Introduction
Change is the ultimate reality in our globally competitive knowledge economy, and employers, policymakers, and scholars emphasize the significance of employability and study skills. Contemporary institutions of higher learning must adequately prepare students for the future, enabling them to handle jobs that are yet to exist, utilize the technologies that are yet to be developed or invented, and resolve problems that are beyond human imagination. Graduates need to continue working on their studies and employability skills to keep working and maintaining their jobs immediately after they become part of the labour market. Attending the University of Suffolk to partake in a bachelor’s degree in Business Studies as well as completing the Personal and Professional Development module has significantly contributed to my employability and study skills, particularly relating to communication skills, research skills, use of ICTs, teamwork, networking, time and self-management as well as problem-solving skills.
Description
Gibbs Reflective Cycle offers a robust exploration of experiences, feelings, and actions that have enhanced my study and employability skills throughout my stay in this institution. Based on this model, I remember one instance where we had a group assignment, and we decided to split the assignment sections among us to allow each member to research one section. During this period, we hoped that we would combine the assignments into one before the deadline. However, upon meeting, we realized that each member had written their piece using a different writing style. Hence, the sections could have been more coherent. Therefore, we had to rewrite the assignments. Although we had allocated maximum time for us to complete the assignment, we failed to communicate with each other on writing style as well as allocate some time in the event the unfortunate happens. As a result, one of the team members had to forego his plans that day to complete the assignment before the deadline.
Feelings
Before we met and realized that there was a lot for us to do, I was very happy, thinking that our approach to dividing the assignment into sections was a smart move. However, when we realized that the assignment would be a failure if we hand in as it was, I became angry and frustrated at the same time. I had little interest in rewriting the assignment because I was sure that our approach would be successful. Nevertheless, I became guilty after noticing that one of my teammates had to cancel his important commitments to sacrifice that day to complete the assignment. This rather motivated me and looking back; I am proud that we managed to rewrite the work and get maximum points.
Evaluation
There are a couple of things that we did during the assignment that worked for us. Through sheer discipline and teamwork, every group member produced high-quality work before the deadline. Also, we observed time during the sit-down meeting to combine the assignments. In addition, the fact that one group member cancelled his plans to participate in their assignment motivated us to work harder and deliver high-quality papers for marking. This positively contributed to our group work ethic. However, some things could have worked better. For instance, our communication could have been better in that we did not consult each other on the writing style and assumed that we would write in the same way, hence failing the overall time plan for the entire group.
Analysis
One of the reasons why our initial division of work was successful was because we allowed every member to have a say regarding the part of the assignment they were willing to take. The sections were divided based on one’s self-management and strengths. Throughout this course, I have experienced working together with group members and focusing on areas that resonate with my strengths. It is apparent to me that this was the case for all my other group members. Through the course’s exposure to a variety of research skills and methodologies, I searched through the literature regarding group work. I identified two scenarios that helped me understand the situation we were in. According to Belbin (2010), every individual possesses unique strengths and weaknesses. Although we could have appreciated the strengths and weaknesses of our team members, Belbin’s findings affirm that teamwork and effective communication are critical for success.
Conclusions
Through this experience and the module lessons, I have learned that successful completion of assignments, even in the contemporary work environment, requires effective communication skills, teamwork, effective time management, and problem-solving skills. It is important to adequately plan on how every work should look and feel before completion. Doing this during the assignment would have saved us a great deal to combine the sections and submit without the need to rewrite the whole exercise. In addition, I will continue to self-assess my strengths and weaknesses, work on time management, and leverage effective communication skills to enhance my employability capacity.
Action Plan
Given the lessons I have garnered from this course regarding effective communication, teamwork, time and self-assessment, and the use of information technology, among others, I will continue to demonstrate my commitment and dedication to these skills in my future employment assignments. I know many organizations value teamwork, and if we decide to divide the project amongst ourselves, then I will emphasize the need to plan our deliverables. I suggest that we establish a good communication channel, leverage the current information technology for virtual communication to manage the available time, and ensure each team member focuses on sections where their strengths lie to ensure that the project is delivered without many challenges.
References
Belbin, R. M., & Brown, V. (2022). Team roles at work. Routledge.
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