Introduction
Individuals benefit from the concept of developing management skills. One group of individuals who are guaranteed to enjoy the positive impacts of the concept is composed of managers. With management skills, they are capable of developing attractive qualities, such as courageousness, decisiveness, trustworthiness, and self-confidence. Thus, one can be a good listener, visionary, committed, hardworking, inspirational and capable of setting high moral standards.
These qualities, combined with the ability to solve problems, contribute to improved performance outcomes. Management skills are developed using a special learning model, which is not supposed to be fixed. However, all strategies adopted should share similar qualities that include theoretical reviews of the existing literature, practice and field work that usually involve the application of the ideas acquired into real life scenarios. This paper focuses on discussing the concepts I learned in the course and they can be applied in the future, among other aspects.
Chapter one
What did I cover in this chapter?
The areas covered in this chapter included management skills, such as assessment, learning, analysis, practice, and application. In relation to assessment, I learned about several sub-sections of the assessment. The first item is self-awareness assessment. This, according to what I learned, involves seeking information from foreign parties regarding one’s strong and weak attributes. In order to facilitate this process, one needs to be self-disclosing and honest, while doing it to ensure that correct information is availed for the evaluation process. Other qualities required for the purpose of successful assessment are loyal and humility.
The second item is the emotional quality assessment that involves the analysis of the emotional fluctuations that one experiences. For example, how often one gets angered, agitated, anxious, and the level of emotional composure. I also learned about a test of defining issues, and the quantification process that is conducted using various methods, such as a cognitive style indicator, locus of control scale, and tolerance of ambiguity scale.
Learning
This dealt with the principle components of self-awareness and the corresponding hierarchy that describes the steps taken during the management of personal life. Other issues that I learned include the self-awareness enigma, and peoples’ ability to understand and appreciate the differences that occur amongst individuals. This is important in making people appreciate each other and understand others for what they are. The final section of this sub-chapter emphasized on the key aspects that are recommended for consideration with regard to self-awareness, an idea that was supported by a series of behavioral guidelines.
Analysis
I understood the analysis of techniques that could be employed to achieve different aspects of self-awareness, including those that are used to create and destroy self-awareness. After covering the computerized exams and decision dilemma analyses, I appreciated the fact that different decisions can be made based on different forms of reasoning. I also learned a lot about different approaches that can be applied in decision-making processes.
Practice and application
In the future, I will apply the concepts learned in the chapter to enable me to relate better with my classmates and workmates. I will use self-awareness for the purpose of boosting self-confidence through the process of disclosing my issues. I will use diagnostic approaches to create an understanding among different people.
Chapter 4
In this chapter, the main concept that I learned was the aspect of establishing relationships through communicating supportively. This was divided into similar sub-chapters like those in chapter one, i.e., assessment, learning, analysis, application and practice.
Assessment
Effective communication, according to what I covered, involves establishing high quality interrelationships, and delivering the original information that is intended to be given to a recipient. It is a skill that is intended to evaluate one’s status in terms of communicating and interacting with others. Results from the surveys adopted in the learning provided results that were on a scale of 1 to 6. One (1) implies “strongly disagree”, while 6 implies “strongly agree”.
Learning
It is critical to note that effective communication is the most important skill that I used during my study on this topic. I learned about communication in details, considering factors that should be considered when building positive interpersonal relationships. In addition, causes and the measures that can be taken to prevent miscommunications were learned in depth. This skill is required by managers so that they can effectively manage both time and workers. An emphasis was placed on the importance of focusing on the accuracy of information being communicated. In fact, it was demonstrated that the adoption of high levels of accuracy goes a long way in retaining the original intent. Finally, I found out that supportive communication is aimed at enhancing a positive relationship between two individuals.
Analysis
When I was studying the skill of supportive communication and its application, I visited different cases that involved different persons. Specifically, in met students and workers in organizations to evaluate my level of interactions and relationships with them on the basis of supportive communication. I established that when I scored low in terms of interrelationships, I also scored low in relation to effective communications.
Practice and application
In the future, I would apply the concept learned in the chapter by undertaking activities involved in the form of interactions that would be intended for short-lived or prolonged benefits of supportive communications. In addition, practical applications will encompass the ways through which I would transfer the skill I acquired. For example, in the future, I would teach other people about how they can enhance their supportive communications by establishing high quality interrelationships. The skill will help me to produce excellent performance outcomes in the workplace because I would interact and communicate effectively.
Chapter seven
Chapter seven focused on the concept of conflict management and the strategies involved in the diagnosis of conflicts. In addition, the management of conflicts and the resolution of intrapersonal confrontations were tackled.
Assessment
I learned the manner through which surveys could be used to diagnose and evaluate conflicts amongst individuals. The steps involve an analysis of people’s reactions in relation to displeasures. The survey approaches also aim at utilizing different ways that can be used in conflict management processes.
Learning
Conflicts originate from different sources, such as interpersonal disputes and confrontations. The causes of conflicts can be categorized as either personal preferences or situational considerations. There are several ways of solving conflicts, for example, collaborative problem-solving techniques and reasonable dispute resolution methods.
Analysis, practice and application
The theories learned in the chapter will help me to relate better with other persons. In the future, I will aim at using the best approaches to solve disputes, which might result in constrained relationships. In addition, the theories will aid me to apply personal preferences or situational considerations to achieve the best relationship outcomes, both at school and in the workplace.