Assignment 06: My Primary Strengths and Areas for Improvement

Name: My Nguyen

Who: If assigned, each person will individually complete and submit this assignment.

What: This assignment will take you through several steps to help ensure that you have a robust understanding of yourself and what is important to you personally.

When: The due date and time are posted in the syllabus. You can submit the assignment early. However, you will not be permitted to submit the assignment late.

Why: Some say that one cannot effectively manage and lead others effectively unless he or she first has a thorough understanding of him or herself.

How: Research, discover, think, re-think, reflect, have fun. Begin your answers immediately after each question. Do not delete the instructions. If you choose, you may change the color of your ink and/or change to italics to help make your answer stand out. Plan to write about 2-3 pages or so including these instructions and questions.

1. Make a list of your primary strengths. What is it that you are particularly good at doing?

1. Make a list of areas where you could use improvement. What is it that you are not particularly good at doing?

1. Rank order. Now, go back in and re-order these strengths and areas for improvement in rank order. Strengths, in this sense, are positive and should be ordered in terms of 1 equaling “most strength.” Areas for improvement should be ordered in terms of 1 equaling “most need for improvement.”

1. Learning points. After reviewing both lists, discuss some of what you learned about yourself from this assignment. Did you discover any surprises—either good or not so good? Do you have any plans for improvement in the list of things that you are not particularly good at doing?

1. Feedback. It is normal that you will complete this assignment without outside help. However, I suggest that you confide in a trusted friend, mentor, or loved one by asking him or her the same questions about you (don’t show your lists until after that person provides an initial list). Try to have a positive and meaningful conversation that allows you to benefit. Now, answer this question: Reflect upon this conversation (with the trusted friend, mentor, or loved one) and discuss some of what you learned—either positive or negative.

1. Apply strengths. Is there opportunity for you to capitalize on your strengths beyond what you are already doing to increase your chances for greater personal and or career success? Discuss.

1. Behavior changes. Can you effectively mitigate those areas where you could use improvement to become an even more effective person? Discuss.