Self-Reflection on Skills, Attributes, and Capabilities Development - Coursework Example

Self-Reflection Name: Course: Tutor’s Name: 21/ 10/ 2009 Executive Summary In everyday life, people make plans and outline what they intend to do. This is also applicable in organizations where they can also be written or memorised. All this in an endeavor to realize dreams, live a fulfilling life and make an important contribution to the society. An example is where one cannot start a business without making a business plan. All these activities are in the form of goal, aims, missions, and values. Realisation of the above depends on a number of factors that includes a self searching process psychologically that enables one to identify his or her strengths and weaknesses and evaluate how they can assist in achieving these goals that is short-term and long-term. At times, it also becomes necessary to improve and develop these capabilities in order to match the short-term goals as well as long-term goals and missions. Certain elements however, can act as hindrances to achievement of goals when encountered. They are known as limitations and should be identified and prevented earlier. Introduction Basic capabilities of human beings are brought about by ability to lead healthy long lives, acquisition of knowledge, availability of resources that make a decent standard and ability to take part in a community life. Among these factors education curriculum provides a basis for realization and development of these capabilities. Setting and planning of goal commonly referred to as “goal work” facilitates long term vision and short term encouragement. It therefore focuses on one’s intentions, desires, how knowledge is acquired and assists in resource organization. A goal is achieved from a desire or an intention when the action for achieving it is activated. In this article, I am going to outline the qualities I have discovered about myself after inner evaluation and state how I intend to put them into constructive use to achieve goals, missions and values I have set both personally and professionally. Academic knowledge acquired will as well greatly influence my accomplishments. Self-Reflection on skills, attributes, and capabilities development Self-Reflection which can also be termed as introspection is the purposeful psychological process of consciously contemplating, analysing and reporting of inner thoughts, desires and feelings. Spiritually, it also involves examination of the soul (Boring 1953 p.169-189). It becomes crucial when one needs to discover certain skills, attributes, and capabilities about him. After thorough evaluation of myself, I discovered that I am detail-oriented in that I accord necessary attention to detail, efficient and organized, possess strong analytical and problem solving skills, ability to make well thought out decisions, knowledge in MYOB, Excel and Word and ability to quickly learn new software packages. In addition, I have persistence at given tasks, ability to meet deadlines, professionalism and courteous manner with clients at all times. Besides, I am able to communicate well with colleagues, supervisors and managers at all levels, work as part of a team as well as autonomously, in a busy, fast paced environment, and handle cash, accountably. Since human beings are limitless in their capabilities, they always have room to develop and improve them. This enables them to live fully potential and productive lives according to their needs and interests. In this sense, people can therefore live their valuable lives. Ability to expand choices and achieve this full potential is what results to a wealthy nation (UNDP 2009, par. 1). Statement of Personal and Professional Goals, Mission and Values Statement of goals is an important part of life. This is because the goals make one stretch, focus when you lose perspective, give a sense of direction and help one perform a thorough and a perfect job. Methodology on how to achieve these goals is what comes to mind as one state them. Mission statement on the other hand exhibits ones emotional commitment and passion (Wright and Wright 2009 chapter 2). Having identified my skills in various areas, and with the will to improve them, they can enable me to achieve particular plans and intentions, traits and worthwhile qualities and statement of purpose. My goals, missions and values, include; a commitment to Financial Services and Accounting with excellent customer service skills with which I have directed my vocational training to the area which I am dedicated to, desire to progress and expand my knowledge and experience in the Financial and Accounting Services in order to provide accurate and timely information as much as possible with due diligence and in good faith, be committed to a lifelong experience in the Financial and Accounting Industry become a responsible citizen to the public and to the government, interest in the Tax and Corporate Accounting field where in the future I can establish my own office or work in large organization, and eventually become a fully qualified accountant via CPA Australia’s development program. Achieving these goals requires focus, long term diligence, and effort. Possible Career and Study Directions and Pathways This begins in the early stages of ones life since it is the role of parents, guardians and educators to provide knowledge as a required tool in goal achievement. This is so because it is the responsibility if every parent to set long term goals for their children (Wright and Wright 2009 chap. 2) and this is achieved by provision of education. Since acquisition of knowledge determines the type of choices one makes regarding career goals with regards to the capabilities involved, I have therefore undertaken the following courses that will enable me achieve the same. In Education, I have obtained a Certificate III in Financial Services (Accounts Clerical) at Kangan Batman TAFE between 24/07/2006 - 24/11/2006. Certificate IV in Financial Services (Accounts Clerical) at Kangan Batman TAFE between 12/02/2007 - 29/06/2007. Diploma of Accounting at Kangan Batman TAFE between 23/07/2007 - 23/11/2007. Advanced Diploma of Accounting at Kangan Batman TAFE between 11/02/2008 - 13/06/2008 and currently, I am pursuing a Bachelor of Business Accounting at Victoria University from 28/07/2008. In addition to this I intend to better my skills and expand my scope of knowledge by obtaining further qualification, which includes a plan to complete a CPA (Certified Practicing Accountant) Australia Program which is a professional accounting body. A CPA can be defined as a finance, accounting and business professional with a particular qualification. The member must meet the following qualifications in order to use the stated CPA designation: an undergraduate degree accredited by CPA Australia to have completed the CPA Program, an all-inclusive postgraduate professional study program three years completion of mentored or supervised experience in accounting, businessor finance undertake continuing professional development each year show continued adherence to a strict code of conduct set by CPA Australia Personal and Professional Development Plan Strategies A strategy is a plan of action designed to achieve a certain objective (Oxford English Dictionary 1989) in relation to how I have arrange to accomplish my goals and mission I have come up with the following strategy. They therefore act as a roadmap to help anticipate obstacles and problems (Wright and Wright 2009 chap. 2). After completion of my university education, I intend to find entry level work to get my foot in the door of accounting industry such as a graduate development program. At the same time I will become a member to CPA Australia to continuously improve my skills and knowledge in the accounting industry. Structured Timeline (short term and long term) According to Wright and Wright, (2009 chap. 2) time frames state actions that need to be completed and when. Short-term goals are single, simple tasks and are normally defined in relation to a long term goal or goals which are a set of short term goals wound together to produce a complex combination. Though majorly, they focus on what is expected to be accomplished in a short period of time. At most times, there is no clear cut boundary of the time that defines whether a goal is long term or short term. Both my short and long term goals are outlined in the table 1 below: Duration Activity 1-4 Years I intend to take on the CPA Australia’s Program where I will be mentored for 3 years by a professional accountant to become a fully qualified accountant. My aim is to become well experienced in the Tax and Corporate Accounting field. 4-10 Years Fully utilize my skills and knowledge gained as a qualified accountant working under a firm or large organization. 10+ Years Self assess my position as to whether I can open my own office or firm and become independent or to continue working under a large firm or organization. Table 1 Limitations & Monitoring Despite the goals, mission and values being properly set a number of factors can act as stumbling blocks. They form the basic structure in achievement of goals and if not accessible may result in failure. They result in goals getting off trails (Ritchie 2009, par.3) and consequently, work contrary to plans regardless of ones determination and control. Whenever possible these factors should be realized in advance and ways to curb them put in place. Some of these conditions include financial incapability which may hinder one from acquisition of the recommended knowledge and as is in my situation lack of employment can become a great barrier in gaining the amount of experience I need to set up my own office. One way in which limitations can be prevented or avoided is by monitoring of goals. As listed by McGraw (2003 par.3), the following steps can be taken to monitor ones goals and avoid limitations: one should get information through observation and research about the criteria for excellence in the area for which you have goals for example in my case it is financial excellence in accounting and time management, observe experienced professionals who have succeeded in the same field and use them as role models, set performance targets, record exact feedback, develop, vary and adjust plans to help create the results you want and establish measurable and achievable targets. Analysis of skills and competences is necessary to identify those that need to be improved. Conclusion In conclusion, therefore, professionally success in one individual’s career entails a consistent and constant mental as well as physical engagement. This for that reason, signals that there are bound to be a lot of challenges that one may face and this calls for strategies on how to go about the same. To start with, success not only calls for an individual’s effort but also a collective participation of their parents or guardians, who should make a well informed guidance on the prospective careers. This is because at an early age one is unable to make well informed decisions on their future careers. Hence, their parents or guardians are in a position to analyse their interest and the market demands. This is an effort to make sure that after pursuing a career one ends up employed. Besides, parents and guardians, other stakeholders in this endeavour, are teachers whom may help one to be on the right path of professionalism. They can do this by discerning various abilities that one has and try as much a possible to nurture them, not forgetting various weaknesses that one may have. They are in a position to help one improve in these weaknesses. With regards to this, I have been able to get the required knowledge and information to enable me set plans and aims assess my capabilities and improve on them and also to set long term and short term goals. With this, I will have achieved both personally and professional. In order to achieve success in the long term, it has to begin with achievement of plan set within a short period of time. Therefore, this clearly indicates that a step-by-step process is involved and requires emotional control. References Boring E G1953, A History of Introspection. Psychological Bulletin 50 (3: p.169-189). McGraw-Hill Higher Education 2003, Setting and monitoring goals, accessed on 21st October, 2009 from highered . mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0078, par. 3. Oxford English Dictionary1989, Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, (2nd ed.) Ritchie Paul March 30th from crossderry.wordpress.com/2009/03/20 Par.3. UNDP 2009, Human Developments- Human Developments reports, accessed on 21st October, 2009 from http://hdr.undp.org/en/humandev./),par. 1. Wright Peter D. W. and Wright Pamela Darr 2009, From Emotions to Advocacy (2nd ed.) Michigan, Harbor House Law Press, Chap. 2. Read More