A641.8.3.RB - Personal Balance Sheet

This week’s Reflection Blog is geared to helping the class better understand our strengths and weaknesses by writing them down in on personal balance sheet summarizing our assets and liabilities. This is the most useful assignments that may have done in my academic career.

A. My assets:

1. My distinctive strengths (Things I know I do well and strengths that others see in me).

I’m a natural leader, I’ve been told. I do what is best for teams and lead fairly. Having a mixed heritage as a leader I am inclusive and believe in being ethical when it comes to diversity. I am not a political or authoritative leader.

2. My potential Strengths (things I could do better or more often if I focused, or things I do well in some situations and could begin to apply more broadly).

If I learn and become more active in the social environment of my organization and focus on networking I could possible farther my career. And open the door for others in my community. Networking for the sake of a career seemed fake to me. But now I see the potential in finding a mentor to bond with or finding that right executive sponsor that could be talking for me behind the seen.

3. My Enduring Dispositions that support me (traits, habits, behaviors that I do not want to change and that help me to be successful).

In the business environment, I’m able to stay level headed in stressful situations. I use this to make good decisions that are right for the situation and not a knee jerk reaction. I have a calming effect on my team, I don’t get too high or to low. This comes from living in points of my personal life, athletic career, and employment career in low situations. And from those experiences taught me that if you remove emotions and continue to press forward, not giving up, anything is possible.

B. My liabilities:

1. My weaknesses (things I know I don’t do well and I want to do better).

I biggest weakest is self-doubt. I know what I’ve accomplished and what I’m capable of doing, but in private I doubt myself. In others eyes they see a confident borderline cocky sure of he actions alfa male. I’m loud, boastful, joking, happy on the outside. Yet, I still wonder if I’m accepted, do I measure up, can others see me faking.

2. Weaknesses I want to Change (things I know I don’t do well and want to change).

The one thing that has bothered me about myself lately is my comment to myself and my health. I have been active all my life: high school sports, college athletics, military. Now that I am older I have been lacking. I still go to the gym, but despite the advice of my doctor I continue with bad habits.

3. My enduring dispositions that sometimes get in my way (traits, habits, behaviors that I do not want to change and that sometimes cause me to be less effective).

Putting other people’s needs and wants before my own. Sometimes I am more concerned with other people’s well-being and not focus as much on my own like I should. Especially family, I think it comes from wanting to be accepted and lack of self-confidence.

Most people are aware of the things they do well, some are even aware of the things they don’t do well, it is taking the time to improve these things that can be difficult.   People often have a difficult time admitting they need to work on certain skills; to some, it is a form of weakness.  I see it as an opportunity to find new ways to become a better person, which will lead to becoming a better leader.  A great leader is always improving on their strengths and finding ways to compensate or counteract their weaknesses.

References:

Boyatzis, Richard, & McKee, Annie 2005. July 14, 2017 Resonant Leadership. Harvard Business Press.