Embedded Files
Self-reflection is the ability to identify and understand your strengths, weaknesses, values, and priorities. It is not only a key skill in the workplace but is really helpful when exploring your employability. It can, however, be a difficult skill to develop - we can often be too critical of ourselves, and it can be hard to see beyond our weaknesses. Self-reflection goes far beyond identifying skills and values. It is about knowing who you are and what your values are, celebrating what you are good at, identifying what you need to be better at, understanding why these skills may need developing and finding opportunities to do this development. The questions below can help you start this thinking. If you are struggling to think of skills - use the SGAs as a guide.
Self-reflection Questions:
Self-reflection Questions:
Your Strengths
Your Strengths
What do you think your best skills are?
What are examples of you using these skills?
How do you feel when you know you have done something well?
Has anyone ever told you that you are good at something?
How did that feel?
What skill do you wish people recognised you do well?
Have you learnt a new skill before?
How did this feel?
When do you use your strongest skills the most?
Can you see how these skills could be useful in a workplace?
Can you imagine an example of a situation where your strongest skills could be used in the workplace?
Do you feel confident in explaining to someone why you are good at something? Why/why not?
Do you feel like your strongest skills are ones that come naturally or ones that you have had to work hard to develop?
If they come naturally, why do you think this is? How does it feel that they come naturally?
If you have worked hard to develop them, how did you do this? How did it feel to develop these skills?
Your Weaknesses
Your Weaknesses
What do you think your weakest skills are?
Why do you think these are your weakest skills?
How does it feel to have skills that you don't feel as confident using?
Do you think these skills will be important in your future?
If they would be, do you know how you could develop these skills?
If they won't be, could you see these skills being relevant in your future career?
Can you see a clear way to develop these skills?
Have you looked at the How to Gain Experience Guide?
How would it feel to be more confident in these skills?
Could you confidently explain why these skills might need developing?
Your Values
Your Values
What is important to you?
Do you have any lived experiences that make these things important to you?
Can you confidently explain why these are your values?
How might these values help you find a job that will best suit you?
Is there a cause that you are interested in and want to raise awareness of?
What skills could you develop by raising awareness of this cause?
How would it feel to find a role that fits with your values?
Which skills are most relevant to your values?
How could you develop these skills?
Could you find experiences that will allow you to focus on your values and develop your skills?
Your Priorities
Your Priorities
What is most important for you to focus on this year?
Why are these most important to you?
How might focusing on these things help you this year?
How would it feel to have these clear goals?
How would it feel to achieve these goals?
Can you see how these priorities might change and evolve as the year goes on?
How will you feel if you don't achieve these goals?
What could you do if you don't achieve these goals?
How confident do you feel in creating achievable goals?
Have you used the Creating Goals for Yourself Guide?
Feeling confident in consistently reflecting on yourself can help you when completing your mySkills assessments. You can also add this reflection, and any goals you achieve, or skills you develop, as a 'Development Experience' on your mySkills profile.
By completing this activity, you will have used these SGAs:
Growth Mindset
Positive Mindset
Defining Purpose
Self-awareness
Adaptable
Communication
Integrity
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
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