GRAD 702 – Reflections on Module 2 Concepts

I’ve reached the end of week 2 in GRAD 702. It’s an interesting class, as I’m learning skills for understanding both my thinking and team thinking. The objective is that by the end of this class, I’ll have laid out a plan for my personal development and also developed a good approach to teamwork.One of the tests we took for this class is known as the Hermann Brain Dominance Index. Like many tests I’ve taken in the past, this one was not surprising in it’s results. I most strongly utilize the creative portions of my brain. This supports my desire even more to be in positions where I am allowed to create, develop, and present. Marketing, product development, and education all fit my profile.

Having reviewed my results, will I do anything different? Only to ask my boss for more opportunities to be involved in product development areas. I’m currently on one team which is planning the use of experimental technology in our business process and I really enjoy the opportunity it’s presented.

I’m also developing my personal mission statement as part of the class. One question to ask is what legacy I’d like to leave. I’d like to feel that I’ve made a difference in people’s lives. Education is a key area for me. I want people to learn and be changed for the better. As the old saying goes… “Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” I would like to know that by improving just one person’s life, I made a difference for future generations.

My next question to address is to define a creative moment in my life and the feelings associated with it. There’ve been lots of them. I’m creative person by nature.  One that I recall the most was when I was on a planning and development team putting together a “year in review” event for a large corporate group.  It took weeks to pull together all the pieces and coordinate all the various aspects of the show.  When it came to “show time”, the event went off smoothly and the employees were extremely pleased.  It was a very fulfilling experience.

Next thought to address… conflict resolution.  How do I deal with conflict?  I currently try to avoid it at all costs.  I am not comfortable with conflict because I like being a people person.  I want to preserve friendships and relationships whenever possible.  As I move forward in my business career, I will need to learn to better manage conflict.  Conflict will happen, but learning to address the issue and move on is the best possible solution.

Anything else I’ve learned in this week?  Microsoft Project is a difficult tool to learn! :)   I acquired a copy of MS Project and MS Visio in order to become better at project management.  I realized that I have a LOT to learn in using these tools.  I am currently reviewing a copy of Project for Dummies.  I realize these are powerful tools and hope to get better with them as time goes on.

February 25, 2007 | Filed Under GRAD 702 | Leave a Comment 

GRAD 702 – Reflections on Module 1 Concepts

The first question I will address is where I see myself in terms of professonal effectiveness today.  I would rate myself at a medium level.  I know that I am not nearly as effective in my current role, mainly because there are areas that could use better defining.  I sometimes feel that because the position I work in is a relatively new one, areas of job responsibility are not well defined.  As time goes on, I hope to better define my role in the organization and become a more effective asset to my department.

One of my big take-aways from this week’s work is a better understanding of brain dominance.  I’ve taken countless personality tests in the past and have come back with similar findings about my own personality.  Our reading this week included a review of the Hermann Brain Dominance Instrument.  This tool really gives a good perspective on how the four quadrants of the brain interact.  It’s very beneficial when working in team settings to understand the way your members think.

Finally, we are reviewing Stephen Covey’s The 8th Habit in the class. Part of the reading deals with leadership roles.  I probably best relate to pathfinding.  I tend to think outside the norm and consider myself fairly creative.  I often have lots of great ideas, but sometimes struggle getting those ideas to completion.  I’m hoping to become a better leader that can effectively share my vision and set direction for my team.

February 18, 2007 | Filed Under GRAD 702 | Leave a Comment 

Assignment 3-4

In reviewing the various change waves, I would have to say that I am most comfortable in the knowledge wave. I am mostly a knowledge based worker and feel the most useful in that area. Throughout my MBA, I’m hoping to move toward more of a judgment revolution person, but that will take some time. Part of the reason I’m more comfortable in the knowledge realm is that I work in an industry which is primarily industrial, bordering on knowledge revolution. Even though I perform work in the knowledge arena, the majority of the business we do is manufacturing/assembly line based. That may hold me back, in some ways, from advancing to the next revolution.

And with this, I’m wrapping up my first class. Definitely a challenge on my time and resources… but it will be worth it when I finish my degree. Next up is GRAD 702.

February 10, 2007 | Filed Under GRAD 701 | Leave a Comment 

Assignment 2-5

I survived the first two weeks. There’s a lot of reading, and for me, that’s a challenge. I’m a hands-on learner, so the reading takes a lot of time for comprehension. This week, we delved a lot further into “social capital” and how to utilize the concept. We also looked at the concept of a life cycle.
The first question to address is how I can expand my social capital network to include those who are quite different from me. This will be a challenge. In order to get those different from me, I will probably need to look at groups that I would not normally be a part of. While there still needs to be some common ground, there are groups out there that are different enough from my core. I need to identify those organizations and those who belong to them. Then I need to find ways to connect with them.

Second topic is a review of my personal lifecycle and personal learning styles. I mentioned earlier that I’m a kinesthetic learner. And I don’t think that has changed much over the years. I can recall always being a hands-on learner, needing to take things apart or have someone show me an example of how to do something. I doubt that it will ever change completely. I have learned to use the other styles simply out of necessity.
The final question posed to me was regarding my legacy. I don’t know that I can pinpoint this into any focused statement. I guess that the biggest legacy I want to leave is that I was very focused on helping my community. I’m a person who volunteers to a fault. I’m active in a lot of organizations, as well as very active in my church. I find a lot of satisfaction in helping others. I hope that I will convey this legacy to my kids and they will also want to be actively involved in helping out the community.

February 4, 2007 | Filed Under GRAD 701 | Leave a Comment