INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

BANGALORE

INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION
ASSIGNMENT
As someone who has recently completed a course on Managing people and performance in
organizations, I have gained a number of valuable insights that have already started to shape my
personal and professional experiences.

Motivation

One key learning that has stood out to me is the importance of motivation in the workplace. I have
learned that motivation is a complex and multifaceted concept that can be influenced by a variety of
internal and external factors, such as an individual's values, goals, and needs, as well as the work
environment and leadership style of an organization. I have also learned that there are different theories
of motivation, such as Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Self-Determination Theory, that can help us
understand why people are motivated to do certain things and how we can enhance their motivation.

When I look back at my time in my last company, now I understand why my motivation to stay in the
company was low.

1. Desire for esteem- I was earning pretty well for the entry level engineering job but somehow it
wasn’t giving me the respect that I desired and that made me realize I need to increase my value
to gain respect in the organization. Now I can relate this with the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
2. Low job satisfaction – The job provided all the hygiene factor to prevent job dissatisfaction. But
it provided less of the motivator factors such as recognition, achievement, advancement and
personal growth, which made me look for these things elsewhere.

Managing Conflict

Another key learning that has resonated with me is the importance of effectively managing conflict in
the workplace. I have learned that conflict is an inevitable part of organizational life and that it can have
both positive and negative consequences, depending on how it is managed. I have learned about
different approaches to resolving conflict, such as collaboration, compromise, and avoidance, and the
pros and cons of each approach. I have also learned about the role of communication in conflict
resolution and the importance of active listening, empathy, and feedback in creating a constructive
dialogue.

Now, when I look back I realize that in my organization most of the conflict was because of
miscommunication among team members. Many of the times the direction from managers were
misinterpreted which resulted into unclear goals and scenario of role ambiguity. The second reason of
conflict that I experienced was because of non-alignment of goals. The goals of organization was
different from the goal of the employee while which led to conflicts. For instance during high pressure
scenario many of the employees were called to work on holidays to fulfill the organization goals but that
didn’t aligned with the employee goals and led to conflicts.

Leadership

Another important insight I have gained from this course is the role of leadership in shaping the
performance of an organization. Good leaders are able to inspire, motivate, and guide their team
members towards success. They also set a positive example and create a supportive and collaborative
work environment.
I have learned about different leadership styles, such as autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire, and
the different ways in which they can impact team performance and morale. I have also learned about
the importance of emotional intelligence and self-awareness in effective leadership, as well as the
importance of adapting to different situations and being flexible in one's leadership style. To achieve
long-term success, it is important to continuously develop and improve the skills and knowledge of team
members. This can be achieved through training, coaching, and other development opportunities.
Leaders have prime duty to ensure that the employees are getting this opportunity to upskill
themselves.

Also this made me understand the leadership style of my last organization. Leadership style was mostly
transactional as bonuses were given for accomplishments but less focus was given on aligning employee
goals with the leader’s goal. Also the Leader behavior type was task oriented as more focus was given on
the completion of task and less on the concerns of employee.

Managing group and teams

Finally, I have learned about the importance of teamwork in achieving organizational goals. I have
learned about different approaches to building and managing effective teams, and the role of trust,
communication, and diversity in creating a cohesive team. I have also learned about the challenges that
teams can face, such as groupthink, social loafing, and conflict, and how to address these challenges in
order to foster a productive and collaborative team environment.

I have experienced the stages of group development during the 1 st term project activities, initially we
didn’t know each other well and were trying to gauge the behavior style of other members in the group
which is forming. Then some of the members started influencing the group and power exertion started
based on profiles and in group behaviors. The power dynamics begin to get clear. This was storming.
Then the cooperation between team members started increasing and we get to know each other. The
goals were more defined now and we know each other’s strengths and capabilities. This was norming.
Then finally we were able to perform with full potential knowing each other in and out and we feel like
we are a part of greater entity. This is performing. Also we do not have to undergo the same process in
2nd term as we already know each other. But still there are instances of social loafing which can be
managed by assigning specific goals to each members.

Personality

I have learned the importance of understanding personality in the workplace. I have come to realize that
different individuals have unique personality traits that can impact their behavior, communication style,
and overall performance. This has been particularly relevant to me in understanding group members
while working in a group project.

Emotions at workplace

Another important lesson that I have learned is the role of emotions in the workplace. I have come to
understand that emotions can play a significant role in shaping an individual's behavior and
performance, and that it is important to be mindful of the emotional needs and well-being of my team
members. This has helped me to create a more positive and supportive work environment, which has
ultimately led to improved team performance. At my last workplace also the manger used to handle
different employees in a different manner according to their behavior and this led him to manage the
team effectively.

Biases and Heuristics

I have also learned about the impact of biases and heuristics on decision-making in organizations. I have
come to understand that it is important to be aware of our own biases and to actively work to mitigate
their influence on our decision-making processes. This has helped me to make more objective and fair
decisions in recent times. Also when I reflect back I found I have portrayed people differently due to
Halo effect and they turned out to be completely different. Now I try to be more mindful of these
judgements.

Diversity & Inclusion

A diverse and inclusive team can bring a range of perspectives and ideas to the table, leading to more
innovative and effective solutions. It is important to create an inclusive culture that values and respects
the unique qualities and backgrounds of all team members. Hence in our surrounding special care is
given to ensure diversity and inclusion. This helps in the growth of nation as whole.

Employee Rewards and recognition

Lastly, I have learned about the importance of employee rewards and recognition in organizations. I
have come to understand that it is important to regularly acknowledge and reward the hard work and
contributions of my team members, as this can help to foster a sense of appreciation and motivation. I
have seen this tradition in my last organization the top performing employees were very well
appreciated and they received rewards for exemplary performance. They also received quick
promotions from the organization. This helped organization to retain talent in their organization.

Conclusion

Overall, these are just a few of the key insights that I have gained from this course on Managing people
and performance in organizations. The lessons I have learned during my course on Managing people and
performance in organizations have been highly valuable to my personal and professional experiences. I
have already started to apply these lessons to my personal and professional experiences and I believe
that they will continue to be valuable for my future career. I have gained a deeper understanding of the
various factors that can impact an individual's behavior and performance, and I feel better equipped to
effectively manage and lead a team.