A520.1.6 RB_Self Awareness Blog_Wathen_Sandra

A520.1.6_RB_Self Awareness Blog_Wathen_Sandra

This blog is to describe how my level of self-awareness has changed since I began the MSLD program with respect to the "Five Core Aspects of Self-Awareness".

Looking at this in a broad perspective from recently completing the Critical Thinking course and just completing the first chapter of this Developing Management Skills course, I have come to realize that how I think combined with my understanding of the Five Core Aspects of Self-Awareness are the framework for the dimension level of my self-concept.  It is my criteria for long-term success and it is measurable by constant re-evaluation of my self-awareness and through continued education and training. 

Critical Thinking allows me to actually think critically.  Although it seems somewhat segregated from self-awareness, in actuality they are intuitively integrated in concept.  For example, not only are there techniques, principles, and processes in critical thinking; but there are also key components that tie to our self-awareness such as the value of intellectual traits, standards and elements.

The depth of my critical thinking and ability to think critically combined with my self-awareness maximizes my opportunity to personally excel.

In more detail with respect to the “Five Core Aspects of Self-Awareness” which provide the depth of individual differences and fundamental dimensions of ourselves.  The five are:  Emotional Intelligence, Personal Values, Cognitive Style, Attitudes Towards Change and Core Self-Evaluation.  I must continually strive for self-awareness and achieving self-knowledge in order for me to understand things about myself and about others.  In essence, manage diversity in my life through application of the core aspects of self-awareness.

Also recognizing that the “Five Core Aspects of Self-Awareness” are not independent, rather they are closely interconnected and dependent.  Their attributes provide identifying: emotional awareness and control; moral judgment and personal standards; acquiring information and evaluation; adapting and responsibility and underlying specific personality attributes.

In summary, understanding the “Five Core Aspects of Self-Awareness” and focusing on my self-awareness, will assist me with developing the ability identify differences in others and differences in myself, and especially with those that I interact with routinely.  It will also provide me the fundamental self-knowledge to be an effective manager since now I will be more equipped to manage myself and that is one of the first key steps before I can manage anyone else.

A520.1.2RB_Self Awareness_Wathen_Sandra

A520.1.2.RB – Self Awareness

Prepare a Blogger entry by reflecting on the following questions regarding your overall experience with the self-awareness surveys:

In writing this blog and as a response to participating in a self-awareness survey, I have realized some flaws in my self-awareness.

No matter how honest one tries to be in self reflection – humans easily distort the truths as they think they know all or have learned all.  In fact, one should continually reflect, assess and evaluate their managerial characteristics on a recurring basis as to recognize and improve their management styles and inclinations.

I have been humbled after taking a few minutes to conduct a brief self-awareness survey.  As a result I have noticed that I have some key areas that I need to improve upon; possibly reverse my thinking.  Some of those are more centered in the areas of where if I reverse my thoughts of negativism that in reality I have the ability to control an opposite result of positivism.  As some examples, in my mind, I felt that I could not control things such as depression, worthlessness, control of my work, and doubt in competence of myself and the ability to control my successes in my career; mostly due to outside factors or circumstances.  However, that is not true. 

As far as the ranges with respect to the self-awareness survey, the range is realistic.  However, although there is truism in the range, there were key areas that maybe I did not do as well as I would have expected.  Part of that is due to fact that when completing the survey, I was not applying the key dimensions of self awareness in my thinking.

I have been in management positions and have attending many management courses, however, I surprisingly now realize that I have not been applying the core aspects of self-management in my thinking.  In addition, recognizing that my self-awareness is my foundation for managerial success; both personally and professionally.

The information gained from this exercise will be used as a baseline from which to incorporate in my self-understanding and ultimately change my managerial behavior in a positive way.  Self-knowledge is my key for personal growth.

I have realized that the knowledge I gain about me is my self-concept.  Self-concept is essential for me to improve my managerial skills.  What is additionally important is that I understand how self-knowledge can inhibit my ability for personal improvement if I fear the truths about myself.

There are significant benefits to acquiring more self-awareness as it provides for a well-rounded person as it fosters a healthier and more productive outcome; ultimately - better performers, better leaders and managers…

MSLD500_Activity 9.4_Blog_Course Reflections_Wathen_Sandra

MSLD500_Activity 9.4_Blog_Course Reflections_Wathen_Sandra

My reflection on the value of this course…

As my own critique, and not being bias, I don’t think I could have done any more than I did to improve my learning experience.  I worked diligently to learn as much from what was offered to me; that being a lot.  I have engaged myself with this course from the very beginning.  Truthfully, I am excited to be part of the ERAU educational experience with respect to the Leadership domain.  It is not a negative factor, but maybe a challenging one, is – Time.  I work full-time along with most of the other students, therefore, makes the learning experience often challenging.  It requires dedication and personal intellectual perseverance, as well as, creative ways to meet the academic demand combined with work requirements.

This being my first course taken with ERAU, I cannot think of anything in addition to what the university or the instructor might have done differently to provide additional support for my learning.  In fact, I think with this being a world-wide, on-line course provided a 24/7 available response and communiqué’ with the institution and instructors making the response time for any questions or issues with a quick turn-around-time.  The support from both perspectives has been very effective from a learning experience.

The relevancy and environment from which ERAU created for this course from a learning experience was invaluable.  I have learned more from this class than any course I have ever taken.  I will admit that it was a lot of work, but every bit of the effort put it in to it will have lasting benefits.  The learning experience was much different than the traditional experiences of the past.  This course provided a new dimension for learning.  It allowed creativity, continued interaction with classmates and instructor, learned new technology and software, learned how to set-up and use Blog, learned how to use e-portfolio, learned how to write in APA format, learned how to conduct action research (outlines, reports, scholarly research, etc.), learned how to create quick surveys, learned the techniques/principles of critical thinking, learned quantitative/qualitative research, learned how to prepare and present "good" presentations, etc.  I think this experience provided such a wonderful environment to learn from rather than just from information, tests, etc. 

The learning experiences from this course has provided not only the ability to think critically, but also many other methods, techniques and tools that will be a tremendous asset for multiple uses; writing skills; Research Analysis and Findings, Scholarly Literature Reviews, Personal Brain/WEB Brain, 24/7 world-wide interaction with academic peers and professors, “good” presentation skills, information technology skills, etc.   Not only have I learned to think differently, I have also learned a lot about myself.

This learning experience was not something that is a temporary or short term state; it is something that has been instilled in my mind and will be applied routinely, as it is now part of my subconscious mind and how I think!

As far as irrelevant, I cannot think of anything as everything learned is a foundation for critical thinking and the application of that for its effective presentation to an audience.

I have provided a followed-on to this Blog for adding pertinent information from my Activity 9.2 discussions as they are relevant to this journal.  As far as to what extent do I feel how I have directed my own learning is a question that is somewhat of a difficult question to answer?  I don’t think I have directed my own learning, but rather I have directed which educational path to take.  To me, the learning experience is more of a self-desire and self-energized nature rather than a directed learning.   It is kind of like the old saying “You can take a horse to the troth but you cannot make him drink it!”  You have to want to learn; it cannot be directed. 

I do think that I have aspired to be the best I can be and want to learn as much as I can.  I also am aware that learning provides diversity in my perspective and diversity is essential to think broadly as you can relate to the experience.  As far as my current educational direction, I have narrowed my focus areas to those that can offer me more as an individual based on the type of person that I am; therefore I then can offer more to others.  Combined with my experience and continued education, I feel confident that I can be an effective leader. 

This course is my first experience with ePortfolio and its ability to assist with me taking charge of my own learning.  Although, I think the words I would use instead of the portfolio helping me to take charge of my learning, I think that it provides me a state of the art archive and retrieval method  for my assignments by which I can use to manage, re-use, evaluate, grow from, and do some reflective thinking.  Me as a person is the one that takes charge of my own learning, since I am the one that must think – ePortfolio is the tool to help me organize, reflect and improve on my thinking.  Using the thoughts of Chatham-Carpenter et al., 2009 in their documentary on this subject, I now have high-expectations that this technique will be of most value to me over the course of the Master Degree Program.  I am anxious to see how it will benefit me and my instructors as my ePortfolio formulates to its final stages over the semesters.  Based on my understanding of its use and purpose; I will be able to use it for reflective thinking, as well as, leverage from to increase my learning capabilities for upcoming courses and my Capstone project.   Not to mention that I will be able to watch the progression of my work and also improve myself through reflecting on my past assignments.   In addition, it will assist the instructors as it will have a compilation of my work in a central, organized, easily accessible location for review and retrieval of my work completed.

My academic life to date consists of a lifetime of commitment to continued intellectual growth through my continued education; factored in by my intellectual perseverance.  I have strived to continually learn and to constantly improve my intellectual abilities and capabilities through personal, professional and educational experiences.  Although I would like to take credit in full for my successes, I cannot, I owe much of my successes to the people and organizations that provided me the opportunity to learn and the ability for me to excel.

As a result of this course, my attitude towards life-long learning has changed for the simple fact that I have taken on a new and profound way in how I think.  I have a whole new perspective based on my awareness of my thinking which provides me the ability to critically think.  I consider myself a somewhat smart individual and have the ability to think logically when approaching a decision.  However, I now realize as a result of this course, that I have lacked in the past the understanding and application of basic principles and techniques to apply to my thinking to be able to think critically.