Category: Self-Awareness

Introduction

Since ancient times philosophers have tried to understand the purpose of a human being, why we are born, and why we live. Some believe that we must seek what we enjoy to acquire meaning for our lives. Others claim that committing our efforts for the benefit of society should be our ultimate goal to live a meaningful life. These beliefs are called subjective and objective, respectively, and are contrasted to a dual aspect approach, which proposes achieving both subjective and objective meaning simultaneously.

However, I believe that obtaining self-awareness is what fills our life with purpose. In this paper, I will discuss Susan Wolfs and Richard Taylors ideas about meaningful living and consider how self-awareness fits into the context. While there are many objections to my viewpoint, I believe that self-awareness can help acquire a meaningful life not only for ourselves but for others as well.

The Meaning of Life

Susan Wolfs Perception

Before proposing what life needs to become meaningful, Wolf asks what it means for life to have meaning. We know what life stands for, what it is, but we do not fully understand its purpose (Wolf 1). However, the question about purpose is also quickly answered if we consider the existence of God  if he exists, then he had the reason to create us; if he does not exist, then there is no reason why we exist (Wolf 2). Therefore, when we ponder the meanings of lives, we consider whether or not individual lives have sense.

Wolf slightly touches on the topic of subjective meaningful living  she claims that the subjective criterion is not sufficient to label life as meaningful. Instead, she proposes a different approach  life has meaning if a person is committed to a project that has positive intentions and at least partially succeeds at it. Wolf emphasizes that positive values do not need to involve moral values or anything similar (Wolf 7). Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that Wolf advocates for objectivity. She claims that achieving personal happiness does not equate to obtaining lifes meaning.

Richard Taylors Ideas

Richard Taylor suggests that people have struggled to understand the purpose behind life because it is challenging even to understand what it means to question life about its meaning. Therefore, he attempts to explain meaningful living by describing meaninglessness. He uses the popular myth of Sisyphus to aid his explanations. The tale is about a man who continuously rolled a boulder up a hill from where it went back to the bottom; Sisyphus had to repeat the action without stopping.

Taylor considers his life as meaningless because his actions do not result in a more significant outcome other than being repeated. Taylor emphasizes that the difficulty of the task and the amount of time needed to accomplish it are not relevant to the concept of meaninglessness (Taylor 3). Any activity, whether it is easy or difficult, whether it takes infinity or several minutes, is rendered meaningless if nothing comes out of it.

Taylor proposes two ways to make Sisyphuss life more meaningful. First, his life can be considered meaningful if the stones he rolled up were later used to build something (Taylor 7). Alternatively, if Sisyphus enjoys the process of rolling boulders up the hill, his life can also be considered meaningful (Taylor 7). Therefore, it can be concluded that Taylor is the proponent of the dual-aspect approach to meaningful living. He thinks both personal happiness from the activities people do and useful results that are elicited from those actions can render life meaningful.

Meaningful Living

From the observations of Wolf and Taylor, it can be inferred that there are two aspects regarding meaningful living. The first aspect is concerned with how we perceive life, and the second aspect is about whether we consider life as significant and useful. Wolf claims that we should be more concerned with the meanings of individual lives, that is what values they generate, but Taylor believes that how a person perceives his life is also a crucial factor of meaningfulness. Comparing these two viewpoints, I can argue that Taylors idea is sounder because it is we who live our lives and not others.

We should strive for a tangible result when engaging in activities, but as long as these activities make us happy, we can claim that our lives have meaning. From this judgment, I can derive that the notion of self-awareness is extremely significant within the context of meaningful living.

Self-awareness and Meaningful Living

Importance and Benefits of Self-awareness

Self-awareness, because of how it is called, is often confused with consciousness. While the latter is the awareness of ones body, life, and environment, self-awareness can be described as when the person acknowledges that awareness. When we are self-aware, we have a better understanding of our desires, feelings, thoughts, and character. People who practice self-awareness have the ability to control their emotions and understand their motives. Because meaningful living is partially comprised of our subjective view of happiness, self-awareness can be considered a critical part of understanding lifes meaning.

Examining oneself has many benefits, and the usefulness of this practice has been recognized by many philosophers and psychologists. It is common that we are better at advising others than benefitting from this advice ourselves. That is because understanding ourselves is the most challenging task to accomplish. However, by becoming self-aware, people will improve their emotional intelligence and listening skills, enhance their relationships and communicative abilities, and strengthen their critical thinking capabilities. The latter skill is significant when perceiving our life and understanding meaningfulness. By critically assessing our goals and desires, and understanding what activities bring us pleasure, we can decide what items convey meaning to our lives.

Self-awareness Preference vs. Dual-aspect Approach

Self-awareness should not be viewed as a subset of subjectivity or the dual-aspect approach, however. It is the person who sets his or her goals and sets standards by which generated values are labeled as either positive or negative. For instance, if, according to Taylor, rolling up boulders does not result in a more significant outcome, it does not necessarily mean that Sisyphus has the same opinion about it. Perhaps, Sisyphus has goals that Taylor could not fully understand. Therefore, the criteria proposed by Taylor is not sufficient to judge whether or not an individual life has meaning.

The same is true regarding the arguments of Wolf  her definition of positive value is based on her beliefs on what can be considered as positive and what cannot. Without understanding ones consciousness, it is not possible to decide whether or not someones life has meaning because when we talk about positive values and goals, we rely mostly on our own subjective perceptions. In this context, self-awareness is significant because it allows a person to have an influence on how he or she is perceived.

Common Objections

There are common objections to the notion of self-awareness in the context of meaningful living. Some believe that other people view us differently regardless of how we see ourselves. However, by practicing self-awareness, we take more control over how we demonstrate ourselves to other people. For instance, if Sisyphus had practiced self-awareness, it would have helped him build a more accurate image of himself, and Taylor might not have perceived his life as meaningless.

Also, there are those who claim that self-awareness is selfish and does not benefit others. However, as it has already been mentioned, self-awareness helps improve emotional intelligence and listening skills. Emotional intelligence helps people be more empathetic and try to understand others feelings. Emotionally intelligent people are more capable of assisting others than people who do not know how to listen. Therefore, by becoming self-aware, you also acquire the ability to benefit others. Notably, by learning how to gain meaningful life, people can start helping others have meaningful living.

Conclusion

Life and its meaning are the subjects of many debates among philosophers and ordinary people. Some claim that meaningful living is constituted when our actions benefit people around us and society in general. Others believe that our subjective perception of happiness is sufficient to see our lives as meaningful. However, I believe that self-awareness is the most critical part of meaningful living because it helps us understand ourselves and our desires thoroughly while benefiting others.

Works Cited

Taylor, Richard. The Meaning of Life. University of Colorado, 1970. University of Colorado. Web.

Wolf, Susan. The Meanings of Lives. University of Colorado, 2007. University of Colorado. Web.

To become a successful person or a successful manager, it is crucial to understand the importance of self-awareness. For hundreds of years, the understanding and knowing of the self are considered to be at the core of peoples behavior. If one wants to master themselves, it is important that he or she pays attention to self-awareness as self-management and other skills depend on and are closely linked to it.

For people to create direction in their own lives and understand themselves, it is necessary to clarify priorities and goals, develop self-control, and effectively manage time and stress. In this paper, I will reflect on how what I have learned from Chapter One applies to my personal life.

The first chapter has provided me with rather interesting information about the importance of self-awareness. Apparently, there are many popular methods and techniques that help to achieve self-knowledge and that people spend lots of money on. Some of them are meditation and yoga techniques, group methods, altered consciousness procedures, assorted massages, aromatherapy, biofeedback, and physical exercise regimens. After learning this, I decided to try yoga, meditation, and aromatherapy practices in order to develop my self-awareness.

Also, the information about the concept of the sensitive line seems to me rather interesting. This concept refers to the point at which individuals become defensive or protective when encountering information about themselves that is inconsistent with their self-concept or when encountering pressure to alter their behavior (Whetten and Cameron 58). Usually, people get and experience information that doesnt quite or at all fit the way they think about themselves.

The strength of the defensive reaction depends on the discrepancy; if it is relatively minor, it is not likely to hurt and offend a person. However, if the information is very discrepant, and it affects ones self-concept, it will approach the sensitive line closer, and the person will feel a strong need to defend himself or herself against it.

This information caught my attention because, some time ago, I used to feel that my self-esteem was hurt, and I needed to defend myself. Now I understand that it was only the difference between my self-concept and the way someone saw me. As it is important in management to be self-confident and discreet, in situations when something approaches my sensitive line, I will not show a strong reaction.

Work Cited

Whetten, David A., and Kim. S. Cameron. Developing Management Skills. Prentice Hall, 2011.

To become a professional nurse, one is to objectively their strengths and weaknesses in terms of providing care and interacting with professionals and patients daily. Such a phenomenon of recognizing ones emotions and behavioral patterns is known as self-awareness (Grand Canyon University, 2018). When analyzing personal strengths, I can point out a high level of empathy. Indeed, after years of interacting with patients in general hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, I have learned that compassion comes a long way in providing quality care, as people need medical professionals to empathize with them to trust the treatment plans.

Another strength is the ability to take responsibility for my actions. Even when following someones advice or recommendations, I take full accountability for the decisions made, as I am the last person to justify a decision, and being influenced by others does not equal the responsibility divided between everyone taking part in the process. Finally, good communication skills are also one of my positive professional aspects, as I find it easy to find common ground with colleagues and patients through active listening and respect. However, to improve these aspects, it is vital not to become too invested in communication and compassion, as it may potentially affect my objective reasoning when working with patients.

As far as the weaknesses are concerned, the first major drawback would be the lack of autonomy. While I can take responsibility for my actions, it is difficult for me to decide without external assistance, as I often feel self-conscious and seek guidance from others. To improve this area, it would be beneficial for me to start believing in my professional intuition before making a decision instead of making sure I was right after hearing the same answer from other professionals. Another weakness is inflexibility, as I find it challenging to adapt quickly to a new environment to the extent required by the clinical setting. One way to combat this is to develop my skill sets to feel more confident when faced with a challenge. Finally, my behavior frequently lacks patience, which may lead to the patient outcomes being poorer than expected. A way to combat this issue would be to develop a habit of long-term perception of every decision made, as limited analysis of the decisions implications may rush people into making immediate choices without seeing the options.

Reference

Grand Canyon University. (2018). Nursing leadership & management: Leading and serving [E-book]. Web.

Self-awareness within nursing is necessary in order to become the best practitioner possible. Self-awareness considers the idea that of ‘being conscious’ in order to understand ‘ourselves’ (Burnard 1986, Rawlinson 1990 cited in Jack, Smith 2007). This means that nurses need to understand themselves, their personality, their strengths and their weaknesses. According to Goleman (2005) being self-aware allows a person therefore a nurse to stay in control of their emotions rather than allowing those in the caring profession to be overwhelmed. As well as giving nurses control, patients will be better cared for since the nurses can control their emotions and feel detached. Similarly self-awareness helps to maintain professional behaviour in difficult situations. Patients will not feel like a burden and moral amongst colleagues will stay positive (Jack, Smith 2007). Self-awareness is split into different sections according to Smith (2007) which is outlined below.

Firstly, it is important that nurses are aware how they are communicating with patients which in turn impacts on the care patients receive. Egan (1998) suggested a model SOLER for monitoring non-verbal communication: “sit squarely; open posture; lean forward; eye contact; relaxed and unhurried appearance” (Egan 1998 cited in Jack, Smith 2007). This would help with building trust with patients and allow patients to feel comfortable to discuss sensitive issues (Jack, Smith 2007). More importantly if a nurse is self-aware, they would be able to actively and consciously display this behaviour. If a nurse is having a difficult day or are suffering with personal issues, through self-awareness, they’ll be able to use Egan’s model to stay and communicate positively with patients.

Furthermore, self-awareness does not just benefit the patients and how patients feel. Self-awareness impacts on our own personal wellbeing (Jack, Smith 2007). When facing difficult situations such as patients nearing the end of their life, nurses are likely to feel stressed or anxious. However if we are aware of our emotions, we can address this instantly and apply techniques like anchoring (visualizing in our minds a time or place that brings us calm e.g. the seaside) (McLeod 2003). As a nurse’s career and practice develops, they are more likely to understand which situations causes anxiety and overwhelming emotions. Consequently, as nurses we can plan for detachment and use techniques such as anchoring to stay in control. This self-awareness will in turn prevent adverse effects of stress on our own lives.

Having explored why self-awareness is important, it is necessary that we find ways of developing our self-awareness. Burnard (1998) described self-awareness as a never-ending journey while Luft (1969) proposed the model Johari Window. This explores the idea of several layers of self-awareness- open, blind, hidden, unknown. What should be of interest from this model is the blind area (what others know about us that we don’t know) and the unknown (things we and others have not discovered about ourselves). It is only by identifying these areas with the help of others that we can become aware of areas within ourselves that need developing and thus improve both our wellbeing, our practice and most importantly patient care. Sometimes, accepting criticisms from others can be painful yet it’s necessary to enable us to move forward. At this point, Kubler-Ross’s Change Curve inspired by Kotler’s five stages of grief can be applied to the process of accepting changes where after the initial shock and anger, we can accept the change needed within ourselves (Lock 2020).

Finally, using a method to actively reflect is necessary to allow nurses to understand themselves but also to make positive changes for the future (Jack, Smith 2007). Most importantly, it allows nurses to see the impact of their behaviours and actions on others. An added benefit is that reflecting can be cathartic (Boud et al 1985). It allows nurses to process difficult emotions associated with working closely with patients who are suffering intensely. Having released their emotions in a reflective activity refreshes nurses to enable them to deal with the next patient. The most common way of reflecting is to use a diary entry and for nurses to use these entries as part of their portfolio. It would be an idea for nurses to write a diary entry at the end of each day detailing their activities, the positives, criticisms and ways to improve in the future. However it can also be spontaneous and creative (Boud 1985). It is a personal record and the nurse should therefore feel free in the way they express themselves whether it is a drawing or a paragraph (Boud 1985). By keeping a record, it allows nurses to become self-aware in how they can develop their practice for both their own well-being and their patients.

To conclude, the nursing profession puts patient well-being at the centre. However for nurses to effectively do this, they need to have self-awareness of both their emotions so they self-regulate their emotions in the presence of the patients and for their own well-being. Reflecting by keeping a diary entry would be a way of ensuring self-awareness is a regular activity.

References

1. Boud D, Keogh R, Walker D (1985) Reflection: Turning Experience into Learning. Kogan Page, London.
2. Burnard P (1986) Integrated self-awareness training: a holistic model. Nurse Education Today. 6, 5, 219-222.
3. Egan G (1998) The Skilled Helper. A Problem Management Approach to Helping. Sixth edition. Brooks Cole, Pacific Grove CA.
4. Goleman D (1995) Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More than IQ. Bloomsbury, London.
5. Lock (2020) Kubler-Ross Change Curve available at https://daniellock.com/kubler-ross-change-curve/ accessed on 18/04/2020
6. Luft J (1969) Of Human Interaction. National Press, Palo Alto CA.
7. McLeod A (2003) Performance Coaching: The Handbook for Managers, HR Professionals and Coaches. Crown House, Carmarthen
8. Rawlinson JW (1990) Selfawareness: conceptual influences, contribution to nursing, and approaches to attainment. Nurse Education Today. 10, 2, 111-117
9. Rungapadiachy DM (1999) Interpersonal Communication and Psychology for Health Care Professionals. Elsevier, Edinburgh.
10. Jack K, Smith, A (2007) Promoting self-awareness in nurses to improve nursing practice Nursing Standard. 21, 32, 47-52.

Child violence has been an extremely serious problem for many decades. Do you know that 75% of 2 to 4 years old children have received corporal punishment frequently by their caregivers, and 50% of adolescents worldwide have encountered peer violence near school area (UNICEF, 2017)? What’s worse, every seven minutes, there is a teenager dies of violence (UNICEF, 2017). Thus, child violence has become a crucial issue that needs everyone to take actions immediately. Fortunately, there are some people and organizations around the world are trying their best to raise awareness of this issue, and call for actions to stop children bullying. Among those people, a Korean boy band called BTS has taken their initiatives to stop this happen. In fact, BTS members have always concerned about social issues and have used their own voices to influence other young people. Therefore, in November 1, 2017, they launched a campaign called Love Myself. (“About Love Myself”, 2017) The Love Myself campaign started by BTS with the UNICEF #ENDviolence program aims to raise the awareness of child violence and raise funds for children, so that they will be able to fulfill their potentials and make their dreams come true.

What is Love Myself campaign?

The Love Myself campaign was established in November 1, 2017 by the Korean boy band BTS with the non-profit organization UNICEF (United Nations Children Emergency Fund). The campaign’s goal is to stop violence of any kind against children and young people, and hope to provide them with love and support in the future.

By starting this campaign, BTS members have spreaded a lot of positive messages and raised funds for children in need. By December 2018, there are around 1, 800, 000, 000 KRW fund raised by BTS members and many of their fans BTS ARMYs worldwide (“Love Myself”, 2018). At the same time, there are more than 10 million of hashtags #BTSLoveMyself spreading on twitter (“Love Myself”, 2018). What’s more, the scale of the Love Myself campaign is still expanding, from Korea to Japan, then to Europe and the United States. Therefore, the importance of solving child violence will continue to spread worldwide, and more children could receive help from the fund raised and from other positive messages or stories.

In terms of the international organization UNICEF, they are doing more jobs that could really work for the children. First of all, UNICEF works hard to change people’s attitude towards violence and discrimination (UNICEF, 2017). Today, there are still many people suppose that physical discipline is a need at home and in other places near children. Thus, shifting this social norm is the key factor in fighting child violence. Therefore, UNICEF is holding various programs at schools and communities, as well as spreading the messages through mass media to change the behavior of caregivers, teachers and so on. Moreover, they are helping governments to develop and implement the legitimate and policy structures (UNICEF, 2017). For instance, UNICEF is trying their best to make sure the policies could be implemented properly and protect children from any harmful actions (UNICEF, 2017). With all these works done by UNICEF, cases of violence against children and young people are hoped to be reduced, and finally providing a bright future for the youth over the world.

Who could receive help from Love Myself campaign?

As part of the UNICEF anti-violence program, the Love Myself campaign will be protecting children from harm for mainly four categories: “domestic abuse during early childhood; violence at school; violent deaths among adolescents; and sexual violence in childhood and adolescence” (UNICEF, 2017). Violence in children’s lives should be the most urgent thing to be solved. As a result, dealing with the issue of children who received or are receiving corporal punishments in a daily basis needs to be put into the priority.

The importance of Love Myself campaign

Today, the world’s population of youth constitutes about 25% of the total population over the world (Smith, 2014). This means that young people are the majority of people who could make a difference. However, in recent years, there are still many children and adolescents suffer from domestic abuse or violence of any form. In some area, domestic corporal punishment is still considered to be necessary or normal. Thus, helping children to escape from violence, and provide them support is of utmost importance. Moreover, children around the world should have the equal opportunity to be educated. Yet, there are still a lot of children who are not able to receive education due to violence or many other reasons. Thus, there is a need to give them the chance to acquire knowledge and skills they need to fulfill their dreams. If young children have received education and be trained for certain skills, they are not only creating a better life for themselves, they will also help people who are in need in their own community. “Young people are 25 percent of our population,, but they are 100 percent of our future” (Fore, 2018). As a consequence, it is significant to have the Love Myself campaign. It is also crucial to continue fund-raising events for children and spread the importance of anti-violence.

As part of the UNICEF #ENDviolence program, BTS initiated the Love Myself campaign to help reducing the seriousness of child violence by raising awareness and raising funds for children around the world so as to give those children opportunities to pursue their dreams. As young people like BTS, we can also try our best to help the children. Participating in the Love Myself campaign, spreading positive messages on social media, donating money to UNICEF or being volunteers are different ways to help children who suffer from bullying. If everyone could move a small step to help others, we will be able to build a more peaceful world. Therefore, starting from now, lend your helping hand to someone when they need.

One of the most fundamental characteristics of human beings is the ability to be self-aware. Essentially, self-awareness is the capacity to be introspective about one’s self. In this state, individuals are capable of actively identifying, storing and processing information about their personhood. While awareness of the self comprises an integral part of human thought, many individuals often find themselves being disconnected from this process. There are various reasons as to why individuals become less and less self-aware, but the most prominent reason is, people begin to develop a severe preoccupation with the events in their lives resulting in a disconnect from the inner self. Once this disconnect between an individual and their inner self occurs, the question becomes how does one regain this connection? The novels Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison and Such a Long Journey by Rohinton Mistry look to provide an answer to this predicament. Song of Solomon discusses the story of an African American, named Macon ‘Milkman’ Dead, who goes on a journey to learn more about his heritage. While Such a Long Journey tells the story of a hard-working bank clerk, by the name of Gustad Noble, whose life slowly begins to crumble. Song of Solomon argues that self-awareness can be regained if one learns how to stop being selfish. Whereas, Such a Long Journey argues novels argue that self-awareness can be regained if one loses all sentiments of entitlement. This idea is primarily expressed through the authors’ use of character interaction and other literary devices such as imagery, motifs and symbolism.

The idea of how selflessness can bring about self-awareness can be demonstrated through the character of Milkman and his interaction with the prominent female characters in the novel. One of the most impactful relationships throughout the entirety of the novel is Milkman’s relationship with Pilate. Ever since the reader’s introduction to Pilate, it is clear to see that she will play a monumental role in Milkman’s journey. Upon meeting him she immediately takes him under her wing and explains the Dead’s family history. Despite her kindness towards Milkman, he one day decides to betray her by stealing her sack. He does under the assumption that there is gold in the sack that will allow him to distance himself from his family. However, he steals the sack and gets caught, Milkman begins to contemplate how his actions affected the woman who had shown him the “blue” (209) of the sky. This reflection on his actions of results in Milkman feeling a sense of “shame” (209). Milkman’s consideration of the impacts of his actions, indicate his shift towards a selfless character. This selfless attitude eventually results in him becoming a self-aware character. This is demonstrated by the growth of his left leg. Throughout the novel the image of Milkman’s undersized leg has been symbolic of his emotional childishness, the fact that it grows in this scene demonstrates that he is undergoing a deep personal transformation. He now understands that he needs to change his immature and selfish approach to life to become a better person. The idea that selflessness can bring about self-awareness is also demonstrated through Milkman’s relationship with Hagar. Throughout the novel, it is made evident that Hagar is deeply in love with Milkman. In chapter 4, the reader learns about how Hagar would always “pout” (99) and “complain” (99) that Milkman did not love her. Instead of reciprocating his love back, He opts to look for ways to dwindle his affection for Hagar. He states how she was a “third beer” (91). Milkman’s comparison of Hagar to a beer symbolizes how little he thinks of her. To him, Hagar’s main purpose in life is to quench his thirst for sex. This use of Hagar’s body as a mere tool of pleasure highlights his selfishness. However, as the book proceeds, Milkman begins letting go of this selfish attitude. In chapter 12, Milkman reflects on his treatment of Hagar and admits that he had “used her love” (301). This quote demonstrates that Milkman is now a selfless individual, he is far more considerate of other people’s feelings. Eventually, his journey to self-awareness is complete when he returns with a “box of Hagar’s hair” (334). The image of Milkman returning home with a box of Hagar’s hair demonstrates that he understands that he is responsible for Hagar’s death. The examples mentioned above demonstrate that self-awareness can be achieved by letting go of one’s selfish tendencies.

The article “Self-Awareness to Being Watched and Socially-Desirable Behaviour: A Field Experiment on the Effect of Body-Worn Cameras on Police Use-Of-Force” examines an important aspect of human behaviour. Human beings “will mostly act in an ethical manner when they are being watched” (Maxfield and Babbie 43). The researchers wanted to understand how this knowledge could help police officers and public workers promote the best ethical practices. Human beings “will embrace socially appreciable behaviours whenever their behaviours are being judged or observed” (Maxfield and Babbie 26). This knowledge was critical towards conducting a successful research study. Every person caught doing something socially unacceptable will eventually experience negative consequences. Human beings will avoid such negative actions especially when they are under surveillance. According to the article, the above approach can play a critical role towards promoting the conduct and practices of different public officers.

The researchers used a good hypothesis to conduct the study. The researchers used videotapes in order to change the behaviours of the targeted subjects. According to this article, self-consciousness arising from active mobile cameras cannot necessary encourage people to follow certain regulations and rules. According to the researchers, “human begins such as police officers would most likely embrace acceptable or desirable behaviours whenever being videotaped” (“Self-Awareness to Being Watched and Socially-Desirable Behaviour: A Field Experiment on the Effect of Body-Worn Cameras on Police Use-Of-Force” par. 3). This hypothesis played a significant role towards supporting the study findings and conclusions.

This research study relied on a quantitative approach in order to gather the required results. The approach was critical towards supporting the study hypothesis and research question. The researchers also used an effective experimental procedure. This procedure made it easier to achieve the targeted goals. The decision to use experimental shifts (ESs) and control shifts (CSs) made it easier to execute a good research strategy. The researchers “tested their hypothesis by measuring the effect of using highly visible HD cameras” (“Self-Awareness to Being Watched and Socially-Desirable Behaviour: A Field Experiment on the Effect of Body-Worn Cameras on Police Use-Of-Force” par. 6). The researchers used the Cambridge Randomizer²⁰ to allocate shifts to control and treat conditions every week. The scholars “used G*Power 3.1.3 to estimate a-priori for the sample” (“Self-Awareness to Being Watched and Socially-Desirable Behaviour: A Field Experiment on the Effect of Body-Worn Cameras on Police Use-Of-Force” par. 12). This research strategy was necessary because it made the study successful.

The researchers could have also used a qualitative approach to conduct this study. A good qualitative approach includes the use of observations. The researchers would have executed this study in its natural environment. This method is relevant because it helps researchers examine subjects in their natural situations. Observations also help researchers examine every naturally occurring practice or activity. This research approach would have made it easier for the researchers to understand how self-awareness produces socially desirable practices (Maxfield and Babbie 64). The method can produce better results when combined with interviews and focus groups.

The article relied on a quantitative study approach. The researchers collected different numerical data to support the study. The researchers used the best hypothesis to conduct the study. The researchers used a quantitative method to verify the hypothesis. The researchers used empirical investigations to analyse the above social phenomena. They used various statistical and numerical techniques in order to present the best findings to the reader. The involvement of “different participants and the decision to collect a set of numerical data from them explains why this is a quantitative study method” (Maxfield and Babbie 69). The research method was effective because it resulted in useful and applicable findings.

This article is worth reading because of its strengths. The researchers have followed most of the steps associated with quality research articles. The authors have included a good introduction that informs the reader about the targeted goals of the study. The researchers have also included a literature review before undertaking their study. This study can play a major role towards changing the behaviours and practices of different public officers. The article presents a good hypothesis and research question. The two make it easier for the scholars to develop the best research strategy (Maxfield and Babbie 75). The research design was effective because it made the study successful. The article presents the best results and discussions. The researchers have used timely and relevant references to support their study. Policymakers and theorists can benefit a lot from these discussions. The only weakness is the failure to include an abstract. The above strengths have made this article meaningful and applicable.

I would have considered most of the above strengths to conduct a similar study. The study presents the best ideas and findings to the reader. I would have used similar research methodologies in order to make the article meaningful. I would have used new research techniques to support the study. The approach would have resulted in better findings and discussions. I would have included an abstract in order to make the article more professional. I would have also conducted more studies in order to present a better literature review. The authors of this article have conducted a good study. This explains why “every theorist and policymaker should consider these findings in order to deal with the issues surrounding our criminal justice system” (Maxfield and Babbie 96). I am encouraging every scholar to read this article because it presents some of the best concepts and ideas towards dealing with bias-based policing in our societies.

Works Cited

Maxfield, Michael, and E. Babbie. The Basic of Research Methods Criminal Justice and Criminology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.

Self-Awareness to Being Watched and Socially-Desirable Behaviour: A Field Experiment on the Effect of Body-Worn Cameras on Police Use-Of-Force 2014. Web.

Self Awareness

Self awareness is defined as the understanding of one’s personal characters and behavior. It is necessitated by the fact that human beings are unique and each person has a distinct behavioral pattern. Nowadays, it has become necessary for managers to be trained in a move meant to ensure that good leadership qualities are imparted in them (Huxley, 2008).

It should be noted that self awareness can really help me in becoming a better manager because of the several advantages that are associated with it. According to Huczynski and Buchanan (2010), self awareness will enable me to improve relationships and live a more fulfilling life both at work and at home.

Gill (2006) argues that one can have good interactions with workmates which enhances openness through self awareness. In that regard, self awareness will make interaction with my juniors friendlier thus improving the morale of other employees.

Buelens, Sindig and Waldstrom (2011) also argue that self awareness is vital in embracing the variance in behavior of human beings. As a result, self awareness will enable me to change personal perceptions in order to positively interact with others. On top as a manager, I will highly need self control on several occasions.

Consequently, self awareness comes in handy because it will help me understand issues that irritate me and how I can manage the same.

Pedler, Burgoyne and Boydell (2007) also state that managers who are aware of themselves can easily get feedback from their juniors and do not get annoyed; however unpleasant the feedback may be. Moreover, through self awareness, I can be able to know how to deal with my weaknesses and use them as stepping stones towards personal goals.

It is important to note that the way people perceive their roles and personalities influences the degree of success in their endeavors. In this regard, self awareness will be crucial to help me understand that I need to accommodate other views too.

Consequently, this will help me approach various issues objectively and with an open mind. Furthermore, self awareness will enable me to understand personal preferences and how to deal with them to avoid conflict of interests. In the words of Rollinson (2008), my qualities as a manager are improved through self awareness.

Continuous Self Development

On the other hand, continuous self development refers to the process through which people advance their self-knowledge, build or renew their identity, develop their strengths and weaknesses and fulfill their aspirations among other aspects. Gates and Hemingway (2000) argue that it is not unusual to get organizations ensuring that their employees are highly trained through incorporating training facilities in their programs.

Earley and Peterson (2004) emphasizes that continuous self development encompasses the whole idea of one striving to become better than before and includes self awareness.

It should be noted that continuous self development has gained popularity in the recent years because of its ability to give an individual the chance to be engaged in the learning process. Bourner (1996) says that continuous self development leads to increased ingenuity and creative skills thus enhancing organizational growth.

Furthermore, the process puts the learner at the center thus enhancing one’s understanding leading to satisfaction and ability to interact with people well. It should be noted that among the characters that are crucial for me as a manager, is the ability to relate with others well, whether juniors or seniors (Linstead, Fulop & Lilley, 2008). Moreover, as a manager I need to separate personal life from work to avoid conflict of interest.

Through continuous self development, I will understand how to balance work and life issues and at the same time learn how to manage stress and time. These qualities according to Megginson and Whittaker (2007) are very essential in ensuring that productivity is maximized and peripheral issues do not interfere with my performance.

Similarly, it is important to note as a manager that I am supposed to be a team leader and not a diabolic dictator. Therefore, I will be expected to mingle well with other employees and guide them while giving them opportunity to develop themselves. In this regard, continuous self development is important because it will enable me to realize that teamwork is important.

Additionally, it will help me to realize that managers are supposed to create opportunities and not obstacles to other people in the organization. Northouse (2010) summarizes that self development enhances career development, productivity and quality of output.

Future Implications

It is important to note that business environment is very dynamic and it changes from time to time. Therefore, it is crucial for me as a manager to ensure that I am updated regarding technological improvement. Similarly, as a good manager I should be able to align the organizational culture with the current market demands (Bourner, 1996).

In this regard, continuous self development is essential because it is not only flexible, but also increases adaptability of people to various situations; which is what a manager needs. Through actively involving the learning person, continuous self development enhances personal competence. Therefore, it enables a manager to be a role model to other employees.

References

Buelens, M., Sindig, A. & Waldstrom, C. (2011). Organizational Behaviour. London: McGraw Hill Higher Education.

Bourner, T. (1996). Effective Management and the Development of Self-awareness: A Plain Manager’s Guide. Career Development International, 1(4), 14-18.

Earley, P.C. & Peterson, R.S. (2004). The Elusive Cultural Chameleon: Cultural Intelligence as a New Approach to Intercultural Training for the Global Manager. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 3(1), 100-116.

Gates, B., & Hemingway, C. (2000). Business at the Speed of Thought: Succeeding in the Digital Economy. London: Penguin Adult.

Gill, R. (2006).Theory and Practice of Leadership. London: Sage.

HuczynskI, A. & Buchanan, D. (2010).Organizational Behaviour. London: Financial Times Prentice Hall.

Huxley, A. (2008). Brave New World. New York: Random House.

Linstead,S. Fulop, L. & Lilley, S. (2008).Management and Organization. A Critical Text. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Megginson, D. & Whittaker, V. (2007). Continuing professional development. London: CIPD.

Northouse, P. (2010).Leadership: Theory and Practice. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Pedler, M., Burgoyne, J. & Boydell, T. (2007).A manager’s guide to self development. London: McGraw-Hill.

Rollinson, D. (2008).Organizational Behavior and Analysis: An integrated approach. Harlow: Prentice Hall.

The learning contract aim

By the end of Week 9, I will be able to define what is important to me, formulate effective goals and make progress towards achievement of my personal and professional goals. This will be essential because effective goal setting is crucial for individuals and organizations to achieve success. The main benefits of effective goal setting include the enhanced morale and self-esteem, choice of precise purposes, improved motivation and productivity.

Spending substantial amount of time working, people may lose their way and fail to set the priorities. Lacking particular goals, individuals cannot concentrate their efforts and adopt an appropriate decision-making model. Rauch (2006) stated that the two main categories facilitate people’s commitment to the achievement of their goals, including the perceived importance of these goals and their belief tat they are able to achieve specific goals.

The rationale

I chose goal setting as my skill because the improvement of this skill will have a number of advantages for my personal and professional development. The goal setting will help me to set the priorities and facilitated more effective decision making. Additionally, goal setting can be helpful for enhancing my confidence in navigating the map of my life (Rose, 2008). Furthermore, goal setting techniques will help me to plan my time and concentrate my efforts on particular tasks to enhance my performance and achieve better results. The development of this skill can become an important stage in my self-improvement program.

Improved goal setting skills are vital to planning my own activities and understanding the value of effective planning. Moreover, goal setting skills are valuable because they will allow me to manage other people more effectively. Within organizational context, goal setting is vital for ensuring the efficacy of the organizational processes and increasing the performance of the personnel. It can be explained with the value of formulating the effective goals and accompanying them with appropriate objectives and/or an action plan. Effective goal setting strategies can solve the problem of the lack of time and improve self-discipline, not to mention the improved organization of the working process (Blankson, 2008).

Regarding the professional activities of managers, effective goal setting is vital for a number of reasons. A manager who has profound skills of goal setting can appropriately plan not only his/her own activities, but also the tasks of the subordinate employees.

Additionally, becoming a superior performer as a result of effective goal setting, a manager would be able to become a leader and gain the necessary respect of the employees. Therefore, improved goal setting techniques and corresponding action plans will allow me to become a successful manager, able to take the responsibility for the outcomes of my own work and the performance of others (Rouillard, 2003).

Goal setting is important in more than one way. Goal setting is important for the organization as it is for me. The effective goal setting starts on the personal level (Schwartz, 2006). An organization is able to raise its morale and esteem through effective goal setting. The different sections and or individuals that make up an institution also receive purpose and direction through the effective goal setting processes.

Motivation levels in different institutions are also dependent on the quality of goal setting. Through motivation, the productivity levels in an organization are increased. Productivity is directly related to the effectiveness level of the goal setting process. The key behaviors in the goal setting process should be positive, persistent, taking full responsibility for ones actions, and being realistic throughout the entire process.

Pre-test and post-test measures

The measures for improving goals setting skills include identification of life and professional priorities, formulating effective goals and action plan for achieving them and critical analysis of the goals and strategies chosen for reaching them. Analyzing the goals, I will need to answer the questions if these goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound (SMART) (Ferrell & Ferrell, 2009). This abbreviation is significant for guiding my critical analysis and evaluating the effectiveness of particular goals and improving the detected drawbacks if any. Consequently, I will need to start from the analysis of my personal priorities.

Action plan

In Week 1, I plan to define my priorities regarding my personal development and professional setting. I will accomplish this task by evaluating the effectiveness and consistency of my daily activities. Additionally, I will analyze the mission of the company I work at to define the business priorities before formulating the goals.

In Week 2, I plan to formulate goals for my personal life and professional setting. Then, I will develop appropriate action plan that would be effective for achieving the selected goals.

In Weeks 3-9, I plan to focus on critical analysis of my goals and action plan. I will do this by applying the abbreviation SMART to my analysis to answer the questions whether my goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound. Additionally, I will evaluate the progress I will make towards the achievement of those goals. Along with conducting my own analysis, I will need to receive feedbacks from my employees regarding their opinions on the effectiveness and consistency of their activities. The critical analysis will be helpful for detecting weaknesses in my goals and improving them if it is necessary.

Reference List

Blankson, S. (2008). Planning and goal setting for personal success. New York: Lulu Press Incorporated.

Ferrell, O.C., & Ferrell, L. (2009). Business ethics: Ethical decision making and cases. Ohio: Cengage Learning.

Rauch, C. (2006). The goal-setting theory: A short discussion. Berlin: Books on Demand.

Rose, S. (2008). Radical goal setting: the science of turning your dreams into reality. Bloomingtin, IN: iUniverse.

Rouillard, L. (2003). Goals and goal setting: Achieving measured objectives. New York: Crisp Publishing.

Schwartz, A. (2006). Goal setting: Target your achievement. Waverley, MA: Schwarz and Associates Publishing.

The learning contract aim

By the end of the Week 9, I will be able to know my motivations, preferences and personality. This will be essential as it influences my judgement, decisions and the way I interact with other people. This is through the determination of my strengths and understanding how they can guide me in my personal and professional choices. Additionally, this helps me in figuring out what motivates me in order to find personal and professional success.

Developing self-awareness is essential in assessing my limitations in order to develop a plan for improving those areas. It is the self-awareness that will assist me in gaining an understanding and insight into my personality, attitudes and behaviors. Lastly, the self-awareness is vital in identifying the biases I have that prelude my understanding and appreciating other people (Juszczak, 2006).

The rationale

I chose developing self-awareness as my skill as it will have a host of benefits to me. The self-awareness will help me in understanding myself in relation to other people. This is vital especially if am working in an organization with many people. In addition, the self-awareness will help me in developing and implementing a sound self-improvement program. With the development of self-awareness, I can be able to set appropriate life and career goals. Moreover, the self-awareness is essential in helping me develop relationships with other people that I interact with on a daily basis (Christian, 2008).

Developing self-awareness is vital in assisting me understand the value of diversity. Further more, self-awareness is necessary as it helps me know how to manage other people in an effective manner. In an organizational setting, self-awareness is essential in increasing productivity. This is because people can use the self-awareness to understand one another clearly in their daily tasks. It is the self-awareness that is crucial in increasing my ability to contribute to organizations, my community and family. This is by utilizing all other benefits brought about by developing this essential skill (Ragg, 2011).

As a manager, self-awareness is vital in a number of ways. If I am self-aware as a manager, then I can be a superior performer in my organization. It is also essential to be self-aware as a manager in order to have a greater understanding of others. Self-awareness is critical to me as a manager to help me relate and empathize with my co-workers in the organization. More so, self-awareness will ensure that I am more trusted as a manager especially by my subordinates. Self-awareness makes me as a manager to be perceived as being competent in whatever task I undertake (Rochat, 2003).

Management requires people who have developed the skill of self-awareness. To me, self-awareness is essential in helping me reduce the potential for conflict especially in an organizational set up. Organizations have a tendency to have many conflicts due to the numerous interests of the people. Consequently, being self-aware as a manager is necessary in assisting me reduce any potential for a conflict in an organization. It is easy to work with a manager who is self-aware as they are likely to be open to any feedback that comes up. Self-awareness is vital in helping me as a manager create trusting and productive work environments (Soin, 2011).

Pre-test and post-test measures

The measures for developing self-awareness are concern for others, self-disclosure, diverse experiences and self-analysis. The self-analysis is essential for a number of issues. For instance, the self-analysis is critical in helping me examine myself as an object in any given experience or event. Additionally, it enables me step back and observe the positive or negative impact of some action. However, doing a self-analysis is not always easy.

Consequently, it has to begin with a reflection on and exploration of thoughts and feelings. These are those thoughts and feelings associated with affective events. Self-analysis is critical as it helps one become more effective through implementation of behavioral and cognitive changes (Mtsu. edu, n.d.).

Action plan

In Week 1, I plan to work out what my current level of self-awareness is. I will do this by assessing how well I relate with other people that I interact with on a daily basis. I will measure this by analyzing their perceptions, as well as feedbacks. The expected outcomes here will include an improvement in the way they perceive me both as their co-worker and manager. Analysis of the received feedbacks is vital in helping me improve my areas of weakness. This helps me to relate well with others (Juszczak, 2006).

In Week 2, I plan to do a self-disclosure. I will do this by doing an assessment of how I share my thoughts, feelings and ideas with other people. I will measure this by clarifying my perceptions. The expected outcomes here will include verification of my beliefs, affirming my self-concept, as well as validation of data received from an objective source (Juszczak, 2006).

In Week 3-9, I plan to do a work-out on my self-analysis. I will do this by assessing my behavior, personality, attitudes and perceptions. I will measure this by looking at my motivation in the way of thinking, acting and interacting. The expected outcomes will be a change in my perceptions in terms of the stereotypes, projections, expectations, interests and attributions. This self-analysis is necessary in helping me improve my behavior, personality, attitudes and perceptions (Juszczak, 2006).

References

Christian, J. L. (2008). Philosophy: an introduction to the art of wondering. California: Cengage Learning.

Juszczak, C. (2006). Interpersonal skills in organizations. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Mtsu. edu. (n.d.). Choices: developing your self-awareness. Web.

Ragg, M. D. (2011). Developing practice competencies: a foundation for generalist practice. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons.

Rochat, P. (2003). Five levels of self-awareness as they unfold early in life. Consciousness and Cognition, 12, 717–731.

Soin, R. (2011). Self-awareness and personal development. Web.