How To Develop Group Work Skills: Lessons From MSc Business Management Experience

Strengths

Weaknesses

Throughout this semester on MSc Business Management, I have been in a point to develop different skills, such as group work skills, critical thinking skills, and leadership skills. Additionally, I have been in a position to gain new ideas which I have implemented in the semester as well as at my work.

Being an INTP on the MBTI profiling, my main aim has been to attend all group meetings as well as lectures, become flexible, and a promoter of Team Work. Following is my strength in the different fields.

Group work skills

I am flexible to fit in any group schedule. Whenever we have a group presentation or meeting, I am flexible enough to fit in the program. I try as much as possible never to miss a group discussion, presentation or session

Lastly, I trust, support and respect my group team members

Leadership skills.

I am results-oriented with my main aim being to get the best from the group and or lectures.

Being a “Team worker and a coordinator” on Belbin’s framework, it is my responsibility to clarify the objectives and goals of the group and to help identify and set agendas. Additionally, I am also aware of the importance of sequencing items. Further, I also have the capability of making the group members focus on our objectives to complete them successfully. I, too, can encourage team members to be at their best. Further, at times I find some motivation or inspiration to keep my group members moving.

Creative thinking skills

I am a problem solver. For instance, whenever we argue our group, I find solutions to curb the issue.

Being an INTP on the MBTI, I am oblivious and usually unaware of the objective environment. To add to, I am a taciturn and shy whenever I have to speak in front of a congregation. I am also fickle, changeable, and lacks persistence in general. Moreover, I have the weakness of disliking intensely, which has resulted in me having only a few friends.

About my weakness as a leader, I am not confident enough during presentations or whenever I have to speak to people. As a leader, I am supposed to be confident enough for people to trust and or rely on me. I received a notice and feedback about this weakness after my last presentation this semester. I was not confident at all and found it difficult to communicate with the audience as well as use body language appropriately during the presentation. My voice went down, and I could not control my nervousness.

Being a “sharper” and according to Belbin’s framework, I get frustrated quickly whenever other do not confer with my suggestions.

Furthermore, as a team member, I am supposed to be a good communicator by listening carefully to others, expressing my feelings to others in a non-threatening manner and asking questions to clarify other people’s ideas. Unfortunately, I am weak at that. It is hard for me to listen to others, or politely ask questions to explain their views.

I, also, find it hard to be open to my team members, which prove my weakness in group work skills. 

Opportunities

Threats

As for me, I find it an excellent opportunity to be a student at the University of Oxford Brookes. I believe that doing this course at this University will help improve my skills in different fields including leadership skills and problem-solving skills. Further, I think that this course will enhance my ability to apply my knowledge and understanding of business and management to complex business issues.

Moreover, I believe that this course will help me improve my skills, experiences, and attributes including presentation skills, the will to accept authority and the self-awareness of my strengths and weaknesses.

Being at this University helps me enhance my creative thinking skills. It is because being here as a foreigner poses some challenges for me which I have to use creative thinking skills to handle.

My country through the Department of Attaches and Scholarship offers me an opportunity to do my Ph.D. if only I attain a first class (1:1) in my current course (MSc business management). Otherwise, I won’t get the sponsorship. I, therefore, have to work hard to achieve the first-class honors. To do this, I have to complete my assignments on time and get an overall grade of 70% and above. However, I have found this difficult to attain taking into consideration I have six modules plus two other English support classes. Moreover, the deadlines for most of my assignments as well as the exams are all in December. Furthermore, my first language is not English which has acted like a big challenge in classes. Therefore, it seems hard for me to achieve the first class honors I need in this course.

Log the event – the facts about what happened and why.

A couple of weeks ago, this semester, we were to do a group presentation for one of the modules. Each group was supposed to have five students at least. The assignment held 50% of the total mark of the module hence. We, therefore, had to agree on the best way to handle the task. We decided to meet at least thrice a week since we were running out of time.

At the end of the assignment, we’re supposed to submit a 2500 words report. Unfortunately for us, one of our group members did not attend the first two meetings and never replied to our emails. We were, therefore, forced to share the workload among the four of us. However, he attended the third group meeting without any reason for his absenteeism during the first two meetings. We gave him some small work to handle to help in the project. He did not come to the next three group meetings and came during our sixth meeting with the reason that he had been ill. At that time, we had already finished our project and were preparing for the presentation. During our next meeting, we were supposed to sign the declaration form and submit the report. The group members had a serious discussion on whether to let him sign the report or not.

Record your reaction – note down what you felt, how you thought and how others felt and behaved.

A couple of weeks ago, this semester, we were to do a group presentation for one of the modules. Each group was supposed to have five students at least. The assignment held 50% of the total mark of the module hence. We, therefore, had to agree on the best way to handle the task. We decided to meet at least thrice a week since we were running out of time.

At the end of the assignment, we’re supposed to submit a 2500 words report. Unfortunately for us, one of our group members did not attend the first two meetings and never replied to our emails. We were, therefore, forced to share the workload among the four of us. However, he attended the third group meeting without any reason for his absenteeism during the first two meetings. We gave him some small work to handle to help in the project. He did not come to the next three group meetings and came during our sixth meeting with the reason that he had been ill. At that time, we had already finished our project and were preparing for the presentation. During our next meeting, we were supposed to sign the declaration form and submit the report. The group members had a serious discussion on whether to let him sign the report or not.

Think about what you have learned. What might have influenced the event – previous experience, external factors, the situation?

From this incident, I have learned that when looking into any situation, it is good for one to look at it from different perspectives. It is because in our case the absentee might have been seriously ill or have other serious personal problems. If we did not let him sign the declaration form, there is a probability he will fail this module. However, I think he needs to learn how to manage his time effectively, be punctual and responsible.

For my previous experience, I have faced similar situations in my study and work, and I managed them smoothly.

What changes you are going to make? Pull out your learning experience – what would you do differently next time, how have your values changed.

From this experience, I have learned the importance of planning unexpected events and becoming more flexible to fit in any schedule. For him, maybe he would not have been adjustable to fit in our program hence the absenteeism. Additionally, I learned the importance of communication skills. In our case, communication was not as effective as we only used emails to communicate. The changes I am considering to make include creating a WhatsApp group for assignments, talk over voice calls, use emails and meet in school to discuss face to face after lectures. Furthermore, I will try to seek the help of a tutor whenever we have an issue in a group. I will change my view of people where I will need to understand them first before reacting.

My values have improved as a result of the incident. For instance, the event has enabled me to be more of a critical thinker whenever a problem arises to try and come up with a solution. Moreover, the incident has helped me understand that people have different characters and backgrounds.

Goal: what do I want/need to be able to do/learn

How will I achieve this?

What resources or support will I need?

What will my success criteria be?

Target dates for review and completion

Graduate with First Class 1:1 in order to get sponsorship from my country to do PHD

I will have work hard, put myself under pressure and study effectively. I also need to be in a point to manage my time well.

I will need lectures seminars, individual studies and group works in all modules. I will set Google Calendar deadlines for all assignments and exams

When I have my MSc degree with First Class mark, I will get the chance to do PHD. In addition, I will be able to demonstrate my knowledge and skills

Some of my assignment’s due on November and December 2018 and the others on April and May 2019. Then I have the dissertation’s due on September 2019. So, I will finish this course by then.   

Improve my presentation skills and become more confident in order to present my work to people without panic  

I will study the material well and practice it before the presentation. I will also practice the PowerPoint slides in advance. Start the presentation by breaking the ice with small joke to create a rapport with the audience. Arrive early and start the presentation with happy face.

I will watch ways to have an effective presentation on YouTube, Ted Talks as well as use what I have learned of DSBL module and read more about it online. Also, I will learn more skills from lectures and try to attend more presentation events running at the University.

I will be able to master my presentation skills and present in front of an audience confidently. Also, I will improve my performance whenever I present. It will help me to confidently present my dissertation.

The target date is the end of September 2019. That is when I will hand in my dissertation