Reflection Skills
How good are your people skills? Self-evaluation
Make two copies of this table. Complete one now and one later in your programme. Rate
each of the following statements as follows:
Rating: Strongly agree = 3; Agree = 2; sort of agree = 1; disagree/don’t
know/no opportunities =0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
I have worked with a wide range of people of different ages and backgrounds
I am told that I am very good at working with others
I feel very confident about talking to people I do not know well
I am comfortable about leaving silences whilst other people gather their
thoughts
I can
start a conversation easily
I find people extremely interesting
I am aware of my body language and its effects upon others
I can be very helpful and polite to people I hate or despise
I can see the good points in most of the people I meet during a week
I can listen well without interrupting
I am very good at developing trust between myself and others
When I am in a group, I can easily tell the strengths of each person
When I am in a team, I can tell easily who will be the best for each job
I work very well as a member of a team
I am clear about the particular strengths I bring to the group or team
I am able to be very supportive of other people
I am very good at resolving difficulties that arise in group or team work
I know what support I need from others
I am able to ask for what I need
I am assertive
I can deal well with difficult people
I am able to accept, publicly, responsibility for my own part in interactions that
go wrong
I am skilled at offering constructive criticism to others
I am able to take negative criticism well
I am able to accept praise
I negotiate well with other people
I know how to arrive at a good compromise
I am clear what direction I need from people in leadership roles
I feel very comfortable about taking the lead in activities
I am very aware of what other people need
Now add up your total
Academic Skills Advice service
www.brad.ac.uk/academic-skills/
Score
Interpreting your score
70-90
This is an excellent score. If your ratings were accurate, you are able to
manage very well your relationships with other people. This suggests an
invaluable set of people skills. Consider how you could develop these
further. How can you use these skills in the career areas that interest you?
40 -69
This is a good score. If your ratings are accurate, this suggests your
people skills are already well developed. Look for themes in the
statements to which you gave lower ratings. Which areas could be further
improved?
20-39
If your ratings were accurate, this suggests you have developed some
people skills as well as an awareness of where you lack strengths
currently. Look for themes in the statements to which you gave lower
ratings.
Taking your programme needs and career interests into
consideration, which is your next priority for development?
0-19
If your ratings were accurate, this suggests that you have identified that
people skills are not currently strength for you. Check with people who
know you well whether you have rated yourself too harshly. It is also
important that you can identify which people skills are most crucial for
meeting the requirements of your programme and career interests.
Consider speaking to the careers service or your tutors to identify areas of
priority for future development. This score also suggests that you might
have difficulties in relationships generally. This can stressful. If so, student
counselling services can offer useful ideas about how to make your
interactions with others run more smoothly.
2
Academic Skills Advice service
www.brad.ac.uk/academic-skills/