As1 Individual Reflection Report Sample
Introduction
It is a well known fact that in order to accomplish any task, it requires the collective effort of the members of a group or team. The team members must ensure that each one of them completes the task allotted to them in a proper manner, within the stipulated time frame. The major problem while working as a team to complete a project is miscommunication. Apart from miscommunication, the other problems include low engagement of the team members and not having a clear and a simple view of the task that the project demands (Mitchell et al. 2021).
Low engagement among the team members hampered the flow of the tasks. The students were found to lack commitment and dedication while executing task that were assigned to them. From what I have observed that the reason for having the lack of commitment and dedication is due to the fact that they were they were not motivated enough. It was important to make them understand the purpose behind undertaking the project. I believe that every individual must find a purpose behind any job. This report will analyse one issue that is related to teamwork and group dynamics that has been encountered during the first four weeks of group formation for the project.
Gibbs reflective model
Description
The major issue that I have identified among the team members is that they lack commitment and dedication, which resulted in the students to not become actively engaged while working in the team. The teachers and the mentors did not develop a close bonding with the students, as a result the student did not find any enthusiasm in doing any work apart from that is included in their education. During difficult phases, the students usually did not get the assistance of the teachers. This aspect made the students to get demotivated. This made the students to lack the energy for doing the work. While gathering information about the plot of land that will be used for the construction of the new premises, I found that my team members were in a hurry to return to their dormitories as soon as possible. They had no intention to execute the work in a proper manner. When we visited the plot to check whether it can be used for the construction, I found that my team members do not have the necessary information that is required to check the credibility of the plot, like the knowledge to require gathering information about quality of soil and the exact area required for the construction of the building. The above mentioned activities are the result of low engagement among the students. In other words, it seems that they are being compelled to do the task against their own wishes. I believe that the feeling of commitment only develops if an individual or a team works passionately towards achieving the objectives and the goals.
A leader needs to have a very cool and composed temperament to deal with the team members when the member performs poorly (Bastian et al. 2020). The most important attribute of a leader is that he or she must have excellent leadership qualities and skills to have a commanding presence among his team members. The managers must possess excellent communication skills to make the members understand the exact needs and demands of the managers (Baran and Sypniewska, 2020). A good manager is someone who will develop a close personal bond with his members.
Feeling
I had the opportunity to attend sessions and workshops where I had the privilege to discuss the issues and the methods that I have applied to mitigate the issues. Initially, I was anxious about working as a team. As time progressed, I started feeling good and also started to take the difficulties as a challenge. I was eager to face challenges while working in the project. The team, in which I was involved, consists of students of different mindset. It was not easy for me to get along with my teammates as everyone barring one belonged to different departments and none except one guy was my batch mates. I was not even familiar with the mentor. This created a sense of isolation among the team members. The teacher had a very professional behavior’s and often got irritated by the questions asked by the some of the students. Many students did not take the task very seriously; as a result, there was only one way communication between the students and the mentors, as it seemed that many of the students were only physically present inside the classroom, and their mind was somewhere else. In other words, they were very inattentive. When the task commenced, I observed that many students were reluctant to be present in the field. Many of them had no idea about the task, which created a sense of low engagement within the team.
I had the job of preparing the report of the soil test along with another team member who belonged to the Department of Journalism and Mass communication of third year. Initially, I had the trouble to develop a close bond with him, as he seemed introvert and shy. He also had the tendency to speak only when required. The only positive aspect that I found in him is that he was eager to execute the task, with time; I had managed to befriend him and conduct the necessary procedures required to prepare the report of the soil test. The specialist audience asked many questions regarding the issues that I had to encounter while doing the project as a team. My answers were clear and simple. I was successful in demonstrating my views to the specialist and the non specialist audiences as well. It is not easy for the team members to work with each other until and unless they develop an understanding and a bonding with each other. I also learned to work under pressure.
Evaluation
On becoming the project lead or head of a successful organisation or institution the project heads are exposed to media coverage, which might distract them and hamper their decision-making. Media houses are always looking for the opportunity to create sensational news even from minor issues. A good project head must not get distracted by events that are not related to the improvement of the team (Baran and Sypniewska, 2020). Man-management is one of the most important aspects of project management. It is important for a project head to know his other team members very well. I felt that the teacher or the mentor, who was in charge of our team, would develop a strong bond with the team members if he took time to know each member individually before the commencement of the project. Just like in the organisations, I felt that the mentor, like the leaders in the organisations would have adopted an approach to create a strong bond between the team members. It was important for the team members to know the strengths and the weaknesses of each other. The mentor must also be thorough with the strengths and the weaknesses of his team members (Noguera et al. 2018). Apart from all the attributes mentioned above, it is important for the managers to make the team members understand the tactics and the strategies required to be implemented by them on the field to win the match. The project managers must make the right application of the tactics and strategies in order to have a positive outcome (Saltz and Heckman, 2020).
This theory suggests that the major challenge faced by the team of University of Northampton is to cope with the problem of low engagement among the team members. Among them, the most important factor that is identified is that the University of Northampton is having issues to bring in appropriate changes in their methods and systems, as per the demands of the project. The manner of handling the project activities in a responsive and flexible manner must be adopted by the university in order to obtain the best results. This theory suggests that the low engagement demoralises the whole team.
Figure 1: Kahn’s Engagement theory
(Source: Baran and Sypniewska, 2020)
Analysis
I have analysed that every institution has gone through a difficult phase. Many institutions across the world were once on the verge of shutting down due to ineffective decision-making (Kramskyіet al. 2020). In my view, many students of giant and prestigious institutions lost their jobs during this period. The institution was facing difficulties to maintain the budget in the market. The Belbin’s Team Role Theory suggested that each member of the team behaves in a particular manner. If I were the project manger of any company, then I would have adopted a participative leadership approach, where I would have enabled the team members to know each other, to increase the efficiency. I would develop personal relationship with my team members, so that they will be entitled to share their problems with me. To my team members, I would act as their teammates rather than a boss. This would enable them to show me the respect that I deserve, as well as get along with me in friendly manner.
Figure 2: Belbin’s Team Role theories
Source: (Dotnetsharing.wordpress.com, 2022)
Conclusion
I have established that if I can have multiple roles or more than one ‘natural role’, then it can be easy to switch between them if I choose, and this will be helpful to gather the useful knowledge if I ever require to switch my job roles. Execution of any project demands that teams work collectively. It is not easy for leaders to manage their team until and unless they develop a strong bond with their team members. It is important for the project head or the team leaders to understand the weakness and strengths of the team members.
Action plan
- During the initial stages of the project, I felt that that it was essential for the team members to know each other.
- I felt that the mentors must have conducted one on one session with each teammate before the commencement of the project. This would have enabled the team members to know each other and also to develop a strong bond with the mentor.
- The team members belonged from different departments of the university. This led to the difficulty in knowing each other.
- I felt that the team members were chosen correctly for the purpose of this job, but it would have been better if we were given the opportunity to know and each other at least prior to the start of the project.
Conclusion
From this study, it can be concluded that it is not easy for leaders to manage their team until and unless they develop a strong bond with their team members. It is important for the project head or the team leaders to understand the weakness and strengths of the team members. A leader needs to have a very cool and composed temperament to deal with the team members when the member performs poorly.
References
Bastian, L.A., Cohen, S.P., Katsovich, L., Becker, W.C., Brummett, B.R., Burgess, D.J., Crunkhorn, A.E., Denneson, L.M., Frank, J.W., Goertz, C. and Ilfeld, B., 2020. Stakeholder engagement in pragmatic clinical trials: emphasizing relationships to improve pain management delivery and outcomes. Pain Medicine, 21(Supplement_2), pp.S13-S20.
Crawford, M., 2018. Personal engagement, emotion and the educational workplace. Journal of professional capital and community.
Kramskyі, S., Danchuk, V., Alkema, V., Sevostianova, A. and Bakulich, O., 2020. Wheel working system in a team: relationship between different personnel in a marine project. Financial and credit activity: problems of theory and practice, 4(35), pp.277-286.
Mitchell, E.S., Yang, Q., Behr, H., Ho, A., DeLuca, L., May, C.N. and Michaelides, A., 2021. Psychosocial characteristics by weight loss and engagement in a digital intervention supporting self-management of weight. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), p.1712.
Nguyen, M. and Nguyen, V., 2022. Learn Belbin Team Roles through Reflection. [online] {Dotnet}.Share(knowledge). Available at: <https://dotnetsharing.wordpress.com/2017/09/19/learn-belbin-team-roles-through-reflection/> [Accessed 14 March 2022].
Noguera, I., Guerrero-Roldán, A.E. and Masó, R., 2018. Collaborative agile learning in online environments: Strategies for improving team regulation and project management. Computers & Education, 116, pp.110-129.
Saltz, J. and Heckman, R., 2020. Using Structured Pair Activities in a Distributed Online Breakout Room. Online Learning, 24(1), pp.227-244.
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