Surname 1

Name
Professor
Course
Date
Strengths
Active Listening.
Active listening is an essential skill to fully engage with the speaker, comprehend
what they are saying, and offer a suitable response. During a recent team meeting, I showed I
could actively listen when a colleague voiced concerns about a project. I paid close attention
to what they had to say, paraphrased it so that I could understand it better, and made
thoughtful recommendations.
Conflict Resolution.
My ability to facilitate discussions and guide opposing party members toward a
consensus demonstrates my conflict resolution skills. To find a shared solution and foster
unity among team members, I ensured everyone had an equal voice during the mediation
process.
Empathy.
A defining trait, empathy, allows me to empathize and offer support in challenging
situations. When a colleague faced personal adversity, I provided a supportive ear, actively
listened to their concerns, and offered reassurance, acknowledging their emotions and
fostering a supportive environment.
Open-Mindedness.
Open-mindedness allows me to embrace multifaced viewpoints and incorporate these
viewpoints in collaborative measures. I created a productive ground for creative thinking
during a group project, encouraging brainstorming sessions and weaving together various
viewpoints into our final approach, ensuring comprehensive solutions.
Adaptability.
Adaptability is a key skill that enables me to adapt to unexpected changes quickly and
efficiently. As soon as new amendments to the project occur, I immediately readjust my
action plan, re-prioritize activities, and realign the project to proceed smoothly regardless of
any unexpected changes.
Weaknesses
Public Speaking.
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At the beginning of the semester, I battled the issue of the public speaker, which
involved several components. Notably, presentations were among the most difficult because
of issues with articulation, confidence, and public interaction. All these factors converged to
create deliveries that were not as strong, giving me limited capabilities to convince viewers
and hold their attention.
Networking.
The biggest challenge was initiating dialogues with folks at networking events. This
reluctance made building relationships with professionals difficult, limiting my professional
network from growing and acquiring job vacancy opportunities in partnership avenues.
Time Management.
At first, it was hard to manage several tasks at once. Prioritizing was a complex skill
that did not always manifest, leaving me swamped with pending deadlines. Sometimes, the
fight caused me to miss deadlines, thus proving that my time management was not good
enough, demanding a more efficient plan.
Feedback Reception.
The ability to take in feedback objectively was an obstacle to my career
advancement. In most situations, accepting constructive criticism was a personal struggle that
prevented me from progressing in various areas. I tried to be open to constructive criticism
and opportunities for growth, but I could not keep my emotions apart from my work.
Stress Management.
Controlling stress was my biggest issue at the commencement of my semester.
Maintaining stillness and attention during such high-pressure moments was not easy during
high-pressure situations. It affected the efficiency of performance and the ability to move
through tight situations with the required clarity.
Developed Skills
Improved Public Speaking Skills.
During the semester, I underwent an incredible transformation after struggling with
public speaking. This was developed via self-assessment questions and Bridging the skills
gap exercises. I prepared a brief yet intriguing report on the current work in a recent
departmental meeting. I learned to speak smoothly, and this assisted me in articulating my
ideas clearly and convincing people to agree with me.
Emotional Intelligence.
Undeveloped emotional intelligence greatly affected my interactions during my first
days in the semester. Practice in self-reflection and consciousness techniques improved my
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comprehension and effectively helped me manage diverse emotions that I was not aware of. I
used empathy and understanding to create a welcoming atmosphere during a difficult project
discussion, making team members feel heard and supported.
Enhanced Time Management.
There has been tremendous improvement in the effectiveness of time management.
Initially, I encountered difficulties balancing various tasks during my early semester days. I
drew upon my reflection and assigned readings on new blocking techniques to accomplish
this. They helped me set my priorities reasonably. For example, I successfully met numerous
deadlines, making the flow of operations smooth and reducing stress.
Refined Critical Thinking.
Initially, I faced difficulty in analyzing complex issues critically. However,
interacting with course materials focused on critical thinking has helped me develop the
capability for objectively assessing situations. Recently, I used critical thinking techniques on
multiple challenging problems at work to identify underlying causes, assess alternatives, and
propose an effective solution, yielding positive outcomes.
Cultural Competence.
Cultural competence is very crucial when it comes to enhancing inclusivity. At first, I
was unaware of the cultural nuances in team dynamics. Exposing myself to different views in
the course and the self-assessment improved my comprehension. In this multicultural team
meeting recently, I listened attentively to different perspectives while fostering the feeling
that everyone matters.
Significant Takeaway from the Semester
The most important lesson I took away from this semester was the value of attentive
listening in promoting successful communication. It dawned on me that genuine
comprehension of the viewpoints of others entails more than just hearing them out.
Respecting and being genuinely interested in the thoughts and feelings of others is a skill that
improves relationships (Center for Creative Leadership). I intend to use attentive, active
listening in all my work and personal interactions. I want to improve team dynamics, forge
closer bonds with others, and settle disputes more skillfully.
.
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Works Cited
Center for Creative Leadership. “The Power of Respect.” CCL, 21 July 2023,

www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/the-power-of-respect.

(my word count is 892, excluding the references)