BPP Business School Coursework Cover Sheet
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assessment.
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Module Name Personal Effectiveness
Programme Name MSc Management
Student Reference
Number
(SRN)
Assessment Title Personal Effectiveness Report
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PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS REPORT
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................3
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................8
Task 3.............................................................................................................................................10
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................13
References......................................................................................................................................14
Appendices....................................................................................................................................16
Appendix 1: Franklin Covey Self-Assessment Questionnaire...................................................16
Appendix 2: Franklin Covey Self-Assessment Results.............................................................18
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Introduction
Personal Effectiveness (PE) can be defined as the ability to get the best out of oneself through
the means of components such as ownership, execution, discipline and learning agility (Bandura,
2023). Personal effectiveness enables managerial figures to be productive, motivated and
consistently meet goals and make progress towards continuous self-improvement. Alongside, an
effective managerial figure can ensure effective handling of the workforce and ensuring an
amicable working environment in an organisation.
Contextually, in Task 1 of the assessment, I have utilised the “Gibbs Reflective Model” to
identify my skill-set during a group assignment at the university along with an action plan to
address the weaknesses. In Task 2, the Covey’s Self-Assessment Questionnaire has been utilised
to identify further strengths and weaknesses in relation to my desired career choice of an
Operational Manager in the manufacturing industry. Further, in Task 3, a short-term plan using
the SMART Model has been devised to address two areas of shortcomings that were identified in
Task 1 and Task 2. Finally, the impact of such SMART plans in enhancing my own personal
brand is discussed to effectively attain amicable levels of PE.
Task 1
Identifying own skill-set using the Gibbs’ Reflective Model in relation to a task completed
at university
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Figure 1: Gibbs Reflective Model
(Source: Adapted from Adeani et al., 2020)
The above figure represents the “Gibbs Reflective Model”, a cyclical framework designed to
guide individuals through the process of self-reflection through stages such as “description”,
“feelings”, “evaluation”, “analysis”, “conclusion” and “action plan” (Adeani et al., 2020). I have
utilised the reflective model to ponder upon my experiences in a group assignment at my
university and identify my strengths, weaknesses and areas of improvements accordingly.
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Description
I had recently been part of a group assignment at my university where I had to coordinate with an
ascertained number of group members, an experience that has revealed to me my strengths and
weaknesses. I had been excited to work in a collaborative setup as working on such projects
provided me with real-life experiences that can assist me to become an effective Operations
Manager in the manufacturing industry.
Feelings
I had initially felt overwhelmed by the prospect of working in a group for the completion of the
ascertained assignment. Conversely, I had felt confident in my ability to contribute positively to
group discussions through my problem-solving capabilities. However, I had often found myself
feeling frustrated and disappointed due to the lack of self-discipline and my lack of focus that
had often distracted my concentration from my core sets of tasks.
Evaluation
Throughout my experience during the group assignment, it had come to my notice that one of my
major strengths is my communication skills that had helped me to synergise effectively with my
teammates. Effective communication can help build better relationships, conflict resolution and
streamline processes in a workplace or task (Agustian et al., 2023). Conversely, my inability to
stay motivated and focused led to procrastination and distraction that have impacted the overall
group performance.
Analysis
I believe that my lack of self-motivation has steered from a fear of failure and a tendency to
procrastinate. This has resulted in poor time-management due to which the entire group task had
suffered and failed to meet few deadlines. Lack of time management can lead to “occupational
burnouts”, confusion and lack of focus, ultimately reflecting poor quality of work (Martin et al.,
2020). Contrarily, my proactive approach had enabled me to contribute positively to the group
assignment, inducing new creative ideas that had ultimately elevated the quality of the work
done.
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Conclusion
My effective communication capabilities and proactiveness can assist me in creating an amicable
workplace and collaborative environment through creative solutions. Conversely, the lack of
efficiency in self-motivation and time management skills can render my aspirations to become an
efficient Operations Manager in the manufacturing firm ineffective.
Action Plan
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Skills to be Proposed Actions Estimated time to be
developed taken
Time Management ● Study “Getting Things Done” by David Allen to 6-8 months
learn about the nuances of effective time
management (Amazon, 2024)
● Make use of the “Pomodoro Technique” that
establishes 5 distinctive steps for effective time
management such as working in shifts of 25 minutes
and take 5 minutes breaks to increase efficiency
(Costales et al., 2021)
● Leverage tools such as “Outlook”, “Toggl”,
“RescueTime” and “ToDoList” can be effective in
structuring tasks based on priority to ensure effective
time management.
Self-Motivation ● Study “Atomic Habits” by James Clear that consists 4-5 months
of instances from the author's real-life transition to
success along with providing motivational guidelines
for achieving success (Amazon, 2024).
● Attend group secession that focus on positive self-
tasks that can help boost confidence
● Practice mindfulness and meditation to reduce stress
and improve focus.
● Leverage self-motivation tools such as
“Headspace”, “Calm” and “Habitica” that can have
a positive impact on the mindset of an individual
Table 1: Action Plan
(Source: Self-Evaluated)
Analysis of the skills identified based on the choice of career
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My ascertained strengths of communication and proactiveness while shortcomings in the form of
time management and self motivation can affect my choice of career as an Operations Manager
in the manufacturing sector immensely. For instance, while my communication skills can help
me manage project teams effectively, my lack of time management can result in inefficient
“resource tracking” that can hamper the proceedings of the project. Effective time-management
enables an Operations Manager to plan an organisation's work schedule, enabling proactive
planning and task prioritising (Martin et al., 2020). Contradictorily, communication skills can
enable me to synergise the construction crew under me effectively and facilitate effective
teamwork at the workplace. Proactiveness further can assist me in handling client and vendor
relations along with ensuring overseas material deliveries as an Operations Manager. The lack of
self-motivation however can entice me to be constricted in my approach and be resistant to
change, hampering professional growth.
Task 2
Evaluation related to the strengths along with weaknesses using the Covey Self-Assessment
Questionnaire
Strengths
The self-evaluation through the “Covey Self-Assessment Questionnaire” has shown that I have
scored 87 with regards to “Habit 1: Be Proactive” that is above the benchmark score of 84. This
showcases that I have an amicable ability to be effective in my career choices and decisions and
stick by them. Proactive people are ascertained to be taking responsibility for their own actions
and not blaming others, accusing them for the things that had gone wrong (Homes, 2023). In
relation, I have noticed my effective proactiveness skills during the group tasks assigned to me
where I have taken full responsibility for any lapses in judgement on my part rather than shifting
the blame on someone else.
Alongside this, I had attained a score of 93 with regards to “Habit 4: Think Win Win” that is well
above the benchmark score of 86. This showcases that I have the ability to build effective
relationships based on the principle of mutual benefits. This ability to establish effective
collaboration among team members can aid me as an Operations Manager in handling the
nuances and conflicts of a construction crew effectively. The inculcation of the aspect of mutual
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benefits among managerial figures enables them to make decisions that benefit the entire pack
rather than being centred individually (FranklinCovey, 2024). Moreover, I have attained the
score of 87 with regards to “Habit 5: Seek First To Understand, then Be Understood” that is just
above the benchmark score of 85. This showcases that I have in myself the habit of mutual
understanding that effectively enables me to consider the viewpoint of others while taking
decisions that are in the best interest of others. Mutual understanding in managerial figures can
translate to them taking into consideration the rationale of the effect of such decision on others
rather than being entirely self-processed (Homes, 2023). Hence, I can enhance my identified
strengths further to ensure that my efficiency as an Operations Manager in my future
employment is optimal at all times.
Weaknesses
With regards to my weaknesses, I have noticed that my score for “Habit 3: Put Things First”, is
at a glaringly low of 47, way below the benchmark score of 81. This showcases that I lag in
terms of integrity and execution that can affect the quality of the final work produced. A lower
integrity and execution abilities among the managerial figures can result in lack of focus, moving
from tasks to tasks without connecting them to long-term goals (FranklinCovey, 2024). This can
lead to short-sightedness of managerial figures in terms of the goals and objectives that are to be
achieved by the personnel.
Alongside this, my score in relation to “Habit 2: Begin With End In Mind” was 67, substantially
below the benchmark score of 84. Although this is a significant improvement from my previous
score of 47, the below-benchmark score showcases that there is profound lack of vision that I
need to improve. The lack of vision among managerial figures can lead to stagnant business
growth and can even result in resistance to a proposed change that can affect the organisation
positively (FranklinCovey, 2024). My lack of vision can render me ineffective in coming up with
unique and effective plans to address the operational difficulties that can be encountered in the
day-to-day scenario. Hence, I need to address my lapses in my skill-sets to ensure that my future
career as an Operations Manager in a reputed manufacturing firm is devoid of any difficulties.
Discussion on how the identified weaknesses can impact my career choice
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The identified weaknesses of lack of growth vision along with ineffective execution abilities can
affect my career as an Operations Manager in the manufacturing sector negatively by harming
my efficiency levels. The lack of vision in managerial figures can lead to inability in strategizing
and aligning long-term plans that go with the long-term goals of the company (Wolcott et al.,
2021). Alongside this, poor growth vision can reflect in ineffective decision making and my
abilities to anticipate future trends and potential challenges resulting in suboptimal decisions.
Conversely, lack of execution abilities can lead to inefficiency in production processes while
ineffective budget planning results in increased costs and decreased productivity of the group.
This can also reflect in terms of low morale of the workforce and dysfunctional teams leading to
decreased motivation among team members and increased turnover rates (Martin et al., 2020).
Hence, it is necessary for me to address my weaknesses to attain a successful career as an
Operations Manager in a reputed construction firm.
Task 3
Development of a concise short-term plan by using the SMART Model to address two areas
of improvement as identified in Task 1 and Task 2
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Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time Bound
To improve my ● Reduce the ● Use the technique Effective time- 4 months
time-management amount of of “Time management can
skills ensuring unproductive Blocking” through lead to improved
timely completion time spent by dividing days into work-life balance
of tasks that can 20% over the time-blocks and of self as well as
reflect in form of period of 2 ascertaining the employees
operational months specific tasks that under the
efficiency ● Reduce can be executed managerial figure
screen-on time within the time- enabling
and use of frame. prioritising of the
social media ● Utilise the works that are
by 50% “Eisenhower crucial for the
● Effectively Matrix” that can completion of the
carry out over help identify tasks project on time.
80% of the in terms of priority
tasks within a leading to effective
space of two delegation of
weeks unimportant tasks
and prioritise the
crucial ones
(Ghanem and Al–
Rubaiayi, 2022).
To enhance my ● Complete a ● Execute “Case- Growth vision is 6 months
visionary daily study analysis” of necessary in a
capabilities in visionary real life success managerial figure
terms of business exercise that stories that can as it enables the
and self-growth can stimulate help influence individual to attain
ensuring constant growth visionary growth in effective solutions
evolving and perception in me to problems along
adaptation the working ● Consult with with enhancing the
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Table 2: SMART Model for addressing two areas of improvement
(Source: Self-Evaluated)
Explanation on the way the ascertained plans can enhance my personal brand
Figure 2: Personal Brand Model
(Source: Adopted from Monarth, 2022)
The above figure represents the “Personal Brand Model” that encapsulates the three major
factors of “roles”, “standards” and “style”, a culmination of the experiences, skills and values
that differentiate one from the others (Monarth, 2022). Regarding this, I believe, the ascertained
plans through the SMART Model can be reflected positively on my personal brand leading to an
effective career. For instance, enrolling in internship programs and taking up a part-time job in a
construction firm can provide me valuable real-life experience that I can further leverage to excel
in the field. Alongside this, effective time management through using tested techniques such as
“Time Blocking” and “Eisenhower Matrix” can equip me with better management of tasks at
hand and delegate them accordingly. Alongside, crucial actions such as “case study analysis” can
provide me a conceptual understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the market. Hence,
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adhering to the ascertained plan and addressing my shortcomings can enhance my PE and result
in a successful career as an Operational Manager in a construction firm.
Conclusion
The use of Gibbs Reflective Model in Task 1 has revealed my own skill sets in relation to the
group assignment I had participated in at my university. Effective communication and
proactiveness were determined as my major strengths while ineffective time-management skills
and lack of self-motivation were my major areas of shortcomings. Utilising techniques such as
the Pomodoro Technique and reading self-motivation books can be beneficial for me to address
these areas of concerns. The Covey’s self assessment test had revealed that my major strengths
lie in being proactive and ability to collaborate effectively with my peers. On the other hand, my
execution skills and lack of vision were the major weaknesses identified during the self-
assessment process. I need to address the areas of shortcomings determined in Task 2 so that it
does not reflect negatively on my career as Operational Manager in a reputable construction
firm. Contextually, in Task 3, a short-term plan using the SMART Model was developed to
address issues of time-management and lack of growth vision, as identified in the previous tasks.
Effective addressing of these areas of shortcomings can enhance my personal brand, reflecting
positively on my PE, enabling me to attain a successful career as an Operations Manager in the
construction industry.
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References
Adeani, I.S., Febriani, R.B. and Syafryadin, S., 2020. Using GIBBS’reflective cycle in making
reflections of literary analysis. Indonesian EFL Journal, 6(2), pp.139-148. Available through:
Google Scholar [Accessed 22 January 2025]
Agustian, K., Pohan, A., Zen, A., Wiwin, W. and Malik, A.J., 2023. Human resource
management strategies in achieving competitive advantage in business administration. Journal of
Contemporary Administration and Management (ADMAN), 1(2), pp.108-117. Available through:
Google Scholar [Accessed 22 January 2025]
Amazon, 2024. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Hardcover – October 16, 2018. [online] Available at:https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-
Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299 [Accessed 22 January 2025]
Amazon, 2024. GETTING THINGS DONE, (REVISED AND UPDATED) B FORMAT
Paperback – 22 April 2015. [online] Available at:https://www.amazon.in/GETTING-THINGS-
REVISED-UPDATED-FORMAT/dp/0349410151 [Accessed 25 January 2025]
Bandura, A., 2023. Cultivate self‐efficacy for personal and organizational effectiveness.
Principles of Organizational Behavior: The Handbook of Evidence‐Based Management 3rd
Edition, pp.113-135. Available through: Google Scholar [Accessed 25 January 2025]
Costales, J., Abellana, J., Gracia, J. and Devaraj, M., 2021, October. A learning assessment
applying Pomodoro technique as a productivity tool for online learning. In Proceedings of the
13th International Conference on Education Technology and Computers (pp. 164-167).
Available through: Google Scholar [Accessed 25 January 2025]
FranklinCovey, 2024. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People®. [online] Available
at:https://www.franklincovey.com/the-7-habits/ [Accessed 26 January 2025]
Ghanem, A.A.K. and Al–Rubaiayi, S.A.M., 2022. The Possibility Of Applying The Task Priority
Matrix (Applied Study In Baghdad Governorate). Journal of Positive School Psychology, 6(9),
pp.3289-3303. Available through: Google Scholar [Accessed 26 January 2025]
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Homes, 2023. Summary of: “7 habits of highly effective people” by Stephan R. Covey. [online]
Available at:https://medium.com/@lentorhomes/summary-of-7-habits-of-highly-effective-
people-by-stephan-r-covey-399969051927#:~:text=Covey's%20seven%20habits
%E2%80%94being%20proactive,their%20values%2C%20and%20build%20meaningful
[Accessed 24 January 2025]
Martin, F., Stamper, B. and Flowers, C., 2020. Examining Student Perception of Readiness for
Online Learning: Importance and Confidence. Online Learning, 24(2), pp.38-58. Available
through: Google Scholar [Accessed 23 January 2025]
Monarth, H., 2022. What’s the Point of a Personal Brand?. [online] Available
at:https://hbr.org/2022/02/whats-the-point-of-a-personal-brand [Accessed 23 January 2025]
Wolcott, M.D., McLaughlin, J.E., Hann, A., Miklavec, A., Beck Dallaghan, G.L., Rhoney, D.H.
and Zomorodi, M., 2021. A review to characterise and map the growth mindset theory in health
professions education. Medical Education, 55(4), pp.430-440. Available through: Google
Scholar [Accessed 25 January 2025]
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Appendices
Appendix 1: Franklin Covey Self-Assessment Questionnaire
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Appendix 2: Franklin Covey Self-Assessment Results
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