannying I have been doing for the past few years and voluntary working in a Nursery school. Prior to the nannying, I had acquired a driving license which enabled me to drive the kids to places for activities. The first aid skills I have acquired are still intact and ready to be utilized when need arises.   Conclusion There is much knowledge and skills I have acquired and used in my life and the most important are what I have learned in the university class. These include, skills on identifying career opportunities required for enhancement of career outcomes related to HR, understanding better and improving communication skills and effective presentation skills from practical work. It also includes knowledge of organization’s leadership dynamics, varied professional and personal HR competencies, importance of creative thinking and practical skills for HR, preferred learning methods and the importance of psychometric test in the present 21st century working environment. References Agbor, E. (2008). “Creativity and Innovation: The Leadership Dynamics.” Journal of Strategic Leadership. (1) pp 39-45. Bloch, D. and Richmond, L. (1998). SoulWork: Finding the work you love, loving the work you have. Palo Alto, CA. Davies-Black. Brockbank, W. and Ulrich, D. (2003). Competencies for the new HR. Alexandria, VA. Society of Human Resource Management, University of Michigan, and Global Consulting Alliance. Dyer, W. (1999). “Training human resource champions for the twenty-first century.” Human Resource Management. (38) pp 119–124. McCarthy, P. and Hatcher, C. (2002). Presentation Skills: The Essential Guide for Students. Online: http://www.presentationmagazine.com/Essential_presentation_skills_1_visuals.htm. viewed on 28th May, 2011. Schoendeberg, B. (2007). Critical Thinking in Business in business. Online. http://criticalthinkinginbusiness.com/critthinktoc.htm. Viewed on 28th May, 2011. Ramlall, S. (2006). “Identifying and understanding HR Competencies and their relationship to organizational practices”. Applied HRM Research, 11(1), 27-38. Zaccaro, S. (2001). The nature of executive leadership. Washington, DC. American Psychological Association. Read More