Project Reflection

 

This project has taught me a number of things; one being how important communication is, especially when you are trying to complete something in a timely manner. Staying in constant contact with everyone involved in a project can make the whole process run so much smoother and can help you avoid a headache in the future. Providing memos to your supervisor every so often allows them to track your progress and stay in the loop of what you are doing. This is especially helpful when you and your supervisor do not see each other every day, similar to my situation with my Handbook project.

 

In terms of working with others, there are several things I have learned from this experience that I will keep in mind moving forward in my career. First, everyone is different. A simple concept, but one that I think is too often taken for granted. No two people are exactly the same; they may have different likes, different dislikes, different ways of communicating, different motivators, different fears, different aspirations, etc. The point being, you can not treat every person the same way and be successful, at least in my experience. Every person requires a unique way of engaging with them. Second, understanding your own goals and values is critical, especially when trying to complete a project. Self-leadership and finding ways to motivate yourself can have lasting effects on your team and your performance. Over the course of my Handbook project, there were times when I lacked the motivation to finish a certain step or begin a different task. At this point, I thought deeply about my extrinsic and intrinsic motivators as well as potential consequences of falling behind in the project and so was able to pull myself together and focus with renewed energy. This process is also beneficial when trying to motivate teammates or employees to complete their work.

 

Finally, this project has taught me the power behind being authentic and respectful of others. It was amazing to see how differently people reacted to me when I was being genuine versus when I was putting on a face and acting like more than I was. People, especially people you work with, don’t have time to try to see past a façade and guess at your intentions, which is why the most efficient way to work with a team is to state your intentions clearly and honestly and always be respectful towards others. I found this to be an absolute truth in my own project. At first, it seems easier to act in a way that you think your coworkers will like, but in my experience, simply being yourself is the best way to gain respect and to show others you are there to contribute. Giving respect is equally as important. To me, the quote “respect is earned” is a detrimental idea that does nothing to foster collaboration in the workplace. In my opinion, respect is something that everyone is deserving of right away.

 

Overall, this project has continued to help me develop as a leader and has reinforced my core values: communication, authenticity, and respect. I look forward to contributing these strengths to every organization I am a part of and to aid others in pursuing these traits as well.