Emotional intelligence and character strengths
In this work, I want to identify and analyze my strengths and how I use these strengths in my life, at work and at school to enhance my leadership abilities. Essentially, my top strength is my judgment, critical thinking and open-mindedness. In essence, critical thinking means that I can analyze issues at hand before initiating any decision or formation of conclusion. Significantly, I can use the [process of decision making appropriately. This fact is characterized by the fact that I am able [to take time to think iss0uesc over before making any conclusions.
Arguably, decision making is a fundamental process that requires that one analyzes all possible options before taking one option. –in essence, the most important part about this strength is that it helps me as a leader to be able to think critically and to come up with strategies that are likely to work, especially, when coming up with the plans on how to implement projects at work. On the other hand, open-mindedness is crucial as it helps me to avoid instances where I become rigid. Being able to listen to ideas from different people and to review the available evidence is an indication of open-mindedness. Pa4rticularly at work, I can research and analyze different approaches to various assignment through seeking ideas from other workmates before picking the best suggestion. While this process could be seen as tedious and time-wasting, it is critical in avoiding setbacks that emerge as a result of the implementation of the wrong strategies. This strength being my top strength has been crucial in helping me to be solution-specific by focusing on the process of conscious planning, weighing options before implementation. This particular strength has enabled me to enhance my ability to minimize losses at work and to improve performance.
Additionally, in school life, I use critical thinking and judgement in my master’s course to choose projects that help to bring out my skills best. In essence, picking any topic for projects could be disastrous in some cases as it is likely to result in weak projects that may not bring out the knowledge acquired as required. Th0erefore, I use this strength in all aspects of decision making. Further, the choice of group members at school is also dependent on this strength which ensures I select a group that is supportive and members who have qualities and skills that I lack. Critically thinking, such a group is likely to help me grow more by using abilities in them that I do not have to improve my skills.
Mainly, in my personal life, I use this kind of judgement to analyze my8 actions while around other people. These actions include avoiding doing things that could anger people around me to get the best out of social relationships. While it is impossible to satisfy the needs of others, it is easier to manage one’s behaviour and to determine whether relationships are productive or not. Arguably, open-mindedness, in this case, allows me to view everyone in my environment as being equal before finding out more about them through social interactions before forming conclusions about their capabilities. This strength is also crucial in understanding that people are different, and hence different approaches should be used when dealing with different people.
Curiosity and interest in the world is another strength that I possess. In essence, this strength involves the constant desire to find out more about things. Significantly, this strength enhances my ability to learn more words each day. For instance, in my school life, curiosity enhances my ability to learn new approaches to various topics and academic problems. This fact enables me to be self-driven in the process of learning. Critically, as a result of this interest, I can discover and be ahead of my class and m[y professor.
Additionally, this strength has been very significant in my personal life, as well. For instance, curiosity helps me to manage stress. For example, as a result of wanting to discover more about nature, I find myself travelling to various destinations to experience different sceneries. As a result, this activity has turned out to be an efficient way of unwinding.
Additionally, due to curiosity and interest, I have been able to discover various talents as well as to improve on skills that I already knew I possess earlier.
On the other hand, my third strength is appreciating beauty and excellence. The ability to recognize skilled performance, for instance, is the first step to learning or improving one’s performance. This strength has helped me to attach value to the development of skills and perfection of such powers. Without this strength, I would not strive to be at the top of my class in school. Mainly, it is a source of inspiration to keep improving my abilities. Additionally, appreciating the beauty of nature is evident in my constant endeavours in the conservation and protection of the environment.
I love activities such as tree planting and engaging in activities such as keeping a clean environment. Without a doubt, these activities are beneficial not only to me but also to society. This fact shows that this strength has enhanced my productivity in more than one ways. I have mainly been involved in ensuring the development of talent among staff members who I supervise. As their supervisor, I give incentives such as hours off to those who show a high level of performance. This is a way to recognize and appreciate not only their commitment but also their talent. This move has ensured that most of them strive to improve in their delivery of services. This way, I have utilized this strength to affect positively the performance and talent of those that I supervise.
Further, the fourth strength is hope, optimism and future mindedness. In essence, this strength includes the belief that the future is not a far off thing but one that can be achieved. This strength means that I have a positive approach to life. I can believe in myself, and hence, this belief in self has continued me to push against all the odds to succeed. Additionally, I see goals as achievable objectives which is crucial as it has on various occasions, helped me to remain focused in life. This fact means that I am goal-oriented, and that makes it easier for me to achieve multiple successes in my life. This fact does not mean that this strength has made it any easier for me to achieve goals. Instead, the strength has, on various occasions, enhanced my determination to succeed.
In my school life, this strength has been useful in ensuring that I remained focused on completing my master’s course amidst challenges. These challenges include financial strain, lack of enough time for projects and the pressure from my workplace. With the hope for a better future and my graduation despite the challenges, I remain on course.
Further, this strength is evident in my workplace. The optimism that I stand the chance of being promoted is what has kept me working in the same department for more than three years. Mainly, my performance at work could be related to this strength as I maintain my commitment and discipline with the hope of promotion. Additionally, it is essential to ensure that one is motivated enough to keep performing. In this sense, this strength is the source of motivation as I keep working on my delivery in the hope that the management will recognize, abilities and services and reward me.
Additionally, this strength is significant in inspiring those that I lead as a supervisor. Though this hope and optimism are not necessarily expressed in words, it is visible through my actions. When the group that I supervise sees my determination to deliver my best in the hope of a better reward, they are likely to emulate this optimism. Therefore, through this strength, I can lead my group at work by inspiring them. In essence, it is easy for the actions and beliefs of a leader to affect the performance of those under them to improve their performance and remain committed.
My fifth strength is teamwork and loyally. Significantly, this ability involves the ability to be a team player and to be productive in groups through incorporation. Mainly, I am a team player, especially at work. This is evident in my involvement in project implementation teams that are tasked with the responsibility to research on possible strategies and developing a project plan to its implementation. Being in these teams is a preserve for employees that are considered to be committed a productive.
Significantly, being a supervisor requires that I apply this strength to be able to get results. Virtually, working as an individual eliminates the possibility of achieving the goals as a group.
Arguably, this strength is also useful in my school life. The reason is because I consistently participate in group work discussions and study groups. This involvement ensures the sharing of information among the group members. In essence, this strength is crucial as it instils pride and a sense of belonging mainly at work. This pride is what breeds loyalty and commitment since I own the projects of the company and work as if they are mine which is becoming a specific duty to perform well as well as a collective responsibility. Personally, this particular strength is crucial in ensuring that I behave in a manner that is beneficial to my country and my community. This need to maintain the norms and standards of my society and country ens5ures the development of qualities such as loyalty which involves considering other members and the reputation of the community before myself. This strength through the installation of these qualities helps me to avoid involvement in vices such as crime and violence, which hurt others. Apart from avoiding causing harm to others, this citizenship and loyalty protect me from damage that could result from such vices.
Strengths to build on
Essentially, the most critical and first strength that I need to build on is judgment, critical thinking and open-mindedness. Unusually, despite this being one area that is good at, I need to engage more in this strength. There is a need to make sure that I am well capable of making the right decisions in all situations. Specifically, to build on this strength, I must ensure that I can manage my emotions to ensure that they do not hinder the ability to make the right decisions. For instance, even when angry, I should be able to think critically without my emotions affecting how I reason or the judgments I make.
Significantly, to learn more efficiently and faster, I need to build on my curiosity and interestedness. This strength if developed more, could be very crucial in ensuring that I make the best out of my environment. It is essential to realize that every interaction with the environment is an opportunity to learn. This strength can be enhanced by identifying interesting phenomena and social aspects with the environment and studying them. Additionally, this strength could be used to disapprove specific theories through engaging more in activities that relate to the approach to understand areas about the theory that are controversial. Through continued interactions, this strength will develop.
Obstacle to manage.
Significantly, I need to manage distraction that is often caused by my procrastinating behavior. Despite being optimistic and determined, I often procrastinate which has continued to hinder me from achieving most goals in time. This obstacle is mostly evident in my school life and at work where I postpone important work to a later time which may cause lateness or failure.
Additionally, I am easily distracted by other needs for instance the need to eat may easily cause the disorganization of my plans. Specifically, to achieve this goal I must create a schedule for daily routine to ensure that breaks are productive and not destructive. On the other hand, even though critical thinking and open mindedness is a strength, there is need to avoid over reliance on other people’s opinion. The reason is because one needs the ability to make independent decisions even through critical thinking.
Integration of leadership theories and practice
While I might have more strengths than weaknesses and strengths that are crucial in my social and educational interactions, I still have a lot of areas to improve on. These strengths could be built on to make sure that the development of more skills takes place. The important skills in this case include leadership skills. As a leader, one must be able to incorporate all members of their groups in decision making. This skill of leadership ensures that members or employees feel a sense of belonging buy owning up the decisions and policies made by the company. In essence, this scenario is achieved through inclusion and open mindedness. Particularly, having an open mind enables a leader to treat employees fairly by allowing all to have an opinion. Further, all views by the group members are valid and therefore, the leader should cultivate the freedom to express oneself to allow critical thinking among group members.
Further, it is right to say that no traits completely link an individual to leadership. Instead, it is the conditions that are present at a particular time cause one to show leadership. This fact explains that leadership does not necessarily have to be indicated by the position at work for instance supervisory role. Those being led can also show leadership among their peers. Therefore, this fact emphasizes the need to develop personal ability to make correc9t judg9ments and to build the same in those that one is leading. This ability can be developed by allowing all to participate in decision making.
On the other hand, motivating members of groups such as employing is a good strategy to make them part of the vision. This fact means that to enhance commitment to the company’s agenda there is need for them to feel appreciated. Therefore, the leaders must ensure that there is recognition a rewarding of good performance. There must be the existence of returns which may be seen through incentives to show appreciation. In essence, I need to ensure that I improve on these strengths to be able to lead those under me and also to develop myself financially as well as socially.