Overall - My Reflections

§ What are some of the key insights, concepts, strategies, or techniques you have discovered about managing life skills like anger, conflict, time, listening etc from working with your group, your classmates’ presentations, or through your own readings?

Unit 2 – Time & Priority Management
For me, personally, this has got to be one of my favorite topics from LMS. For someone who doesn’t really prioritize his work, I do feel that this particular unit helps me a lot in managing my studies, work, personal problems, etc. One of the things from Unit 2 that I apply in my daily life is the Activity Log. I feel that I’ve spent each day on doing a number of unimportant stuff that do not positively enhanced and influenced my personal or work life. By having this log, I’ve managed my time and prioritize my work more effectively.

Not only that, I’ve even found out that I worked better and more efficiently in the afternoon, that’s where my energy and concentration level are at its highest and I’m able to produce effective work and able to contribute good suggestions when doing my group projects.

Another one that I’ve applied in my daily life is using of the SMART goals, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound. Using this method, I’m able to make my goals more specific and time-bound, for example, to be able to understand the methods used in microeconomics in a given time period, etc. By making my goals realistic and attainable, I’m able to achieve them without any hassle.

Unit 3 – Managing Anger
Aha, anger, which comes naturally when you are doing group projects, I think everyone will agree to that! With group projects, I have to deal with other group member’s excuses, shortcomings, etc, etc, and this will put a toll on me and my other group member’s. So in order to counter their nonsense, I’ve used the COW method, by using it, I’ve learnt to express my anger when trying to regain control of the situation and able to change the other person’s behavior, etc. I’ve also used different methods in managing anger, like doing physical exercises e.g. pumping iron in the gym, play soccer, etc, using relaxation techniques like deep breathing exercises, and other forms of distraction.

Unit 4 – Understanding You & Me
Listening is a useful and important component in communications, be it with your family, friends, classmates, group members, etc. I do feel that I’ve become a better and more effective listener when dealing with my project members. Using the effective listening method, I displayed a positive attitude and try to focus on the information conveyed to me, I’ve become more open-minded and not be prejudiced, judgmental, etc, about what the other person is trying to say. With my group members, I’ve learnt to be more respectful of their views and will listen to what they have to say or when they are contributing their ideas.

Unit 5 – Managing Conflict
Conflict will definitely arise when I’m doing my group projects. Take for example, my, let’s just say, “code red” project, where one of my group member’s, decided to go MIA and not contribute his part in the project. It is irritating to just get him to finish up his work and the worst part was, he doesn’t seem to care! So now, I’ve got to manage my ANGER and CONFLICT at the same time! In a sense, I do feel that I’m like the Fox, ever compromising, I will sacrifice part of my goals and relationships in order to reach an agreement. I’ve also used Kare Anderson’s model for conflict resolution, using the four steps, I’ve managed to come to an agreement with my group member and able to complete the project in due time.

§ How satisfied were you with the way you and your team managed the group assignment and conflict encountered?

We were thoroughly satisfied with the way we managed our group assignment and also the way we counter our conflicts within the group. We were able to plan our tasks efficiently and delegate our work effectively, doing the LMS roleplay is not an easy task even though it looks like one, we need to incorporate different elements from what we’ve learnt in LMS and put it into practice. It was definitely a fun experience and I wouldn’t mind doing it all over again! Erm, in other words, by saying that, it doesn’t mean that I want to fail my LMS though! Hahaha..

§ What problems did you face with regard to time and priority management? How successful have you been in managing your time and priorities?

Like I said in the first point, I’m not one to prioritize my time well but using the Activity Log in Unit 2 – Time & Priority Management, I’ve been able to managed my time well and prioritize important stuff like doing my tutorials, having the time to study, doing my projects, and eliminating the unimportant things from my life. In a way, yes, I think that I’ve been successful in managing my time and priorities well.

§ What is your idea of success?
My idea of success is having a healthy family, a great group of friends, able to make my parents proud. This things are priceless and I value them a lot, success for me, is not measured by how rich you are but how rich you are as a person. The ability to make someone’s day or help a person in need, that for me is success.

§ How have you developed as a person through this module?
I’ve become an overall, better person through this module, what I loved about this module is that you can apply it in your everyday life. (There’s a reason why it’s called ‘Life Management Skills’ right? Hehe) I’ve learnt to be more patient, because I flare up easily, the relaxation techniques e.g. breathing exercises do help! I’ve learnt to channel my anger in a much more positive way and I won’t mind to lend a listening ear to a friend in need. What I learnt about managing conflicts in a project group, I can apply it when I’m in the real world, in the workforce, etc, etc. These life lessons I’ll take with me till the last days of my life.