The Importance of Self-Awareness in Effective Management
Self-awareness is a key component of effective management. Managers must know themselves
before they can best help others – both to moderate their own behaviour effectively and to be
able to identifies the strengths and weaknesses in their employees’ behaviour.
In the first two weeks of this class, you completed six self-assessment questionnaires that
revealed certain aspects of your learning style, interaction style, personality, values, and outlook
on life.
The objective of this assignment is to reflect on the results of these self-assessments, to identify
your own strengths and weaknesses, to relate these to personal experiences, and to consider a
potential route toward self-improvement. Writing prompts have been provided for you on the
next page. You can choose to follow these, include these and add a few more sections for further
discussion, or take a completely unique and original approach.
Ultimately, this is an exercise in self-reflection. Ideally, your reflection will be honest and
humble, and will hopefully be useful to you both in your interactions with classmates and in the
working world
Writing Prompts
Introduction
Why are you writing this self-reflection?
What do you hope will be the result of writing it?
Self-Assessment Results
What questionnaires did you complete? What was their purpose?
What were your results? What do these signify?
Comparison to Management “Ideals”
Do your results correspond to what you think of as a good (or “ideal”) manager? Why?
If your results differ from the stereotypical ideal, is this necessarily a bad thing?
Points of Pride
Were there any scores that were not necessarily surprising or that you were particularly
content to see?
Do these points of pride relate to any previous experiences of yours?
Points of Improvement
Were there any scores that you were surprised or disappointed to see?
Do these points of surprise or disappointment relate to any prior experiences of yours?
Action Plan
If you have points of surprise or disappointment, how do you plan to remedy these?
For example, can you speak to someone to either validate or contradict the results? Or
make action plans to improve upon them using goal setting theory?
Conclusion
Taken together, what does the above say about your propensity and capability to be an
effective manager in the future?
The Importance of Self-Awareness in Effective Management
Introduction
I am writing this self-reflection to delve deeper into the results of the self-assessment questionnaires I completed in the first two weeks of this class. Through this exercise, I hope to gain a better understanding of my strengths and weaknesses as a manager and explore potential areas for self-improvement. By reflecting on these results, I aim to enhance my self-awareness, which is crucial for effective management.
Self-Assessment Results
During the initial weeks of this class, I completed six self-assessment questionnaires that focused on various aspects of my personality, learning style, interaction style, values, and outlook on life. These assessments aimed to provide insights into my individual traits and characteristics that may influence my management abilities.
The results of these assessments revealed valuable information about myself. They illuminated my learning preferences, highlighting whether I am more inclined towards visual, auditory, or kinesthetic methods. They also shed light on my interaction style, indicating whether I tend to be more assertive or cooperative. Moreover, these assessments helped me understand my personality traits and values, enabling me to identify key aspects that shape my behavior and decision-making.
Comparison to Management "Ideals"
When comparing my self-assessment results to what I perceive as the qualities of an ideal manager, I find both alignment and divergence. While some of my results correspond to the typical traits associated with effective management, such as strong leadership skills and a preference for collaboration, there are areas where my results differ from the stereotypical ideal.
However, it is important to note that deviating from the stereotypical ideal does not necessarily imply inadequacy. In fact, having a diverse range of strengths and weaknesses can be beneficial in a managerial role. Different approaches and perspectives can foster innovation, adaptability, and flexibility within a team.
Points of Pride
Among the self-assessment results, there were certain scores that were not surprising to me and that I am particularly content with. For instance, I scored high on adaptability and flexibility, which I believe are crucial qualities for effective management in today's dynamic business environment. These points of pride relate to my previous experiences where I have successfully navigated through challenging situations by embracing change and finding creative solutions.
Points of Improvement
While there were scores that brought me satisfaction, there were also areas where I was surprised or disappointed by the results. For example, I discovered that I tend to be more introverted in my interaction style. This was unexpected as I believed myself to be more extroverted. However, this realization highlights the importance of understanding how my behavior may be perceived by others and the need to adapt my communication style accordingly.
These points of surprise or disappointment relate to prior experiences where I may have missed opportunities for stronger connections or effective team collaborations due to a lack of assertiveness or extroversion.
Action Plan
To address the points of surprise or disappointment highlighted by my self-assessment results, I plan to take proactive steps for self-improvement. Firstly, I intend to seek feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors to validate or contradict these results. Their insights can provide a different perspective and help me gain a more comprehensive understanding of myself.
Additionally, I will use goal setting theory to establish specific objectives for improvement in areas where I feel there is room for growth. For instance, I will set goals to enhance my assertiveness during team meetings or develop strategies to leverage my strengths while compensating for my weaknesses.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this self-reflection exercise has emphasized the significance of self-awareness in effective management. By analyzing the results of the self-assessment questionnaires and reflecting on my strengths and weaknesses, I have gained valuable insights into my propensity and capability to be an effective manager.
While some of my results align with the stereotypical ideals of management, others deviate from them. However, this divergence does not mean that I am ill-suited for a managerial role. Instead, it highlights the potential benefits of having a diverse range of strengths and weaknesses.
Through self-improvement efforts and a commitment to continuous learning, I am confident in my ability to leverage my strengths and address areas for improvement. By cultivating self-awareness and adapting my management approach accordingly, I believe I can become an effective manager capable of guiding and empowering others towards success.