M. E. S.

INDIAN SCHOOL, DOHA – QATAR

NOTES 2024- 2025
Section: Boys’/Girls’ Date: 14.05.24

Class/Div.: XII (All Divisions) Subject: Design

Lesson / Topic: Employability Skills – Self Management Skills

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SELF MANAGEMENT SKILLS

DEFINITION:

Self-management, which is also referred to as ‘self-control’, is the ability to control one’s

emotions, thoughts and behavior effectively in different situations. This includes motivating
oneself, and working towards achieving personal and academic goals.

In order to do well at work and life, in general, one must be able to manage and improve oneself
in various skills, including timeliness, discipline, problem solving and work habits. To manage
oneself well, a person needs to develop the following:
• POSITIVE THINKING: To think that one can get things done and be happy.
• RESULT ORIENTATION: To dream big and achieve the desired or set results.
• SELF-AWARENESS: To be aware of one’s personality traits and make the best out of one’s
strengths.

• MOTIVATION & POSITIVE THINKING:

MOTIVATION:
Motivation is derived from the word ‘motive’. Thus, directing behavior towards certain motive
or goal is the essence of motivation. An individual’s motivation may come from within (intrinsic
motivation) or be inspired by others or events (extrinsic motivation).
• INTRINSIC MOTIVATION: It includes activities for which there is no apparent reward but
one derives enjoyment and satisfaction in doing them. It occurs when people are
internally motivated to do something because it brings them pleasure.
• EXTRINSIC MOTIVATION: It arises because of incentives or external rewards. Lack of
motivation or incentives may lead to frustration.
POSITIVE THINKING/ATTITUDE:
A positive attitude makes a person happier, and helps build and maintain relationships. It even
increases one’s chances of success. In addition, it can help the person make better decisions.

• RESULT ORIENTATION:

Result orientation is a term used to describe a person’s ability to recognize what results are
important and the steps needed to be taken to achieve them. It means to focus on the result of
an assigned task.

Following are the steps to become result oriented:

1. SET CLEAR GOALS: Setting clear and accurate goals is the first step one needs to take to
meet the targets.
2. PREPARE AN ACTION PLAN: An action plan describes the way a person or an organization
will meet the set objectives.
3. USE THE RIGHT RESOURCES AND TOOLS: One must evaluate the resources and tools
needed to achieve those results and whether they are available.
4. COMMUNICATE WITH MENTORS AND PEERS: One must talk to teachers, seniors and
mentors for help in setting realistic goals.
5. MAKE A CALENDAR: One must make a calendar to monitor the progress at regular
intervals.
6. WORK HARD: One must work hard and believe in one’s dreams.

• SELF AWARENESS:

Self-awareness is about understanding one’s own needs, desires, habits, traits, behaviors and
feelings. When one becomes self-aware, the person starts to become aware of everything and
looks at things or situations objectively. It plays a critical role in how we understand ourselves
and relate to others and the world around us.

The following are the steps towards self-awareness:

1. The first step for practicing self-awareness is gaining a greater awareness of one’s
emotions.
2. The second step to practicing self-awareness is making a habit of tracking one’s feelings.
3. The third step for practicing self-awareness is expanding one’s practice to areas of life
beyond the person’s feelings.
PERSONALITY AND PERSONALITY TRAITS:

“Personality” is a cluster of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that make a person unique and
different from others.

“Personality traits” are defined as relatively lasting patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors
that distinguish individuals from one another. Hence, personality development is the
development of an organized pattern of behaviors and attitudes that makes a person distinctive.

FIVE-FACTOR MODEL FOR PERSONALITY TRAITS:

FIG: FIVE-FACTOR MODEL

1. OPENNESS:
Individuals with openness to experience are, generally, creative, curious, active, flexible
and adventurous. If a person is interested in learning new things, meeting new people
and making friends, and likes visiting new places, the person can be called open-minded.
2. CONSCIOUSNESS:
Individuals, who listen to their conscience, are self-disciplined, do their work on time, take
care of others before themselves and care about others’ feelings.
3. EXTRAVERSION:
Extroverts are individuals, who love interacting with people around and are, generally,
talkative. A person, who can easily make friends and make any gathering lively, is
confident and an extrovert.
4. AGREEABLENESS:
Individuals having such a trait are, generally, kind, sympathetic, cooperative, warm and
considerate. They accommodate themselves in any situation.
5. NEUROTICISM:
Neuroticism is a trait, wherein, individuals show tendency towards anxiety, self-doubt,
depression, shyness and other similar negative feelings. People, who have difficulty in
meeting others and worry too much about things, show signs of neuroticism.
COMMON PERSONALITY DISORDERS:

Personality disorders involve long-term patterns of thoughts and behavior that are unhealthy
and rigid. A personality disorder is a way of thinking, feeling and behaving that deviates from
worldly expectations and causes distress, which lasts over time.

1. CLUSTER A: SUSPICIOUS
People falling under this cluster always mistrust others and are suspicious, even when there
is no need to do so.
o PARANOID PERSONALITY DISORDER: Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by
distrust for others, including friends, family members and partners. People with such
a disorder mostly hold grudges against others.
o SCHIZOID PERSONALITY DISORDER: The term ‘schizoid’ refers to the natural tendency
to direct attention towards one’s inner life away from the external world. A person
with schizoid personality disorder is detached and aloof, and prone to introspection
and fantasy. The person shows little interest in forming personal relationships and
seems to be emotionally cold.
o SCHIZOTYPAL PERSONALITY DISORDER: People with this type of personality disorder
believe that they can influence other people or events with their thoughts. They often
misinterpret behaviors. This causes them to have inappropriate emotional responses.
They may consistently avoid having intimate relationships.

2. CLUSTER B: EMOTIONAL AND IMPULSIVE

This personality disorder is characterized by unstable moods and behaviors, which lead to
unhealthy and unstable relationships, emotional instability and feeling of worthlessness.

o ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER: People with antisocial personality disorder

disregard social rules and obligations. They are irritating and aggressive, and act
impulsively. They tend to lack guilt and fail to learn from experience. They may lie,
steal or abuse, and may also get addicted to alcohol or drugs.
o BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER: People with borderline personality disorder
essentially lack a sense of self-worth, and thus, experience feelings of emptiness and
fears of abandonment. There is a pattern of emotional instability, violent outbursts
and impulsive behavior. Suicidal threats and acts of self harm are common in people
with such a personality disorder.
o HISTRIONIC PERSONALITY DISORDER: People with histrionic personality disorder
frequently try to gain more attention by being overly dramatic. They are extremely
sensitive to criticism or disapproval, and can be easily influenced by others.
o NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER: People with narcissistic personality disorder
believe that they are more important than others. They lack empathy for other people
and tend to exaggerate their own achievements.
3. CLUSTER C: ANXIOUS

This personality disorder is characterized by feelings of worry, anxiety or fear, which have the
potential to affect one’s daily routine.

➢ AVOIDANT PERSONALITY DISORDER: People with this type of disorder are socially
inept, unappealing or inferior, and constantly fear being embarrassed, criticized
or rejected. They avoid meeting others and often experience feelings of
inadequacy, inferiority or unattractiveness.
➢ DEPENDENT PERSONALITY DISORDER: People with such a disorder are
characterized by lack of self-confidence and an extra need to be looked after. They
need a lot of help in making everyday decisions and surrender important life
decisions to the care of others. They are heavily dependent on other people for
their emotional and physical needs, and thus, usually, avoid being alone.
➢ OBSESSIVE‑COMPULSIVE PERSONALITY DISORDER: People with such a disorder
strongly stick to rules and regulations. They can be characterized by a general
pattern of excessive concern with orderliness, perfectionism and attention to
details. They feel extremely uncomfortable when unable to achieve perfection.
They may even neglect personal relationships to focus on making a project
perfect.

STEPS TO OVERCOME PERSONALITY DISORDERS:

• Talk to someone. Most often, it helps to share your feelings.

• Look after your physical health. A healthy body can help you maintain a healthy mind.
• Build confidence in your ability to handle difficult situations.
• Engage in hobbies, such as music, dance and painting. These have a therapeutic effect.
• Stay positive by choosing words like ‘challenges’ instead of ‘problems’.