Steps to Success Step 1: Realising My Potential
Personal & Interpersonal Effectiveness
Name : __________________ Class : ___________________
Ver 2.1 (Jan 2007)
What is Steps to Success? Welcome Aboard! You are at your first step to success. At ITE College East, the Steps to Success programme will take you through the five steps namely, Step Step Step Step Step
1: 2: 3: 4: 5:
Realising My Potential Shooting For Goals Connecting Well With Others; and Being Entrepreneurial Serving My Country & Global Community
Steps to Success is designed to provide you with the necessary lifeskills so that you will graduate with the three “P”s: • Professional – in your field of work • Primed – adaptable for the challenges that lie ahead in the knowledge-based world of work; and • Purpose-driven – focused on the mission statement for your life.
Step 1: Realising My Potential
They say that life is a journey and not a destination. They say that it is the process that is more important than the product. They say that the learning is more important than the outcome. Say what they will. For me, I know that the road ahead is not always a straight one. There will be meanders, unexpected turns. And what sometimes appears as a straight path may in fact be a slow turning point in my life. Come what may, I know that to me, realising my potential is important as when I do leave this earth one day, I will have no regrets and will be able to say with confidence that indeed I have lived my life worthy of my calling.
Unit
Contents
Page
1.
Knowing Myself
1
2.
Think and Live Positively
11
Mind Over Matter
27
4.
Effective Learning Strategies
37
5.
Money Matters
47
6.
Working With Others
57
3.
I Know Who I Am ☆ My Roles and Responsibilities ☆ Self-Image ☆ My Builders, My Nightmares ☆ Overcoming Adversities ☆ Stress – Is It Good or Bad? ☆ Anger Management
DISC Personality Profile ☆ Mirror, Mirror On the Wall ☆ Case Study 1: Mark the Bod ☆ Case Study 2: Shaken! ☆ My Self Worth ☆Life and Self ☆ Talking to Yourself ☆ Support for Self Esteem ☆ Response to Criticisms ☆ Handling Mistakes
Proactive Vs Reactive Behaviour ☆ Being Proactive ☆ Hierarchy of Needs ☆ Needs Vs Wants ☆ Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation ☆ Case Study – Darren ☆Effective Goals ☆ Setting Goals ☆ A Call to Action!!! ☆ Manage Time Effectively ☆ Techniques of Time Management ☆ Case Study – Helping Johnny
VAK - Your Preferred Learning Style ☆ DISC - Personality Types & Learning ☆ Mind Mapping ☆ Constructing A Mind Map☆ Mnemonics
Setting My Financial Goals ☆ Money Comes, Money Goes ☆ Spending Patterns ☆ Why Budget? ☆ Income and Expenditure Statement ☆ Saving Money ☆ Debt Management
Exploring Team Vs Group ☆ Power of Teamwork ☆ Roles of a Leader ☆ Leadership Styles ☆ The Alpha Zone ☆ Exploring Culture ☆ Exploring Cultural Differences ☆ Observing & Appreciating Difference ☆ The Cross- Cultural Iceberg ☆ Improving Cross-Cultural Communication ☆ Dimensions of CrossCultural Communication ☆ Common Causes of Cross-Cultural Conflicts ☆ Resolving Cross-Cultural Conflicts
Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 1: Knowing Myself
The view of a high tension pylon directly from the underside is not something which we see everyday. From within, the structure looks complicated. But on closer examination, we can see beyond the complexity. A sense of order. Symmetry. Stability. Our lives may sometimes look like that. And hence we wonder if it is a mess or are they threads that have been woven intricately together? The great philosopher Socrates once said “Know Thyself!�. This is because strength comes from looking within ourselves. It comes from first knowing ourselves. Who we are and what we want to do with our lives. And so the questions:
Do we really know ourselves? Do we see ourselves everyday? In this unit, you will begin to explore the inner landscape of your life and seek to uncover the truths within yourself:
What are my strengths? My weaknesses? Who are the builders and nightmares in my life? How do I build rapport with others? How do I overcome adversities? How do I manage stress? Knowing ourselves is the first stride towards a smooth journey in life.
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 1: Knowing Myself
I Know Who I Am
I’m
Good
at …
I feel
I
I need to
improve
on …
worry most about.......................
most satisfied when I get to ____________________
My greatest
To me, being
fear
is: .......................
successful is ___________________
2
Step 1: Realising My Potential
The
Unit 1: Knowing Myself
important
areas in my life . . .
(1 = most important, 5 = Not as important) Family
Friends
Studies
When I
Entertainment
Myself
disagree with someone, I usually .......................
I ______________________________________________
when someone disagrees with me even though I was in the
RIGHT.
I am
Being
alone
means ...................
motivated by
_____________________
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 1: Knowing Myself
My Roles & Responsibilities Roles and responsibilities are part and parcel of life. As we grow, we take on more roles and responsibilities, whether we like them or not. New responsibilities are attached with each role. It is good to list the roles we play and take into account the corresponding responsibilities. My role: Student Responsibility: • To give 100% effort in the things that I do. • Pass with merit in my exam.
My role: Responsibility:
My role: Responsibility:
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 1: Knowing Myself
Self-Image Everyone thinks of changing the world but no one thinks of changing himself. Leo Tolstoy
Which option would you choose? Option 1: Extreme Makeover A group of experienced cosmetic surgeons are looking for ITE students for a new surgical procedure. Free. No pain. Almost any change you want … It’s a makeover of a lifetime!
Option 2: Remain as You Are You choose to remain as what you are and how you look. You know you would still lead a better life even without a make-over. Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! The choices you make, the way you think, feel, what you say and do are closely linked to your self image. Our successes and failures in life are related to our self image.
My Views, My Opinions “Self image determines the success in our life”. Discuss.
Self image is ……….
…………………………………………………………………………
• Is how you feel about yourself physically and otherwise
…………………………………………………………………………
•
……………….……………….……………….……………….………
•
.……………….……………….……………….……………….……
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 1: Knowing Myself
My Builders, My Nightmares Do you remember a time when your teacher said something to you that made your day? Was there also a time when your teacher said something that broke your spirit? The things that people say and do to us often shape the way we see ourselves. More often than not, it is the opinions of those whom we love and respect that tend to have a long term impact on us. This is because we value who they are and what they say. A builder encourages and makes a person stronger. A nightmare makes one feel uncomfortable or even shatters one to pieces. What builds you? What breaks you? In this activity, list some of the builders and nightmares in your life. BUILDERS
NIGHTMARES
Which would you rather have? Nightmares or Builders? Why?
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 1: Knowing Myself
Overcoming Adversities MONEY
STRESS MISUNDERSTANDINGS
BEING BULLIED
ANGER
FAILURES NOT BEING RECOGNIZED
Life is a series of problems. Do we want to moan about them or solve them? ~ M. Scott Peck ~
It is common to have adversities in life. What are some of your current adversities in life? How can you overcome them? Taking Steps Towards Overcoming Adversity STEPS
THINGS TO DO….
Adversity: Here to Break Us or Make Us? 7
Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 1: Knowing Myself
Stress – Is it Good or Bad? Are you under stress? Find out by answering the questions with YES or NO. (This assessment is not meant to replace a clinical assessment but as a checklist to how you are doing.) 1. Do you often feel tired even when you get enough sleep?
________
2. Do you get irritated easily?
________
3. Do you often neglect your diet?
________
4. Do you neglect exercise most of the time?
________
5. Do you try to do everything yourself?
________
6. Do you often spend a lot of time complaining about the past? ________ 7. Do you always get angry when you are kept waiting?
________
8. Do you have only a few supportive relationships?
________
9. Do you feel lonely all the time?
________
10. Do you often feel at loss and not sure what to do next?
________
Mostly YES = Something needs to be done. Mostly NO = Good control. Well done!
Does stress ever do us good? 8
Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 1: Knowing Myself
You chance upon this note in your best buddy’s book. Your buddy does not realize you saw the note. What would you do?
Mom & Dad, I’m not sure when will you see this note. Please do not cry nor feel sad. I tried my best. I know I am not a good child. Please be happy. Sis, Sorry for always picking fight with you. I apologize. Please take care of mom & dad after I left. Love always,
Warning signs of SUICIDE: • Talking about ‘leaving’ • Staying away from family & friends • Talking about ending his or her own life in general • Losing interest in favourite activities • Having difficulty in concentrating • Experiencing changes in eating or sleeping habits
When emotions are managed by the heart, they heighten your awareness of the world around you and add sparkle to life. The result is new intelligence and a new view of life. Just be sincere in your efforts and appreciate the progress you make, not expecting to be free from unpleasant emotions all at once. Each success builds more power and excitement. It gets easier as you go. When long-standing emotional issues lose some of their intensity and importance, things won't bother you as much. Doc Childre and Howard Martin The HeartMath Solution 9
Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 1: Knowing Myself
Anger Management Anger is "an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage," according to Charles Spielberger, PhD, a psychologist who specialises in the study of anger. Like other emotions, it is accompanied by physiological and biological changes. When you get angry, your heart rate and blood pressure go up, as do the levels of your energy hormones and adrenaline. Anger can be caused by both external and internal events. You can be angry at a specific person (such as a friend or a stranger) or an event (eg a cancelled appointment when you are just about to leave home for it). Your anger can also be caused by worrying or brooding about your personal or someone else’s problems. Dear Uncle Kracker, I get angry easily and I am always the one who flares up the quickest. It usually ends with a loud scream from me. Am I abnormal? Susan Imagine you are Uncle Kracker, the counselor. How would you advise Susan?
In this unit, I have learnt ‌
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 2: Think and Live Positively
Awareness is not a giver of solace - it is just the opposite. It is a disturber and an awakener. Able leaders are usually sharply awake and reasonably disturbed. They are not seekers after solace. They have their own inner serenity. Robert Greenleaf
Is the sunflower complete? When given a cup that is filled to the middle, do we say it is half full or half empty? Our perception shapes our reality. How we view the world determines how we respond to it. By nature, perception is unavoidably selective because we cannot see everything from every angle, all of the time. But we can choose to be more aware of the possibility of different views and how together they make a more complete picture of reality. To Greenleaf, awareness is not comforting. It can disturb us. But it also awakens us to the realities of life. How then do we have that inner serenity which he talks about? The answer:
Think and Live Positively! In this unit, you will continue journeying on the road to self discovery. In it, you will gain insights as you search for your answers to these questions:
What is my DISC personality type like? How do I truly view myself? What is self esteem? How do I increase my self esteem? What is my first response to criticism? How should I handle criticism? What can I learn from my past mistakes? How do I RISE from my mistakes?
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 2: Think and Live Positively
Personality Profile All of us are different and unique. We have our strengths and also areas for improvement. DISC is a personality profiling instrument. It is a tool for us to be aware of ourselves when we are in a particular situation. The situation could be in our home environment, the school setting or even in the work context. There are no wrong or right, good or bad profiles .
Discuss your DISC profiling with your lecturer and your friends. My personality profile:
……………………………
DOMINANT INFLUENCING
STEADY COMPLIANT
Working it Out You are placed in a team to work on a project. The members include Zufar, Susila, Justin and Cheng Hu. Everyone in the class likes Zufar. He is sociable and helpful. However, he can get touchy when others criticize him. As he is a loyal and good worker, the members don’t mind having him around. Susila, like a lot of girls, loves to talk and she is very humorous. She has her way with getting things done and the members find her very creative. Unfortunately, she can be quite careless with details. Some of the team members find Cheng Hu bossy at times. That is because he is always on the ball and he likes to get things done well and on time. Cheng Hu and Justin are best friends. Justin is very resourceful and meticulous. He always gives in to Cheng Hu’s argumentative attitude.
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 2: Think and Live Positively
You are the project leader, identify the DISC profile types of the team. Zufar: ……………………… Susila: ………………………… Cheng Hu: …………………..
Justin: ………………………
The team needs a researcher, an editor, a project designer and a presenter. Knowing your profiles: each person’s strengths and weaknesses, how can you assign the right person to the right task? Give reasons for your decision. As a project leader, how will you guide the team member? Zufar’s task: ……………………………….………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………
As the project leader …………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………
Susila’s task: …………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………
As the project leader, …………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………… 13
Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 2: Think and Live Positively
Cheng Hu’s task: ……………………………………….……………………… …………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………
As the project leader, …………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………
Justin’s task: …………………………...…………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………
As the project leader, I will …………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………
Yourself …………………………………………………………………..…… ………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………… As the project leader, ………………………………………………………………………..… ………………………………………….. 14
Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 2: Think and Live Positively
Mirror Mirror On the Wall… When you look into the mirror, what do you see? Write down at least five words to describe what you see. Review the words you have written.
What are your feelings and thoughts about these words?
Do you get a high or do you feel miserable?
The way you see, picture and judge yourself depends on your level of self esteem. Self esteem is a personal verdict of yourself. It is the extent of how capable, worthy and lovable a person you feel you are. It is your personal reality check.
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Case Study : Mark the Bod
Unit 2: Think and Live Positively
What do you think is happening to Mark?
Mark loves to hear people comment about his body. He makes it a point to work out at the gym three times a week. While watching TV, he will do push-ups or squeeze his hand grips. Girls love his well-toned and firm body and the boys envy him. He loves to look at himself in the mirror and admire his body. Each time he does so, he will always feel that more work needs to be done on his body.
What do you think happened to the tennis players?
Case Study: Shaken ! There is this story about a famous American tennis player, A. A was playing against G at a European tournament in 2001. He was on the winning streak into the second set. When a former US President arrived, A was totally taken aback. He didn’t play as well as he should and lost the next two sets to his opponent. The President was disappointed and left. Immediately, A started to improve. But when the President returned, A fumbled again. Finally, his opponent won the match. A’s confidence was shaken by a greater personality.
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 2: Think and Live Positively
My Self Worth Comes from knowing…
Know thyself ! Socrates
List your attributes
Life and Self What are some possible ways the levels of self esteem can impact life? A person with HIGH self esteem…
A person with LOW self esteem…
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 2: Think and Live Positively
Examine these words. Do you recognise some of the characteristics of high (H) or low (L) levels of self-esteem? Categorise them accordingly.
Argumentative
Confused
Humble
Independent
Confident
Respectful
Selfish
Critical
Disciplined
Aggressive
Blaming
Pessimistic
Arrogant
Positive
Lonely
Responsible
Decent
Caring
Recognising and being aware of these traits will help us better appreciate ourselves and people around us. The aim is not to put ourselves down or to make us look good. Rather, it is one way we can improve ourselves or to understand the people around us better. Studies have show that the self-esteem levels affect the successes we have in life. People with high self–esteem tend to recover from critical life moments better. They will still be affected by loss of loved ones and other difficult times. The difference is that they get on with life earlier and easier.
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 2: Think and Live Positively
People manifest their self esteem levels through the way they live their lives. Talk about the following questions and the role self esteem level plays in each situation.
…do voluntary work or are activists for animal rights and such?
…sacrifice their lives for loved ones or strangers?
…abuse drugs or have unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking?
…take their own lives and/or lives of others? …bully or are abusive and violent?
…work and build careers?
…commit to each other in marriage?
Positive self esteem is a solid foundation that provides us with the energy to stand on our own, especially in our hours of darkness. It is the force behind the ‘never say die’ attitude. It can be the armour to shield us against the harsher realities of life.
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 2: Think and Live Positively
Talking To Yourself… Self talk is an inner voice in all of us. Self talk can affect our self esteem.
You did a great job! You Made a
BIG Mistake!!
Self talk can be positive or negative. Positive self talk is like a personal angel. Whenever you feel negative, convert it into something positive. Give yourself the encouraging strokes and support you deserve. You will enjoy life and successes more. How would you change these to positive strokes? 1. I don’t know what to do? ___________________________________________________________ 2. I am nosy. ___________________________________________________________ 3. I am odd. ___________________________________________________________ 4. I can’t catch up. ___________________________________________________________ 5. I am no good with this subject. ___________________________________________________________ 6. I am too emotional. ___________________________________________________________ 20
Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 2: Think and Live Positively
Support For Self Esteem According to Dr Louise Hart, a psychologist and author, she believes that self esteem grows from… •
L___________ and being loved
•
Accepting and being a__________
•
Being taken s____________
•
Having n__________ fulfilled
•
Being r__________ and being respected
•
Appreciating u_______________
•
Living h___________and being fit
•
Having a meaningful and p_________ life
•
Having a sense of h___________ and being playful
•
Being proud of your h____________
•
Having c___________ and personal power
•
Feeling safe and s_____________
•
Doing g_________
•
Knowing your c______________
•
Having a_________________ in life
Self-esteem creates natural highs. Knowing that you’re lovable helps you to love more. Knowing that you’re important helps you to make a difference to others. Knowing that you’re capable empowers you to create more. Knowing that you’re valuable and that you have a special place in the universe is a serene spiritual joy in itself. Louise Hart (20th century), U.S. psychologist, educator
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 2: Think and Live Positively
Response to Criticisms You are all set to improve your self image, increase your self esteem and change to a more positive attitude, then someone comes up to you and say,
How do you usually respond when others disapprove of you and things that you do? Tick any of the box(es) that describes your reaction(s)…
Become defensive
Retaliate in kind… criticise your friend in return
Become stubborn, refuse to listen
Take revenge
Counterattack violently
Sulk
Ignore, pretend nothing happened
Make fun of yourself
Withdraw
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 2: Think and Live Positively
The first five items indicates aggressive reactions
………………
The last four items are more passive responsive behaviours ….…………… Both types of responses can be unhealthy. No matter how awful you feel, it is good to confront your critics with gratefulness.
Who are our worst critics? What do you think is the link between criticisms and our level of self esteem?
To Handle Criticisms, A______________________ Show that you have heard your critic. A_____________________ Get your critic to tell what he means through questioning, clarifications or get him to cite examples. A_____________________ Talk about the part of the criticism you agree with. A_____________________ Ask for permission to give your responses; apologise, explain, get suggestions, thank the person or even disagree tactfully if the feedback is destructive.
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Handling Mistakes Do you know of any person who has never made a mistake in their lives? Case Study: Ricco Ricco and his friends had just celebrated his girlfriend’s birthday with some friends. They had some drinks and wanted to take a taxi home. But Ricco insisted that he would drive them home. He told his friends that he was more sober than the rest of them and they were safe in his hands. Unfortunately, after dropping two friends off and on the way to his girlfriend’s home, Ricco met with an accident.
Unit 2: Think and Live Positively
We all make mistakes. Expect mistakes. We don’t intend to make mistakes. We don’t like to make mistakes. Most of us want to make up for the mistakes made. We want to learn from our mistakes. We improve our performance after correcting our mistakes.
What went wrong? ……………………………………………… ……………………………………………… ……………………………………………… ……………………………………………… ………………………………………………
Sadly, his front seat passenger, his girlfriend died on the spot. Ricco only sustained minor injuries. A year has passed. The accident still haunts him. He does not party anymore. He does not respond to his friends’ calls and does not communicate with his family. His studies are affected. Ricco is totally miserable. If only he did not…
……………………………………………… ……………………………..…… What can be done? ……………………………………………… ……………………………………………… ………………………………………………
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 2: Think and Live Positively
Think of some of the mistakes you have made. How did they affect your life? ……………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………
Always remember:
………………………………………………………………………
Some people live and learn, and some live only.
……………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………..…...
If you had handled them differently, would your life have been better or worse? How has your level of self esteem been affected? ……………………………………………………………………
Wise people learn from their mistakes – wiser people learn from others’ mistakes.
…………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………
A man who has committed a mistake and doesn't correct it, is committing another mistake.
…………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 2: Think and Live Positively
Most of us have our own way of dealing with mistakes and learning from them. After you have made a mistake, big or small, don’t falter and don’t give up.
R______________________ It’s only a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes; it can be a harmless error or a critical accident.
I_______________________ Admit it and if possible, apologise. For every action we do, there will be consequences. Expect them and accept whatever comes your way. It is your responsibility to make good of the mistake. It takes a lot of courage and humility to face the consequences. Be patient with yourself and with the person/s you hurt.
S______________________ Look back at the mistake and study the events that led you to err. Then, try as best as you can to prevent or even avoid from making the same mistake again.
E______________________ You admitted your mistake and did whatever you can to make up for it. Put the mistake behind you. Go forward. Learn valuable lessons and grow as a person. Move on.
Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life. Laughing at someone else's can shorten it. Cullen Hightower
In this unit, I have learnt …
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 3: Mind Over Matter
win¡dow (n) : an opening constructed in a wall or roof that functions to admit light or air to an enclosure and is often framed and spanned with glass mounted to permit opening and closing. www.dictionary.com
The mind functions just like a window. It opens our perspective to events around us. It frames the beliefs we have about ourselves and the people whom we work with. The mind is the driver in our life. It is the most powerful tool we need in order to realise our potential. If we believe it, we can achieve it. It is mind over matter. Embracing the right mindset will take us one step closer towards being effective, personally and interpersonally.
In this unit, you will learn about the traits of an effective person. Specifically, you will explore answers to:
What is proactive behaviour? How can I be more proactive? Why is setting goals important in life? How should I set my life goals? What is the difference between needs and wants? What motivates me? What are big rocks and small pebbles? How do I manage my time effectively?
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 3: Mind Over Matter
Proactive Vs Reactive Behaviour Read the scenario below where two friends express how they are feeling. Mary says, “My new teacher stinks. I am going to fail for this unit.”
James says, “My girlfriend makes me mad. She asks me too many questions every time I go out with my friends. She is so suspicious. I feel so hurt!
• Are they being proactive or reactive? Why? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------• In your opinion, could Mary and James control the way they had responded? What could they have done differently? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------• In your view, what’s the relationship between choice and control? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------28
Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 3: Mind Over Matter
Being Proactive According to Sean Covey, (author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, 1998), there are two types of behaviours in this world. The proactive - those who take responsibilities for their lives and make things happen. The reactive - those who blame others and who get happened to. Proactive people make choices base on values. They are aware that they cannot control everything that happens to and around them. But they also know what is within their control, and what they can or cannot do about it. Reactive people, on the other hand make choices base on impulse. They allow the situation to control them and they wallow in fate. They believe that they have been made victims by circumstances. They get angry easily, blame others and regret later.
Benefits of embracing proactive behaviour include …
Can I be proactive? What is the first thing I should do to be proactive?
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 3: Mind Over Matter
Hierarchy of Needs According to the psychologist Abraham Maslow, human beings are motivated by needs. He developed the Hierarchy of Needs theory that explains the different levels of need. This theory shows how basic needs must first be met before the higher order needs can be satisfied. The 5 levels of needs are: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Needs Vs Wants • What is the difference between needs and wants? • Which is more immediate? • Which is more critical? • Which is more life sustaining?
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation Motivation is a desire that makes us want to behave or perform in a particular way. It is a PUSH that comes from within(intrinsic) or can be influenced by external factors(extrinsic). • What motivates or pushes you through to the next step when the going gets tough? • Why did you come to ITE? • What sustains you, motivates you to continue with the course?
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Case Study: Darren Darren’s parents left him, as a young toddler, to the care of his grandparents. His grandfather was a delivery clerk and his grandmother, a housewife. His grandfather was always out at work and returned home very late. His grandmother, a housewife, enjoyed playing mah-jong. She would either invite her friends to play at home or would be at her neighbours’ mah-jong games. When the sessions were at home, Darren would be the errand boy; going to the hawker’s centre to buy food for his grandmother and her friends or he would be serving them drinks.
Unit 3: Mind Over Matter
What would you do if you were Darren, trying to cope with studies in his grandparents’ home? -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What would you do if you were Darren? Mah-jong games can be very distracting and noisy so Darren could hardly concentrate on his school work. So when there were games, he would sleep. However, when everyone has left, he would wake up and do his homework and study under the torchlight. While his cousins were out with their friends, he would always return home. His performance at school never faltered. When he needed a computer to work on, his grandfather worked extra hard and he did part-time work during holidays so that they could have a set. Darren moved on from a neighbourhood secondary school to a local polytechnic. He knew that finances would be a problem if he wanted to proceed to higher education. He studied hard and got good results. With the good performance and conduct, he was given a special bursary. This took him through his polytechnic education and was also recommended to work in a prestigious company. He worked and saved some money and proceeded to Australia for a degree course. After his degree, he continued to work in Australia. Today, Darren has returned to Singapore and works as a computer expert for an MNC.
What motivated Darren to persevere and pursue his studies in higher education when the financial situation was less than encouraging? -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What do you think prompted Darren to return to work in Singapore? -------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------31
Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 3: Mind Over Matter
Effective Goals To will is to select a goal, determine a course of action that will bring one to that goal, and then hold to that action till the goal is reached. The key is action. Michael Hanson
It is important to set goals in life because...
Getting SMART! A guide to achieving one’s goals. SMART stands for
S = M= A = R = T =
………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………
Identify the goals that are SMART. Circle the appropriate numbers. 1.
I want to buy a bicycle.
2.
I want to save $100 by the end of this month.
3.
To get a motor bike license by the end of 2007.
4.
To buy a gift for my friend’s birthday.
5.
To get 60 marks for my Maths Test at the end this month.
6.
To be able to swim.
7.
To be able to swim a 50 m freestyle within 2 minutes by this Saturday.
8.
I want to bake a cake for my aunt’s birthday which falls on Teachers’ Day.
9.
I want to bake a fruit cake for my aunt’s birthday which falls on Teachers’ Day.
10. I want to be able to type 80 wpm by the end of this course. 32
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Setting Goals Goal Setting is an ongoing process. It is a powerful process only if you honestly believe in yourself. The question you should ask yourself is: Is this goal really what you want to have, to be or to do? Choose an area in your life which you want to make changes in (eg physical appearance, education, finances), then write a SMART goal statement.
A Call to Action!!! • Why would you want to achieve this goal? List as many reasons as you can. The more you list, the more likely you will want to achieve it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------• What would be some resistance you may face along the way? Identify these potential obstacles. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------• What would be some knowledge, skills and attitudes that you must have? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------• What would be some proactive steps you should take? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------• Who are some people whose cooperation you would require from? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------33
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Manage Time Effectively • What is Time Management? --------------------------------------------------------------
Below are some time related quotations. Create your own quotable quote with regards to the value of time. How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
-------------------------------------------------------------
• List the benefits of Time Management
Time and tide waits for no man.
--------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Techniques of Time Management Have you ever managed to complete what you promised to complete on time? How was that possible? Share with the class about this time management experience.
Daily Log What are some of daily tasks that you do? What was your schedule for yesterday like? Write the activities that you did yesterday in the table below. Activities
Time Taken
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Unit 3: Mind Over Matter
Prioritising Tasks Important
Not Important
Urgent
Not Urgent
Helping Johnny Johnny has a number of tasks that he has set out to do. This is his “To Do List�. i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii.
Final revision for Theory exam Need to get a haircut Pay phone bills that is overdue by one day Write a card to a friend overseas Sales at Metro. First day. Shop for a T-shirt Go to the gym Complete and submit coursework project for assessment Make appointment to meet up with ex-classmates.
Johnny cannot do everything within a day. Can you identify his big rocks and pebbles? Then, help him prioritise his activities so that he can meet the deadlines. Priority A (Important and Urgent)
Priority B (Important but Not Urgent)
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To get work done on time, one has to remember to do the time sensitive tasks first. Then move on to tasks that are less important. Spend less time on less important and non time sensitive tasks.
Now draw a similar “To Do” list for tomorrow. In your next lesson, share with your class how successful you had been at prioritising your tasks.
Things to Do Tomorrow…. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
What are your views about this statement: “Time management is all about managing the hour, minutes and seconds.”?
In this unit, I have learnt …
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Unit 4: Effective Learning Strategies
The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. Alvin Toffler
In this knowledge based economy, we must never stop learning. Learning is about being aware of what we are learning, how we are learning and how well we are learning. For this unit, you will learn about learning. You will explore questions such as:
What is my preferred learning style? How does my personality impact the learning conditions?
What are some learning techniques that would be effective for me Finally, children learn best when they are having fun. Adults, young and old, are no different. When we enjoy the learning, we will learn better and faster. Have fun as you learn how to learn!
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VAK QUIZ
Unit 4: Effective Learning Strategies
Instructions: Tick the boxes where the accompanying sentence best describes you. □ 1. Can assemble almost anything without help when using printed or pictured instructions. □ 2. Loves to communicate; talks a lot. □ 3. High-energy person; rarely sits still. □ 4. Closes eyes when memorizing or remembering. □ 5. In spare time, enjoys listening to CD, tape player, or radio. □ 6. Moves with music. □ 7. Good at working with or solving jigsaw puzzles. □ 8. Remembers television commercials, jingles, and songs after hearing them once or twice. □ 9. Like to touch everything he or she sees; likes to feel the texture of things. □ 10. Likes to see what he or she is learning. □ 11. Hears oral instructions and follows them quickly. □ 12. When angry or upset, shows feelings more with body language; reacts physically like stomping out of room. □ 13. In spare time, prefers to watch television or a movie, or play a video game. □ 14. Does better in academic subjects by listening to lectures and tapes and discussing materials than just reading about it. □ 15. Learns best when he or she can directly experience, or perform. □ 16. Looking neat and wearing colour-coordinated clothing is important. □ 17. More likely to read aloud or sub-vocalize when learning.
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□ 18. Restless and inattentive when he or she has to sit for long periods and listen to lecture. □ 19. Can better understand things by reading about them rather than listening. □ 20. Has difficulty reading diagrams or maps unless someone explains them to him or her. □ 21. Often uses fingers to count off items or write in the air. □ 22. Thinks the best way to remember something is to picture it in his or her mind’s eyes. □ 23. Likes to use free time to talk to others in person or on the phone. □ 24. Appreciates physical affection and encouragement such as a hug or pat on the back.
KEY: If you have ticked mostly 1,4,7,10,13,16,19,22, you are a VISUAL learner. If you have ticked mostly 2,5,8,11,14,17,20,23, you are an AUDITORY learner. If you have ticked mostly 3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24, you are a KINESTHETIC learner.
Source: Cheri Fuller., Unlocking Your Child’s Learning Potential, 1994, Colorado Springs, USA.
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VAK – Your Preferred Learning Style
Unit 4: Effective Learning Strategies
Generally, all of us have a preferred learning style, based on the manner we use our senses to receive and process information. The three modes of perception include: Visual Auditory Kinesthetic
Receiving information through our eyes Receiving information through our ears Receiving information through our bodies or sense of touch
The crucial thing about becoming a better learner is to be able to adapt your learning style to benefit your absorption of knowledge in various learning situations. Based on your learning style, list the ways in which you can learn better.
VISUAL AUDITORY
KINESTHETIC
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DISC – Personality Types and Learning You have already noted that we have individual learning styles. We have studied our individual DISC personality type. Our personality types may complement our learning strategies, if we are able to maximise our strengths sufficiently. They are:
DOMINANT STEADY
INSPIRING COMPLIANT
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Mind Mapping Mindmapping is popularized by Tony Buzan, an international expert on memory and learning. It is a powerful tool that we may use to improve the way one take notes and increase our ability to learn effectively. They engage learners to lay out the structure of a topic in a two-dimensional manner, providing a clear shape for easy recall. It is even more effective if the learner has coded the information applying striking images. Mindmaps are useful for: • Summarizing information • Problem solving • Presenting information that shows the overall structure of your subject What do you associate with the following images? Loyal
Affectionate
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Constructing a Mind Map Create a mind map on a topic of a module you are taking this semester.
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Mnemonics Mnemonic is a very general word, which comes from the Greek mnemonikós, which refers to the mind. Mnemonic is a memory tool that assists learners to recall information more effectively. ACRONYMS Many mnemonics take the form of acronyms. To recall the spelling of the word “mnemonic”, one could memorise the following phrase: Monkey Nut Eating Means Old Nutshells In Carpet. Taking the initial letters of each word spells out MNEMONIC. It is more learnerfriendly to learn such sentences for words with tricky spellings. Students and professionals who need to learn academic, technical or medical terms with complicated spelling will benefit from this form of spelling acronym. Can you suggest some examples from your course of study? Word __________________________________ Phrase
_________________________________________________________
There is a closely related mnemonic technique that also uses the initial letters of a phrase. Each initial corresponds to a word beginning with the same letter. Such mnemonics are generally used to memorise the order of a list of items. With a simple mnemonic such as the one below, recalling this can be very simple: My Very Easy Method: Just Set Up Nine Planets. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto. RHYMES Another technique comes in the form of rhymes. The following reminds people of the number of days in each month of the year: Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November; All the rest have thirty-one Excepting February alone: Which hath but twenty-eight, in fine, Till leap year gives it twenty-nine.
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LINK AND STORY METHOD Another commonly used technique to recall a list of items is the link and story method. Simply make associations between items in a list, linking them with a vivid image containing the items. Taking the first image, create a connection between it, the next item and so forth. The Story Method links items together with a memorable story featuring them. The flow of the story gives you the cues for retrieval. An example using the link and story method is demonstrated below: To remember this list of counties in the South of England: Avon, Dorset, Somerset, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Devon, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, and Surrey. An AVON lady is walking up a path towards a strange house. She is hot and sweating slightly in the heat of high SUMMER (Somerset). Beside the path someone has planted giant CORN in a WALL (Cornwall), but it's beginning to WILT (Wiltshire) in the heat. She knocks on the DOoR (Dorset), which is opened by the DEVil (Devon). In the background she can see a kitchen in which a servant is smearing honey on a HAM (Hampshire), making it GLOSsy (Gloucestershire) and gleam in bright sunlight streaming in through a window. Panicked by seeing the Devil, the Avon lady screams 'SoRRY' (Surrey), and dashes back down the path. Now, apply this knowledge to your core modules. Select one list of information from your core module and attempt to use this method to memorize the list accurately. In the space provided below, indicate the words that you have to remember and write a short story to link the words together for easy recall.
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Next, observe the pictures below and working in small groups, practice writing a story linking the items in the order indicated.
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Unit 5: Money Matters
Do you spend more than you earn? Do you manage your money or does money manage you? Surveys have shown that financially literate people tend to have bigger bank accounts because they know how to make their money work harder for them. They manage their money well and have peace of mind knowing that they are financially healthy. In this unit, you will understand the importance of managing your money. You will explore questions such as:
Why do I need to set financial goals? What are some of my SMART financial goals? Why do I need to budget? What is an income and expenditure statement? What are some ways to save money? How should I manage debts?
Remember: Take charge of your money or it will take charge of your life.
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Setting My Financial Goals Effective money management starts with setting your financial goals. Your financial goals should be:
S_________ eg I plan to save $500 to buy a motorbike
M_________ eg I am going to pay off my debts and save $300 by the end of this year.
A ________ to be taken eg I will save 50% of my salary from my part-time work every month
R_________ eg a student working part-time as a waiter or sales person is not likely to be able to afford a new car
Have a T___________ eg I plan to save $200 within the next 6 months
My $MART Financial Goals Goals
Rank
¥
______________________
______
¥
______________________
______
¥
______________________
______
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Goal # 1 : ____________________________________________________ What I can be doing now to work towards this goal: ________________________________________________________ The resources I need to achieve this goal are: ________________________________________________________
Goal # 2 : ____________________________________________________ What I can be doing now to work towards this goal: ________________________________________________________ The resources I need to achieve this goal are: ________________________________________________________
Goal # 3 : ____________________________________________________ What I can be doing now to work towards this goal: ________________________________________________________ The resources I need to achieve this goal are: ________________________________________________________
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Money Comes … Getting money is like digging with a needle; spending it is like water soaking into sand. Japanese proverb
My current source(s) of income are ______________________________
In the future, my other sources of income will be _________________ _________________________________________________________.
For me, to be financially independent means_______________________
$ $ … Money Goes Beware of little expenses: a small leak will sink a great ship. Benjamin Franklin
I spend most of my money on ____________________________________.
Before I buy something, I usually consider __________________________.
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Spending Patterns For the month of ____________, consider
What did I buy?
Where did I buy the items from?
How much did they cost? Item
Where I bought it from
Price
Buy ! Buy !
Bye $ By e $ Bye $
• Do I still use all of these items today? • Any
impulsive
buy?
A personal budget is a plan for s______________ and s________________. It tells us whether we are going in the right direction financially. It shows us exactly where our money goes and provides a spending plan that lets us save for things that are really important to us or our family.
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• It provides g______ for reaching our financial goals • It lets us c_______ our money instead of our money controlling us • It helps to create a v______ spending picture • It tells us if we are living within our m_____. Many of us don’t realize that we are living far beyond our means until we are deep in debt. • It helps us d________ what we can and cannot afford • It frees up s________ cash so that we can use our money on things that really matter to us • It reveals areas where we are spending too much money so that we can r________ on our most important goals • It can keep us out of d______ or help us get out of debt Wealth consists not in having great possessions but in having few wants. Epicurus
A
good budget has •
Categories that fit our p_________ s__________ and spending habits
•
Accurate i_________ p__________
•
Enough categories to give you a m__________ picture of where your money goes and where you might be able to cut costs
•
Includes expenses that don’t occur on a m_________ basis, such as auto maintenance, school fees, membership fees
•
Regular r________ of categories to determine if you need more or fewer
•
Cash expenditure t_________ and r__________
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Income and Expenditure Statement A simple income and expenditure statement contains information about the actual income and expenses you made for the month. Sometimes, we may incur expenses or receive income that had not been budgeted for. Record these ins and outs of your money in a notebook so that you can easily retrieve information when you are compiling your Income and Expenditure statement. My Income and Expenditure for the month ___________ (200__) Date
Income
Total
$
Date
Expenses
$
Total
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Saving Money We must save $$$ because
❊ emergencies do happen, eg, if you fall ill, become disabled, lose your job, or incur large medical expenses
❊ ❊ 10 Ways to SAVE money…
➊ ➋ ➌ ➍ ➎ ➏ ➐ ➑ ➒ ➓ A penny saved is a penny earned. Benjamin Franklin
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Debt Management I know I’m in financial trouble when:
And when I cannot pay my bills, I should …
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Case study 1: ‘Beware easy car credit debt’ 1. How did Christina manage to afford her first car? ____________________________________________________________________
2. What did she do to supplement her $2000 plus monthly income? ____________________________________________________________________
3. What was Christina’s financial situation at the peak of her credit spree? _____________________________________________________________________
4. How was Christina spared from being made a bankrupt? ____________________________________________________________________
Case Study 2: ‘He still has most of his $750,000 Toto win’ 1. What did Mr Lucky Winner do with his life savings of $100,000? ________________________________________________________________________
2. Why didn’t Mr Lucky Winner buy all the things he needs for his home? ________________________________________________________________________
3. How did Mr Lucky Winner spend his Toto money? ________________________________________________________________________
4. Does he need to support his wife? Why? ________________________________________________________________________
In this unit, I have learnt …
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Unit 6: Working With Others
Ever seen an ant at work? Ever seen ants work together? Ants are focused creatures. They never give up! They will climb over or under or around their obstacles in order to achieve their goals. Nothing can stop them in their tracks. Observe how they carry objects which are many times larger and heavier than themselves. A colony of ants provides a perfect example of teamwork and the synergistic benefits that can be realised when individually we work together selflessly towards a shared goal.
For this final unit, you will explore the themes on teamwork, leadership and relating with people from cultures different from your own. You will discover your answers to these questions:
Why is teamwork important? What must I do to be an effective team member? What are the roles of a leader? What are some leadership styles? What can I do to resolve conflicts? What is culture and what role does it play in my life? How can I appreciate and respect cultural diversities? What are some verbal and non-verbal (cross-cultural) dimensions? How can I communicate better across cultures?
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Exploring Team Vs Group No man is an island. Inevitably we will have to deal with people around us. One of the places that you will have to relate and work with people would be at the place where you work in the future. So it’s a good lead to start thinking about what teamwork is. But before we do that we really have to take a step back and ask “What’s a team?” and “Is it different from a group?” Let’s investigate…
Together Everybody Achieves More
Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together. Vesta Kelly
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Power Of Teamwork Have you ever tried to break a toothpick? Try it and you’ll find that it’s quite easy to break it. But what if you have to break a bunch of 100 toothpicks? Think it’ll still be easy to break them together as a bunch? Why don’t you try it?
Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. ~ Andrew Carnegie
Skills Of An Effective Team Member Teamplayer: One who unites others toward a shared destiny through sharing information and ideas, empowering others and developing trust. Dennis Kinlaw
Real teams don't emerge unless individuals on them take risks involving conflict, trust, interdependence and hard work. Katzenbach & Smith
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Roles Of A Leader
Blessed is the leader who seeks the best for those he serves. ~ Unknown
Leadership Styles People are different. Each person has a unique personality. Similarly, each will have different styles of leadership. So what is your leadership style? To find out do the “Leadership Style Questionnaire” and write down your leadership style below.
My leadership style is…
Leadership is not so much about technique and methods as it is about opening the heart. Leadership is about inspiration—of oneself and of others. Great leadership is about human experiences, not processes. Leadership is not a formula or a program, it is a human activity that comes from the heart and considers the hearts of others. It is an attitude, not a routine. Lance Secretan
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Now let’s look at what are the definitions for each style of leadership‌ Autocratic Leader
:
Democratic Leader
:
Laissez-faire or free reign :
Leadership Styles In Action Consider each scenario and decide which is the best Leadership Style to use. Scenarios 1
The team has to organise a year-end party for the company.
2
A medical team working in an emergency ward.
3
The team brainstorming for a new project.
4
A commander ordering his soldiers to attack a target.
5
A team assisting the chef in a competition.
Leadership Style
I must follow the people. Am I not their leader? Benjamin Disraeli Don't tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results. George S. Patton
Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it. Dwight Eisenhower A leader is a dealer in hope. Napoleon Bonaparte 61
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The Alpha Zone Preparations Instructions for Indemnity Forms In our next lesson, we will be visiting the Adventure Park. We will be doing some of the low elements. The aim is to discover what can foster teamwork and how to resolve conflicts in a team. But before we can do that, you need to inform your parents about it, fill in an consent/indemnity form and have your parent or guardian sign it if you are below 21 years old. If you are above 21 years old, you do not need your parent’s or guardian’s signature. However, you still need to fill in the consent/indemnity form (for those 21 and above) and sign on your own behalf. The filled-in forms must be signed and submitted to your PIE lecturer at least one week before the activity.
Together Everybody Achieves More
Instructions for Activity Day 1. Lock all your valuable belongings in your locker before reporting to class. 2. Wear ITE/CE PE T-shirt or Polo T-shirts for the activity. 3. You are advised to change into track-pants or PE shorts. Bermudas or jeans are not allowed. 4. Wear proper track shoes. Sandals and slippers are strictly not allowed. 5. Bring along a bottle of water with you, if you like. 6. Drink enough water before reporting to class. 7. Report to PIE classroom to take attendance and to gather. 8. Follow the PIE lecturer’s instruction at all times. 9. Observe safety rules as instructed at all times. 62
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Post-Activity Reflections Recall your outdoor experiential learning on teamwork at ITE/CE’s Adventure Park
What are some ways one can foster better teamwork?
What are some ways one can resolve conflicts in a team?
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Exploring Culture Culture consists of concepts, values and assumptions about life that guide behaviour and are widely shared by people. Richard Brislin & Tomoko Yoshida
Culture is the shared set of assumptions, values, and beliefs of a group of people by which they organise their common life. Gary Wedershpahn
Culture Defined You have already read some definitions of “culture” earlier on. Take a look at this other definition...
Culture… includes what a group of people thinks, says, does and makes – its customs, language, material artifacts and shared system of attitudes and feelings. Robert Kohls
So what do you think are features of a culture? List them below.
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Exploring Cultural Differences What other cultural norms and differences in Asia do you know?
Observing & Appreciating Differences One way to understand another culture is to observe the differences in that culture compared to that of your own. View the video clip about Japan and note down in the spaces below some differences you observed. Some differences observed are ‌
To have your eyes widened and your organ of belief stretched, whilst remaining discreetly submissive, seems to me a faculty the [traveler] ought to cultivate. When you have submitted to looking about you discreetly and to observing with as little prejudice as possible, then you are in a proper state of mind to walk about and learn from what you see. Philip Glazebrook Journey to Kars
_____________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ I believe that participant observation is more than a research methodology. It is a way of being, especially suited to a world of change. Mary Catherine Brown
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The Cross-Cultural Iceberg Look at the list below and decide which features of culture can be seen and which cannot be seen. Write their numbers above or below the dotted waterline. List of cultural features: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Styles of dress Ways of greeting people Beliefs about hospitality Importance of time Art / Literature Values Beliefs about child rearing Gestures and facial expressions 9. Holiday customs 10.Music / Dancing 11.Celebrations 12.Concept of fairness 13.Nature of friendship 14.Ideas about clothing 15.Food 16.Concept of self 17.Work ethic 18.Religious beliefs 19.Religious rituals 20.Concept of beauty 21.Rules of polite behaviour 22.Attitude toward age 23.Attitudes about personal space/privacy 24.Beliefs about roles and responsibilities
WHAT CAN BE SEEN ABOVE THE WATER LINE
WHAT CAN’T BE SEEN ABOVE THE WATER LINE
Adapted from: Building Bridges – A Peace Corp Classroom guide to Cross-Cultural Understanding
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Improving Cross-Cultural Communication Now, that you know the challenges of cross-cultural communication and the importance of context, reflect and think of what are some things you can do to improve on your cross-cultural communication skills To communicate better with different cultures, we need to:
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Dimensions Of Cross-Cultural Communication Communicating across cultures can be challenging. Beyond verbal and nonverbal cues, here are four dimensions that should be considered... Losing Face vs Saving Face
Task vs Person Focused
Losing Face Less Important:
Task Focus :
means communicating the facts as they are, is more important that saving people’s face (e.g., I can see your sales team didn’t do well. Why is this so? Please explain your figures.)
before talking about a task, there is less small or socializing talk to establish relationships (e.g., Right, let’s get down to business.) Person Focus :
Losing Face Is Important : means saving people’s face is more important than communicating the facts as they are, so as to maintain harmony and avoid conflicts (e.g., I can see your sales team didn’t do well. Perhaps you are still new. Try to do better next month.)
before talking about a task, there is more small or socializing talk to establish relationships (e.g., Hi, how was your weekend? Did you catch the movie “Let’s Talk”? It was quite an interesting movie, wasn’t it? Anyway shall we start on the task?)
Self vs Community Focused
Direct vs Indirect Speech
Self :
Direct speech:
what is said is more concerned with self than with the impact on the community or others (e.g., I prefer to do it this way as this is most comfortable to me.)
people say what they really mean instead of being concern about how it may affect your feelings (e.g., Your t-shirt stinks!)
Community: what is said is more concern with the impact on the community or others than to self (e.g., Is this how you do it in your country?)
Indirect speech : people may not say what they really mean because they are concern about your feelings (e.g., Would you like to change in to a fresh t-shirt?)
Adapted from: Culture Matters – A Peace Corp Cross-Cultural Workbook
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So where are you on the 4 dimensions of cross-cultural communication? Mark the spot on the line with an ‘X’ where you think you are at for each of the dimension. Direct Speech Self Focused Losing Face Less Important Task Focused Scenario 1 During a meeting, your Japanese boss told you in front of everybody that he likes your suggestion and will look into implementing it. After a year, the suggestion is still not implemented. Dimension involved: ___________________ How could you have handled it better?
Indirect Speech Community Focused Losing Face Is Important Person Focused Scenario 2 Your new supervisor from the USA told you in a friendly manner that he thinks you are doing a piece of work wrongly and said if he doesn’t see a change, he will raise the matter with the boss. You smiled and thought he was joking. A few weeks later, your boss calls you into his office. Dimension involved: ________________ How could you have handled it better?
Scenario 3 You met your new project manager, Antonio, from Spain at 11 am to discuss some urgent project matters together with the project team. Being new, Antonio spent quite a bit of time getting to know everyone. Soon it was 1 pm and so he invited everyone out for lunch. The team returned only around 3 pm. You tried to start the discussion on the project but now Antonio was showing everyone his family photos. Discussion didn’t really start till 4 pm!
Scenario 4 You discussed a new production procedure with your new Korean production line engineer, Kim. He listened to your proposal carefully, nodding his head. He said it was a good plan and wants to implement it. But when he found out that you had not consulted with the line supervisor or the production team about your plans, Kim decided not to go ahead with the implementation.
Dimension involved: _________________
How could you have handled it better?
Dimension involved: __________________
How could you have handled it better?
Adapted from: Culture Matters – A Peace Corp Cross-Cultural Workbook
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Exploring Cultural Norms Now let’s explore and think about cultural norms. The word ‘cultural norm’ means ‘a pattern or trait taken to be typical in the behaviour of a social group’.
What are some things we can do to better appreciate the different cultural norms of other races/cultures?
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Common Causes Of Cross-Cultural Conflicts What can we learn from the poem “Six Blind Men Meeting An Elephant�?
What are some things that can contribute to cross-cultural conflicts?
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 6: Working With Others
Resolving Cross-Cultural Conflicts Read the following story and then answer the questions below: Jogging In A Foreign Culture My name is Dan. When I first arrived in my village in the Dominican Republic, I began to have a problem with my morning jogging routine. I used to jog every day when I was back at my home country, so when I arrived in my village in the Dominican Republic, I set myself a goal to continue jogging two miles every morning. I really liked the peaceful feeling of jogging alone as the sun came up. But this did not last for long. The people in my village simply couldn’t understand why someone would want to run alone. Soon people began to appear at their doorways offering me a cup of coffee; others would invite me to stop in for a visit. Sometimes this would happen four or five times as I tried to continue jogging. They even began sending their children to run behind me so I wouldn’t be lonely. They were unable to understand my custom of exercising alone. I was faced with a dilemma. I really enjoyed my early morning runs. However, I soon realized that it’s considered impolite in Dominican villages not to accept a cup of coffee, or stop and chat, when you pass people who are sitting on their front steps. I didn’t want to give up jogging. But, at the same time, I wanted to show respect for the customs of the Dominican Republic – and not be viewed as odd or strange. Adapted from: Building Bridges – A Peace Corp Classroom Guide to Cross-Cultural Understanding
1. What was Dan’s point of view regarding his jogging habit?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2. What was Dan’s cultural norm that he thought was normal in the Dominican Republic?
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Step 1: Realising My Potential
Unit 6: Working With Others
3. What was the Dominicans’ point of view regarding hospitality / courtesy?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4. What were the cultural norms of the Dominicans’ which made them view Dan’s jogging habit strange?
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5. What can Dan do to resolve the conflict in cultural norms and still be able to go jogging? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What are some things we can do that can help us resolve cross-cultural conflicts?
In this unit, I have learnt …
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The best thing about the future is that it only comes one day at a time. Abraham Lincoln