U Inc Paper

Mission Statement • To live every day for the betterment of my life and the lives of those around me. • To have only a positive effect on the lives of the people whom I interact with on a daily basis. • To see each day as an important stepping stone to eventually achieving my goals, and contributing to the greater good of society. Vision Statement In five years I intend to be happily married, and continuing to live a happy life as I am now. I intend to be planning a family and fostering the relationships with my family and my husband’s family.

I will be involved in the community, helping to ensure safe environment for my future children. Regarding my career, I hope to possess a supervisory or specialist role at Company, Inc. , which is the company for whom I currently work. I intend to be holding a role with increased responsibility and many leadership opportunities. In ten years I intend to be continuing to cultivate a loving relationship with my husband and children and both of our families. I will be fully engaged in community activities to further ensure the safety of the community and the integrity of the local schools.

I will also be a part of the township government, so that I can voice the opinions of my fellow community members. Regarding my career, I intend to be in a managerial position, overseeing many subordinates. I will be a well-balanced, self-aware leader that encourages an open work environment that is suitable for a diverse group of employees. Values Honesty – First and foremost, I think it is important to be honest in all that you do. In my experience people truly appreciate honesty in a family, work, and/or recreational setting.

If you are not honest and true to your word, then the rest of the values are irrelevant and unnecessary. Honesty is the cornerstone of Student, Inc. Reliability –This value is “walking the walk and talking the talk. ”  If I say I’m going to do something, it gets done. There are no excuses, no lies, and no substitutes. It is important to always follow through with commitments and agreements. People need to know that they can rely on me, and when the time comes I expect to be able o rely on them to follow through as well, since I have provided them with the same courtesy in the past. Cultivation – This value applies specifically to the cultivation of relationships. I strongly believe that the relationships I have developed in the past, present and future have helped me to become the person I am today. It is important to continue to cultivate these existing relationships, and to be open for the opportunity for making new relationships. I believe that everyone that touches your life has an impact in one way or another.

Assets and Liabilities I thought it would be helpful to discuss the results of a few of the self-assessments tools provided in the text. In the chart below some of my scores from the assessments are detailed, along with a brief discussion of the score to put it into context. Below I have included a discussion of my assets and liabilities based on the results of these assessment tools. Also, included is a discussion of student and instructor feedback that I received at the assessment workshop. Self-Assessment Tool |Score |Discussion | |Self-Awareness |60 out of 66 |Top Quartile indicating a very high | | | |self-awareness | |Learning Style Inventory |CE=24, RO=22, AC=35, AE=39 |Very High in Abstract Conceptualization & | | | |Active Experimentation | |Locus of Control |1 out of 23 |Extremely internal locus of control | |Core Self-Evaluation |4. 92 |Indicates a high self-esteem, general | | | |self-efficacy, emotional stability | |NEO 5-Factor Inventory Profile |N=13, E=46, O=27, A=34, C=45 |Low neuroticism, Very high extraversion, | | | Average openness to experience, Average | | | |agreeableness, Very high conscientiousness | |Burnout Inventory |Emotional Exhaustion=17, Depersonalization=9, |17% of students scored lower on emotional | | |Reduced Personal Accomplishment=16 |exhaustion, ~3% of students scored lower on | | | |depersonalization, 8% of students scored lower | | | |on reduced personal accomplishment |

It is my belief that most assets a person possesses can become a liability if not exercised properly and vice versa. As I analyzed my assets and liabilities it quickly became clear that many of my assets, if used improperly, can turn into dangerous liabilities. I have actually seen this occurring on occasion in my career life. For this reason instead of listing assets and then liabilities below, I have decided to describe my assets and include ways in which each of these assets could become a liability when not used properly. I also include how I intend to prevent each of my assets from turning into liabilities. One of my assets is my self-awareness.

As it is illustrated in the table above I scored a 60 out of a possible 66 in self-awareness, which indicates I have developed an ability to be a master of myself. I am very aware of the way in which others view me, and the way in which I project myself to others. I believe this is an important asset because being self-aware helps me to develop and maintain self-control. This is extremely important in my career since my company, Company, Inc. , is a startup company with a fairly small number of employees. Since I am one of the first fifty employees to be hired in the company, I feel that I have a very strong understanding of the direction in which the company is going and sometimes feel that I should have a larger say in company decisions than I actually do based on my current position.

In this regard my self-awareness helps me to have the self-control to be patient enough to trust my managers and leaders in the company to make the right decisions moving forward. I am able to determine when it is appropriate for me to interject and/or provide my opinion regarding particular topics. It has been proven that individuals who are more self-aware make better leaders and managers, because they have the ability to empathize with other people. For this reason I believe that my high level of self-awareness is an important asset that will one day make me a great manager and leader. Self-awareness on the other hand can sometimes turn into a liability when self-aware people discontinue the solicitation of more knowledge and feedback about themselves.

It is imperative to recognize the need for continual improvement regardless of the level of self-awareness a person possesses. I intend to prevent this asset from becoming a liability by seeking negative feedback from various sources, and use that feedback in a constructive manner. One example of this occurred recently. My manager assigned me to create a new hire training program for the upcoming new hires in our department. I created the training program and executed it effectively. Many people would have stopped at that point, but I developed a feedback questionnaire that asks specific questions that cover different topics in which the training program covers.

This has allowed me to identify areas that have been completely effective and other areas that still need some work for futures new hires. It is easy to ask people for feedback about what you know you have done well, but it is a hard to ask people to tell you what you could be doing better. Even though it was a difficult thing to do it has turned out to be a very useful tool. I have been able to make some necessary adjustments to the training program and I plan to continue to solicit both positive and negative feedback even when the program seems like it is as good as it gets. Another asset is having an internal locus of control. As you can see above, I scored a 1 out of a possible 23, which indicates that I have an extremely internal locus of control.

This shows that I truly believe that everything that happens to me is within my control. I am the maker of my own destiny. I am not likely to attribute a failure in a project or doing poorly on a test to external forces in the universe. If something in my life does not have a good outcome, I instantly think about how I could have influenced a better outcome and how I can prevent this same outcome from happening in the future. When it comes to the business world, I believe this asset encourages me to be more efficient and precise in everything I do in order to prevent an undesirable outcome that would be no one’s fault but my own. Working in an FDA-regulated industry truly leaves no margin for error.

It is literally my job to do things right the first time every time. I have no leverage when it comes to manufacturing a product that must be produced aseptically, so that it can be implanted safely into the patients that have been enrolled in our clinical trials. I believe that sending a safe product out the door is entirely in my hands and it would be mine and my team’s responsibility if something were to go awry. If a safe and effective product does not get sent out, then our company could possibly fail. When it comes to my personal life, I have worked hard for everything I have and I know that I have ultimately created the good fortune that I am currently seeing.

I believe that the outcomes I see are directly proportional to the amount of work that I have put into my life. This asset can easily turn into a liability if I begin to think that things that are truly out of my control, such as a sickness or death of a family member, are a direct consequence of my actions. This would surely inhibit my focus on my work and other aspects of my life. I must keep a clear line between occurrences that are in my control, and those that are clearly out of my control. Also, I need to make sure that I am not being too hard on myself when things do not turn out as expected. The next asset of mine that I would like to discuss is my confidence and high self-esteem. I scored a 4. 2 on the core self evaluation tool, which usually indicates a high self-esteem, a general feeling of self-efficacy, and emotional stability. I think having a high level of confidence is important in the corporate world, especially in a competitive environment. As I mentioned before, my company is a small startup and competition among peers tends to be fierce, since there are vast opportunities for advancement and high visibility within the company. I feel that by exhibiting a high level of confidence within the company, I am showing that I am confident that I am performing my job function well, and that I can be relied upon to follow through on commitments. My level of confidence has also increased my visibility among director level personnel.

Also, when it comes to make decisions for my department specifically, my co-workers tend to consult me for guidance since I have shown an ability to make decisions confidently. I also feel that I am an effective member of the team I work with at Company, Inc. and it is my belief that they see my effectiveness and hard work as well. This is the main reason why they trust my opinion in most instances. They feel that they can trust my opinions regarding decisions that directly affect our department. I am also very confident when it comes to public speaking. When I am prepared and knowledgeable about the topic, I have no qualms about standing in front of a crowd and giving the presentation flawlessly.

In the assessment workshop, I received very good feedback from the instructor and the students alike. I was told that I have a strong voice, and I make good eye contact. I also talk clearly and understandably about a rather difficult topic. I have the ability to take a very difficult topic and make it easily understood by the audience. Being overly confident can turn this asset into a liability. Being over confident is a liability that could quickly make my co-workers and manager dislike me. My manager could get the impression that I am trying to go over his head because I feel that I am “better” than him in some way. Although I do not feel this way, it could ultimately cause that impression.

I tend to get over confident when a chain of decisions I make have a good outcome. I need to ensure that this does not happen by realizing that I am by no means a perfect person, and I must seek ways in which to continuously improve as an employee, friend, family member, or peer. My emotional stability is an asset that I possess. Being emotionally stable is important in all aspects of life. I feel that it is imperative to keep a handle on your emotions. Things that are occurring at home that may be upsetting or stressful should not negatively affect your work and vice versa. I think I have the ability to handle issues as they come, rather than dwelling on them and allowing them to affect my work life and/or home life.

This asset can become a liability if I begin to avoid facing problems head on in order to prevent spill over into work or home life. It is important to face problems as they come, and not set them aside to be dealt with later. The fact that I am very extraverted tends to be an asset in my life. I have the ability to engage those around, and hopefully I will be able to fully engage subordinates once I am in a supervisory role. I am outgoing and usually am not afraid to initiate a conversation or raise my hand in a group setting to ask the first question. Many times I have noticed that my questions and comments in discussions tend to shape the way in which the discussion is conducted.

I believe that it makes others more comfortable to share their opinions and suggestions. Being extraverted sometimes means that I am very assertive. I strongly believe that you cannot get anything unless you ask. I generally ask for what I want, or ask ways in which I can achieve what I want. It never hurts to ask. I work best when I am given specific goals, so that I know for what I am aiming and how to exceed those expectations. Being assertive has gotten me where I am today. I have been at my company for two years now and I am about to receive my second promotion, which I attribute to my being assertive in many difference aspects of my career life.

Because I am extraverted I tend to seek new and unfamiliar things. I am usually the first to volunteer for a new project or a difficult task. I enjoy the challenge of trying something new. Also, when attempting to take on new and unfamiliar projects, my extraversion helps me to feel comfortable when asking for information and guidance from those who specialize in the particular subject matter. Extraversion can be a liability if it is allowed to get out of hand. Extraversion can be perceived as obnoxiousness. There needs to be a balance between extraversion and modesty. I strive to find this balance in my everyday life and in both work and home life.

Being conscientious is another asset because it helps me to be self-disciplined and goal driven. I scored very high in conscientiousness in the NEO Five-factor Inventory Profile. As I mentioned before I must exhibit a high attention to detail in my career; therefore, being conscientious helps me to perform my job well. Without conscientiousness there is the chance that a bad product could go out the door. It is also important to be conscientious of co-workers and others in my life. I feel that I truly strive to be considerate of the needs of the people in which I work with on a daily basis. This maintains a diplomatic environment at work, and others are more inclined to reciprocate this conscientiousness.

Conscientiousness can turn into an over analyzing of issues and projects which could prevent things from getting done in a timely fashion. Sometimes I turn simple projects into something that is much more difficult. I over think some things because of my conscientiousness. I am usually very concerned with ensuring that my manager and my stake holders are completely satisfied with my work even with the simplest projects. This causes me to over work things at times. Customer Base Personal Customers: 1. I see myself as my most important customer. I need to ensure that all the activities that I perform, and the people that I surround myself are having a positive affect on my life.

I must also take care of myself physically by maintaining a proper diet and exercise regimen, so that I can continue to contribute to my family, friends, and employer effectively. 2. My family is another customer of mine. They constantly contribute to my life and I contribute to theirs. They are integral in most decisions that I make, and I trust their opinions above all else. 3. The next customer on this list is my boyfriend. He is a very important part of my life, and is involved in all aspects of my life. He is the person that I intend to build my future around and eventually build a family. 4. My friends are the customer with which much of my time is dedicated.

I continually try to cultivate new friendships and foster my existing friendships. I think these partnerships are imperative for success. Professional Customers: 1. My manager is an important customer to whom I report on a daily basis. He is there to ensure that I am performing as I should. He also provides the feedback I need in order to continue to perform well at my job. 2. My employer, Company, Inc. is where I go to work everyday and how I make money to survive. I have a strong confidence in the performance of the company and I am proud to be a part of it. 3. Co-workers are one of my customers because they count on me to perform my job well, so that they can also perform well.

Much of my job revolves around group work in which we must collaborate in order to accomplish milestones. 4. The patients that receive our products are our customers. They are relying on my company and my team to provide a high quality, sterile product that is safe to be implanted into their body. It is imperative that I do not let them down. Potential Customers: 1. The children that I intend to have in the future are my potential customers. I will be responsible for their life and their overall well-being. It my responsibility to ensure that they are brought into an environment that is safe and suitable for them to thrive. 2. My future subordinates will be a potential customer once I achieve a supervisory role.

These subordinates will count on my to be a leader to guide them, motivate them, and provide them with the resources necessary to perform their jobs to the best of their ability. Product Line First and foremost I am a loyal and reliable friend, girlfriend, daughter, sister, cousin, etc. I hold my family and friends above all else, and they always come first. These are the people who have contributed an enormous amount to the person I have become and for that I owe them a lot. I have a knack for enticing a smile out of someone who is having a bad day, and sometimes even a laugh. I am also an extremely hardworking, dedicated employee. When I am given an assignment, I complete it to the best of my ability. I never leave any stone unturned.

My manager can count on me to do the necessary research and to bring solid information and presentations to the table. I strive never to let anyone down. I also offer reliability. People have come to realize that I always follow through when I commit to something or pledge to do something. My competitive advantage is my timeliness when completing an assigned task. I also never provide a finished product that does not exceed all expectations. I pride myself in exceeding people’s expectations. I love the sense of accomplishment I get when I am told that I have done a good job or that my finished product is something that exceeded expectations. My competitive advantage is not something that is not easily imitated by others.

I am able to produce work in a timely fashion because of my ability to divide my time appropriately. I am able to clearly list the tasks I must complete and prioritize them appropriately. Based on this list of priorities I divide my time accordingly. Capital Investments There are quite a few capital investments that I have made in order to increase my profitability in both my career life and my home life. Below I have listed each of these investments and described how each has increased my profitability both physically and emotionally. 1. Education – I have attained a four-year Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Integrated Science, Business, and Technology at LaSalle University with a concentration in biotechnology and a minor in marketing.

Not only is LaSalle University a very well-respected institution, the Integrated Science, Business, and Technology (ISBT) program has been gaining increased visibility in the education world. It is a cutting-edge program that literally has been moving with the times. The creators of ISBT have solicited feedback from employers in the scientific industries regarding what type of employees they seek. They were asked to explain what they viewed as the perfect employee for their industry, and then the creators of ISBT took this feedback and created the ISBT program to develop these perfect employees. The graduates of the ISBT program hit the ground running because of their real-world experience and expertise that was instilled in them throughout their four years at LaSalle University studying in the ISBT program.

Investing my time, money, and effort into attaining this degree has been one of the most valuable capital investments I have ever made in my life. Since graduation I have been able to leverage my skills properly in order to land the jobs of my choice. I have also been able to utilize the skills I developed in the ISBT program in my real life career experiences. Without the ISBT program I would not have been able to perform as well as I have. Having ISBT on my resume made me a more valuable candidate for the position I currently possess at Company, Inc. I am also currently investing time and effort into attaining my Master’s of Business Administration at LaSalle University, which will help me to become an effective leader and a savvy manager.

The only concrete measure of the profitability of this investment is the success I have had in my career due to my education. I would not be in the position I am without my education. I would not have had the opportunity to work with the people at Company, Inc. 2. Career – I started out at the lowest level at my company, and have since been promoted. I am expecting a second promotion the end of this year. Investing my time into this company has proven to be quite profitable both monetarily and emotionally. In regards to my personal profitability, I am making an increasing salary each year I am with Company, Inc. I have received merit raises, bonuses, stock options, and promotions. This rofitability is measured by numbers such as dollars and stock prices. Being a part of Company,Inc, is also emotionally rewarding and profitable. I work with a wonderful team that is dedicated to doing their jobs well just as I am. We make an incredible, hard working team. The fact that Company, Inc. exists ultimately to help patients in need is something that gives me a sense of importance. I feel that I am contributing to the greater good of society by performing my job well each day. Overall, in regards to my career, I measure my profitability by the feeling I get when I come to work everyday, the feedback I receive from my managers, and the salary I earn. 3.

Relationships – I have invested much time into developing the relationships that exist in my life. I have spent my entire life with the support of my life. I have supported the members of my family when they needed it as well. I have invested much of my time and energy into the relationship I have developed with my boyfriend. He and I have created a wonderful relationship that continues to grow stronger as time passes. My friends receive much of my time and energy as well. I think it is extremely important to be supportive of your friends because of the love we share for each other, and because there will be times in my life when I will need their support. These investments have proven to be the most emotionally profitable.

My friends and family help me to maintain a good life balance. Without them I would not be able to get through times of unavoidable stress and hardship. There are ways in which to avoid stressors, but when times arise where the stressor is unavoidable, my family and friends have been the support that I need to get through tough times. They have helped me to develop a high level resiliency, which is necessary to get through life. 4. Real Estate – I recently purchased a home, which is the largest investment I have ever made. I hope to work on the house to increase its value. I have already done some small home improvement projects such as painting and landscaping.

Investing in a home is also something that will prove to be profitable in the future for a couple of reasons. The first reason is family. I am planning to start a family within the next five to ten years, and this home will serve as the shelter for my family. It was an investment in my future. Also, it will be profitable in a monetary sense. Because of the current state of the market, I was able to purchase the home for a very reasonable price, and as the market climbs out of this down turn I will be able to sell the house for a very substantial profit in the future. Growth Objectives and Success Measurements Problem Solving Skills The first skill I chose to improve is my problem solving skills.

Often I see a problem, and I try to solve it immediately without fully analyzing the problem first. I am sometimes an impatient person, and as soon as I feel like I have a reasonable solution I try to implement quickly. This has not always turned out to be the best line of attack. There have been a few instances where reacting quickly turned out to be a bad plan, since I missed necessary information. Also, in my group at work our problem solving techniques usually consist of a group discussion where everyone offers up their opinions, and the discussion continues until we reach a consensus. The main problem with this technique is that the people who do not usually speak up often end up leaving the discussion dissatisfied with the outcome.

This method of problem solving does not allow everyone to voice their opinion without the fear of criticism. Also, the conclusions that are drawn from these meetings are often forgotten, since they are not recorded or organized in any way. I also must admit that I tend to be the one offering up the criticism. I create a solution to a problem in my head immediately as the problem arises, and I have trouble seeing the problem through the eyes of one of my co-workers. I intend to take extensive efforts to increase the effectiveness of my own problem solving and my team’s problem solving. We recently went through Lean Manufacturing training as a group, and we were identifying problems in our current manufacturing process.

The instructor of the training had to continually remind us to avoid “solutionizing” before we completely defined the problem. Whenever a problem arises I am going to ensure that the analytical problem solving model is utilized. For problems that only involve me, I will reference the table in my text that details the steps for solving problems. This is a great tool to ensure that I am defining the problem appropriately and going about solving the problem in the most efficient way possible. I intend to write out the problem in order to frame it in multiple ways. I can also ask for the opinions of others in order to get a different viewpoint on the problem.

When it comes to group decisions, I intend to encourage my group to follow the Lean Manufacturing philosophies, which are similar to the four steps defined in our text. This reference to Lean Manufacturing allows the group to understand what I am trying to convey, because I am referencing something that we all have learned about in recent weeks. I will also encourage the group to write things down so that no suggestions or opinions get lost. It is important to emphasize that everyone’s opinion is important and valued. I will try to employ different techniques for group problem solving, such as identifying the problem and then allowing the group a certain amount of time to record brainstorming ideas on their own and reconvene at later time.

This allows the less outspoken members of the group to have their ideas heard without the threat of criticism. I would like to try different techniques, such as the one I just described, to increase the productivity of the group. Working to improve my problem solving skills could have profound effects on my career. Since my company is small and just starting up, there are continuous road blocks that occur. I feel like I am constantly hitting problems that prevent me from moving forward. Since the company is so small, I cannot rely on anyone else to solve these problems. If I bring a problem to my manager’s attention, he assigns me to solving the problem.

I thrive on taking challenges and providing a great finished product, but if I were to improve my problem solving skills, I could achieve the finished product more efficiently and without flaws. As a manager in the future, having great problem solving skills could help me to better assign resources to tasks and responsibilities. I could better assign groups and/or individuals to particular tasks according to their skill set. It is not always true that groups end up with better outcomes than individuals, and being able to recognize this is a huge asset when it comes to problem solving. Currently I believe my problem solving skills revolve around my instincts. I am the type of person that reacts on instincts, which proves to be good at times and bad at other times.

I think I am proficient at identifying the severity of problems and attacking them accordingly. I am a decent problem solver, but having a more systematic approach could be useful. In order to track my progress in this skill, I intend to keep records of instances when I was called upon to solve a particular problem. I will maintain my notes from this problem solving event, and discuss the outcome. I am going to rate myself on a scale of one through ten for each of the four steps in the problem solving process: one indicating a poor performance and ten indicating a very strong performance based on the outcome. Hopefully this will give me a good idea of what areas I need to improve and where I am proficient.

I will use the table below to rate my performance as a problem solver. I will also compare problems I solve early in the 8-week period following this assignment to problems I solve later in the semester. No problem is too small or too big for this exercise. |Problem Solving Step |Rating (1-10) |Comments | |Define the problem. | | | |Generate alternative solutions. | | | |Evaluate and select an alternative. | | |Implement and follow up on the solution. | | | |TOTAL (possible max=40) | | | Supportive Communication Skills I chose to work on improving my communication skills, because I have realized lately that I tend to not listen or communicate well enough. I think at times I am so concerned with what I am going to say next, I accidentally block out what my co-worker, friend, or family member is saying to me.

This is a detrimental liability, and it can have a profoundly negative effect on many aspects of my life. I intend to work on this skill so that I can better empathize with my co-workers, family, and friends. I chose this skill because more than 80 percent of a manager’s hours are spent in verbal communication at work. It is clearly an important skill to master, and if I hope to be an effective manager one day, I think it is something I should begin to work on as soon as possible. I will make many efforts to improve my communication skills. In chapter 4 of the text it describes eight attributes of supportive communication. Below I have listed these attributes and how I intend to focus on these attributes when communicating with others. 1.

Congruent, Not Congruent – I will focus on honesty and ensuring that my verbal statements match my actual feelings and thoughts 2. Descriptive, Not Evaluative – I will focus on describing an occurrence in an objective way, rather than in a suggestive way. It is important to state a problem prior to offering alternatives or solutions. 3. Problem-Oriented, Not person-Oriented – I will focus on communicating issues and problems rather than attempting to communicate the characteristics of people around me that may have caused the problem or issue. 4. Validating, Not Invalidating – I will communicate in a way that indicates I am flexible and open for collaboration. 5.

Specific, Not Global – I will focus on communicating specific behaviors or events, rather than generalizing them. 6. Conjunctive, Not Disjunctive – I will communicate in a way that ties in items that were previously discussed or mentioned. This will help to facilitate discussion. 7. Owned, Not Disowned – I will communicate in a way that shows I take responsibility for my statements and my actions. 8. Supportive Listening, Not One-Way Listening – I will focus on asking questions that show support and encourage a reflective response. Focusing on improving my supportive communication will help make me a better team member and an overall better communicator. It will also help me more clearly get my opinion conveyed.

When it comes to being a manager in the future, it will help me to better communicate to my subordinates, so that they no what is expected of them at all times. A way in which to measure this is to identify instances in which I will be called upon to communicate effectively. Prior to the occurrence I will read through the list of attributes above and identify ways in which I can communicate in ways that reflect these attributes and take notes. Once the event is over I will again look back at the notes I created and identify areas in which I exhibited that particular attribute and give myself one point for each of the attributes that I exhibited.

My score will allow me to determine how successful I was at being a supportive communicator. I will also solicit feedback from my co-worker, friends, and family regarding my communication. Currently I think my competency in this area in rather low. There is always room for improvement in the area of communication. As I mentioned before I tend to avoid listening to others that do not share the same opinions as me, which is not a helpful way to be. Written Contract: Personal Development Plan |Development of Problem Solving Skills | |Specify your development goal. Become a better problem solver by following a systematic way of solving problems. | |If the goal is complicated, specify some interim|Milestones will include developing effective solutions for problems that I encounter in both | |goals or milestones. |my work life and my home life. | |List any informal activities that can help you |I can read information on different problem solving techniques. I can reference the text for| |increase your skills or change your behavior. |the four problem solving steps. I can also read examples of successful problem solvers, and | | |their techniques for tackling huge problems as they arise. |List the steps you will take to change your |I will utilize the four steps of problem solving when faced with a large problem. I will | |behavior. Exactly what will you do? How often? |record as much information as possible at each of these steps in order to ensure I am | |Where? When? With whom? |following the sequence of problem solving steps properly. I will do this every time I | | |encounter a large problem in my work environment. This will occur either by myself, or in a | | |group setting if it is a problem that is being faced by the entire group. | |What roadblocks or obstacles are likely? Resources identified as being necessary for solving a problem are not always available: | | |people, time, money, etc. | |List alternatives that will help you avoid or |To overcome the roadblocks I can try to find cheaper alternatives for solutions, increase my | |overcome these obstacles. |working time, explain to my manager why it is necessary for more funds in order to get past a| | |particular obstacle, etc. | |How will you measure your progress? How can you |I will measure my progress by rating the extent to which I utilized each of the problem | |obtain feedback to see if you are improving? |solving steps.

I will rate myself 1-10 on each of the steps in order to identify areas where| | |I need to dedicate more time for future problems. I will compare these scores in a series of| | |problems I encounter to gauge whether my skills as a problem solver have been increasing or | | |not. Once trouble areas are identifies, I can increase my effectiveness in those areas by | | |focusing on gaining more information and approaching the next problem differently. | |What are the key target dates or milestones? I hope to tackle at least 3 large problems at work and develop solutions by the end of this | | |upcoming 8-week period. | |How will you reward yourself? |If I am able to see my self-scores increase consistently over the next eight weeks, I will | | |reward myself by taking a much needed vacation day at work. | Written Contract: Personal Development Plan |Development of Supportive Communication Skills | |Specify your development goal. |To become a supportive communicator as a co-worker and as a manager in the future. | |If the goal is complicated, specify some interim|Not applicable. | |goals or milestones. | |List any informal activities that can help you |I will observe others who I believe are effective and supportive communicators. I will | |increase your skills or change your behavior. |identify actions that they take that make them effective and try to follow their lead. | |List the steps you will take to change your |I will try to become a better listener, which usually translates into a better communicator. | |behavior. Exactly what will you do? How often? |I will reflect on the 8 attributes of a supportive communicator and read what each of those | |Where? When? With whom? attributes entail. I will then try to exhibit those attributes when communicating at work | | |with my manager and co-workers. | |What roadblocks or obstacles are likely? |I have difficulty understanding that other people’s opinions differ from my own, so this | | |assumption can pose as a huge roadblock. I also tend to move quickly with my work, so I need| | |to slow down and take the time to ensure that I am communicating appropriately within my | | |group. |List alternatives that will help you avoid or |I need to be a listener as well as an effective communicator, so that I slow down and take | |overcome these obstacles. |the time to talk to my teammates. I will take the time to listen to other people’s opinions | | |and try to understand their point of view. | |How will you measure your progress? How can you |I will use a rating to identify whether or not I am exhibiting the 8 attributes of a | |obtain feedback to see if you are improving? |supportive listener. After an event where communicating effectively is imperative, I will | | |reflect on the 8 attributes and give myself a point for each attribute I clearly exhibited. | |I will do this for each communication event at work, and continue to compare my scores. I | | |will ensure that they are continually improving. | |What are the key target dates or milestones? |I hope to score my communication attributes each week for the next 8 weeks. I hope to score | | |consistent 8’s by the eighth week of this exercise. | |How will you reward yourself? |I will reward myself by enjoying some alone time with a book I have been interested in | | |reading. | ———————– October 7, 2008 1