HAIKU STYLE MANAGER

A GOOD MANAGER
IS FAIR BUT FIRM, LIKE WINTER'S
SNOW UPON THE GROUND.

I'M DC, WHO ARE YOU?

After taking the Personal Profile System test, I determined that I’m “D, C”, a “Dominant Conscientious” personality type. This means that my management type puts emphasis on “shaping the environment by overcoming opposition to accomplish results” in conjunction with “working conscientiously within existing circumstances to ensure quality and accuracy.” I suppose I agree with these test results for the most part, because I feel that I am an active participator in most of what I do – whether it be at work or at school, or with a group of friends. I was never one to “sit on the sidelines” and always made an effort to take more active/challenging leadership roles wherever I could be creative and inventive. I’m bored by routine and I absolute despise being told what to do…I need my freedom, and although I understand that everybody answers to someone, I feel that I am fairly independent, self-motivated individual.

I do not wish I were another type – I am what I am, and I’m happy with myself – but I’m also glad that there are other personality types out there. If everyone were “Dominant” or “Steady”, there would be no social progress. We need leaders and need followers; we need intellectuals and we need workers; we need artists and we need inventors; variety is an integral component of our society.

Determining your management “type” does not necessarily indicate where you’re coming from or how qualified you would be for a specific job or function – it’s more of a personality test that reveals your tendencies and motivations. Although it is amusing to take the test and figure out what category you fall in to, I wouldn’t use it as a method to determine job placement. Do all managers have to be “D” types? This might be viewed as unfair profiling were it to become standard business practice for companies to hire employees according to their behavior profiles. The test may be helpful, however, in determining what type of field you’d be most comfortable in, but personally I feel that human personality is so complex and unique, that tests like these are hardly capable of telling you who you are.

Blog Topic #6: Communicating via Blog

When we were first instructed to begin keeping a blog for this class, I thought to myself that it would be a difficult task to sustain throughout the semester. Firstly, English is my second language, and I felt uncomfortable putting my thoughts on display for my classmates’ review (although it is good practice). Secondly, I’ve never written a blog before, and the idea of continually updating my activities while commenting on my colleagues’ was a bit overwhelming (Facebook is so much simpler!). However, despite my earlier outlook, I’ve found this method of learning to be surprisingly helpful, fun and insightful – particularly in regard to the Vision blog assignment.

I had never really given much thought to what my “vision” is…I’m 28 years old, and this was the first time in my life that I actually had to sit down and reflect on where I saw myself in the distant future. It was the most frustrating assignment for me, but what I found most stimulating were my classmates’ blogs on their own visions. It was a sort of measure as to where I stood, how lost I was, and how much I really had in common with them (this isn’t exactly a topic of conversation I typically has with my friends). So it definitely was an encouraging project, and I feel that I got a lot out of it.

Overall, I feel that these blogs were helpful on a number of levels: It forced me to write, and I put a lot of effort into using correct English and grammar during these posts; it exposed me to the diverse range of thoughts and feelings that my classmates shared on the same subjects; and it allowed us to express ourselves through our writing and activities in ways we normally never would – ordering exactly four pickles in McDonald’s? Trying to keep an egg from breaking with a straw? Brilliant!

I’m not sure if I will continue to post on my blog after the class has concluded. I suppose it depends on what my classmates will do. I will most likely check up on it every now and then, however, and should I feel particularly inspired to express myself or an idea, I very well may continue with my blogging!