Critical Reflection

In the course of study Self- and Time Management

Topic:

Self- and Time Management

Handed in by:

Daniela Vanessa Bermadinger

Worked out in: Submission date: Lecturer:

1. Semester 10.01.2013 Mag. Dr. Claudia Mssenlechner

Following Druckers credo (1999, p. 151)1 that today we must all learn to manage ourselves, we have been learning not only to manage our precious time, but also our very own personality. We have been introduced to a variety of self- and time management concepts and tools which will certainly help in guiding us throughout our study period and in our professional and personal life. The SMART formula, the Pareto principle and the Eisenhower matrix are all terms we have become familiar with during the course of study Self - and Time Management. The importance of knowing ones strengths and values, ultimately leading to ones goals, has been pointed out to us over and over again by Mrs. Mssenlechner, and therefore, deeply anchored in our mind. Furthermore, the problems and issues related to our personal development have been critically analysed. Since this critical reflection is about what I have learnt in this course, I will continue this paper using the first person. I have understood now that I have to think about my own strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats and values in order to know in which job I can make the greatest contribution to a certain organisation and, within a broader context, to society. Having said that, I find it very challenging to identify them and even more, to narrow them down to a handful of most important ones. In principle, I know what I am good at, but concentrating on a couple of most important strengths to be further improved and subsequently taking advantage of my fundamental strengths is hard work. Since I want to become an outstanding performer, however, I eventually have to take on responsibility for managing my future and start by assessing the unique mix of my skills and competencies. First, I am a better reader than listener, I learn best by writing down and at the same time summarising facts; ideally followed by talking by quizzing others and explaining them my point of view. Second, I prefer individual work where I am the only person responsible for the result, but I am also able to integrate myself into a group and deliver good teamwork. I understand that teamwork where you know and understand each other can be very effective (relationship responsibility). Concerning my own behaviour within a group, I have made the following observation. If there are already enough decision makers in a group I tend to act as an adviser, whereas if no one else is ready to decide I tend to take over the role of the decision maker myself.
1

Drucker, P. F. (1999). Management Challenges for the 21st Century.

I always try to act on the principle that there cannot or should not be too many leaders within a group. Third, with regard to learning under pressure, I am able to perform well under stress, but generally prefer a structured environment. Last, but not least, I believe that in a small organisation I could exhaust more of my potential. In my opinion, I am quite familiar with my studying technique/performance mode which is why I have always been quite successful in school and at university but fail to remedy my bad habits which inhibit my performance and effectiveness. I am always eager to receive feedback and I might even try out the feedback analysis suggested by Drucker. In the course of writing this paper, I have also been reflecting my weaknesses and I have come up with the following: technical and numerical stuff (like IT and financing), being too talkative/honest/emotional (Italian temper), neglecting newscast/too little attention to media (tracking what happens in the real business world), always thinking one step ahead/being impatient (being too fast for others to follow), being a little chaotic (last-minute preparations), partly being too pushy/dominant and partly indecisive, being perfectionist, etc. As I generally tend to be very perfectionist, for instance, the Pareto principle, which indicates that 80% is achieved in 20% of the time, has become of great use to me. I also know what is truly important to me, but putting a label on it and ranking the multitude of my values is what I find most difficult. Besides, many of those values in the list we have been given seem to be similar to me and some of them can be very important up to a certain extent or in a specific context and in other situations are not valuable to me at all. However, the tip to determine my top values based on my experiences of happiness, pride and fulfilment has been quite helpful. When writing this paper, I have been having a closer look at the list of values and I have started by crossing out those which are less important to me. I have then compiled two lists one containing the more important values and one the remaining, but less important ones. Since in my view many values are implied in others, i.e. the meaning of various values overlaps, I have grouped the ones which are similar and highlighted the one most important value which for me encompasses all the others as well. Eventually, a priority list with ten groups each one marked by one key value has emerged2.

My top values are love, health, freedom, justice, harmony, positivity/enthusiasm, openness,

empathy, reliability, ambition. 2

By engaging in this procedure, I have gained a better sense of my values. I have realised for myself that there are generally two types of values those which relate to the heart (emotions, gut-feeling) and those which involve the brain (thinking) and that in the end, my heart-values take priority over the other ones. In class I had argued that one must make a distinction between values being important in ones personal and in ones professional life. After thoroughly reflecting on my values, I have come to the conclusion that it is crucial not to separate them, but instead focus on my top values in both, private and professional life, to ensure my personal fulfilment. Therefore, I have to make sure that the organisations values are compatible with my own ones because the job-personality fit can lead to an optimal self-actualisation. What is most important to me after all is that I can look in the mirror at any time and be proud of myself or at least not disappointed from myself. The most difficult question to be answered is Given my strengths, my way of performing, and my values, how can I make the greatest contribution to what needs to be done?. Of course I want to make a difference, but I have to realise what results need to be achieved and where and how I can achieve those results to make that difference. Goal setting and time scheduling both play an important role in achieving results. Let me start with goal setting. The SMART3 formula is a tool which can help me to better plan the things I would like to achieve. My first goal is to complete my Masters degree in Entrepreneurship and Tourism this is a very smart goal so to say. My second business goal, to make a satisfying career, for example, would be less smart and needs to be thought about more seriously. My relationship goal is to start a family with my husband and four children this goal is specific, measurable, attainable, quite realistic (maybe not all of the four kids), but it lacks a time frame, yet. My personal goal, to see as much of the world as possible and find my dream destination, is a very broad one. Therefore, I have split it up into two smarter goals, namely, obtaining my diving license and going back to Australia. Since there is a conflict of interests, meaning that all of these goals refer to different contexts, I will have to try to build bridges between them and balance them out or set priorities.

SMART = Specific, Measurable, Attainable/Action-oriented, Realistic, Timely/Terminated

Good time management is also very important in order to realise ones goals. Time scheduling is not about getting or finding time, but making time, i.e. using the time we already have wisely. A distinction should be made between important and urgent matters, whereby one should stop filling his/her days with urgent matters only, so that no time for important matters is left. The Eisenhower principle suggests that only urgent and important matters should be done immediately urgent and not important ones could be reduced or delegated, important and not urgent matters scheduled or delegated and not urgent and not important ones dumped at all. I have decided on the top five of my daily activities which in order of priority are 1) Sleeping, Eating & Love; 2) Studying/Working; 3) Socialising (meeting friends, going out); 4) Relaxing (reading, watching a movie); 5) Sports (jogging, dancing). Most of the time is dedicated to the first two activities and if there is time left, yet, the other three needs are satisfied. Care, however, is taken that besides the fulfilment of the aforementioned basic needs and studying/working, there is always enough time for socialising and relaxing (3 and 4 are equally important), respectively, to keep up my high spirits. I have learnt to every now and then remind myself of the Pareto principle and start with the main junks before losing myself in details. Starting earlier and drawing up a time schedule including a milestone plan will help me in avoiding last-minute preparations. This has been successfully applied by me, for instance, in the course of this years Christmas preparations. Another topic we have dealt with in Self - and Time Management has been assertiveness. I would describe myself as highly assertive (the self -test has confirmed my personal assessment) I have always acted in an assertive way and with the help of various personality courses (dealing with emotional intelligence and self-expression) I could further develop and reinforce this skill. Therefore, information about improving my self-esteem and my body language has not been any news to me. However, I have very much appreciated the voice training (breathing more deeply with the abdomen) to stress the importance of what I am saying. This breathing technique has been applied by me in several presentations, job interviews and private discussions ever since and proven to be most useful. I soon got also the chance to test the tips for giving and receiving feedback in an appropriate way.