Week Six Writing Assignment

Through reading chapter 7 and 8, I learned the effective ways of managing conflicts and difficulties. I have never experienced such a sever condition as Shackleton did but I strongly felt it was valuable for everybody in a team to try to resolve problems early and to have celebration and humor.

In this blog, I will write three possible ways as supposing to having conflicts with friends in my club activities or classes. (Related to expedition log in chapter 7).

Firstly, to believe and imagine better relationship with the friends after conflicts make me have positive feeling about conflicts. This thought allows me not only to reduce my anger but also to regard conflict not as bother thing but as a chance to grow me up and to have better relationship with others.

Secondly, to talk directly with my friends about conflicts often reduces my anger. There may be possible to finish the discussions only with listening to or saying complains, but  we can probably get better understanding each other which allows me to release myself from anger.

Finally, having time after the conflicts can refresh my mind. Although it is very difficult to completely forget the conflicts, doing something that I can concentrate on is important. Dancing, singing, watching funny TV programs and studying are good examples. Through these activities, I can often get other perspectives to solve the conflicts.

Although it is hard for me to practice these ways when I actually have conflicts, I will try to use this method for reducing my anger and building better relationship with my friends.

Week 5 Assignment

When I was in the second grade at the high school, through making performance which was a kind of present for the graduating students, I noticed the importance of sending a strong message to every member of our team as a leader and working with appropriate status differences in order to make the best performances smoothly and effectively. That time was the last chance to make performance with friends in the same grade, I could use techniques well with other leaders to the whole team. That became one of the reasons that our performance was succeeded.

Firstly, the other leaders and I tried to send the message that the performance was made by ALL members in our grade and we needed everyone’s cooperation and attention to the performance. By the message, they noticed that their roles were important and the group leaders took responsibilities for the performance, as a stage setting group, a stage lightning group and so on. That stimulated the members, which strengthened teamwork.

Secondly, we tried to keep appropriate status differences in order to work everyone smoothly. In chapter 6, minimization of status differences was mentioned. As the chapter said, it is important for the team that leaders to do the same thing with other members and not to domineer with their authority. In reality, however, there was time that we needed to force team members to work harder using authority, especially when preparation of the performance delayed. Thus, we paid more attention to balancing the status differences rather than just minimizing it.

By using techniques which are related to contents of chapter 5 and 6, I was able to lead the performance effectively and to enjoy preparation for the performance.

Week Four Writing Assignment

As Shackleton could not control his health well, I am not good at managing my health.  I easily catch a cold and I am suffered from pollen allergy. Actually I used to catch a cold once a month when I was in the kinder garden and I had to take an entrance examination of a junior high school when I had a cold. I managed those situations and made success, but sometimes I would feel that I would die because of the illness or tiredness. Thus, saving my stamina and keeping myself healthy are really important for me. Still I am bad at controlling my health, and often I cannot stop working for reducing my anxiety of my grade, but there are three things that I try to do for staying healthy.

Firstly, even though I cannot finish doing my homework, I try to go to bed by twelve o’clock. Instead of continuing these things at night, I get up earlier to finish them, which increases concentration on my work in the morning.

Secondly, I set a time limit for each work. For example, I set twenty minutes for writing a blog and try to finish up in the time. It is difficult to do, but it makes me work effectively.

Finally I try to have time that I stop thinking about my homework. Practicing ballet, singing, studying Korean, and talking with my friends and family are also valuable for me. By having such time, I can do my work more and more with full energy.

It is difficult to take balance of staying healthy and doing my homework perfectly. However, doing above things, I want to manage my health well.