Task 01 BSBLDR501

Task 01: Reflect on your emotional intelligence

(Research and Written Report)

1. Use at least one appropriate tool or methods to identify your own emotional strengths and weaknesses. Options include, for example:

a. personal SWOT analysis

Strengths

Compulsive

Strong follow-through

Articulate

Writes well

Balanced work-life perspective

Multi-interested (e.g., work, recreational activities [e.g., curling, golf, etc.])

Ambitious

Weaknesses

Strong need to “get things done and off my list” with consequence of getting it done right away, thereby undermining the benefits of more careful deliberation over time

Compulsiveness sometimes causes me to begrudge being given tasks, i.e., stress of many tasks and need to do each carefully can lead me to think unkindly about the people and/or circumstance creating the task

Can be impatient, i.e., not tolerate those who do not understand (“suffer fools poorly”)

Time pressure causes stress and can lead to emotional “hijacking”

Do not handle multiple immediately competing demands well

Opportunities

To engage others in providing feedback about their experience of me

To receive coaching in service of improving my leadership skills

To learn from others in similar roles to mine

To enhance my ability to manage the need to complete task quickly in order to be able to deliberate more carefully

To enhance my equanimity about work-related tasks

Threats

Time pressure, which can derail my plan for self-improvement because it catapults me back to my “usual” habits

The multitude of everyday demands, which conspires against self-reflection

2. Identify at least three instances where you have felt stressed or experienced a negative emotional state at work. For each instance, consider the precise context, causes and your response.

Major Illness – Any type of major illness is a significant stressor for the entire family. One person being ill does not just affect that person, but everyone around him or her. A major illness is one of the worst stressors we can endure as it can go on for years, taking its emotional toll on everyone around, especially children.

Poor time management – there have been times when I have not gotten myself ready for a new school year as soon as I should have. This has led to stress as I had to rush frantically to get lesson plans ready for new courses I had to teach. What I could have done differently would have been to start much earlier and have a schedule in which I would do one unit worth of lesson plans every week for the last month of summer. When I have done that, I have started the school year in a much more relaxed frame of mind since I have not had to worry about what I would do in my new courses.

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lesson plans every week for the last month of summer. When I have done that, I have started the school year in a much more relaxed frame of mind since I have not had to worry about what I would do in my new courses.

Difficult co-workers – I used to work with a colleague that caused me a lot of stress. Whether they’re bossy, passive-aggressive or just plain chirpy, the fact that you spend so many waking hours in their company means your coworkers can have a big impact on your quality of life.

3. Identify at least two causes or triggers of your own personal emotional states at work. Identify how you can use awareness of such triggers to control your responses and achieve positive outcomes, especially with respect to your impact on others and their work performance.

Being asked to do something you do not want to do

Thinking errors – for example I may believe that the boss always expects me to be the one to work overtime and never asks anybody else

Ways to control the triggers and responses

Become more self-aware – One of the core areas of emotional intelligence is self-awareness.

Express your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs – Knowing how to express your emotions can often help you in managing those emotions.

Know your strengths and weaknesses – Some people seem to think that they’re good at everything. Others constantly underestimate their strengths.

Manage another person’s emotions – If you can manage the emotions of people around you, you have an impressive skill.

4. Identify at least one instance of modelling workplace behaviours that demonstrate management of emotions as an example for others to follow.

Set clear expectations of behaviour.

Team discussions can highlight a set of agreed behaviours that embody the APS Values, Employment Principles and Code of Conduct. These discussions are very effective with a new team or when a new manager is appointed. The exercise can also be used for existing teams as a way to reinforce the importance of fostering respect. It could even be included as a regular team meeting agenda item. The goal is to develop a shared understanding of appropriate conduct at work and what these expectations mean in a practical setting.

Be a positive role model.

If a manager is respectful, employees are more likely to follow. If a manager is abrasive and impolite, employees have an excuse for displaying the same behaviour. Be genuine in your actions and promote the kind of culture that inspires people to do their best.

Make it how you do business.

Include behavioural expectations in performance plans and give regular feedback to employees relating to performance and the APS Values, Employment Principles and Code of Conduct. Give practical examples of positive as well as negative behaviours to build a shared understanding of what is expected. Acknowledge how people achieve, as well as what they achieve. ...