Developing Academic and Employability Skills - Coursework Example

DЕVЕLОРING АСАDЕMIС АND ЕMРLОYАBILITY SKILLS Name: Course Instructor’s name Institution Date Team work Team work in the healthcare is quite vital. In the case of an emergency, say an accident, volunteer first aiders are significant, but team work is central in saving the lives of the victims. As first aiders team work enables them to coordinate performance as well as involving task work at individual level. The task entails offering quick medical treatment till professional medical assistance arrives. The action processes involves monitoring process in realizing the goals, coordination, backup and team monitoring behaviour. For a team work to perform better the team members need to have the experience of working together and this is achieved through communication and enhanced coordination. The results or outcome of team work is increased efficiency in the performance of the given task, with minimum efforts. It reduces the burden instead of an individual bearing it solely. In the situation of first aid, teamwork results offering quick medical treatment hence saving the life of the causality. Effective communication Effective communication in any team is key in uniting the team members. Such communication allows to pass the information as to what is to be done, at what time, in which manner and how as well as organizing and putting the team members together in performing the given task. In a volunteer activity such as first aid, effective communication enables in coordinating the team of the first aiders. It will organize the team members what causalities to first assists as well as calling for external help. The results of effective communication is that it assists in eliminating much of the negative feelings and stress which are at times associated with working together as a team. In addition it enables team members in the workplace to keep a mind that is open, engage in listening actively and a clear comprehension of the project requirements and goals (Shockley-Zalabak, 2011). The end of it all is that harmony and trust is established in the work environment. Initiative and creative problem solving It is evident that a single brain cannot juggle between different opinions or ideas. Thus every member of the team has the responsibility of contributing equally to the problem and give their unique take on the problem so as to arrive at the best probable solution. Each individual has distinctive qualities, ability and knowledge which he or she can offer towards improving the workplace and solving a problem for instance in the health sector it can aid in increasing the safety of the patients. The initiative and problem solving task is to identify and try out diverse approaches, offer effective approaches when obstacles arise, catalyse and improve existing processes and import best results from situations that are similar (Barker and Gower, 2010). The result of this is that it generates a wide range of ideas that are innovative. It attempts to break new grounds express creativity in generating solutions. Reflective Review of the Year Back in the year I first step foot in the university very eagerly and exhilarated for the expected new experience. With all the required mind of dedication, determination and focus toward the achievement of both short and long term goals. In retrospect, I met new people in the new environment all with different mind-set. However, some of these strangers turned to be of similar mind-set. Therefore, the space of time expected to the end of the course seemed to be very long as the duration of study seemed to incorporate ample fun and stable learning altogether, however, little did I know that the duration of study would turn to be very short. This essay presents reflective review of my first year at the university. It was during this period in the university that I developed communication skills. During this time, communication was not just to be communication, it had to be effective so as to present your ideas and at the same time establish your opinions. Close interactions with people from different backgrounds, cultures and ethnic setting also contributed in shaping my skills of communication, as I had to learn to mingle into different situations and circumstances which necessitated communications (Barker and Gower, 2010). Further in the classroom, lessons on communications were taught that further enabled me to develop my skills in reading and communication. Writing was also part training that I was taught in making communication effective. By this I was in a position to manage stage fright whenever I was require to make a presentation before an audience, which I could not do before partly due to shyness and also lack of proper skills in communication (Zimmerman, 2008). In addition I developed skills in referencing academic sources as well as using resources. Time management was initially a big challenge the first time I stepped to the university. There seemed to be more work and many activities to be performed but very limited time to execute such tasks. To me time seemed to be flying. I had little time for leisure. However, as time passed by everything seemed to be normal and time tended to be sufficient for every activity and even had sufficient for leisure. This was as a result of properly scheduling my time. Had to develop a schedule for doing what, how, where and at what specific time (Booth, 2009). Thus through this I learned that it was not just sufficient to work hard, but most important to work smart, which is an effective tool in proper management of time. As a foreign student and especially because English is not my first language I had difficulties in making presentations before an audience of other students. The challenge behind this was due to my articulation of words that was different from the other students with English as their first language and also due to the feeling of being far away from the family and home (Zimmerman, 2008). In conclusion, the experience and as a result of learning I can be able to do things differently than before. First is developing a schedule for proper time management and second is working smart and not just hard. In addition will need to appreciate the place of your location no matter how far it is from home or family. Most importantly is to develop effective communication skills. Personal Development Plan Aims: What do I want to achieve / learn? Actions: What will I do to achieve this? Resources: What resources / support will I need? Measurement: What will my success criteria be? Review and time scale: Date and method of review? Develop effective communication skills Undertake training, practice Books, journals or other articles on communication skills Harmony and trust developed in the work environment Develop team work and team spirit Actual practice, collaboration, monitoring processes, coordination Organizing picnics, weekend challenges or outings, training, Increased efficiency in the performance of work Establish an effective initiative and problem solving skills Effective listening, putting team members together, giving out opinions and ideas Training Innovation and a wide range of ideas Develop an efficient time management scheme Prepare time schedules, identify the tasks to be done, define the amount of time needed for a given task Schedules Minimized time waste, ease of time management Increase the performance efficiency Proper coordination, offer incentives, monitoring the process, back up and team monitoring behavior Training, Maximized output, increased revenue or profits References Barker, R.T. and Gower, K., 2010. Strategic application of storytelling in organizations toward effective communication in a diverse world. Journal of Business Communication, 47(3), pp.295-312. Booth, W.C., 2009. The rhetoric of rhetoric: The quest for effective communication. John Wiley & Sons. Shockley-Zalabak, P., 2011. Fundamentals of organizational communication. Pearson Education. Zimmerman, B.J., 2008. Investigating self-regulation and motivation: Historical background, methodological developments, and future prospects. American Educational Research Journal, 45(1), pp.166-183. Read More