Self-Reflection Activities

Self-Reflection Activities

Probably the most important skill for today's rapidly changing workforce is skills in self-reflection. The highly motivated, self-directed learner with skills in self-reflection can approach the workplace as a continual classroom from which to learn.

—Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC

Objectives: By engaging in self-reflective activities, you will:

Identify your strengths and limitations in specific environments
Begin to understand how your individual personality, learning, and behavioral characteristics influence your interactions with others.
Increase your self-awareness in order to maximize your individual effectiveness

Approach: In the following pages, you will find several self-reflection activities that you are required to complete. You will utilize the results to create your Leadership Learning Plan. You are encouraged to find meaning from the results of these activities including trends and patterns, strengths, areas of growth, core motivators/drivers, etc.

List of Self-Reflection Activities

The activities listed below are explained in detail in the following pages.

Reflected Best Self Exercise:

The Achievement Tool...... 3

Personal Inventory...... 4

Leadership Assessment...... 5

The Question of Leadership...... 6

Discovering Your ‘Why It Matters’...... 7

My Values...... 11

Philosophical Orientation Questionnaire...... 14

Completing a Life Inventory...... 22

Reflected Best Self Exercise:

Please follow the instructions that were emailed to you to complete this exercise.

All of us can recall our own extraordinary moments, those moments when we felt that our best self was brought to light, affirmed by others and put into practice in the world. These memories are seared into our minds as moments or situations in which we have felt alive, true to our deepest selves and pursuing our full potential as human beings. Over time, we collect these experiences into a portrait of who we are when we are at our personal best. To help compose a best-self-portrait, it is important to draw on the perceptions of significant others who have unique and valuable insights into the ways we add value and make a contribution. The Reflected Best Self (RBS) exercise creates an opportunity for you to receive feedback regarding who you are when you are at your best.

In this exercise, you will obtain data from other people to create a more extensive reflected best-self-portrait. You will obtain short descriptions of who you are and what you do when you are at your very best from a diverse array of significant people in your life. From this feedback, you will learn important things about yourself that you may have never realized before.

The goal of this feedback exercise is five-fold:

To generate awareness of how others see you when you are at your best

To enhance understanding about what kinds of work situations bring out the best in you

To create personal and career development plans and actions, based upon the reflections that your reflected best-self feedback generates

To provide a tool for future times when you may be discouraged and need to get back on track

To assess the individual strengths that exist within your learning groups.

Developed by Robert E. Quinn, Jane E. Dutton, and Gretchen M. Spreitzer

The Achievement Tool

This tool has three main purposes:

To record, inquire into and celebrate an achievement
To gather rich information about yourself that will help you develop your Leadership Learning Plan
To identify what helps you to be at your best

How It Works

The tool is inspired by ideas from ‘Appreciative Inquiry’ which suggests that if we can inquire into, learn and understand what helps us be at our best, do our best work and be most successful, then we can do what is necessary to re-create these conditions more often, and that we will find more and more of what we are looking for: If we focus on all of our deficiencies, we will find ever more of them, if we search for all of our strengths, gifts and achievements, we will find ever more of these too.

Steps

Please use the following link:

Under Resource Files, click on “Achievement Tool (doc)”

Complete the first page of the document. (Instructions are on the following pages of the document.)

Personal Inventory

I want to be ______in five years.

My biggest strength at work is ______.

My supervisor says ______about the way I do my job.

I am willing to commit______hours per week to my job.

I am willing to commit to ______hours per month to my growth and development.

This really makes me happy (at work):

My biggest stress comes from______.

My biggest stumbling block is ______.

I come to work because:

Success looks like this to me:

Leadership Assessment

What kind of leader am I? Describe in detail:

I was proud of my leadership in this situation. Describe why

Within the last week:

Within the last month:

A situation where my leadership abilities fell short. Describe why:

Someone I think is an exceptional leader. Describe why:

5. Three areas in which I would like to improve my leadership abilities:

The Question of Leadership

Adapted from The W.K. Kellogg Grassroots Leadership Development Workbook for Aspiring or Current Grassroots Leaders. The full workbook can be downloaded for free at:

How does your unit/department define its leaders?

What are their titles and roles?

Does this approach work? Is there anything you’d like to change about how leaders carry out their responsibilities—or how they are viewed? (both from an internal and external perspective)

How often is there a “changing of the guard” within the ranks of leadership in your unit/department? Is there a plan for encouraging new leadership and for recognizing the contributions of long-time leaders?

Are you clear about the purpose of your unit/department? What is it?

How do you see yourself contributing to this purpose?

Are you able to make a connection between what you want to learn to be a more effective leader and what Penn State needs to continue its growth?

Have you made a decision to think of yourself as a leader? Why or why not?

Discovering Your ‘Why It Matters’

A Story About Motivation
A manager wanted to see how his workers felt about their jobs. He went to his building site to take an informal poll.
He approached the first worker and asked, “What are you doing?” – “What, are you blind?” the worker snapped back. “I’m cutting these boulders with primitive tools and putting them together the way the boss tells me. I’m sweating under this blazing sun, it’s back breaking work, and it’s boring me to death.”
The executive quickly backed off and went looking for another worker. “What are you doing?” he asked, “I’m shaping these boulders into different forms, which are then assembled according to the architect’s plan. It’s hard work and it sometimes gets repetitive, but I earn a good wage and that supports my family. It’s a job. Could be worse.”
Somewhat encouraged, he went to a third worker. “What are you doing?” he asked, “Why, can’t you see?” Beamed the worker as he lifted his arms to the sky. “I’m building a cathedral! I can imagine the steps over there, filled with throngs of people hurrying inside for a wedding. I can hear the bells ringing out on Sunday morning. I can almost see the way the morning sun will shine through stained glass, creating beautiful patterns. What a great job.”
You see three different people, all doing the same job, had three totally different ways of looking at it.

The first worker focuses on what he is doing—breaking stones. He’s not at all happy with his job, and he’s probably not happy with his life.

The second worker appreciates why he’s doing his job—it’s part of a plan, and he’s happy to be making a living. He seems more content doing exactly the same job.

The third worker has a mission and a vision. This worker’s ‘why it matters’ is to elevate the human spirit—he sees a bigger picture. His ‘why it matters’ allows him to approach work, and life, with joy and passion. He looks way past the construction and the building; he is looking at what the experience is for the people who will enter. He is thinking about the choir loft, the weddings that will take place and the stained glass with the sun shining through. That’s ‘why it matters,’ and this worker is truly inspired.

Understanding Your ‘Why It Matters’

Your ‘why it matters’ is about motivation. It is:

The ultimate motivator at the core of who you are—it helps to explain why you do what you do
The one thing in your life that is so ingrained that it drives almost everything you do
Your internal engine that drives your actions and interactions
Always on and never off
Evident in your actions and words around

Your ‘why it matters’ explains why you do what you do. Another way to look at it: What would you tell your children they need to do to “conquer the world?” Many times you will consistently use that word or phrase in your communications. To help you discover your ‘why it matters,’ consider what you seek in your work and in your relationships as well as words and phrases that you tend to use often.

Trigger Questions to Help you Discover Your ‘Why It Matters’

What is the driving force that flips your switch and energizes you day in and day out?

Why do you get up and do what you do every day?

What makes you tick every day?

What needs to happen each day for you to say “This was a great day”?

What are the three most important messages that you would want to leave as a legacy to your children—your advice for what they need to do to conquer the world?

If you were to give advice to a young person in just five words, what would you say?

What has been repeatedly ingrained in you throughout your childhood?

What motivates and energizes you most?

What are your passions?

What do you like most about your job?

What do you automatically do without even thinking about it?

What is your true north—your guiding star?

What do you offer the world, personally and professionally?

If you ran your own business, what would it be known for?

What are you determined to do, no matter what?

What would you continue to strive to do even in the face of limited resources, personal disabilities, and formidable obstacles?

If you won the lottery and no longer needed to work, what would you do with your time?

Exercise to Help You Identify ‘Your Why It Matters’

Fast forward several years and assume that you attending your retirement celebration. You have realized all of your career goals, and you have enjoyed a very fulfilling and successful life. Write a 5-7 sentence speech that is being delivered by your best friend and closest confidante to describe what drove and inspired you to achieve such great heights throughout your entire career. As you look at the paragraph that you've written, use a phrase to summarize your 'why it matters'—the ultimate motivator that lies at the core of who you are.

My Values

The objective of this exercise is to help you clarify your values, or beliefs. Since our values and beliefs change from time to time, after reflection or certain events, it is useful to review and consider our values and beliefs regularly. This exercise is adapted from numerous instruments used to assess one’s values based on the ideas of Milton Rokeach, described in The Nature of Human Values, New York: Free Press, 1973.

On the next page is a list of 49 values, beliefs, or personal characteristics for your consideration. The following steps should help you identify which are most important to you as guiding principles in your life. You might find it useful to determine degrees of importance by considering whether you would be upset or elated if your present state or condition in life regarding a particular value would be significantly reduced or increased. Sometimes, you might find it helpful to consider two values at a time, asking yourself about the relative importance of one over the other.

Whatever technique or method you use:

First, please identify the fifteen or so values that are most important to you, and mark them with an asterisk or circle them

Second, from this list of fifteen or so, identify the ten that are the most important to you and write them on the lines in the space provided

Third, from this list of ten, identify the five that are the most important to you

Fourth, rank each of the five from “1” being the most important value to you to “5” being the least important of these five important values

If you would find it helpful, you may want to rank the next five values (i.e., the “other five” from the list generated in the third step above).

List of Values, Beliefs, or Desirable Personal Characteristics

ACHIEVEMENT(a sense of accomplishment, success, or contribution)

AMBITIOUS(aspiring to promotion or progress within career)

ADVENTURE(new and challenging experiences)

AFFECTION(love, caring)

BEAUTY(aesthetics in nature, art, or life)

BROAD MINDED(open-minded)

CHEERFUL(joyful)

CLEAN(tidy, sanitary)

COMPETENT(capable, effective)

COMPETITIVENESS(winning, taking risks)

COMFORTABLE LIFE(prosperous or easy life)

COOPERATION(working well with others, teamwork)

COURAGEOUS(standing up for beliefs)

CREATIVITY(being imaginative, innovative)

DISCIPLINED(self-controlled, restrained)

ECONOMIC SECURITY(steady, adequate income)

EQUALITY(egalitarianism in life, equal opportunity for all)

EXCITING LIFE(a stimulating or challenging life)

FAME(being famous, well known)

FAMILY HAPPINESS(nuclear and/or extended family that is happy)

FAMILY SECURITY(nuclear and/or extended family that is safe)

FORGIVING(willing to forget a judgment of others)

FREEDOM(independence, autonomy, free choice, self-reliant)

FRIENDSHIP(close relationships, companionship)

HAPPINESS(contentedness)

HEALTH(being physically and mentally well)

HELPFULNESS(assisting others, improving society)

INNER HARMONY(being at peace with yourself)

INTEGRITY(honesty, sincerity, genuineness)

INVOLVEMENT(participating with others, belonging)

INTELLECTUAL(conceptual, abstract, or symbolic)

LOGICAL(rational)

LOVING(affectionate, tender)

LOYALTY(duty, respectfulness, obedience)

MATURE LOVE(intimacy)

NATIONAL SECURITY(protection from attack)

ORDER(tranquility, stability, conformity)

PEACE(a world at peace, without war or conflict)

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT(personal growth)

PLEASURE(fun, laughs, an enjoyable, leisurely life-style)

POLITE(courteous, well-mannered)

POWER(control, authority, influence over others)

RECOGNITION(social recognition, respect from others, status)

RELIGION(strong religious beliefs)

RESPONSIBLE(dependable, reliable)

SALVATION(eternal peace)

SELF-RESPECT(self-esteem, pride, sense of personal identity)

WEALTH(making money, getting rich)

WISDOM(understanding life, discovering knowledge)

My Ten Most Important Values:

10.

My Five Most Important Values:

Most Important Value Rank #1

Next Most Important Value Rank #2

Next Most Important Value Rank #3

Next Most Important Value Rank #4

Next Most Important Value Rank #5

Philosophical OrientationQuestionnaire

Answer the following questions by indicating your current preference in terms of

ranking the choices for each item. The option ranked "1" should be your first choice; the option ranked "2" should be your second choice; and the option ranked "3" should be your last choice. Although it is sometimes difficult to determine a preference, please

indicate your ranking in terms of the order that best reflects your preferences. Some of

the choices have multiple parts, separated by "OR". For each such item, select the

most important part (i.e., the segment separated by an OR you most like), underline it, and assign the rank for that item (i.e., the rank reflecting your preference for the part

underlined while disregarding other parts of the item).

1. I think of my value, or worth, in terms of:

(a) My relationships (e.g., family, friends)

(b) My ideas OR ability to invent new concepts OR ability to analyze things

2. I feel most proud of organizations to which I belong when they:

(a) Have created new products/services

(b) Create financial worth for individuals (regardless of the people being

employees, investors, or partners) OR create jobs

3. When someone asks me to commit to spending time on a project, I ask myself:

(a) What can I learn from doing it?

(b) Will it help someone, or is someone counting on me to do it?

4. Sometimes I will do something for no other reason than because:

(a) I want to figure out why something works the way it does

(b) It has to be done in order to do something else OR get something I want

care about

5. The way I can best contribute to others' lives is to:

(a) Help them find jobs OR develop financial security and independence