Professional Competence and Career Development

Module: I

I’ve been talking about the “learning styles” philosophy and why it doesn’t make sense. It’s because there are
different forms of knowledge, each of which has a different source. Some knowledge does enter our heads through
our eyes and ears and fingertips, but the most critical kind of knowledge (which Piaget called “logico-mathematical
knowledge”) is built within the brain. The learning styles philosophy mistakenly concerns itself with how facts enter
the brain, but this doesn’t matter. What matters is the processing that takes place within the brain.

Piaget identified three kinds of knowledge:

1. Physical knowledge: These are facts about the features of something. The window is transparent, the
crayon is red, the cat is soft, the air is warm and dry today. Physical knowledge resides within the objects
themselves and can be discovered by exploring objects and noticing their qualities.

2. Social knowledge: These are names and conventions, made up by people. My name is Leigh, Christmas is
on Dec 25, it is polite to say thank you for a gift. Social knowledge is arbitrary and knowable only by being
told or demonstrated by other people.

3. Logico-mathematical knowledge: This is the creation of relationships. The brain builds neural connections
which connect pieces of knowledge to one another to form new knowledge. The tricky part to understand
here is that relationships don’t exist in the external world. They often appear to, but this is an illusion.
Logico-mathematical knowledge is constructed by each individual, inside his or her own head. It doesn’t
come from the outside. It can’t be seen, heard, felt or told.

What are the top ten skills that employers want?

Based on a number of surveys on the skills required by graduates undertaken by Microsoft, Target Jobs, the BBC,
Prospects, NACE and AGR and other organizations, here is our summary of the skills which were most often
deemed important.

Verbal Communication 1 Able to express your ideas clearly and confidently in speech
Teamwork 2 Work confidently within a group
Commercial Awareness 3 Understand the commercial realities affecting the organisation.
Analyzing & Investigating 4 Gather information systematically to establish facts & principles. Problem
solving.
Initiative/Self Motivation 5 Able to act on initiative, identify opportunities & proactive in putting forward
ideas & solutions
Drive 6 Determination to get things done. Make things happen & constantly looking for
better ways of doing things.
Written Communication 7 Able to express yourself clearly in writing
Planning & Organising 8 Able to plan activities & carry them through effectively
Flexibility 9 Adapt successfully to changing situations & environments
Time Management 10 Manage time effectively, prioritising tasks and able to work to deadlines.
Other Skills That Were Also Seen As Important

Negotiating & Persuading Able to influence and convince others, to discuss and reach agreement.
Leadership Able to motivate and direct others
Numeracy Multiply & divide accurately, calculate percentages, use statistics & a calculator,
interpret graphs & tables.
Computing Skills Word-processing, using databases, spreadsheets, the Internet & email, designing
web pages etc.
Self Awareness Awareness of achievements, abilities, values & weaknesses & what you want out
of life.
Stress Tolerance Maintains effective performance under pressure
Independence Accepts responsibility for views & actions and able to work under their own
direction & initiative.
Decision-Making Determines the best course of action. Evaluates options based on logic & fact &
presents solutions
0.00 Generates & applying new ideas & solutions

Components of Excellence:

Self Awareness

One of the most important factors in building your self esteem and confidence is your self
awareness. But what exactly is it, why is it important and how can you become more self aware?

Being self aware knows:

 what you want in your life

 your strengths and weaknesses
 what motivates you and makes you happy
 what you want to change about yourself or about your life
 your goal how far
 how you relate to others
 you need to improve as a person
 your most important beliefs and values
 how you see yourself as a person

There are other factors that could be added. The last one above has a direct relation to your sense
of self value and self esteem.

Why is self awareness important?

If you want to change your life in any way you need to know yourself before you can act. You
need to know what you need to do to head in the right direction and you can't do that until you
know yourself.
In addition, being self aware will mean that you will be better able to choose a suitable career
which will satisfy you. Self awareness can enrich your life because you can then move closer to
living your values and realizing your dreams.

Becoming self aware does not mean being selfish though. Discovering the inner you will enable
you to give more of yourself to others and this will benefit your relationships as well as helping
to build your self esteem and confidence as you become truer to yourself.

Self Confidence

Self-confidence is the confidence one has in oneself, one’s knowledge, and one’s abilities. It is
the confidence of the type: "I can do this". " I have the ability to do this". Self-confidence is the
one thing that is much more important than many other abilities and traits. If you do not have
self-confidence, what you do will never become fruitful at all. The fruits of what you do without
self-confidence are lost.

1. Dress Sharp

Although clothes don’t make the man, they certainly affect the way he feels about himself. No
one is more conscious of your physical appearance than you are. When you don’t look good, it
changes the way you carry yourself and interact with other people. Use this to your advantage by
taking care of your personal appearance. In most cases, significant improvements can be made
by bathing and shaving frequently, wearing clean clothes, and being cognizant of the latest
styles.

This doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot on clothes. One great rule to follow is “spend twice as
much, buy half as much”. Rather than buying a bunch of cheap clothes, buy half as many select,
high quality items. In long run this decreases spending because expensive clothes wear out less
easily and stay in style longer than cheap clothes. Buying less also helps reduce the clutter in
your closet.

2. Walk Faster

One of the easiest ways to tell how a person feels about herself is to examine her walk. Is it
slow? tired? painful? Or is it energetic and purposeful? People with confidence walk quickly.
They have places to go, people to see, and important work to do. Even if you aren’t in a hurry,
you can increase your self confidence by putting some pep in your step. Walking 25% faster will
make to you look and feel more important.

3. Good Posture

Similarly, the way a person carries herself tells a story. People with slumped shoulders and
lethargic movements display a lack of self confidence. They aren’t enthusiastic about what
they’re doing and they don’t consider themselves important. By practicing good posture, you’ll
automatically feel more confident. Stand up straight, keep your head up, and make eye contact.
You’ll make a positive impression on others and instantly feel more alert and empowered.

4. Personal Commercial

One of the best ways to build confidence is listening to a motivational speech. Unfortunately,
opportunities to listen to a great speaker are few and far between. You can fill this need by
creating a personal commercial. Write a 30-60 second speech that highlights your strengths and
goals. Then recite it in front of the mirror aloud (or inside your head if you prefer) whenever you
need a confidence boost.

5. Gratitude

When you focus too much on what you want, the mind creates reasons why you can’t have it.
This leads you to dwell on your weaknesses. The best way to avoid this is consciously focusing
on gratitude. Set aside time each day to mentally list everything you have to be grateful for.
Recall your past successes, unique skills, loving relationships, and positive momentum. You’ll be
amazed how much you have going for you and motivated to take that next step towards success.

6. Compliment other people

When we think negatively about ourselves, we often project that feeling on to others in the form
of insults and gossip. To break this cycle of negativity, get in the habit of praising other people.
Refuse to engage in backstabbing gossip and make an effort to compliment those around you. In
the process, you’ll become well liked and build self confidence. By looking for the best in others,
you indirectly bring out the best in yourself.

7. Sit in the front row

In schools, offices, and public assemblies around the world, people constantly strive to sit at the
back of the room. Most people prefer the back because they’re afraid of being noticed. This
reflects a lack of self confidence. By deciding to sit in the front row, you can get over this
irrational fear and build your self confidence. You’ll also be more visible to the important people
talking from the front of the room.

8. Speak up

During group discussions many people never speak up because they’re afraid that people will
judge them for saying something stupid. This fear isn’t really justified. Generally, people are
much more accepting than we imagine. In fact most people are dealing with the exact same fears.
By making an effort to speak up at least once in every group discussion, you’ll become a better
public speaker, more confident in your own thoughts, and recognized as a leader by your peers.

9. Work out

Along the same lines as personal appearance, physical fitness has a huge effect on self
confidence. If you’re out of shape, you’ll feel insecure, unattractive, and less energetic. By
working out, you improve your physcial appearance, energize yourself, and accomplish
something positive. Having the discipline to work out not only makes you feel better, it creates
positive momentum that you can build on the rest of the day.

10. Focus on contribution

Too often we get caught up in our own desires. We focus too much on ourselves and not enough
on the needs of other people. If you stop thinking about yourself and concentrate on the
contribution you’re making to the rest of the world, you won’t worry as much about you own
flaws. This will increase self confidence and allow you to contribute with maximum efficiency.
The more you contribute to the world the more you’ll be rewarded with personal success and
recognition.
How Good Are Your Presentation Skills?

Understanding Your Impact

How do you feel when you have to make a presentation?

Are you well prepared and relaxed, confident that your performance will have the desired impact
on your audience?
Or is the thought of standing on a podium, holding a microphone, enough to give you stage
fright?
Many believe that good presenters are born, not made. This is simply not true. Sure, some people
are more relaxed and comfortable speaking in front of others, but everyone can learn the skills
and techniques they need to increase their level of confidence and performance when presenting.
From sales pitches to training lectures, good presentation and public speaking skills are key to
many influential roles in today's business world. The good news about presenting is that you can
improve with practice.
So do you have the skills you need to do a good job? And how effective are you when you have
to 'perform'? Take this short quiz to help you assess your skills.

Presentation Skills:
1. Get People attraction
2. Welcome Them
3. Introduce Yourself
4. State the purpose of your Presentation
5. Ask Question
6. Get feedback
7. Effective Communication
8. Body language
9. Story, Example
10. Structuring the presentation:
Opening 2 to 2.5 Minutes
Middle 20 to 25 Minutes
Closing 2 to 3 Minutes
Question 5 Minutes
Positive Attribute at Workplace:
1. Ambitious
2. Approachable
3. Calm
4. Clever
5. Competitive
6. Confident
7. Committed
8. Educated
9. Flexible
10. Focused
11. Friendly
 12. Honest etc.
Time Management:
Importance of Time Management:
1. Time cannot be recall
2. Every work required time
3. Everyone has same time
Characteristics of time:
1. Neutral
2. Time cannot be save for the future prospectus
3. It is equivalent to money or much important than the money
Factors of time wasting:
1. Recall old things
2. Excessive thinking about the future
3. No work Strategy
4. Laziness
5. Interruptions
Benefits of Time Management:
1. Organized life
2. Reduce stress
3. working efficiency enhance
4. More time
5. Internal Motivation
6. No excuses
7. Less anxiety
8. Healthy family relationship
9. More energy
10. Healthy life

Managing Difficult People:

1. Understand

2. Analysis his / her behavior

3. Communicate well

4. Praise them

5. Take effective decision

6. Time management

7. Organized
Module II:

Managing Personal Effectiveness

‘Personal Effectiveness’ encourages managers to develop Self Knowledge and apply this to their
behaviour, both in relation to their own job performance and in the role of leading and managing
others.

‘Personal Effectiveness’ inspires managers to continuously develop and upgrade their set of
skills, knowledge and behaviors to be appropriate for effective leadership in the 21st centaury.

Basic Goal Setting Principle:

1. Set SMART Goal

2. Set Performance goal

3. Write down goal

4. Develop goal Achievement strategy

5. Set Long and Short term goal

6. Goal Commitment

7. Evaluation

Dimensions of Personal Effectiveness:

1. Self Disclosure: Self-disclosure is a simple (at least on the surface) approach to communication that
involves sharing information about you, history, present, emotions and thoughts. this simple approach, at
least used skillfully, can improve intimacy, rapport in face to face communication, and even improve public
speaking and connecting with groups

2. Openness: the extent to which one share ideas, feeling, emotions, experiences,
impression, perception and various other personal data with others, openness is an
important quality and contributes a great deal to a person’s effectiveness. Openness alone
is misunderstood and sharing everything with everyone. It should be from both sides.

3. Perceptiveness: The ability to pickup verbal and non-verbal cues from others indicates
perceptiveness. A person who is not open himself may receive many cues and much
feedback from others at first, but if a person is not open with others, he may seen n as
manipulating them and is generally unavailable. Perceptiveness and openness reinforce
each other and if used effectively are likely to increase personal effectiveness.

Module III:
SMART Goal:

S Specific

M Measurable

A Achievable

R Realistic

T Time Bound
Module:IV

Interest
Interest is a feeling or emotion that causes attention to focus on an object, event, or process.

aptitude
The natural capacity of an individual to acquire competence or skill through training.
An aptitude is a component of a competency to do a certain kind of work at a certain level,
which can also be considered "talent". Aptitudes may be physical or mental. Aptitude is not
developed knowledge, understanding, learned or acquired abilities (skills) or attitude.

Your aptitudes have little to do with knowledge or culture, or education, or interests. They
have to do with heredity. Being right-handed or left-handed, and seeing colors
normally are stable, inherent traits that are familiar to most people. The other
aptitudes the Foundation measures are the same stable, inherent traits. We measure
about twenty aptitudes with our battery of tests. Aptitude testing is an invaluable tool
for making career and educational decisions.

Interests vs. aptitudes

Interests are the result of what you do, what you learn, and whom you know.

These factors change greatly from year to year as your knowledge and experience grows. It is
difficult to be interested in something if, for example, you do not understand what it is. A job title
such as “marine biologist” or “industrial engineer” does not say much about what that career is
like, and so how could someone be truly interested in pursuing either of those careers?

Aptitudes are the result of inheritance and early development.

They are not changeable as interests are; our research has shown that a person's aptitudes
stabilize at around age fourteen, and remain so for the rest of his or her life. They have little to do
with what you know or learn, and our testing program can provide you with an objective source
of information about your natural strengths, thus making educational and career planning more
precise and effective.

Interests can be influenced by outside factors.

A person may not be interested in financial management because, for example, an acquaintance
has that particular job and is dissatisfied or frustrated. Someone else might be interested in being
a journalist because of a writer father. Dreams of becoming a mechanic can come from a favorite
uncle who collects vintage cars. An interest in old cars or writing or finance could be guided by
aptitudes into related directions more suited to natural abilities.

Aptitudes are innate abilities.

Dreaming of being a doctor or being the child of a surgeon does not mean you will have the
necessary abilities to be a successful and satisfied physician. Identifying your natural strengths is
a way to find out which careers are appropriate for you as an individual, regardless of any other
factors.

If you have a strong interest in a particular career or occupation, that is something to consider.
Your aptitude test results might be able to indicate which aspect to explore that would best suit
you. Being a doctor is not the only role in the field of medicine, just as working in a classroom is
not the only way of teaching.

Career Planning:
Module V:
Career Selection from Available Resources:

1. Parents / Heredity

2. Friends

3. In Laws

4. Neighborhood

5. Career Counselors

6. College Career Centre

7. Placement Agencies.

8. Psychological Guidance / Test

9. Experienced Guidance
Negotiation

Negotiation is a method by which people settle differences. It is a process by which compromise

or agreement is reached while avoiding argument and dispute.

In any disagreement, individuals understandably aim to achieve the best possible outcome for
their position (or perhaps an organisation they represent). However, the principles of fairness,
seeking mutual benefit and maintaining a relationship are the keys to a successful outcome.

Stages of Negotiation
In order to achieve a desirable outcome, it may be useful to follow a structured approach to
negotiation. For example, in a work situation a meeting may need to be arranged in which
all parties involved can come together.

The process of negotiation includes the following stages:

1. Preparation
2. Discussion

3. Clarification of goals

4. Negotiate towards a Win-Win outcome

5. Agreement

6. Implementation of a course of action

1. Preparation
Before any negotiation takes place, a decision needs to be taken as to when and where a
meeting will take place to discuss the problem and who will attend. Setting a limited time-
scale can also be helpful to prevent the disagreement continuing.
This stage involves ensuring all the pertinent facts of the situation are known in order to clarify
your own position. In the work example above, this would include knowing the ‘rules’ of your
organisation, to whom help is given, when help is not felt appropriate and the grounds for such
refusals. Your organisation may well have policies to which you can refer in preparation for the
negotiation.
Undertaking preparation before discussing the disagreement will help to avoid further conflict
and unnecessarily wasting time during the meeting.

2. Discussion
During this stage, individuals or members of each side put forward the case as they see it,
i.e. their understanding of the situation.
Key skills during this stage include questioning, listening and clarifying.
Sometimes it is helpful to take notes during the discussion stage to record all points put forward
in case there is need for further clarification. It is extremely important to listen, as when
disagreement takes place it is easy to make the mistake of saying too much and listening too
little. Each side should have an equal opportunity to present their case.

3. Clarifying Goals

From the discussion, the goals, interests and viewpoints of both sides of the disagreement
need to be clarified.
It is helpful to list these factors in order of priority. Through this clarification it is often possible
to identify or establish some common ground. Clarification is an essential part of the negotiation
process, without it misunderstandings are likely to occur which may cause problems and barriers
to reaching a beneficial outcome.

4. Negotiate Towards a Win-Win Outcome

This stage focuses on what is termed a 'win-win' outcome where both sides feel they have
gained something positive through the process of negotiation and both sides feel their point
of view has been taken into consideration.
A win-win outcome is usually the best result. Although this may not always be possible, through
negotiation, it should be the ultimate goal.
Suggestions of alternative strategies and compromises need to be considered at this point.
Compromises are often positive alternatives which can often achieve greater benefit for all
concerned compared to holding to the original positions.

5. Agreement

Agreement can be achieved once understanding of both sides’ viewpoints and interests have
been considered.
It is essential to for everybody involved to keep an open mind in order to achieve an acceptable
solution. Any agreement needs to be made perfectly clear so that both sides know what has been
decided.

6. Implementing a Course of Action

From the agreement, a course of action has to be implemented to carry through the decision.
How Good Are Your Presentation Skills?
Understanding Your Impact

How do you feel when you have to make a presentation?

Are you well prepared and relaxed, confident that your performance will have the desired impact
on your audience?
Or is the thought of standing on a podium, holding a microphone, enough to give you stage
fright?
Many believe that good presenters are born, not made. This is simply not true. Sure, some people
are more relaxed and comfortable speaking in front of others, but everyone can learn the skills
and techniques they need to increase their level of confidence and performance when presenting.
From sales pitches to training lectures, good presentation and public speaking skills are key to
many influential roles in today's business world. The good news about presenting is that you can
improve with practice.
So do you have the skills you need to do a good job? And how effective are you when you have
to 'perform'? Take this short quiz to help you assess your skills.

How Good Are Your Presentation Skills?

Instructions:
For each statement, click the button in the column that best describes you. Please answer
questions as you actually are (rather than how you think you should be), and don't worry if some
questions seem to score in the 'wrong direction'. When you are finished, please click the
'Calculate My Total' button at the bottom of the test.
 Not Some Very
Rarely Often
at All times Often

1 The visuals in
my presentation
match well with
the information
I'm
communicating,
and they help
carry the speech.

2 To prepare for
my presentation,
I think carefully
about the
message I want
to send.

3 Before I present,
I become
familiar with the
room and the
space in which
I'll be speaking.

4 I plan and
practice my
presentation until
I can speak
comfortably and
fluently.

5 I assume my
audience knows
very little, and
then I give them
all the
information they
need.

6 I use an indirect,
subtle approach,
and I send a
gentle message
to my audience.

7 Anxiety gives
me stress, and
brings negative
energy to my
presentation.
 Not Some Very
Rarely Often
at All times Often

8 I make sure that

organizers or
other staff
prepare my
equipment so
that I can arrive
right on time and
start
immediately.

9 I encourage my
audience to ask
questions at the
end of the
presentation.

10 I pay attention to
my nonverbal
behavior, like
facial
expressions and
eye contact, to
make sure I stay
engaged with the
audience.

11 I use examples to
support my
points.

12 My presentations
sometimes take
longer than
planned.

13 If I want to
persuade an
audience, I get
them to think
about what the
future will be
like if they
continue without
making changes.

14 I focus on the
main part of the
presentation
more than the
beginning and
end, because
that's where most
of the
information is
given.
 Not Some Very
Rarely Often
at All times Often

2. Positive Thinking Rating Scale

Positive Thinking is a way of approaching life. It empowers you to be your best and stops you
from settling for second best. With Positive Thinking, you choose the best actions to accomplish
what’s most important to you. You have both the outlook and the focus to fulfill your ultimate
purpose, achieve unlimited success, and empower others to be all they can be.
The following self-rating scale will give you an indication of where you sit, whether you are an
overly optimistic & positive person, or whether you tend to look more on the negative side of
life. Rate each statement 1 to 4 then addup your score.
1=Rarely or never 2=Reasonably or sometimes 3=Frequently or often 4=Always or almost
always
1. I am responsible for making the most of my life
2. I am in control of my life
3. I like myself
4. I get along well with people
5. I deserve to have what I want
6. I deserve the best in life
7. I can have the best in life
8. I am comfortable with success
9. I view failure as a learning opportunity
10. I accept what is out of my control
11. I can handle rejection
12. I can handle pain
13. I am happy to be alive
14. I do my best… I give life my best shot
15. I embrace failure as a natural part of life and earning
16. I have realistic expectations of myself, others, and life
17. I deliver on the commitments I make to others.
18. I handle conflict effectively
19. I accomplish my most important goals
20. I am comfortable with all my feelings
21. I am happy about my career prospects
22. My financial situation satisfies my needs
23. I consider the best contingency plan when evaluating risks
24. I make the most of whatever crosses my path
25. I am where I need to be in my life right now
26. I like most people I meet
27. I tend to think I will be even better off in a years time
28. I am happy being the brunt of my own jokes
29. I bring out the best in others
30. I praise partner and family more often than I criticize them