Introductory Level
Please Choose A Webquest
Unleashing the Power of Motivation for Work Performance
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
My motivation
Basic knowledge of motivation and motivational strategies
Encouraging motivation
Unleashing the Power of Motivation for Work Performance
In this WebQuest, you will work in small groups of 3. You will start your activity by researching how motivation can have an impact on task performance, as well as the different types of motivation.
Afterwards, you will have a discussion about how motivation has an impact when you're performing tasks as well as brainstorm some ways to stay motivated when working.
Next you will carry out some research on tools and planning techniques you can use to divvy up tasks and help keep you motivated during the day.
Next you will make an example priority matrix for motivation using your daily and weekly tasks from your everyday life. This matrix will be used as an example for Anya!
Finally, you will create your poster to put up in your office about motivation during work using digital tools.
Step 1: Understanding Motivation
To start off, we need to understand how motivation works and how it can have an impact on your ability to work and complete tasks on time. There are different types of motivation which each have a different impact on our ability to complete tasks on time and to the best of our ability.
Carry out some research about motivation and its impact on task performance. Here are some articles to get you started: <br>
- Motivation - How to get started and staying motivated (HealthDirect): https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/motivation-how-to-get-started-and-staying-motivated
- How to improve work performance (BetterUp): https://www.betterup.com/blog/way-to-improve-work-performance
- Up your work motivation by finding the value behind the task (BetterUp): https://www.betterup.com/blog/work-motivation-the-value-behind-the-task
- Intrinsic & extrinsic motivation (Hubspot): https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/intrinsic-and-extrinsic-motivation
- Intrinsic v Extrinsic Motivation [Poster] (Healthcare Utah): https://healthcare.utah.edu/wellness/pdfs/intrinsic-motivation.pdf
Step 2: Keeping Motivated When Working
When you have finished your research, it’s time to look at the factors that can affect your motivation to complete tasks. As a group, have a discussion about how you are motivated when working. Using the questions below, consider motivation and its impact on you.
- What is your number one motivation for your future?
- What rewards or recognition motivate you the most?
- What barriers stop you from completing tasks?
- What motivates you intrinsically?
- What motivates you extrinsically?
Once you have completed your discussion, it’s time to brainstorm! As a group, brainstorm some ways that a person can stay motivated when working. Use the internet to find some ways that companies or businesses promote employees to stay motivated, and try to come up with a few of your own.
Here are some links to get you started:
- How to Motivate Your Team (MindTools): https://www.mindtools.com/ak2l8nc/how-to-motivate-your-team
- 7 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Work Hard When You’re Really Not in the Mood (The Muse): https://www.themuse.com/advice/7-ways-to-motivate-yourself-to-work-hard-when-youre-really-not-in-the-mood
Step 3: Using Tools to Stay Motivated
One of the best ways to keep motivated at work and keep on top of all the tasks you have to complete daily, weekly, and monthly, is to plan them out. Take some time as a group to research the different tools and planning techniques that you can use to stay on top of your tasks.
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
- 20 Best (and free) Task Management Software to Help You at Work (DragApp): https://www.dragapp.com/blog/free-task-management-software/
- Priority Matrix (Asana): https://asana.com/resources/priority-matrix
- Digital Tool - Notion: https://www.notion.so/help/guides/getting-started-with-projects-and-tasks
- Digital Tool - ClickUp: https://clickup.com/features/tasks
Step 4: Putting It All Together
Putting your work together, you are going to produce an example priority matrix for the tasks that you have to do daily, weekly, and monthly. Try and divide up the tasks based on your motivation levels for completing them. Because this is a mock priority matrix, try to use tasks that you have to complete at home or in your personal life.
Here’s a template that you can use:
Step 5: Creation Time
Putting all of your work together, begin to create your poster using Canva or Jamboard. Take your time and try to make your poster as creative as possible. Try to include all of the following:
- Images
- Digital tools for task performance
- Planning tools for task performance
- Tips about staying motivated
- Intrinsic motivation definition
- Extrinsic motivation definition
Here are some links to some platforms you can use to create your digital poster:
Learning Outcomes Matrix
Knowledge | Skills | Attitudes
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At the end of this WebQuest, the teacher/tutor can use these self-reflection questions to find out how the students felt about this activity:
- What did you learn from this activity? Can you mention 3 things?
- Can you explain what motivation is and why it is important?
- How can digital tools or planning techniques help you to manage tasks on time?
- What do you think is the most important thing you learned today that you can bring with you into your working life?
Congratulations! You have now completed this WebQuest. In this WebQuest, you have learned about the importance of motivation in task performance at work and the different types of motivation that can impact your performance. You have also explored various strategies, you will be able to increase your motivation and achieve success in your work. Finally, you developed a personalised plan for increasing your motivation and improving task performance. By implementing these strategies, you will be able to boost your motivation, increase your productivity, and achieve success in your work.
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
There are four tasks waiting for you in this WebQuest. Let's look at them.
TASK 1
Your first task will be to explore why motivation is so important to humans and what intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is.
TASK 2
Your second task will be to understand the effect of motivation on task completion and work performance. You will also see how to stay motivated in an activity for a long time. As part of this task, you will also try to help our chess player David.
TASK 3
The third task will be to familiarize yourself with Priority Matrix - the tool you can use to organize your daily tasks.
TASK 4
Your final task will be to investigate various task management software that can help you be more efficient and organize your daily tasks better.
TASK 1
Your first task will be to explore why motivation is so important to humans and what intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is.
Study the following information sources that contain all knowledge you need to fulfil this task.
Source 1 - Video about extrinsic and intrinsic motivation
Source 2 - Article about motivation: How to get started and staying motivated
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/motivation-how-to-get-started-and-staying-motivated
Source 3 - Article about intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/intrinsic-and-extrinsic-motivation
TASK 2
Your second task will be to understand the effect of motivation on task completion and work performance. You will also see how to stay motivated in an activity for a long time. As part of this task, you will also try to help our chess player David.
Source 1: Video about how to stay motivated
Source 2: Article about 7 ways to motivate yourself to work hard when you’re really not in the mood
Source 3: Video about the psychology of self-motivation
Now you know a lot about motivation. You probably already know enough to try to help our chess player David. Suggest at least 4 questions David should ask himself to clarify his situation in his chess career. Looks like he's at an important crossroads. What questions should he answer to make the right decision in this situation?
TASK 3
The third task will be to familiarize yourself with Priority Matrix - the tool you can use to organize your daily tasks.
Priority Matrix is a tool for task and project management that helps to organize tasks based on their importance and urgency. It is a mathematical matrix that arranges tasks into four quadrants based on their priority and urgency:
Quadrant 1: Important and urgent tasks - these tasks need to be done as soon as possible and are a priority.
Quadrant 2: Important but not urgent tasks - these tasks are important but may not need to be done immediately. It is advisable to plan them for the future.
Quadrant 3: Non-important tasks - these tasks are not important nor urgent. We should try to minimize the time we spend on them.
Quadrant 4: Urgent but not important tasks - these tasks are urgent but not very important. We should try to delegate them or minimize their time-consuming.
The Priority Matrix is a useful tool for organizing tasks and helps people better plan their time and increase productivity. It can be used for both personal and professional purposes.
Source 1: Video about how a simple matrix can fix your procrastination issues
Source 2: Article about Priority matrix
https://asana.com/resources/priority-matrix
Source 3: Template of Priority Matrix
https://conceptboard.com/wp-content/uploads/priority-matrix.jpg
Try using the Priority Matrix practically. Make a list of tasks that await you tomorrow. Use the Priority Matrix for these tasks. Use the template mentioned in the link above.
TASK 4
Your final task will be to investigate various task management software that can help you be more efficient and organize your daily tasks better.
Source 1: Article about 20 best (and free) task management software to help you at work
https://www.dragapp.com/blog/free-task-management-software/
Source 2: Video - What's Todoist?
Source 3: Video - What is ClickUp?
Please answer the following questions:
- Which of the task management tools or apps do you use?
- Which of the tools do you like and want to try?
You have successfully completed several tasks in this WebQuest. Try to answer the following questions to see how much you have learned:
- Which knowledge from this WebQuest was just a repetition for you because you already knew it?
- What knowledge was new to you?
- Why should people have the knowledge contained in this WebQuest?
- What would you say if you had to say a few words about motivation?
- What is the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation?
- What task management tools do you know, and which ones do you like?
You have just successfully completed this WebQuest on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. If you have completed all the tasks, you can rightly consider yourself an expert on this topic because you now have much more knowledge about this topic than the average person in your country. You understand the issue of motivation and can discuss this topic with others. You can also advise other people on how to deal with procrastination, workload or management of daily tasks. You understand the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. You know several tools that help people in task management. Furthermore, you have tried how Priority Matrix works practically.
Congratulations, your knowledge of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is excellent now!
My motivation
The following tasks will guide you through this topic:
Task 1: What does motivation mean?
Your first step for becoming an expert on the basic knowledge of motivation and motivational strategies is to find out a little bit about the word “motivation” and how you can boost it at the workplace or classroom.
Task 2: How do you motivate yourself?
Your second step for becoming an expert on the basic knowledge of motivation and motivational strategies is to think about your personal and professional motivation factors and to figure out how others motivate themselves.
Task 3: Tips and Tricks!
Your third step for becoming an expert on the basic knowledge of motivation and motivational strategies will provide you with very helpful, easy-to-use strategies with instant effects. The questions for the interesting article invite you to analyse the content.
Task 4: Reflection.
Your fourth step for becoming an expert on the basic knowledge of motivation and motivational strategies is to identify motivational methods and exercises that will bring you closer to your goals.
Task 5: Motivation Diary:
Your fifth step for becoming an expert on the basic knowledge of motivation and motivational strategies is to try out a motivational diary to keep track of emotional highlights.
Have fun!
Task 1: What does motivation mean?
Your first step in this WebQuest is to find out about the word “motivation”, what it means and how you can boost your personal motivation in private life, but also at the workplace or classroom.
The links found below provide you with some important information about “motivation”, its elements and how it works:
A definition of motivation: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/motivation
The three types of motivation: https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/3-types-motivation-can-inspire-you-do-anything-ncna781826
Six positive mental exercises to motivate you: https://www.canterbury.com/blog/playing-training/6-positive-mental-exercises-to-motivate-you/
Motivation Tools, worksheets and activities: https://positivepsychology.com/motivation-tools-worksheets-activities/
Can you come up with more information on “motivation”?
Task 2: How do you motivate yourself?
Work in groups of two to three people. Before you start the group-work, simply get yourself some pen and paper. Think about some examples in your personal and professional life: who or what motivates you from outside? How do you motivate yourself from inside? Now, interview each other about the examples that you have chosen. Take some notes of who or what motivates your colleagues from outside; how do they motivate themselves? What exactly was new to you, personally?
Task 3: Tips and Tricks!
Another group task, ideally for two to three people. The following link will provide you with some interesting motivational activities which are easy to do and work instantly:
https://www.shinesheets.com/5-motivational-activities-for-when-you-just-want-to-give-up/
After reading the article try to answer the questions below:
- what are motivational activities?
- which of the mentioned activities are most appealing to you (name two)?
- what other motivational activities can you come up with?
- have you ever made a list with things that make you happy?
Task 4: Reflection:
Can you think of one or two of your goals that you would like to accomplish? According to yourself what motivational factors are needed to reach them and to make them become true? Could others support you to increase your motivation? You are invited to talk about these questions in a bigger group/in class/in the plenum, if you wish.
Task 5: Motivation Diary:
Have you ever thought about doing a motivation diary? This would offer you the chance to keep track of all motivational factors and how they have boosted you – no matter, if in your personal or professional life. Of course, this diary can be created, done, and designed in a creative way. Just give it a try!
Topics | Level | Knowledge | Skills | Attitudes
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Task Performance | Introductory:
Sub-topics:
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You have almost completed this WebQuest. Let’s give it a try and answer the following questions to confirm how much additional knowledge and skills you have gained:
- What aspects of motivation were new to you?
- Which things have you already known before?
- Which personal strategies to boost your own motivation can you name?
- What is the difference between “intrinsic” and “extrinsic” motivation?
- What would you personally recommend to others when it comes to the basic knowledge of motivation and motivational strategies?
Very well done! You now know the importance of motivation and motivational factors in personal and professional life. You also know why these are important for reaching one owns goals. Moreover, you know about intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and instant methods to boost motivation. Finally, you have gained additional tools, for example the motivation diary, that will help bringing you forward.
Congratulations, your knowledge of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is excellent now!
Basic knowledge of motivation and motivational strategies
The following tasks will guide you through this topic:
Task 1: What does motivation mean?
Your first step for becoming an expert on the basic knowledge of motivation and motivational strategies is to find out a little bit about the word “motivation” and how you can boost it at the workplace or classroom.
Task 2: How do you motivate yourself?
Your second step for becoming an expert on the basic knowledge of motivation and motivational strategies is to think about your personal and professional motivation factors and to figure out how others motivate themselves.
Task 3: Tips and Tricks!
Your third step for becoming an expert on the basic knowledge of motivation and motivational strategies will provide you with very helpful, easy-to-use strategies with instant effects. The questions for the interesting article invite you to analyse the content.
Task 4: Reflection.
Your fourth step for becoming an expert on the basic knowledge of motivation and motivational strategies is to identify motivational methods and exercises that will bring you closer to your goals.
Task 5: Motivation Diary:
Your fifth step for becoming an expert on the basic knowledge of motivation and motivational strategies is to try out a motivational diary to keep track of emotional highlights.
Have fun!
Task 1: What does motivation mean?
Your first step in this WebQuest is to find out about the word “motivation”, what it means and how you can boost your personal motivation in private life, but also at the workplace or classroom.
The links found below provide you with some important information about “motivation”, its elements and how it works:
A definition of motivation: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/motivation
The three types of motivation: https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/3-types-motivation-can-inspire-you-do-anything-ncna781826
Six positive mental exercises to motivate you: https://www.canterbury.com/blog/playing-training/6-positive-mental-exercises-to-motivate-you/
Motivation Tools, worksheets and activities: https://positivepsychology.com/motivation-tools-worksheets-activities/
Can you come up with more information on “motivation”?
Task 2: How do you motivate yourself?
Work in groups of two to three people. Before you start the group-work, simply get yourself some pen and paper. Think about some examples in your personal and professional life: who or what motivates you from outside? How do you motivate yourself from inside? Now, interview each other about the examples that you have chosen. Take some notes of who or what motivates your colleagues from outside; how do they motivate themselves? What exactly was new to you, personally?
Task 3: Tips and Tricks!
Another group task, ideally for two to three people. The following link will provide you with some interesting motivational activities which are easy to do and work instantly:
https://www.shinesheets.com/5-motivational-activities-for-when-you-just-want-to-give-up/
After reading the article try to answer the questions below:
- what are motivational activities?
- which of the mentioned activities are most appealing to you (name two)?
- what other motivational activities can you come up with?
- have you ever made a list with things that make you happy?
Task 4: Reflection:
Can you think of one or two of your goals that you would like to accomplish? According to yourself what motivational factors are needed to reach them and to make them become true? Could others support you to increase your motivation? You are invited to talk about these questions in a bigger group/in class/in the plenum, if you wish.
Task 5: Motivation Diary:
Have you ever thought about doing a motivation diary? This would offer you the chance to keep track of all motivational factors and how they have boosted you – no matter, if in your personal or professional life. Of course, this diary can be created, done, and designed in a creative way. Just give it a try!
Topics | Level | Knowledge | Skills | Attitudes
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Task Performance | Introductory:
Sub-topics:
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You have almost completed this WebQuest. Let’s give it a try and answer the following questions to confirm how much additional knowledge and skills you have gained:
- What aspects of motivation were new to you?
- Which things have you already known before?
- Which personal strategies to boost your own motivation can you name?
- What is the difference between “intrinsic” and “extrinsic” motivation?
- What would you personally recommend to others when it comes to the basic knowledge of motivation and motivational strategies?
Very well done! You now know the importance of motivation and motivational factors in personal and professional life. You also know why these are important for reaching one owns goals. Moreover, you know about intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and instant methods to boost motivation. Finally, you have gained additional tools, for example the motivation diary, that will help bringing you forward.
Congratulations, your knowledge of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is excellent now!
Encouraging motivation
Motivation in the workplace or in the tasks involved in a project is essential. When a team is motivated to carry out a specific task or with the project in general, the results are better and work is better.
In this session we will teach techniques to generate this motivation and maintain it throughout the work or project.
Motivational group dynamics are activities that can be a lot of fun:
• They require the general participation of employees in a relaxed atmosphere, without pressure of any kind.
• Their aim is not to assess the competences and skills of individuals, but to improve the working atmosphere.
In addition to stimulating employees, their main advantages are:
• Improve communication between people and help them work together on projects.
• To reduce stress, to feed fun and to entertain.
• Contribute to learning, in a playful climate, of skills.
• Increase productivity and mutual respect between people working in teams.
• Improve individual and organisational performance, leading to better business results.
As always, we will start working individually, finding each person's motivation to work on the task or the project, and little by little we will work more deeply as a group to find a common motivation that generates a good working environment.
We will start by defining what is personal motivation and what is group motivation. Here are the definitions of each concept:
• Personal motivation or self-motivation is having the drive and enthusiasm to achieve something without the supervision or influence of others. When an
individual is motivated, he or she feels more fulfilled and sees it possible to achieve his or her goals.
• Motivating team members involves taking actions that have a positive influence on their satisfaction and on the work, they do, so that they move forward together towards a common goal.
1. Analysing our motivation
We will ask each participant to reflect on the things/activities/situations that have motivated them throughout their lives.
We will give them a cardboard with 3 divisions: past, present and future. The aim is for them to put these reflections on the cardboard in a creative way, not just by writing them down. They should think about what motivated them to do something in the past, what motivates them today and what motivates them to think about the future.
Afterwards, we will share them together. It is not necessary to focus this search on the workplace, but if we have a group with a long history of working together, or of people who have been working for the company or organisation for a long time, we can focus these reflections on the workspace.
We will put our thoughts together, without forcing anyone to express themselves, and look to see if there is any common motivation or has been in the past.
2. The ideal team
This motivational exercise for group practice makes it possible to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of the people in the group and the need to come together to enhance resources or strengths and at the same time makes them reflect on how they can work together to strengthen each other's different weaknesses.
We put the group in a random circle, if there are friendship groups it would be ideal to separate them to achieve more objective results.
We start by asking the participants to write on a card five individual strengths they see in themselves and five weaknesses they detect in their work.
We will allow 5-10 minutes of reflection for them to really think about and analyze these points.
Once written down, we give them another card where they should write down at least three strengths and three weaknesses of the person on the right. We should remind the group of the objective of these dynamics and ask that no one is offended by the reflections of their colleagues, also that no one draws hurtful conclusions, that they write down and reflect based on assertiveness.
We will also allow them 5-10 minutes for reflection. After this time, we will read these reflections aloud. First read what you have written about yourself and compare it with what your partner has written about you.
When all the people have read, you can start to consider how they can work on the weaknesses they have detected, individually, but also as a group.
3. The communicator
In this work motivation game, one person in the group draws a picture and hides it from the others. He or she then must give instructions to the others so that they can reproduce it. Finally, the original is compared with the copies.
This work dynamic invites reflection on the need to improve communication skills, i.e. how to give instructions, listen and interpret, especially when the differences between the versions are very evident.
It can be made more complex and the sketch can be replaced by a construction of blocks (Lego type), which are formed inside a box to keep them out of sight of the others.
We can repeat this game as many times as we think necessary and ask the participants if they want to play the role of communicator, leaving this option we can also analyze which people have more of a "leader" or "coordinator" role.
In conclusion, motivation plays an essential role in the work environment. It not only drives employee performance and satisfaction, but also stimulates creativity, promotes teamwork and contributes to talent retention. Therefore, it is essential for organisations to implement effective strategies to motivate their employees and create a positive and productive work environment.
Advanced Level
Please Choose A Webquest
My future career plans
My Career Goals
This is who I want to be…
Self-control, Persistence
Responsibility roles
My future career plans
A career is sometimes called a "career path." A career includes education, training, and work experience. Sometimes, we think about it a lot! What we will do in the future or should we change my career path? We cannot forget about our self-development, setting our goals, and knowing our strengths and weaknesses. It could help us with planning our future. That is why in this WebQuest you will learn more about task performance and techniques which are useful for knowing our different features and assumptions
Up until now, you have wondered what I will do in my future? What is my career path? Trying to figure out what you want to do with your life is hard enough on its own. It gets even trickier when you’re banging your head against a wall trying to figure out just what it is you’re good at.
Now, take a deep breath and realize that this is a question that everyone asks themselves at some point in their lives. Everyone wants to be good at the things they’re passionate about, and many people just don’t even know what exactly that is. So, don't worry and give yourself some time!
In this WebQuest your task will be preparing to develop your Personal Development Plan in the future. You’ll get acquainted with SMART goals and a SWOT analysis. Everything is explained below. I keep my fingers crossed for you!
Step nr 1 – Task performance definition and it’s types
In order to proper understanding of the topic "task performance", we need to take a closer look at it and try to understand it.
- Please, search the Internet for definition of task performance. What is it?
- Task performance definition:
Source: [Place the link to the source of task performance definition].
- There are 3 types of task performance. 1 is already written. Please, try to find other 2 types and write them down. Think about definitions of these tasks.
1) Routine tasks
2) A .………………tasks
3) C………………..tasks
Source: [Place the link to the source of 3 types of task performance]
- Very good! Now, please think about the definition of task performance one more time. What is it for you? Create the definition in your own words. Your perspective is important.
Great! You've already learned what task performance is, you know its types, and shown your perspective of this topic. Now, we can move on to the next steps that will allow us to focus on our goals and develop our careers in the future.
Here is the link that may help you understand the concept of task performance and it’s types:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCvT1dbghec
Step 2 – Let’s talk about concentration
Concentration is important in everyday life. Scientists discovered that the ability to stay focused can be an important indicator of a person’s future success. So…what is this key to success?
Concentration is the ability to think carefully about something you are doing and nothing else. It means controlling your attention. It is the ability to focus the mind on one subject, object or thought and at the same time exclude any other unrelated thoughts, ideas, feelings and sensations. What are tips to improve our concentration?
- Below, there are some examples of how to improve your concentration. Please, search the Internet and find 4 more examples of how to make it better.
- Spend time in nature
- Take a break (for instance from work)
- Listen to music
Links that will help you to find tips to improve your concentration:
https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/how-to-improve-concentration
https://www.betterup.com/blog/15-ways-to-improve-your-focus-and-concentration-skills
Step 3 - Identifying SMART goals
Everyone sets goals - you need to complete a project, want to travel the world, or you have workplace targets. Unfortunately, setting a goal isn’t enough to get you over the line. This is why only eight percent of people achieve their goals. So, how we can achieve them?
SMART framework could be helpful.
What Are SMART Goals?
SMART is an acronym that stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-based. Each element of the SMART framework works together to create a goal that is carefully planned, clear and trackable.
Source: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/smart-goals
According to a graphic a goal should be:
- Specific: don’t be vague about your intent.
- Measurable: how can you track progress?
- Achievable: it should be realistic.
- Relevant: focus on the main purpose of your objective.
- Time-bound: it needs to be anchored in time (with a start and finish).
- Now, please take a look at the example of a SMART goal. Why the goal is achievable and time-based? Write the answers below.
Example: I will obtain a job as a high school math teacher within three months after graduating with my Bachelor of Science in Education degree.
Specific: The goal of becoming a high school math teacher is well-defined.
Measurable: Success can be measured by the number of applications, interviews and job offers.
Achievable: ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
Relevant: The goal-setter is planning to get a job in the education industry after getting an education degree.
Time-based: ……………………………………………………………………………………………
These links will help you to better understand what SMART goals are:
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/smart-goals.htm
https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/how-to-write-smart-goals
Step 4 – A SWOT analysis
You doing great. We are preparing to develop a Personal Development Plan. Before that, we have to get to know a SWOT analysis. You may think… come on, what is that?
Don’t worry, it’s not that hard!
SWOT analysis using SWOT diagrams or matrices is a key part of any business planning or analysis.
SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Strengths and weaknesses are internal factors and opportunities and threats are external factors. A SWOT diagram analyzes a project or business venture by focusing on each of these factors. It typically consists of four boxes, one for each area, but the exact shape may vary depending on the design.
SWOT diagrams can be especially useful when trying to decide whether or not to embark on a certain venture or strategy by visualizing the pros and cons. By clearly outlining all positives and negatives of a project, SWOT analysis makes it easier to decide whether or not to move forward.
- Now, please define your/organization or company Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. If you need more space, please use your own paper to do that. After analysis you can compare quadrants with each other which can help you coming up with concrete actions to start formulating a plan.
Strengths | Weaknesses |
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Opportunities | Threats |
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Here are links which can help you understand the idea of SWOT analysis:
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_05.htm
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/4245-swot-analysis.html
Step 5 – Developing a Personal Development Plan
“We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten. Don’t let yourself be lulled into inaction” said Bill Gates. Remember that Bill Gates is a man who knows a bit about planning and success!
Plan help us to organize our goals into achievable steps. Here are 4 easy steps how to write a personal development plan:
- Identify your “why” – why do you want to achieve your goal, what is your mission, why is it important to you?
- Do a SWOT analysis – a way you can chart your personal development in a visual way.
- Make sure your goals are SMART – use the SMART system of goal-setting.
- Future – proof your plan - it’s perfectly natural for your plan to change and evolve over time. Be sure to review it every now and then to update it. Doing so will improve it and will ensure your plan reflects your shifting personal priorities. Another great way to future-proof your plan is to separate it into different periods. To do so, denote what goals you want to accomplish in milestone-worthy timeframes: six months, one year, two years and so on.
Source: https://upskillcoach.com/blog/how-to-write-a-personal-development-plan/
- Based on the information above, please answer the following questions:
- Have you considered your career or personal goals for the future? If yes, write them down. Take your time!
- Do you think that Personal Development Plan could be useful for you?
If you would like to learn more about Personal Development Plan, visit the links below:
https://upskillcoach.com/blog/how-to-write-a-personal-development-plan/
https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/personal-development-plan-template/
https://www.growthtribe.io/blog/how-to-create-a-personal-development-plan-7-steps-to-success
Step 6 – Career
As you know, people have various perspectives on career. We are asking ourselves what can give us a satisfaction in the future?
- Please, read the following statements about career and decide which one suits you best. Then, explain your decision.
- “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” – Steve Jobs
- “If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat! Just get on.” – Sheryl Sandberg
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” — Confucius
- “The future depends on what you do today.” — Mahatma Gandhi
- “Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.” — Farrah Gray
Your answer:
Thank you very much for your work! 😊
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Congratulations! By keeping up with the steps given, you have managed to increase your knowledge of task performance, concentration, SMART goals, SWOT analysis and Developing Personal Development Plan. By applying these solutions and developing your Personal Development Plan step by step, you will be able to better navigate your job search journey as well as cope in your everyday life. This is a very important skill that will be helpful in your career and personal growth.
My Career Goals
The topic of this WebQuest is career goals. This WebQuest will help you clarify your career path and set a long-term career goal. You will learn to plan goals, to formulate them correctly, but also to divide a long-term goal into milestones - short-term goals. Anyone who wants to go somewhere must know where they are going. If you want to have a successful career, you should master career planning. This WebQuest will help you with that.
The following 6 tasks await you in this WebQuest.
TASK 1
Your first task in this WebQuest is to clarify your career direction.
TASK 2
Your second task is to set a specific long-term career goal. It should be a goal you want to achieve within 5 to 10 years.
TASK 3
Your next task is to learn how to set short-term goals.
TASK 4
Your next task is to learn how to correctly formulate goals with the SMART method.
TASK 5
Your fifth task is to set short-term goals - milestones that will lead you to achieve your long-term goal.
TASK 6
Your final task is to create a presentation that will include your plan to achieve your career goal.
TASK 1
Your first task in this WebQuest is to clarify your career direction.
You can work in a group of 3 to 5 people. Your first task is to watch the two below videos and then answer the questions below and briefly discuss the answers. The aim of this activity is to clarify your current ideas about the direction of your career. Try to answer the following questions:
- What profession do you want to have in life?
- What field do you want to work in?
- To what extent does this profession match your strengths?
- What do you need to do to get a good job in your desired profession?
- Do you have a plan to achieve your dream profession and dream job?
It's often great to watch a video before the discussion to help get the discussion started. Try watching the following two videos before the discussion.
Source 1 – Video on how to find your passion
Source 2 – Video about choosing the right career path in 7 simple steps
TASK 2
Your second task is to set a specific long-term career goal. It should be a goal you want to achieve within 5 to 10 years.
It is not easy to choose the right long-term goal for such a long period. If you choose the wrong goal, you may find that in a year or two you are no longer attracted to this goal, and you do not have enough motivation to achieve it. So, first study the following educational resources and then formulate your long-term career goal.
Source 1: Animation about long term and short-term planning
Source 2: Article about how to accomplish big things with long-term goals
https://asana.com/resources/long-term-goals
Source 3: Article about how to set long term goals
https://www.lifehack.org/788859/long-term-goals
TASK 3
Your next task is to learn how to set short-term goals.
Now that you are clear about your long-term career goal, you need to learn how to set short-term goals. What tools do you need to achieve your goals, and how can you reach them?
Go through the following learning resources and learn new skills in this area.
Source 1: Video on long term and short-term goals
https://youtu.be/TAWWlUDdTp4
Source 2: Article about short-term professional goals - how to set them
https://www.betterup.com/blog/short-term-professional-goals
Source 3: Article about short-term goals to improve your career today
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/short-term-goals-for-work
TASK 4
Your next task is to learn how to correctly formulate goals with the SMART method.
The SMART method is a concept that helps define and achieve goals. SMART is an acronym for the following criteria that should be met when setting goals:
- Specific: The goal should be clearly defined and specific to the situation or problem.
- Measurable: The goal should be measurable so that progress can be tracked and it can be determined if it has been achieved.
- Achievable: The goal should be realistic and attainable given the available resources and time frame.
- Relevant: The goal should be relevant to the overall objectives of the person, organization or project.
- Time-bound: The goal should be time-bound with a clear deadline for achievement.
- Using the SMART method when setting goals can help increase the success and effectiveness of achieving them, as it helps ensure that goals are clearly defined, attainable, and focused on relevant outcomes.
Source 1: Video about SMART goal setting
Source 2: Article on how to write SMART goals
https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/how-to-write-smart-goals
Source 3: Video containing SMART goals examples
You may have discovered that your long-term goal doesn't meet all of the SMART criteria. So try to improve the wording of your long-term career goal to match the SMART method.
TASK 5
Your next task is to set short-term goals - milestones that will lead you to achieve your long-term goal.
In task number 2, you set your long-term career goal. Now your task is to formulate several short-term goals that will be your milestones on the way to achieving your long-term goal. Don't forget that short-term goals must also follow the SMART method.
Setting milestones is important for achieving a goal for several reasons:
- Measuring progress: Setting milestones helps measure progress towards the goal. Milestones provide an opportunity for regular assessment and evaluation of progress, which allows for adjustments and modifications to the plan if issues or deficiencies arise.
- Maintaining motivation: Achieving goals can often be a long and challenging process. Setting milestones allows individuals or teams to break the path to achieving the goal into smaller segments, which can help maintain motivation and focus on achieving the goal.
- Accountability and transparency: Setting milestones can also help ensure accountability and transparency. Setting milestones provides specific and measurable goals that can be used to monitor and evaluate the performance of individuals or teams and ensures that they are accountable for their share in achieving the goal.
Therefore, setting milestones is a useful tool for planning and achieving goals. It helps maintain motivation and focus, provides measurable indicators of progress, and allows for accountability and transparency throughout the process.
Source 1: Video - A Guide to goal setting
Source 2: Article on how to set milestones to progress towards your goal
https://www.lifehack.org/877500/define-milestone
TASK 6
Your final task is to create a presentation that will include your plan to achieve your career goal.
Create a presentation that will include your long-term goal and also short-term goals - milestones on the way to this goal. Do not forget to use images that represent individual milestones and help you visualize your long-term and short-term goals. Present the resulting presentation to someone, either your friends or someone in your family.
A presentation is a form of visualization. Visualization can be a very useful tool for achieving a long-term goal. Visualization can help maintain motivation by allowing you to see what the outcome will look like when a goal is achieved. Visualization can also help remind us of the reasons why we set a goal and what led us to that decision.
Source 1: Video on how to use visualization to achieve your dreams
Source 2: Article about the importance of visualizing your goals
https://unfinishedsuccess.com/the-importance-of-visualizing-your-goals/
You have successfully completed several tasks in this WebQuest. Try to answer the following questions to see how much you have learned:
- Which knowledge from this WebQuest was just a repetition for you because you already knew it?
- What knowledge was new to you?
- Why should people have the knowledge contained in this WebQuest?
- What is the difference between long-term and short-term goals?
- What is your long-term career goal and why did you choose it?
- How would you briefly describe the SMART method?
- Why do many people use visualization as a method to help them achieve their goals?
You have just successfully completed this WebQuest on career goals and planning. If you have completed all the tasks, you can rightly consider yourself an expert on this topic because you now have much more knowledge about this topic than the average person in your country. You already know why career planning is important. You can set a long-term goal as well as short-term goals - milestones on the way to the long-term goal. You have learned to use the SMART method, which helps to formulate goals in a correct and comprehensive way. As part of WebQuest, you also created a presentation that shows your career plan and helps visualize your career goals. Congratulations, your knowledge of career goals planning is excellent now!
This is who I want to be…
Task performance is not just important for getting through the day-to-day at work. Task performance is also very important for when you are planning for the future. Being able to consistently complete tasks and move towards the next thing can help you to develop your career goals and move forward in your position. In this WebQuest, you are going to explore the importance of self-control and persistence when performing tasks and how to plan for your future.
For the past few years, you have worked in an office with some of your friends. Recently, you have decided that you would like to get further in your career, but you don't know how. To get to where you want to be, you have decided to set some goals to help you get what you want from your career!
In this WebQuest, you will work in small groups (ideally 3 people). To begin with, you will have a group discussion in your groups about your motivation for your future goals.
After your discussion, you will begin your research about how to set short-term goals and the importance of them in achieving your future plans.
Next you will do some research on setting long-term goals and how to achieve your motivational aspirations through persistence.
With your new-found knowledge on goal-setting, it’s time to set your goals to achieve your plans for the future. Using the SMART goal-setting technique, you will create an example 5 year plan.
After you have set your goals, it is important to investigate what skills you will need to improve to accomplish these goals.
Finally when you have complied all this information and set your goals, you will develop a personal development plan to help guide you in the future!
Step 1: Self-Reflection/Brainstorming
The most important step in any goal-setting process is to understand what you want out of your career and for your life. This goes beyond questions about what you want to do with your life or career, and more in-depth into what you need to be happy, and what you would like to be happy in the future.
In your group, have a discussion about your motivations to discover what you would like from your future to understand what you would like so you can understand what you would need to achieve in order to get this:
- What would you need in your future in order to feel fulfilled?
- What would you like in your future in order to be happy?
- What do you need in order to achieve these goals?
Step 2: Goal-Setting for the Short-Term
Now that you understand your motivations for a happy and fulfilled future, it’s important to learn how to set short-term goals to achieve the most necessary items. What are the tools that you need to achieve your goals, and how can you get them?
To complete this step, carry out some research into short-term goal setting, and its importance for task performance.
Here are some links to get you started:
- Short-term professional goals - how to set them (BetterUp): https://www.betterup.com/blog/short-term-professional-goals
- 14 short-term goals to improve your career today (Indeed): https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/short-term-goals-for-work
- Short-term goals examples to career development (CareerKarma): https://careerkarma.com/blog/short-term-goals-examples/
- A complete guide to goal-setting [Video] (The Art of Improvement): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpKvs-apvOs
When you have finished your searching, take some time amongst yourselves to set three short-term goals for achieving your ideal dreams!
Step 3: Goal-Setting for the Long-Term
The second step in your goal-setting process is to learn how to set long-term goals. These are goals for the next 5, 10, or 15 years. This is where the big picture comes in. Setting goals for the long-term for both your professional and personal life is important.
Carry out some research into long-term goal setting and techniques for helping you set goals long-term.
Here are some links to get you started:
- Four steps to improve your career development (Unitemps): https://www.unitemps.com/career-advice/four-steps-to-improve-your-career-development/
- How to accomplish big things with long-term goals [2023] (Asana): https://asana.com/resources/long-term-goals
- What is a long-term goal and how can I achieve it? (BetterUp): https://www.betterup.com/blog/what-is-a-long-term-goal
- How to create a 5-year plan (Indeed): https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/5-year-plan-template
- How to set long term goals and achieve success (Lifehack): https://www.lifehack.org/788859/long-term-goals
When you have finished your searching, take some time amongst yourselves to set three long-term goals for achieving your ideal dreams!
Step 4: SMART goals
After you have completed your research, it’s time to set your own personal development goals. Reflect back on your motivations that you discussed in Process 1, and begin to think of ways you can fulfil these motivations through goal-setting.
In particular, it is recommended that you follow the SMART goal-setting method which allows you to set goals that can be achieved both long-term and short-term. Using the SMART goal setting technique, you should set at least 5 goals aimed at your motivations or future plans that you discuss at Process 1.
Here are some links to planning tools that can help you:
- SMART Goal Setting (Atlassian): https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/how-to-write-smart-goals
- SMART Goals (MindTools): https://www.mindtools.com/a4wo118/smart-goals
- SAFE Goals (Peak Performance Centre): https://thepeakperformancecenter.com/development-series/skill-builder/personal-effectiveness/goal-setting/setting-goals/safe-goals/
Step 5: Skills Improvement
Reflecting on your SMART goals plan, think about what skills you need to improve to get to the place where you want to be. In your groups, have a small discussion about the skills that you want to improve for your future plans.
- What is your most important motivation for career development?
- How can these motivations be met or fulfilled by career development?
- What standards for my work can I set to help me achieve these dreams?
- How can you research job opportunities in your dream job?
When your discussion is finished, take note of all the different skills you would need to work on to get where you want, and the skills that you already have!
Step 6: Personal Development Plan
Now that you have finished all your research, the final step is to prepare your personal development plan! Putting together all the work you have completed so far, develop your personal development plan keeping in mind the motivations that you set out in process 1.
Be sure to include your short-term and long-term goals, your SMART goals plan, as well as any skills improvement goals that you set in Process 5. The purpose of this plan is to set out all of your goals in an easy to read manner!
Using the template linked below, begin to create your personal development plan:
- Measuring your own development - https://www.briantracy.com/blog/personal-success/personal-growth-goals/
- Personal Development Plan Guide & Template - https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/personal-development-plan-template/
Knowledge | Skills | Attitudes |
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Congratulations, you have now completed the WebQuest about task performance! In this WebQuest, you thought about where you would like to be in the future and how you are going to get there. You created some short-term goals, and some long-term goals, and collated them all into a personal development goal! Now that you are equipped with the ideal plan for your future, you are ready for taking the first step towards your future!
Self-control, Persistence
What is a WebQuest? By conducting research activities on the internet and combining these with additional activities, you will become familiar with new things concerning a specific topic. This allows you to expand your knowledge and create new skills for you.
In the introductory WebQuest you learnt about the importance of motivation and motivational factors in your personal and professional life. You also learnt that they are important for reaching your goals. Furthermore, you learnt about the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and gained tools and methods to boost motivation.
In this advanced WebQuest you will learn how to evaluate your current standard of work and how to develop a personal development plan for improving your performance. Moreover, you will learn how to complete a distraction/risk analysis for the work environment and how to set SMART and SAFE goals for your 5/10 years career plan.
Ready?
For the past few years, you have worked in an office with some of your friends. Recently, you have decided that you would like to get further in your career, but you don't know how. To get to where you want to be, you have decided to set some goals to help you get what you want from your career!
The following tasks will guide you through this topic:
Task 1:
Your first step for becoming an expert on self-control and persistence is to evaluate your current standard of work and engage peers in providing feedback on performance.
Task 2:
Your second step for becoming an expert on task performance is to learn more about SMART and SAFE goals.
Task 3:
Your third step for becoming an expert on self-control and persistence is to plan activities to engage your team member in discussion and set goals for improving your performance.
Task 4:
Your fourth step for becoming an expert on task performance is to learn more about tasks and games that will help with concentration.
Task 5:
Your fifth step for becoming an expert on self-control and persistence is to develop a personal development plan and career plan for 5/10 years.
Task 6:
Your sixth and last step for becoming an expert on task performance is to complete a distraction/risk analysis for the work environment.
Have fun!
Task 1:
Your first step for becoming an expert on self-control and persistence is to evaluate your current standard of work and engage peers in providing feedback on performance.
Before evaluating your current standard of work, you need to gain the basic knowledge of performance standards. Read through the articles:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/performance-standards
The second step before evaluating your current standard of work is to gain best practices for writing a self-assessment. Read through the article:
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5379-writing-self-assessment.html
Now it is up to you: Evaluate your current standard work and engage peers in providing feedback on performance.
Task 2:
Your second step for becoming an expert on task performance is to learn more about SMART and SAFE goals.
When setting goals, there are two well-known practices: SMART and SAFE goals.
SMART goals
This method might be the most famous method on how to set goals. Watch the video and learn more about SMART goals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-SvuFIQjK8
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Time
SAFE goals
This method might not be the most famous one, but nevertheless a very powerful one. Read more about SAFE goals in this article:
https://27gen.com/2013/07/28/smart-or-safe-setting-goals-and-the-leadership-brain/
See it
Accept it
Feel it
Express it
Which of the two methods suit you better?
Try the methods on a personal goal.
Which method did your peers chose? Compare.
Task 3:
Your third step for becoming an expert on self-control and persistence is to plan activities to engage your team members in discussion and set goals for improving your performance.
Engage your team members in discussions
It’s not always easy to engage your team members into discussions. In these articles you find some tips and strategies on how to create a productive group discussion.
https://ctl.wustl.edu/resources/discussion-strategies/
https://secondaryenglishcoffeeshop.blogspot.com/2017/11/discussion-activities.html
https://www.signupgenius.com/groups/group-icebreaker-activities-adults.cfm
What strategy suits you most?
Plan a group discussion about goal setting for improving performances.
Set goals for improving your performance
In task 2 you learnt about the SMART and SAFE methods of setting goals. You should now take these methods and your goals and use them for setting goals to improve your work performance.
Here are some tips on how to set goals for improving your performance:
https://www.lifehack.org/864441/performance-goals
Try it out! What is your performance goal and how can you achieve it?
Share and compare with your peers.
Task 4:
Your fourth step for becoming an expert on task performance is to learn more about tasks and games that will help with concentration.
With so many things going on around us it is sometimes really hard to focus and concentrate. Learn more about games and tasks to help you with concentration.
Read through the article and try a tasks and games out:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/focus-exercises
https://buzzingbubs.com/articles/brain-games-kids-improve-concentration
https://www.mentalup.co/concentration-games
Which task or game helped you most with gaining concentration?
Can you think of more strategies to help with concentration?
What tasks, games or strategies for more concentration did your peers choose?
Compare and discuss.
Task 5:
Your fifth step for becoming an expert on self-control and persistence is to develop a personal development plan and career plan for 5 years.
You might ask yourself “what is a personal development plan and how can it help me?” Good question! Let’s get the answers. Read through the articles.
Personal development plan:
https://www.briantracy.com/blog/personal-success/personal-development-plan/
https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/personal-development-plan-template/
https://cpdonline.co.uk/knowledge-base/business/what-are-personal-development-plans/
As you now know what a PDP is, it is time for you to create your very own. The following questions should help you to get started:
What are your goals?
When do you want to achieve them?
Which skills and knowledge do you need to have to achieve your goal?
How can you gain these skills and knowledge?
Who is your support network?
Have you ever heard the question “where do see yourself in five years?”. It is a famous interview question but also often asked by your manager during your yearly performance review.
5-year career plan:
https://www.getsmarter.com/blog/career-advice/define-your-5-year-career-plan/
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/5-year-plan-template
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-make-a-5-year-plan
Now it is up to you again! Create your very own 5-year career plan.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
What would you like to have achieved by then?
Who do you want to be?
What do you want your peers say to you in 5 years from now?
Task 6:
Your sixth and last step for becoming an expert on task performance is to complete a distraction/risk analysis for the work environment.
Before you start your analysis, learn more about distractions at work and the risks behind it. Read the articles and compare to your own work environment.
Distractions at work:
https://clockify.me/blog/productivity/workplace-distractions/
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/8098-distractions-kiling-productivity.html
Risks of distraction:
https://www.taproot.com/why-is-being-distracted-rushed-risk/
Analyse your own work environment now:
What is distracting you?
What is keeping you from focusing and doing your work?
How can you change to be more focusing?
Group together with your peers and talk about distractions and how to avoid them.
You’ve done it! Well done.
Topics | Level | Knowledge | Skills | Attitudes |
Advanced:
Sub-topics:
Persistence |
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Develop a plan to measure success towards achieving those goals. |
Willingness to develop a personal development plan |
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You have almost completed this WebQuest. Let’s give it a try and answer the following questions to confirm how much additional knowledge you have gained:
- What are SMART and SAFE goals?
- How can you evaluate your current standard of work?
- What distracts from work and how can you prevent it?
- How do you develop a personal development plan and what is a PDP?
- How can you engage others to discuss?
- How to create a 5-year plan?
Very well done! You now know what a personal development plan is, how to create one and how to set your goals SMART and SAFE. Furthermore, you now know how to engage others into discussions and how to evaluate your current standard of work. Finally you came up with a 5-years plan and learnt what distracts you and how to prevent these distractions. Now you can call yourself a true expert on task performance.
Responsibility roles
Responsibility is a fundamental value in the work environment, as it plays a key role in the development of a strong organizational culture and in the success of companies. Responsibility in the workplace means assuming the obligations and commitments of a job and being aware of the consequences of one's actions. In this session, we will explore the importance of responsibility in the work environment and how it influences individual and collective performance, work ethic and the achievement of organizational goals.
Working through group dynamics we will analyse the different roles of responsibility that exist in the group, whether they are explicit or implicit roles that have arisen in the day-to-day work.
These are short dynamics, but they will help us to analyse what responsibility means for each of the participants and what responsibilities they believe exist in the work or project they share.
We will start by defining responsibility:
Responsibility is fulfilling obligations and being careful when making decisions or doing something. Responsibility is also the fact of being responsible for someone or something.
The quality of being responsible means taking care of oneself and others, in response to the trust that people place in each other. When we are responsible, we are expressing a sense of community and commitment to others.
A responsible person fulfils his or her duties in a timely and efficient manner. For example, a person is responsible if he or she is punctual in his or her work, carries out the assigned tasks and objectives to the best of his or her ability.
Someone is also said to be responsible when he or she takes responsibility for the consequences of his or her actions. For example, when a person accidentally damages someone else's object and sets out to repair it or replace it with a new one.
1. The chain of responsibility
Form a circle with the team members and give each person a small object, such as a ball or rope. The first participant should take the object and share a job responsibility that he or she feels is important - it should be a responsibility specific to his or her workplace or job role. He or she then passes the object to the next team member, who must add another responsibility and so on. The aim is to create a chain of responsibility that highlights the importance of making and keeping commitments.
During the dynamic, a facilitator should take note of all the responsibilities that are said because once the chain is finished, they should organise the responsibilities among all of them in order of priority or importance.
This will serve to concretise expectations about the responsibilities.
2. The responsible case studies.
Divide the team into smaller groups and provide each group with a case study related to work situations where responsibility is required. It can be a hypothetical scenario, or one based on real experiences, if we manage to generate a case based on real experiences it will be more useful for reflection.
The groups should analyse the case, identify the responsibilities involved and propose responsible solutions to the proposed situation.
Then, each group presents its conclusions to the rest of the team and a constructive debate is generated about responsibility at work and the different solutions they have suggested.
Finally, as a large group, they will generate a global and unified solution to the situation.
3. The Responsibility Challenge
Organise a role-play in which team members act out different work situations in which responsible decision-making is required. It can be an improvisation exercise or a previously prepared scenario. Participants must act and make responsible decisions in the circumstances presented. At the end of each role-play, a group analysis of the actions taken is carried out and lessons learned about responsibility at work are discussed.
Situations can be:
- Meeting deadlines: Taking responsibility for completing a project within a given timeframe, ensuring that deadlines are met, and work is delivered in a timely manner.
- Task allocation: Taking responsibility for assigning appropriate tasks to team members, considering their skills and strengths, and ensuring that all roles are equally distributed.
- Use of resources: Make responsible decisions about the use of available resources on the job, such as materials, budget, and time, to avoid unnecessary waste and optimise their use.
- Effective communication: Be responsible for maintaining clear, open, and effective communication with co-workers, superiors and subordinates, ensuring that accurate information is conveyed and responding to queries and requests in a timely manner.
- Professional ethics: Facing ethical situations at work, such as moral dilemmas or conflicts of interest, and making responsible decisions based on ethical values and principles to ensure fair and ethical actions.
- Conflict management: Be responsible for dealing with workplace conflicts in a constructive and equitable manner, promoting peaceful resolution and collaboration between the parties involved.
- Safety and well-being: Take responsible action to ensure the safety and well-being of employees by implementing accident prevention measures, promoting a safe working environment, and following health and safety regulations.
- Strategic decision making: Take responsibility for making strategic decisions at work, considering the organisation's objectives, long-term impact and consequences for employees, customers, and other stakeholders.
4. "Responsibility wheel"
Create a large wheel on a piece of paper or poster board, dividing it into sections such as "Assigned tasks", "Meeting deadlines", "Communication", "Collaboration", etc.
Each team member writes his or her personal responsibilities on each section of the wheel. Then, as a group, they discuss and evaluate their level of responsibility in each area.
This allows strengths and areas for improvement in terms of individual and collective responsibility to be identified.
This analysis also allows us to analyse the repeated responsibilities among the members or participants and therefore gives us the opportunity to analyse how many people should have the same responsibility or who should have it individually.
Remember that these dynamics should be adapted to the needs and characteristics of your team. The main objective is to promote reflection, dialogue, and awareness of the importance of responsibility in the work environment.
If any uncomfortable situations or conflicts arise during the exercises, we recommend you review the WEBQUESTs that work on conflict resolution.
In conclusion, responsibility plays a fundamental role in the work environment and is key to individual and collective success at work. Responsibility involves making commitments, taking conscious decisions, and acting in an ethical and professional manner. By being accountable in our work tasks and responsibilities, we demonstrate reliability, meet deadlines, and contribute to the achievement of organisational goals.
Accountability is also essential to maintaining a harmonious and productive work environment. When team members are accountable, it fosters mutual trust, collaboration and transparency in working relationships. Accountability also promotes work efficiency and effectiveness by avoiding mistakes and taking proactive action to solve problems.
In addition, responsibility at work contributes to the professional and personal development of employees. By taking responsibility for our own growth and learning, we become more competent and acquire new skills. Responsibility also drives us to take initiatives, to seek opportunities for improvement and to be proactive in achieving our work objectives.
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The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Project Number : 2019-1-PL01-KA204-065089
