Reflective practice is one of the key professional tools and devices which helps the individuals to learn from their own practice performance and improve the performance of the individuals (Potter, 2015). It has immense benefits in developing the professional competences and in certain cases even the personality traits if the individuals. As discussed by Smith and Roberts (2015), reflective practice helps an individual to develop the ability to recognize the personal strengths and weakness of the performance and then work on the drawbacks to continue the professional growth.
Among the various different reflective practice tools and models, Gibbs reflective cycle is one of the most abundantly used tools that helps the professional to reflection on the description of the experience, the feelings of the individual, evaluation of good and bad aspects, analysis of the experience, conclusion, and an action plan (Husebø, O’Regan & Nestel, 2015). This assignment will focus on reflection of three core aspects of my chosen profession taking the assistance of the Gibbs reflection cycle.
Professional skills analysis:
In this section, by obtaining the result from the learning style test, skill analysis, and value evaluation, professional skills would be analyzed. Through Gibbs’ model of refection, my incident also described in this part. The model stated that reflection process is a systematic process which follows certain steps for successfully conducting the process, This model used for integrating the research work and theory of most effective practice in the process of reflection. it can be divided into six key steps.
2.1. Learning style:
In the viewpoint of Pashler et al. (2008), the learning style defined as an approach that helps individuals to achieve the best learning stated. This learning style varies individual to individual.
Honey & Mumford learning styles research questioner is a research tool used in higher education that developed for identifying the learning style of the student (Duff & Duffy 2002; Coffield et al. 2004) as well as management practices (Allinson & Hayes 1990). It also involves four categories of the learning style such as activist, reflector, theorist and pragmatist style (Honey & Mumford 1986).
According to the learning style, I am Reflector and Pragmatist who scored 12 and 15 respectively. According to the test, this specific category of individual prefers to stand back and look at a current situation with a different mindset. On the other hand, Pragmatist prefers to take the risk and apply various concepts in a certain situation (Honey & Mumford 1986). Therefore, all of the features matched my character. From this context, in my opinion, the test is precise
Description:
last summer I got opportunity o work with Calderdale Council for taking care of child service project for my Consultancy project which consists of three team member and three months was left to complete the project t. the main purpose of the project is to provide an effective strategy for reducing cost simultaneously increasing the quality of the service. In every two weeks, our role was collecting data, meeting client and supervise. We got support from our supervisor and the next process was the problem of thinking and form.
Our team leader was thinking about suitable solution individually and discuss it with us on weekend. We agreed team leader’s decisions despite not adequate time left for us. Therefore, for the next few days, I collected data then analyzed rigorously in order to obtain accurate data. In very limited time, I had to design a successful plan. I was fortunate that my proposal was adopted by other members and everyone agreed to implicate it in next Friday. Since I was designing the plan considering different perspectives, the project was completed successfully. To conclude, despite the conflict of opinion between team members about the management of the project, the project achieved great success.
Feelings:
In the context of past experience, I have realized that the group project was an effective way of avoiding unnecessary errors. Moreover, I have realized that in terms of critical thinking I was always person without rational thinking. This project provided me with an idea that I would like to solve the problem step by step which I would like to integrate in my future. Furthermore, I have realized that learning should be enhanced through the relevant model, data and experiment.
Evaluation:
In the above context, I can conclude that I had a positive experience to work in the standard of UK. I was overwhelmed since the adequate data was obtained from the project and presentation was successful which was reported to the client was. I have realized that the team members along with new teacher trainee were apprehensive and probably stammered at their first few minutes of the present. Greene (2014, p.43) suggested that nine out of ten new trainee teacher found their first teaching experience “incredibly daunting”.
Analysis:
After fining the project, I realized my style or leaning. When I recognized my strongest learning style, I identified my weakest style which is significant to my future practice. By integrating this experience, I would like to reflect myself for becoming a balanced learner. Besides, from the project, I have acquired excellent time management skills from my team leader which is very crucial for my practice. I have learned that in order to manage their time, a leader needs to enhance their skills for achieving their personal goals and completing the organizational duties (Farrell, 2017)..A project learner should have excellent logical calculation skills and risk management for avoiding loss from unexpected incidents. Analytic skills are also crucial which has come to be called Business Intelligence: a set of technologies and processes that use data to understand and analyze business performance.” (Davenport and Harris, 2007).
Conclusion:
Thus, by comparing the previous experience with the test of learning style questioner, it can be concluded that the test analyses the character accurately. I have realized that in order to conduct project successfully, I would think of comprehensive planning before any action. Since I am over thinker, I devote my time in excessive thinking before each project for identifying the most suitable theory or framework to apply and integrate it in the practical situation to solving the problem. However, observing others and active listening before reflecting on my point of view. The prime reason behind it is I explore other information in order to obtain concrete data about a certain situation. Therefore, I would be more comprehensive in my future practice for avoiding unnecessary errors.
Action plan:
The personal action plan helps in designing the systematic set of activities to be carried out in order to be able to improve the skills and expertise in the future. In this case, my action plan will involve ensuring to develop better relationship with my clients, colleagues and supervisors. It is crucial for me to overcome the fear of uncertainty or getting into trouble while trying to apply new ideas in my project. I have to understand the fact that the more the risk taking behaviour, the greater result of enhancing knowledge with unexpected results. In term of theories, it is better to read more and think problem carefully step by step and open my mind to accept the opposite points.
Transferrable skills are a potent tool for an individual to showcase themselves to be the best fit for any role, completely independent of any previous experience. According to Bradford University’ definition, “Transferable skills are developed in many ways and can be used in a variety of situations, across the whole spectrum of employment. They can include skills such as the ability to communicate, to work in a team and to organise other people.
There are many other skills, which can be transferred from one situation to another”. (University of Bradford, 2014). It has to be mentioned that there had been at least 57% employers that are unhappy about the self-management skills of the youth, expecting better sense of responsibility and time management skills from their staff. Elaborating further, 68% of the employers have been reported to be extremely unsatisfied with absolute lack of business and consumer awareness of the staff. Similarly, it has to be mentioned that 71% of the employers on the other hand are less than satisfied with the foreign language skills that the young staff possesses.
Similarly 55% of the employers harbour the belief that international cultural awareness among the staff is extremely low among the staff nowadays (CBI/EDI, Education and Skills Survey, 2010, p4). However, the skill acquisition and enhancement along with the performance of the employees to a large extent is dependent on the leadership skills of the managers or the organizational leaders. For this reflective account, I choose to reflect on my leadership skills as a manager.
Description:
I would like to reflection on the experience that I had when I was a team leader at ISC UKEAS. While in there, I felt that creating new culturally competent and comfortable environment had been a very important responsibility for me which will help others to be successful and achieve the organization’s vision and goals. I believe that organizational culture refers to the shared assumptions, values, and beliefs about the organization that need to communicated to subordinates. Along with that I also understand the fact that shaping and defining the organization’s culture is an activity that is often neglected by many leaders.
I understood that I needed to create a culture of absolute cultural appropriateness and equality as we had recruited almost 50% of new staff, which were affected by the bad habit and attitude from old staffs like late working time, using social media for personal purpose during time working. Along with that, another notable challenge that I encountered had been client communication after the shift hours, as they were accustomed with switching off their phones after leaving the office. I had to arrange a meeting with the existing staff to speak with them regarding the challenges so that I can understand their point of view with the situation and arrive at a solution with collaboration with them. I attempted to encourage my staff and empower them conveying the vision and mission of the organization and the organizational goals to that it can motivate them and push them to take initiative and make decision on their own.
Feelings:
Feelings are the section of the Gibbs reflection cycle which is associated with providing the opportunity top the professional to express their thoughts and feelings on the experience. In this case, I would like to mention that it had been a wonderful opportunity for me to slip into the role of a leader. Although, I would also like to mention that the organization conduct at that time had been in jeopardy, and I felt extremely miserable at that period attempting to handle the messy situation to an extent where I even considered leaving my role.
The stress of guiding the whole team including old and new staff into the new organizational culture took a toll on my physical and mental health in the initial period. For the staff who are older than me, they refused to leave behind and follow the younger colleague meanwhile the new had been afraid to competitive with the older staff even when they realized that they were right. Although, I would like to mention that the only support system that I had in the team had been my new country director and he helped me tremendously in successfully overcoming the challenges. With the help from the country director I could introduce a new organizational culture in the workplace.
Evaluation:
This is the section of the Gibbs reflection cycle which is associated with evaluating the good and bad part of the experience. It has to be mentioned in this context that the bad part of the experience outweighed the few good aspects associated with the experience. Firstly, I would like to mention that I believe that the situation had not been resolved at all.
I had deliberately persuaded my colleagues by my personal experience. However, the good part of the experience in this case had been that I always used my time to discuss the issues extensively with my manager and took his suggestions before taking any major decisions. Both of us attempted to figure out which is the best and fast way to connect all people together. Another good aspect about the aspect had been the fact that I also invested my time to talk privately with each and every staff to have an effective method to achieve my target. Although, the efforts were not vastly effective; and as the challenges had been extensive my solution, regardless of how effective it was, received extensive rejection and hurdles in being integrated with the system.
Analysis:
Analysis is one of the most vital aspects associated with analysing the entire experience and discovering the strengths and weaknesses. First and foremost, I would like to mention that changing the organizational culture is a huge challenge. There had been need for more extensive team building activities to gather the staff and develop a connectedness or engagement within the staff. Leadership undoubtedly has a huge impact on the readiness and positive or negative reaction of the staff and it reflects on the on their job and psychological maturity (Hersey 1984). Hence, the lack of quick decision making, communication and engagement had been the key drawbacks in my performance.
I would like to mention that I would like to adapt charismatic and visionary leadership character in my future. Secondly, I would also like to mention that high commitment management through using HRM tools such as training, awards and allowance, work-life balance care, promotion, and career development needs to be continuously invested in satisfying employees’ trust and work performance (Guest 1987; Walton 1985). I would also be investing efforts and understanding on this aspect to be able to act as a potent leader in the next opportunities.
On a concluding note, I would like to mention that this had been an excellent opportunity for me and it helped me tremendously in discovering my own strengths and weaknesses with respect to the leader skills and competence required to lead a diverse team and be able to implement a new and better organizational culture as well. The experience had been bittersweet, and even though the solution was not entirely successful, it helped me learn an array of skills and expertise of a transformational leader.
Action plan:
The future action plan for me in this case encompasses the need to enhance strategies to engage with the staff and enhancing their time management skills, personal goals and attention, and ability to accomplish the organizational responsibilities. In term of training, I left my job and came to study Msc. Management at Huddersfield University to improve my knowledge as well as enhance my skills by participating a different workshop about soft skill at my university time. Hence, I would like to enrol in different professional courses to be able enhance my leadership knowledge and skills and how to build an effective team.
3. Values:
Values refer to the fundamental beliefs and principles of an individual, “a part of our everyday life and in the workplace and they help guide us in making decisions and how we live our lives.” Values helping an individual in understanding who they really are and they serve as the filters that for the manner in which the reality is perceived, in terms of good or bad and right or wrong (Whisenand & McCain, 2014). Through the result of values test, I choose to reflection about my helping others value
For this reflective account, I would like to highlight my experience of working as an overseas education counsellor where I helped the students or clients get scholarships. My responsibilities in this particular job role also encompassed the university registration, applying scholarship as well as visa application. This opportunity is dear to me as it helped me develop a uplifting feeling while being able to share some of knowledge to the students in need. It also had been an excellent opportunity as I understand that many students do not have an opportunity to go to study oversea by themselves so scholarship is a gifted gave them a better opportunity.
Feelings:
This opportunity to exercise my passion for helping others brought me great joy, peace and satisfaction. I felt like I had been doing a worthwhile contribution to the society and providing a helping hand to the students gain an opportunity to proceed with higher education which can potentially change their life for the good. It was a really great experience because it brings in new emotions in my life and made my life really purposeful.
Evaluation:
Considering the good and bad aspect of the experience, I would like to mention that this experience had been more good than bad. My experience of working as an educational counsellor provided me the opportunity to connect with different students, understand their vision and aims and communicate with them effectively to guide them in a path that will give them the opportunity to shine. On the other hand, the opportunity also helped me understand other serious problems for oversea student life such as living environment, working opportunities, and helped me gain a passion for volunteering and help people in need.
On a concluding note, tis had been an experience which bears emotional attachment for me as this gave me the opportunity to nurture my passion for helping people and providing supportive guidance. This opportunity helped me understand that along with considering the profit of my organization, the need to balance the best interests of the consumers is also needed for an organization to flourish in the market. Also, I understood that I need to build and develop my network as much as I can so that I have a large source to introduce with my student.
Action plan:
In short time, I am going to create a non-profit group to gather all student from my network who are willing to share their experiences, their story to inspire the young generation. For a long term, I want to join a non – profit organization about education to have a suitable environment to help more students.
Part 3: Action plan:
|
Key Area for Development |
Actions – what will I do? |
Who will help you? |
What are the constraints/ barriers to achieving this key are and how you will manage these– eg time, resources, |
Time scale – by when |
|
Knowledge Ability |
Gain a master’s degree Management at Huddersfield University |
Myself, my tutor at my university, |
Language – enrol in language classes for international students, join different cultural communities, make friend from other nationalities. Learning style – working close with the tutor, getting support from personal tutor Discussion sessions with peers |
From now to the end of January 2019 |
|
Job in management genre |
Apply for a job at British Council after graduation. |
Myself, my peers from my working network |
Gaps in working from 2017 to now Lack of information about market trend Competition Time constraint to applying job |
From the end of January 2019 to May 2019 |
Conclusion
On a concluding note, I would like to mention that reflective practice has a huge importance in professional life, however the awareness regarding the benefits of the reflective practice. This reflective practice has given me the opportunity to look back on the many experiences that I have had and the growth I have attained in my professional career till now. The experience helped me recognize the strengths and weaknesses of my competence and skills and helped me realize the areas where I need more improvements. I definitely look at things from a big picture stand point, I really like to envision the final goal of a project before I start on anything, which I believe will help me extensively in the future
Reference:
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