Memo

To: All Personnel

From: Devin Kemper

Dept: Responsibility

Group: Control

Subject: Learning Report #7

CC: Communications Group

Date: 03/03/99

Goals For Last Week:

I will continue to input grades into the spreadsheet and post them as often as possible. I plan to do this by getting on certain groups that still need to submit their grades. I will know I have accomplished this goal when the cumulative grades have gone up even more and when the updated grades are posted.

I will help in giving a great cycle 2 presentation to the class on Monday. I plan to do this by practicing my part so I am prepared and ready to go at the time of the presentation. I will know I have accomplished this goal when I am sitting in my chair after the presentation is completed and I am satisfied with my performance and relieved that it is over.

I will learn about more concepts from the cycle 2 presentations. I plan to do this by doing the readings, taking notes and listening actively during presentations. I will know I have accomplished this goal when I have applied the new concepts that I have learned and incorporated them into my next memo.

What I Did:

I have been inputting grades into the spreadsheet as much as possible. I also emailed the most recent cumulative grades to Richard to have them posted on the class web page. They have also been posted to the I: drive for everyone to see and outside Tracey's door.

I helped our group give our cycle 2 presentation. Overall, I think it went good. Jeff, Cameron and Megan started it off with a skit, which seemed to provide the class with a few laughs. I knew exactly what I was going to say for my part of the presentation and went over it numerous times in my head. However, when it comes down to standing up in front of the class, my mouth gets dry, I start to forget things and I get nervous as hell. I don't think it matters how prepared I am, it always happens. Nevertheless, I completed my part of the presentation, I'm satisfied with it, and I'm extremely relieved that it's over with.

I have been reading all the material and listening actively during class. Because of this, I have been able to take better notes during the cycle 2 presentations.

What I Learned:

One thing that I realized when we were presented with the three types of communication was that I am more aggressive than I thought. Even after reading about aggressiveness, I didn't completely notice the behavior until Communications did the little skits. When it comes to doing a certain kind of work, many times I will beg for help. I didn't put it together until recently that this is a way of disrespecting the rights of others. Many of these times, the people are passive about responding and agree to help me. Maybe they truly feel like helping me out, or maybe they feel bad and can't say no to my face…I don't know. If they are too embarrassed to say no, they aren't doing their job either. Both of us should try to be more assertive. Defend our own rights without stepping on the rights of others. Refuse requests without feeling guilty. Express yourself as long as it doesn't violate other people’s right. I am also passive when it comes to making decisions. I generally go along with what other people say, unless I am strongly opposed to their ideas. So now, when I prepare to ask someone for help, I will probably be thinking about the three types of communication.

I also learned something from the Diad presentation. They talked about the Johari window and it is made up of four parts: the open self, blind self, hidden self and unknown self. I'm a very quiet guy, and I don't divulge tons of information to everyone. I have a hard time opening up to people and expressing my feelings, because I fear of rejection and being hurt. I think my hidden self in XB currently takes up at least 66% of the window, which really isn't a good thing. If I was more open with people, they might be a little more open with me and we could possibly get to know each other a little better. There seem to be quite a few rewards if you open up (disclose yourself) to people. Increased self-knowledge, closer intimate relationships, improved communications, lighter guilt feelings, and more energy.

Goals For Next Week:

I will input the last of the grades into our spreadsheet and calculate the final grades and standing in the class. I plan on doing this with the help of my group members and by making the grade submission deadline March 10 at 4pm. I will know I have accomplished my goal when I am done inputting all the grades into the spreadsheet and the final grades have been given to Tracey, and posted on the I: drive and the web page.

I will continue to listen actively during the cycle 2 presentations and try to learn as much new material as I can, even though it won’t be going on a learning report. I plan on doing this by taking notes and paying attention to the concepts. I will know I have accomplished my goal when I feel like I have learned the most that I possibly can.

I will have fun the last day of class. I plan on doing this by relaxing and by knowing I am done with the class and I don’t have to turn anything else in. I will know I have accomplished my goal when I walk out of the class on March 10 with a smile on my face.