Developing Own Interpersonal Skills (Open Awards Ref:Y5004770 Level2)

Task 1 LOs 1.1:

Strengths and Weaknesses

After the group discussion about personal strengths and weaknesses and how they are important to our future write here what you think are your strengths and weaknesses and how you can use them in your career/educational pathway

I think my strenghts are:

• Punctuality
• Determination
• Commitment
• Helpfulness
• Inquisitiveness
• Time management

I think my weaknesses are:

• Worrying
• Short tempered
• My health
• Stressing
• Time management

I always do my best to be on time with everything, whether that is arriving somewhere on time or handing projects in on time. I'm always willing to help people and am always willing to learn new things myself too.

My health is my biggest weakness. It stops me from doing things a lot of the time, but it never stops me trying. This is where the commitment and determination kicks in. I tend to procrastinate a lot, which means I'll start projects too late. This in turn causes me to worry and stress. However, I usually manage to finish everything on time and none of the worrying was needed.

Task 2 LOs 2.1:

Time Management

a) After the group discussion write here why time management is important.

Time management is important, because it helps you plan anything, from projects to life in general. Having a good sense of time management will help you do the following things:

• Prioritise correctly
• Setting certain times and goals (targets) and getting things done on time
• Meeting deadlines. This is important, because you're responsible for your own reputation, but also for reputations of any of your clients.
• Start on time and be organised. Doing this will in turn mean less stress.

b) On a scale of 1-10 (1 being really bad never ever been on time for anything ever!!) mark  on the scale of where you think you are for your own time management

8.5

C) Describe here how you can improve your time management skills.

I should start projects earlier. I sometimes leave it too long and then I'm worrying and stressing, because I'm scared I won't finish on time. However, this never happens and any projects are usually finished on time. Perhaps that's why I keep doing it. Another thing I should do is use a list or diary to keep track of where I am with projects. This would make sure I got it planned properly and start on time. Often tho, the reason for my time management not being right is my health. Unfortunately, this is out of my control.

Stress

Symptoms Of Stress

Cognitive

• Worrying
• Poor judgment
• Inability to concentrate
• Negative views
• Memory issues
• Lack of motivation
• Anxiety

Behavioural

• Cigarettes/Drugs
• Nervous habits
• Isolation
• Procrastinating

Emotional

• Depression
• Irritability
• Isolation
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Mood swings
• Inability to relax

Physical

• Crying
• Aches and pains
• Sleeping too much/little
• Eating too much/little
• Nausea
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Frequent colds
• Lack of sex drive

Task 3 LOs 3.1:

After the group discussion write here the strategies that you would use for coping with stress:

The first thing I would do is figure out what is causing the stress. If it's something that can easily be avoided, that's what I would do. Another important thing to battle stress with is fun. Simply taking time out to enjoy life and not having to worry about anything.

Critisism

Task 4 LO 4.1

Name here different types of critisism:

• Constructive
• Negative
• Passive
• Destructive
• Requested

Task 5 LO 4.1:

Write here how you would deal with critisism

Receiving critisism can sometimes hurt. However, I always try and turn any sort of critisim into constructive critisism and find a way to use it to improve myself. I take notice, take it on the chin and try and improve my work.

Confidence

Task 6 LO 5.1

Describe here situations where you have been confident or seen other people acting in a confident manner. Ensure that you describe the behaviour that you have seen and what made you think that you or the other person was confident.

I remember conducting a job interview myself at the company I worked for at the time. The person that wanted the job was confident and so was I. You could tell because we were both calm and comfortable. Neither of us were slouched in our chair or anything like that. His answer were quick and to the point. It just oozed confidence. Sometimes you get people that act very nervous. They stutter when answering questions. Sometimes they sweat or fiddle with their hands etc. Nothing like that was seen on either side. Two confident people in a job interview.

Body Language

Use this space to write down your thoughts from the discussion

Most of the different types of body language are probably already known by most people. The fact that crossing your arms can mean that you're closing yourself off, have a negative or critical viewpoint or that perhaps you're simply feeling cold are all things that are pretty common knowledge already.

Another example, biting fingernails, is another one we all probably know. It often means that the person is nervous or that it's simply habit.

I feel most people are familiar with these types of body language and would have no problem recognising this in other people too.

Task 7 LO 6.1

Based on the discussion and your own personal experience describe here the differences in positive and negative body language and explain why they would apply in a real life situation.

I would have to refer back to that job interview I mentioned in the confidence part. The fact that the candidate wasn't slouched in his chair, didn't fiddle with his fingers or checked his watch every fifteen seconds is a good example of good body language. It simply looked like he was eager and confident, which in the end was part of why he got the job. 

If someone would've come in, with his hood up and slouched in the chair, it simply wouldn't have worked. He would never have gotten the job. And that just shows, because that person could be a very skilled and friendly person. Body language dictates how people view you.

Appropriate Behaviour

Task 8 LO 7.1

Describe here how you would respond to: Agressive, passive or assertive behaviour. Give examples of real situations if you can or describe how you think you would respond.

Aggressive

Having the experience as a football supporter, I have many examples where people have been aggressive towards me. In those situations I usually respond with the same aggression. However, other times I deal with aggression in a really calm way. Only last night for example, there was someone playing unbelievably loud music at 4am from his house. He turned out to be a drug user and when I confronted him about his behaviour he started getting nasty with me. I simply stayed calm, reminded him to keep the music down and that everything would be fine if he did. I have to be honest tho, I don't know how I would've responsed if he had started the music again.

Passive

I absolutely loathe passive behaviour. I simply don't see the point in pretending to be all calm when something annoys me. Or to simply let everyone walk over me because I'm too scared to stand up for myself. That's just not me. I would most likely tell someone to get a backbone and stand up for themselves. Even if it means it's against myself.

Assertive

There are simply too many situations where I've encountered this behaviour. To be honest, this is the one I respect most. People that say it as it is, without being aggressive about it. However, not many people know how to respond to this properly. Most people will respond in either an aggressive or passive way. I would simply take the message on board and move on with my life. If someone says no, it's no.