Community Learning Development Resource 601 – 07
THE CHANGING WORKER – MANAGING SELF AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT – REFLECTIVE PROMPTS
SUMMARY
Managing self and self-development is often where the community learning worker finds her/himself. The organisation of the work is not always characterised by best practice in worker line-management, appraisal and support. The worker often depends largely on their own capacity for self-motivation and self-management., to direct and drive their own development.
Things to think about – what do I want:
- To be in control of my own destiny?
- To feel able to prioritise for myself and my own aspirations
- To believe in my actions?
- To be able to build and maintain positive relationships, communication and participation with others?
- To develop a set of values and principles, with which I can shape and fulfil my life?
- To be a reflective worker – able to engage in reflection, analysis, review and action planning?
- To be able to manage myself and my individual personal targets and directions, within the context of agency targets and requirements, and other external influences and changes?
- To be effective as a person and as a worker?
- New challenges and opportunities?
- Maintaining a work – life balance?
- Increases or decreases in hours, workload, responsibilities, targets, etc?
- Opportunities are on offer – new job opportunity, a new career line?
- To work with new or changed work outcomes, targets, curriculum, etc?
- Addressing weaknesses or gaps in practice?
What prompts change in my working life and in me as a worker?
- Working with new or different learners?
- Responsibility changes or opportunity to change, e.g., to lead or co-ordinate?
- Withdrawal, retirement or redundancy?
- Need for updating – skills, knowledge, technology?
- Training and development opportunities are offered or discovered?
- New work context – location – community or change in agency strategy or emphasis – e.g., widening participation?
- Opportunityto take on a training role?
- Perceptions of failure, negative feedback about performance, appraisal feedback, etc.
What prompts training and development take-up:
- Accessible support and development opportunities?
- Information about training and development opportunities?
- Growing self-awareness and self-motivation to learn and change?
- Feedback, e.g., from evaluation, appraisal, observation?
- Networking, collaboration, co-operation and partnership?
- Threat and competition?
- Professional journals and information?
- Service, agency requirements, e.g., post-inspection or review?
- The time is right?
- Inspiration from somewhere or someone?
- Solving a problem or addressing a weakness or making an improvement?
- Connecting learning or theory to practice?
- Critical reflection and review?