Transforming Complaints Into Commitments - Assignment Example

Reflection Essay Describe your process. a. Describe the challenging situation and personal complaint, along with the safe and modest risk(s) you took to address your roadblock(s) and big assumption(s). The challenging situation I am going through is that there are people who always pack in my reserved parking space. This space is already paid for, and I find it very annoying, yet there are other free spaces in which they can still park their cars. I think it is because the parking space is closer to the building. Personally I believe that my personal space should be respected, and that is also a way of showing respect to me. I like convenience and that is why I find it very hard when my parking space is taken. I value my rights, and convenience. It is always my personal space taken, and I believe it is only right to try to solve the issue. I, therefore, came up with a plan that I believed would be the best solution. My plan was to call a Towing company whenever I found a car parked in my space. I was, however, concerned about my safety and that of my property. I assumed that if I call the towing company to tow people’s cars away, they might get angry and vandalize my car, especially because of the expensive tow bills. The people might also turn their anger on me. I developed a different way to deal with the issue. My solution was to talk to the apartment management to place a bigger sign telling people that the parking space was reserved. I noticed that some did not notice that it was a reserved parking space. I am also willing to politely tell people to stop parking on other people’s spaces whenever I see them. b. Course concepts you used during the risk experience and their role in supporting you taking your risk. Course concepts used are values and assumptions. Values are my beliefs on what is right or wrong. My values guided my decision making since it made me think of solving the problem. I developed an improved way of dealing with the situation. Because of my values, that is, the other people should respect my rights, I thought of involving the towing company. My values influenced my assumptions for I thought of the effect the expense of towing a car would have on their owners. My values influenced my decision. I believe in what is right, but I also value peace. Towing the cars could solve the problem, but it could create another more serious problem. The people could get angry, and this could put my life in danger. They could even decide to vandalize my car. I, therefore, thought of more modest risk. This was communicating with the people to let them know about my parking space. This would yield almost the same results, but was a more modest way. I used assumptions to guide my decision making on a modest way to deal with the issue. I first thought of a solution which would work, which was to call a towing company. I guessed how people would react to my decision. My assumption was that there would be anger, and this could lead to devastating effects. I, therefore, had to think of a different way of solving the issue that would be safe and modest. I approached the apartment management and convinced them to place a bigger sign telling people that my parking space was reserved. I assumed that this would prevent the people from parking in my space, and there would be no anger directed towards me. My belief in my rights made me think of fighting for what was rightfully mine. My belief in maintaining peace in the society guided me towards a safe and modest way of dealing with the issue. My assumptions helped me weigh the options on what action was appropriate. Assumptions guide an individuals decision making. 2. Assessment of the Safe and Modest Risk Experience Assess the safe and modest risk experience: Describe, in detail, what you experienced while taking your safe and modest risk(s) by answering the following questions: a) What “worked” and “didn’t work” as far as navigating the safe and modest risk is concerned? I went to the apartment’s management office and presented my complaints, and respective solution, which I had to mention, was a suggestion. The management responded promptly and placed the reserved parking sign which partly solved the problem, but brought another. Some of the people thought I was too picky and went overboard. Some of the people started distancing themselves from me and would not talk to me. I was back to the step that required me to solve a problem again. Others just ignored the sign and still parked. I decided to think of another solution that was common; placing a parking reserve sign within the parking space using an object that would require the driver to come out of the car, remove it, and then Park. This solved the problem, but it meant I had to come out of the car to remove it every time I wanted to park my car. Again, I had to think of another solution. Setting a meeting and making a polite request to the people to stop parking in my reserved parking. I had to explain that the space was already paid for, and it was not in order for others to ignore the reserved parking sign. This last move worked, and I rarely found a parked car in my reserved parking space. b. What adjustments did you make (if any)? I used feedback to assess the effect of my safe and modest risks. The first risk yielded positive results, but some people still ignored the reserved parking sign. This prompted the selection of another safe and modest risk, which involved placing a movable reserved parking sign in the parking space. This involved tedious work, but was almost a perfect solution, because nobody wanted to alight from the car just to remove the reserved parking sign, although a few did. However much I needed my parking space, the last risk involved wearisome task. I had to review my limits. I, therefore decided to communicate to people directly, but in a polite manner to solve this problem. As indicated above, I requested a meeting through the apartment manager and presented my complaints to the residents. c. How did the situation evolve? To my surprise, others also had issues to share in the meeting. It was like my safe and modest risk, presented an opportunity for others to present their complaints. My problem and attempts to find a solution led to the development of a communication channel through which other people could share their grievances. d. How did your willingness (or lack thereof) to step into growth during this process affect your circle of influence? Be sure that you explain and apply the course concepts growth zones and circle of influence. The principle of the circle of influence is that people’s interactions are through cycles of influence. Another principle is that change occurs in the course of communication and interacting with the environment. Change is validated by the outward, observable behaviour. Take an example of the scenario discussed above. The outward, observable behaviour validates the changes in responses to the big reserved parking sign and communication with the people. I had to interact with the people to expect some change. If, in any case, I had decided to keep quiet about the issue, no change would have been observed, and the people would still park in my space (Sigelman & Rider 234). The cycle of influence begins from self utility, then to directives, then to actions, evaluations, and back to self utility. Self utility is the individual’s willed well-being. In my case, I was eager to fight for my parking space. The internal driving force is strong. Directives are the factors that motivate or initiate action, for example, in my case, when my values were ignored, and my rights violated I was driven to act. Action is the step taken, and evaluation is the assessment of the results to determine if the aim of taking action has been achieved. In my case, I first informed the apartment management and suggested a big reserved parking sign be placed in my parking space (Sigelman & Rider 234). An evaluation revealed that some people still ignored the sign and still went ahead to park in the forbidden area. The feedback from the evaluation informs the internal directives which then prompt the person to act. After an evaluation, one’s internal driving force determines if he or she will take action. In my case, my evaluation revealed that my aim was partly achieved, and so decided to look for a new safe and modest risk to help deal with the situation. My action involved an active interaction with the residents of the apartment, and the results were satisfactory (Sigelman & Rider 234). The cycle of influence helps individuals grow from one zone to the next. Cognitive growth evolves out of social interactions, and one can move from being dependent to a mature independent being through social interactions. From my communication with the people, I have moved a level higher. I have recognized that safe, and modest risks are better choices in solving problems (Sigelman & Rider 234). Another situation in your life in which you could apply the “Complaints to Commitments” tool a. What is the situation? Complaints and Commitments tool can also be used in the workplace. Some employees steal products from the employer and they want me to cooperate with them. If I report them to the employer, they can be fired. This tool can be very helpful in developing a solution. b. What are your complaints about the situation? I do not like stealing. I believe it does not pay much, and only causes trouble. It disturbs my internal peace. c. Why is it important to address the situation? It is necessary because the employees end up causing losses to the company that all of us work for. We may end up losing our jobs. It may also cause long lasting conflict which is not good for a working environment. d. What safe and modest risk could you take? I would capture a video of them stealing the products without their knowledge. I would use this to convince them to stop this practice. If they refuse I would show them the video and warn them that it will reach the boss if they do not stop. I would also seek guidance from the boss about a similar situation to know what his action would be in case he finds out. The boss’ and the employees’ reactions would inform my next step. e. Which two (2) course concepts would best support you in this safe and modest risk and why? Value and Assumptions; my values guide my actions which have to be modest to prevent conflict within the work place, and also to prevent the employees from losing their jobs. Assumptions will inform my next steps, for example, if I make a video, the employees may retaliate against me, so I have to inform the boss about what is going on. Works Cited Sigelman, Carol and Rider, Elizabeth. Life-Span Human Development. 7th Ed. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning, 2011. Print. Read More