reflective writing

November 2005

A Difficult but Rewarding Experience---how I learnt to be an effective team member

Gems in the crucible

My family and friends see a difference in me , so I know that my teamwork experience on the hotel project was worthwhile . I am confident that I will do better when I next have an opportunity to be part of a team

Interdependence

My team members and I did well to list all the steps required of our project . We were also quick to divide tasks amongst ourselves . I am proud

of the inputs that I was able to deliver to the team . It was rewarding to put together information on the strengths and weaknesses of hotel chains , and to research for material on this subject . I have learnt how to work as part of a team , delivering value to it and benefiting from the efforts of others

Presentation and records

Let me not overstate my team 's achievement . The enormous numbers of people who use English means that many including I , who claim a working knowledge if not fluency with the celebrated language , have very different accents , expressions , and styles . I believe that some universities teach students how to write . I have heard of note-taking skills as well . My team members and I would benefit if we were to follow systems of making follow-up lists of our meetings and discussions , and if we would follow a standard report format . A summary or an abstract at the beginning seems to be a good idea , and I know that scientific journals follow such a system

Emotional intelligence

I have saved the best part for the end allow me to dwell on it at some length . It is not as important to be right as to gain acceptance and consensus . Each member of the team wasted time arguing interminably over matters that appear petty now . This built pressure of time on us , which in turn made us irritable and aggressive . I must confess that I am amongst the guilty ! I have read that this is a common failing with many people (Kravitz and Schubert , 2000 . Reflective listening can melt many apparent differences of opinion . I can think of occasions when I surrendered my position just so that the group could move ahead . I am sure that my colleagues did the same for me . The matters , on which I shifted my stands for the sake of consensus , do not now seem to have made the great difference that I thought they might , when I was hot and angry under my collar ! It is a matter of negotiation and sometimes of allowing small mistakes to take place , if only as learning experiences I have decided to withhold judgment on new ideas that come my way . I have also to improve my powers of communication , so that I can anticipate objections , arouse interest , and persuade others in ways that are not hurtful . I think that my team members have benefited as well and it was an enjoyable way of learning teamwork skills

Works Cited

Kravitz , S . M . and Schubert , S . D . Hear Yourself Think ' Emotional Intelligence Works

Thomson Crisp Learning , 2000 : Retrieved November 2005

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