Support Team - Reflection 2: My Barriers of Communications

For my second reflection, the questions posed by our lecturer are not easy to tackle. They are:

1) What are your barriers of communications?
2) What could you do to overcome them?

To find your own weaknesses might be challenging. So I asked people what they think of me, and try to link it to communications.

I was told that I appear to be arrogant, unapproachable, and impatient.

Come to think of it, I do portray the above characteristics. The three personalities mentioned could affect my communication issues.

By appearing arrogant and unapproachable, I may not get the support or feedback from colleagues, which in turn will affect the company's productivity. For example, if I have a terrible idea, my team members would be hesitant to highlight it, as they will assume that I will shoot them down.

I can also be impatient. When there are reports or collaterals that I need to complete my work, I would harass my colleagues to hand them over to me as soon as possible. If they themselves have not completed them, I would rush them.

In order to overcome these weaknesses, I need to be friendly, encouraging, and patient.

I will be more friendly with my team members to build good rapport, encourage them to contribute ideas and give feedback, and be patient when requesting for documents.

I do feel that I'm much more tolerable now, but I believe there's still a lot to improve on. Since the new year is coming, this will be my resolution for 2015. :-)

Support Team - Reflection 1: From A Manager To A Leader

The 2nd module for this course, named Support Team, has started. For this first reflection, I will need to address the following questions:

1) Am I more of a manager or a leader?
2) Do I have the effective traits of a leader?

I have to admit that I used to be more of a manager than a leader. Back in my National Service days, I was a terrible person. After 1 year or so in the force (SCDF), it was my turn to be the in-charge of the platoon. I learn how to be a "leader" from my seniors, and in retrospect, I should have not listened to them.

As I mentioned earlier, I was a terrible leader. Every morning, I would shout at my men for any mistakes done in the previous shift. Instead of giving advice constructively, I chose to abuse them verbally and degrade them in front of everybody else. When giving instructions, I was expecting them to figure out how to do it from their team members, instead of guiding them. And since my ORD date was nearing, I started to slack off and pass the responsibilities to others, instead of being in control.

Maybe that's how things work in a uniformed organisation. But as I upgraded myself with knowledge over the years, I believe I've started to think like a leader.

Now, I'm a different person who believe that everyone should be treated will respect and be guided if they are lost. I work well with my current colleagues. We guide each other in order to achieve our objectives. If there's any misunderstandings, we will discuss it and come to an amicable solution. We work as a team.

I am popular and well-respected among my colleagues, so I believe I am now more of a leader. But I couldn't have been one without the support and encouragement from my colleagues, current and former. I've learn a lot from them, which is why I am now a better person than before.

I'm not a perfect leader yet, but that time will come sooner or later.