Personality Development Programme - II

CHAPTER 1
Q 1. Prepare a brief self-portrait of yourself for a professional career. ?
Ans. A brief self-portrait for a professional career can be made by considering
the following elements:
Educational qualification
Job experience Human
handling skills: The following are the various human handling skills:

Supervising skills
Counseling skills
Selling skills
Evaluating skills
Stimulating skills
Organizing skills
Mental skills: The following are the various mental skills:
Diagnosing skills
Inventing skills
Operating skills
Monitoring skills
Written communication skills
Verbal communication skills

Here is a sample portrait created after considering the above elements:

Don Allen is a B.Tech and is currently working as a software developer at

Technology Systems. He has also worked at Smart Developers as a technical
writer for one year. While working at Smart Developers, he won the first prize in
technical writing. Don is an avid sports person and has represented his college
cricket team at the university level. He is very innovative and takes initiative in
all the functions related to his field. He regularly organizes technical fests and
seminars.

Don is also good at supervising tasks because he has excellent monitoring skills.
He constantly evaluates his surroundings and analyse situations. He offers his
support and advice when required. However, he is not confident about his
communication skills and is not comfortable doing sales.

Q2. Write about your short-term and long-term professional goals. ?

Ans. Short-term professional goals refer to the goals to be achieved within two
to three years. These goals can be derived after considering the satisfaction level
(by saying 'Yes' or 'No') related to the following elements:

Desired position
Justified Salary
 Learning opportunities
Job Security
Preferred working Conditions

If you have responded with a 'Yes' to most of these elements, you are satisfied
with your current position and you should look forward to achieving your long-
term professional goals.

If you have responded with a 'No' to most of these elements, your professional
satisfaction level is low and you should look forward to improving your job
conditions. You can also explore the opportunities wherein you are able to
increase the level of satisfaction in a span of two to three years.

Long-term professional goals refer to the goals to be achieved after at least five
years. Long-term goals are derived from the vision of the person. These goals
can be determined by answering the following questions:

Which position would you like to attain after five years?

Which field of work do you wish to explore in the future?

Do you prefer to relocate to a specific geographical location?

Besides monetary gain, what do you want most from your job?

If you were granted a wish, which job or position would you like to attain?

In your past, which achievement has given you immense satisfaction?

What, according to you, is success or failure?

Which accomplishment determines a person's progress?

How competent are you to overcome your current weaknesses?

What is your aim in life?

Q3. List your strengths. ?

Ans. Select your strengths from the following list (This is not an exhaustive list.):
Strong work ethics
Self-discipline
Ability to work under pressure
Good communication skills
Team player
Leadership abilities
Technical knowledge
Work experience
High-energy level
Q4. List your weaknesses. ?

Ans. Select your weaknesses (or areas of improvement) from the following list
(This is not an exhaustive list.):
Poor work ethics
Lack of discipline
Lack of motivation
Indecisiveness
Weak interpersonal skills
Weak leadership skills
Weak technical knowledge
Poor rating in educational qualification
Lack of job-specific knowledge
Lack of goals

Q5. Prepare a self-improvement plan for the next five years. ?

Ans.
S.N Weaknesses Action Plan
o.
1 Poor work ethics Will learn the basic concepts of personal and
professional grooming and will learn about
dressing manners
2 Lack of motivation Will keep a record of all achievements and
successes
3 Weak interpersonal Will take feedback positively and work upon it
skills
4 Weak technical Will join weekend classes to update self with the
knowledge latest technologies
5 Low-energy level Will follow a proper health care routine and will
actively participate in sport activities

Q6. If you are single, describe yourself as well as your prospective life
partner. ?

Ans. You can create your personal word portrait by answering the following
questions:

1. What are your hobbies?

2. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
3. List your special skills and abilities.
4. What type of people irritate you?
5. List the moral values that you abide by.
6. How do your seniors and colleagues describe you?
7. How do you respond to critical feedback?
8. Describe your most prized possession.
9. What impression do you want people to have about you?
10. What kind of work do you like to do?
After answering these questions, prepare a portrait. A sample portrait is given
below:

Donna Bard is a kind hearted and honest girl. She works as a manager in an
organization. She works hard and is known as a motivating team player. She is
disciplined and loyal towards her work. She always strives to improve. If any
feedback for improvement is given to her, she accepts it gracefully and works
towards removing her weaknesses. However, she tends to ignore her health care
routine and this results in fatigue and depression. She also wishes to improve
upon her people-handling skills because she gets irritated with people with poor
work ethics and lack of discipline. She gets inspired by reading 'The Alchemist',
which talks about pursuing ones dreams.

Similarly, you can create a word portrait of your prospective life partner by
answering the following questions:

11. What hobbies and interests should your prospective life partner have?
12. What kind of approach he/she should have towards society?
13. List the desired strengths he/she should possess.
14. List negative personality traits that you don't want your spouse to have.
15. List the minimum standard of performance that your prospective spouse
should achieve.
16. What minimum educational qualification should he/she possess?
17. What special skills or abilities should he/she possess?
18. What personal growth efforts should he/she be making?
19. What professional growth efforts should he/she be making?
20. What should be his/her aim in life?

Based on the answers given, Donna has prepared the following word portrait to
describe her ideal spouse:

He should lead a disciplined life with strong work and moral ethics. He should
always exude high energy levels. He should preferably be an M.Tech. and should
have strong management skills. Besides working hard, he should enjoy
participating in sports activities. He should have good leadership qualities. He
should be an avid reader and should constantly update himself with new
technologies. He should always work towards building healthy professional and
personal relationships. He should aim for a peaceful and prosperous life

CHAPTER 2

Q1. Prepare a good bio-data of yourself. ?

Ans. The following guidelines needs to be followed while designing a bio-data:

Avoid spelling and typing errors.

Give a consistent and symmetrical look.
Use terms and phrases relevant to the industry.
Use simple and concise sentences.
Limit the bio-data to two pages.
 Add a cover letter or note mentioning the code number and other details
specified in the advertisement. Here is a sample bio-data:

Bio-Data
1. Name of the post : Software
Engineer
2. Name : Vinay Yadav
3. Date of birth, Age : 10.10.1981, 24
4. Address - present : 410, Surya
Apartments, 21-D, Faridabad (HR)

5. Address permanent : 410, Surya

Apartments,21-D, Faridabad (HR)
6. Telephone numbers : 0129 - 3092391
7. E-mail ID :
raovinay10@yahoo.co.in
8. Father's name : Mr. D.V.S. Yadav
9. Occupation : Software
Developer
10. Marital status : Single
11. Academic qualifications

Sl. Period From Institution/ Place Degree/ % Marks Class

No to Exam.Pass
ed
1 1995-96 Vidya Mandir 15- AISSCE 81 Firs
A, Faridabad
2 1997-98 D.A.V.14, AISSE 78 Firs
Faridabad
3 1998-2002 M.M.Engg. B.Tech 65 Firs
College Ambala

12. Work experience:

Sl.No Period From To Organization Designation Last Salary

Drawn
1 Oct 2003 till date Technologies System S/W Develope Rs. 20,000/-
pm
2 Oct 2002 to Oct Smart Developers Technical Writer Rs. 10,000/-
2003 pm
13. Extra-curricular activities : Played cricket at the university
level.
14. Personal attainments/distinctions : :Organized technical fests and
seminars. Won the first prize in technical writing.

15. Professional skills : C, C++, Oracle, and System

Analysis and Design (SAD).
16. References : Available on request.
Date Signature

Q2. Briefly write out a preparation plan for an interview for a software
engineer's post. ?
Ans. Here is a plan to prepare for an interview for a software engineer's post:
1. Getting familiar with the interview process:
The interview process followed in most of the organizations consists of three
rounds:
Preliminary written tests: This includes IQ tests, language tests, logical
reasoning tests, aptitude tests, and technical knowledge tests. You can
prepare for the preliminary written tests by using books that contain
sample tests.
Group discussions: In the group discussion round, organizations ask
candidates to discuss a specific topic among themselves. The topics can
range from current events to technical topics, such as Role of JAVA in the
Internet, and Comparing Poseidon and Rational Rose as Modeling Tools
for S/W Systems. You can practice group discussions with your friends
and improve upon your communication skills.
Personal interview : To prepare for a personal interview round, you need
to consider the following factors:
Academic preparation: List down all the academic qualifications
mentioned in your bio-data and ensure thatyou are comfortable discussing
about those qualifications. Prepare a brief description of your
favorite subjector topic, such as RDBMS and Operating Systems, and an
answer as to why you chose this topic.
Project work preparation: Most organizations focus on project work
because it reflects your own work.Rehearse the presentation of your
project work and practice the answers to the common questions
pertainingto the project work, such as:
Why did you choose this particular project?
What are its practical applications?
Practical training: Prepare a brief write-up on the training you have
undergone, and always mention if youhave contributed to the
advancement of any application during your training session. In addition,
list downyour learnings.
Special attainments: List down all
your special achievements, such as writing a technical
 paper or participating in seminars and technical competitions, and discuss
them during your interview.
Q3. List your qualifications and skills that will help you get selected for
a job. ?
Ans. The qualifications and skills that will help you get selected for a job are:
Qualifications:

Educational Knowledge:
Example: School: AISSE in Physics, Chemistry, MathsCollege: B.Tech

Job Knowledge:
Example: Principal responsibilities: Designing a software system and
writing code for modules of the software system.
Principal accomplishments: Modeling, developing, and maintaining
the software system. Leadership quality: Handling different projects
related to software systems.
Skills:

Interpersonal skills:
Example: Communication skills
Coordinating skills
Negotiation skills
Skills related to the job:
Example: C, C++, Oracle, and System Analysis and Design (SAD)
Q4. Prepare a list of your strengths and weaknesses. ?
Ans. A software professional may possess any of the following traits:
Ability to analyze situations
Self confidence
Articulateness
Creativity in developing new concepts
Proactiveness
Ethicalness
Desire to excel
Reliability
Ambition
Communication skills
Past achievements
Some of the weaknesses that should be overcome by software professionals are
as follows:
 Weak analyzing skills
Lack of career plans and goals
No emphasis on growth prospects
Lack of specific technical knowledge
Over ambitious
Immature and dishonest
Lack of leadership qualities
Poor communication skills
Lack of past achievements
No desire to achieve or excel

Q5. Introduce yourself, giving comprehensive information about

yourself within two minutes. ?
Ans. My name is Vinay Yadav and I am a software developer with Technologies
System. I have done B.Tech. from M.M. Engineering College, Ambala, and I am
aspiring to do an M.Tech. I have been brought up in a atmosphere
wherediscipline and respect for elders is a way of life. I believe strongly in values
like honesty and hard work. I am a personwith a high degree of integrity and
team spirit.

Q6. Identify an appropriate career goal for yourself by matching your

qualities to the job.
Ans.
Assume that Vinay possesses the following qualities:

Educational Qualities:
School: AISSE in Physics, Chemistry, Maths
College: B.Tech

Professional Qualities:
Professional experience: 1 year of experience as a technicalwriter.3
years of experience as a S/W developer.
Principal responsibilities: Designing a software system and writing code
for different modules of the software system.
Principal accomplishments: Modeling, developing, and maintaining the
software system.

Leadership qualities: Managing different projects related to software

systems.

Handling a team of seven software professionals.

 Responsible for making high-quality software systems.

Interpersonal skills: Ability to analyze situations.

Creative in developing new concepts
Pro-active
Desire to excel
Reliable and ambitious
Good communication skills Good
coordinating skills Good negotiation skills

Skills related to job : C, C++, Oracle, and System Analysis

and Design (SAD).

Based on the above-mentioned qualities, Vinay has identified a goal for

his professional life. Because he has a strong technical experience and
good interpersonal skills, Vinay plans to become a project manager in the
next two to three years.

Chapter 3
Stress Level Evaluation
Different students might have different reasons for being under stress when
appearing for an interview. You can ask the students to assess the various
reasons of stress and evaluate the stress level by using the Personal Stress Index
(PSI).This analysis will help in reducing the stress level and the students will be
more comfortable when appearing for an interview. Give the students some
statements that convey the behavior pattern of a person in a given condition.
Present those statements in a tabular form and ask the students to rate each
statement based on their preferences. Tell the students that they can rate each
statement by entering the number in the respective rating column. The ratings
vary from 4, to be used if the students absolutely identify with the corresponding
statement, to 0, to be used if the student strongly disagree with the statement.
Accordingly, they need to rate each statement from 0 to 4. Tell the students that
they should rate the statements according to how they actually feel and not
according to the image they may want to portray to others. This will help them
assess their actual stress level. Ask the students to create a table with seven
columns, as shown
Personal Stress Index

no 0 1 2 3 4 Statement
.
1 I get irritated by the interviewer's undesirable attitude

2 I feel insecure and anxious about my future

3 I wish for immediate appreciation and recognition

4 I am apprehensive in handling responsibility

5 I find my life unfulfilling and meaningless

6 I am extremely impatient and get easily frustrated

7 I feel a compulsive need to prove my worth

8 I blame myself for my mistakes, defeats, and failures.

9 I feel anxious about undertaking new endeavors.

10 I am very critical of any displeasing behavior around me

Chapter 4

Q1. List out your short-term and long-term goals in your professional
life. ?
Ans. Short-term professional goals refer to the goals to be achieved within a
span of two to three years. These goals can be derived after considering the
satisfaction level (by saying 'Yes' or 'No') related to the following elements:

Desired position
Justified Salary
Learning opportunities
Job Security
Preferred working conditions

If you have responded with a 'Yes' to most of these elements, you are
satisfied with your current position and you should look forward to achieve
your long-term professional goals. If you have responded with a No to most
of these elements, your professional satisfaction level is low and you should
look forward to improving your job conditions. You can also explore the
opportunities wherein you are able to increase the level of satisfaction in a
span of two to three years. Long-term professional goals refer to the goals to
be achieved after at least five years. Long-term goals are derived from the
vision of the person. Long-term goals can be determined by answering the
following questions:

Which position would you like to attain after five years?

Which field of work do you wish to explore in the future?
Do you prefer to relocate to any specific geographical location?
Besides monetary gain, what do you want most from your job?
If you were granted a wish, which job or position would you like to
attain?
In your past, which achievement has given you immense satisfaction?
What, according to you, is success or failure?
Which accomplishment determines a person's progress?
How competent are you to overcome your current weaknesses?
What is your aim in life?
Q2. Plan out a strategy to make a good impression on your first job. ?
Ans. You can use the following strategy to make a good first impression:

Utilize your first day in office in getting familiar with your colleagues and
the office environment. Represent yourself as an enthusiastic and
confident person.
Take your first assignment very seriously and deliver your best. Take extra
measures to perform better in your first assignment because it will help
form a favourable first impression.
Try to collect all the information related to your organization and
understand the atmosphere of the organization. Ask your team members
and seniors about the performance evaluation procedure. This will help
you continuously access your performance status.
Always be ready for any opportunity and make sure to give your best
performance.
Always appear enthusiastic and full of confidence. This will reflect on your
work and people will want you to work with them.
If you are not comfortable about a specific aspect about the organization,
raise the issue in an appropriate manner.

Tips for Smooth Handling of the First Day at Work

Tell the students that on the first day at work, it always helps if they know what
to expect throughout the day and how to conduct themselves. The first day is
usually about fulfilling certain formalities and getting familiar with the new
surroundings. There is usually not much work to be done on the very first day.
On the first day at work:

Be punctual and report on time. Arrive at the assigned time and report to
the concerned person.
Look confident and feel comfortable. Feel secure and positive. Wear a
smile.
Familiarize yourself with the people who are introduced to you. Introduce
yourself and engage in conversation with them.
Familiarize yourself with the new surroundings. Explore the building and
find out the location of various departments and facilities, such as the
restroom, the canteen, and the coffee machine.
Find out about the organization's rules and regulations, general practices,
and protocol. Enquire about the generally accepted and followed practices
of the office from your colleagues or the HR department. Ask if there is an
official manual that provides such details.
Do not hesitate to ask questions. Clarify any doubts and seek information
from your new colleagues or the HR personnel.
Be careful about what you say. Use formal language. Do not make
unsolicited comments and avoid politically incorrect language and humor.
 Chapter 5

Q1. List out your qualities among the potentials given in this module. ?
Ans. Following is a sample list of qualities possessed by John:

Positive attitude: John always looks at things with a positive attitude and
keeps track of all the appreciation and encouragement given to him. The
appreciation and encouragement act as motivators and increase his
potential.
Setting priorities with practical approach: John sets his priorities before
starting any work. This enables him to accomplish the tasks in a proper
manner and within the specified time. He sets realistic goals.
Making commitments: After setting the priorities, John makes
commitments and works sincerely towards meeting the deadlines.

Q2. How do you propose to overcome the deficient potentials ?

Ans. John needs to work on the following aspects:

Lack of physical fitness routine: He tends to ignore the aspect of physical

fitness because he spends long hours in office.
Time gap between planning and execution of project: John tends to delay
the execution of planned projects. This results in loss of energy and
enthusiasm.

John can take the following steps to overcome his weaknesses:

He will consult the physical trainer, set up a fitness routine, and follow it
regularly. This will help increase his physical fitness.

He will ensure that all projects are executed on time. To ensure success, he
will share the schedule with his team members and his seniors.

Physical Fitness
It is not possible to utilize your full potential if your body does not permit you to
do so. When we talk about education and profession, we emphasize on improving
on our educational qualifications and professional qualities because these
parameter form the basis of assessment for any person. However, factors such
as enthusiasm, positive attitude, and physical fitness should also be recognized.
Many people tend to ignore these factors.
Tell the students that if they are healthy, they will be full of life and vitality. This
will help them accept new challenges and perform better. Ask the students to
describe their health care routine. In addition, ask them to write the last time
they went for a health check. The result will be surprising because most of the
students will realize that they have not gone for a health check for years. Few
get the time to exercise or play a physical sport. Now, ask the students to list the
various physical problems they face while working.

Give the students the following list of tips. This list will help them remain healthy
and active while coping with a busywork schedule:

Take 10 deep breaths. You can do this exercise anywhere and at any time
of the day. Taking 10 deep breaths 3times a day will enhance your thinking
power because more oxygen is transferred to your brain. It also enables
you to relax your nerves.
Follow healthy eating habits. Do not skip meals, have an organic fruit
everyday, and consult a dietician for further guidance.
Make a list of all the tasks. This will help you remain organized. In addition,
it will reduce the tension of remembering the tasks to be done and
eliminate the risk of missing any important work.
Perform small exercises. Taking the stairs instead of the lift and indulging
in rotation exercises while sitting on your workstation will increase your
blood circulation and refresh your energies.
Entertain your spirit. After a hard day at work and going through several
daily chores, most of us tend to ignore the beauty around us. This beauty
can be the nature or some good work going on in your neighbourhood.
Once in a week, feed your soul with beautiful thoughts and scenes to
rejuvenate your spirits.
Admire yourself. Besides being assessed on your educational and
professional standards by others, assess yourself and list down the good
qualities that you possess. This will help in boosting your confidence on a
regular basis.

Chapter 6

Q1. Prepare a time log for utilizing your time and note down your own
reactions to your time management. ?
Ans. Prepare a time log by listing the tasks to be done in a day. You can also
prepare a time log to manage your weekly or long-term tasks. To create a time
log, create a table comprising four columns. The first column will contain the
serial number, the second column will specify the task, and the third column will
contain the time allotted for the corresponding task. In the fourth column, specify
the result as 'Completed', 'Incomplete', or 'Not attended to.' A sample time log is
shown as follows:

No Engagement/Task Allotted Results

. time
1 Completing a module One hour
2 Organizing a meeting Two hours
3 Organizing a fun activity at work One hour
4 Going out for lunch with friends Two hours
5 Going to the gym Two hours
6 Making reports on the team's performance Three hours

At the end of the day, suppose the following results are filled in the column
against the tasks given:
Completed
Completed
Incomplete
Not attended to
Not attended to
Completed
The reason for not being able to complete some of the tasks were:
Writing a module took two hours instead of an hour. This delayed the subsequent
tasks. The meeting had to be postponed for another hour. This resulted in delay
in planning and executing the meeting. Skipped lunch for this reason. Started to
initiate a fun activity at work. However, not all the colleagues were interested in
continuing with it on the same day; therefore, had to work upon another task and
this activity got postponed for the next day. Collected data for making the
reports on the team's performance but realized that it will take more than three
hours to complete the reports. Worked on the reports and cancelled going to the
gym.
Based on the result derived, you can analyze that one should set realistic
deadlines and should not try to be a perfectionist all the time. The module could
have completed in an hour; however, it took two hours. This delayed the rest of
the activities. In addition, the activities for which one is not answerable to
anyone like going to the gym or going out for lunch should not be ignored. These
activities should be given equal importance
Q2. Identify your weaknesses related to time management and create a
plan to overcome it. ?
Ans. Here is a sample list of weaknesses related to time management:

I try to do each and every task to perfection, irrespective of the

requirement. This unnecessarily delays the things and affects the
complete schedule.
 I tend to take on each and every task that comes my way and am unable
to say 'No' to my friends and colleagues. This results in an increased
amount of work, both planned and unplanned.
I believe in doing everything on my own and do not feel comfortable in
delegating tasks to my team members or colleagues. This results in too
much of work and effort.

To overcome my weaknesses, I plan to do the following:

I will have a practical approach towards work and will try to strive for
excellence rather than perfection. This will help me save time.
Learning to say 'No' will help me save a lot of time. I will say 'No' to the
tasks that do not contribute to my goals.
I will involve my team members in my work. Instead of making personal
targets, I will make team targets. This will help me achieve the targets on
time and will enable others to learn and improve upon their performance.

Q3. Prepare a time commitment plan for an MCA semester allocating

time for studies in two modules of 16 (12+4) weeks of time.?
Ans. A time commitment plan for Module 1 of the first semester of MCA, to be
followed daily for 12 weeks, is as follows:

A time commitment plan for Module 2 of the first semester of MCA, to be

followed daily for 4 weeks, is as follows:
Guidelines and Benefits of Time Management
Mr Never No is a talented individual. He is always asked to participate in
company activities not only because he is good at these activities but also
because he is willing to put in extra hours. However, he does not really like doing
extra work; It is just that he cannot say No'. He would rather suffer himself than
let his image suffer. He diligently responds to all the forwarded mails from friends
and colleagues. His colleagues flock to his workstation because it is a good place
to hang out. He is not climbing up the corporate ladder even after three years in
the organization. He does not have time to pursue his hobbies and interests
because he is in office during most weekends. If only he could learn how to rule
his life instead of allowing other people to rule it.
Ms Balanced is a smart, committed, successful, and popular person. At the same
time, she is completely down-to-earth and unassuming. She helps people around
her and nurtures them because she believes in their potential. Every day, she
plans for the known and the unknown, and pays attention to smallest of details,
which could otherwise throw workout of gear. She makes sure to spend time with
her family and friends because she can unwind and get back to work feeling
refreshed.
After discussing the two different personalities, tell the students to adhere to the
following guidelines to manage time effectively:

Plan and organize: Take out time for planning and organizing. This
ensures that you are in a better position to manage the day ahead. Failing
to plan is equivalent to planning to fail.
Use time sheets: Time sheets can be analyzed to find ways for saving
time. By listing the activities performed in a day and the time spent on
each activity, you can monitor the amount of time you spend on doing
tasks.
Use 'To Do' lists: 'To Do' lists prevent you from forgetting to complete or
start some work at a certain time. They also help you prioritize tasks. You
should keep referring to them during the day.
Multitask: Do more than one task at a time, if you can do so, without
becoming distracted.
Delegate work to others: Identify tasks that can be delegated. Work
only on those tasks that cannot be delegated.
 Conquer procrastination: To avoid procrastination, divide a task into a
number of smaller tasks and start doing it hem one by one.
Learn to say 'No': Saying 'No' becomes easier when you realize that your
priorities are more important than anything else.
Handle interruptions well: When planning your activities, assign some
time for interruptions. Do not plan for 100percent of your time. Tell the
students that effective time management results in:
Ability to control one's activities: Effective time management helps you
prioritize and organize your activities. This puts you in control.
Deadlines being met consistently: By prioritizing tasks and organizing
schedules, you can make sure that deadlines are met regularly.
Reduction of stress: Effective time management ensures that you are
more organized and are able to unclutter your mind. Therefore, you do not
feel stressed.
Higher production and efficiency: Effective time management includes
smart goal-setting techniques that help you increase your productivity.
More time for family, hobbies, and friends: Time management helps you
restore the balance between work and leisure hours.

Chapter 7

Q1. Apart from the above nine qualities mentioned on personality

development, add a few more qualities that are helpful for total
personality development.
Ans. The additional qualities that can help you enhance your personality are:

Enthusiasm: Being enthusiastic accentuates your personality.

Ambition: Being ambitious means willing to take initiative and to reach
towards new goals. Ambitious people always stand out to achieve their
goals and this quality develops their personality.
Vision: Having a vision helps people have a clear idea of where they want
to go and what they want to do. Clarity of thought and vision reflects on
your personality and therefore improves it.
Competitive spirit: Competitive people are ready to take on challenges
and emerge winners. This quality is an aggressive form of being confident
and is crucial for having a good personality.
Open to criticism: Besides making a list of achievements, people should
also remember their failures and should learn from their mistakes. This
helps them develop their personality.
Q2. Identify the shortcomings in your personality and prepare an action
plan for improvement within a reasonable timeframe. ?
Ans. Here is a sample list of shortcomings related to personality:

Lack of updated knowledge related to my field

Lack of entertainment skills
 Improper time management
Improper health care routine

Here is the action plan to improve upon the shortcomings, along with the time
frame:

I will start reading journals and books related to my field to update myself
with the latest information. I can utilize the time spent traveling to and
from office for reading. Within a month, I should be updated with the
knowledge related to my field.
I will join weekend hobby classes and will choose the hobby that will help
me relax and refresh my self. This change should reflect in my personality
in one or two months.
I will create a time management log and will keep a record of all the tasks
to be done along with their time frame. This will help me assess my time
management skills and identify my time wasters. Then, I will think of new
idea stop improve my time management skills.
I will acquire a health care routine based on my working style and food
habits. I will also learn some exercises to help improve my blood
circulation and oxygen circulation. This routine will help me stay active
and lively. I should be able to see a difference in two or three months

Chapter 8

Q1. List out your good qualities pertaining to Human Engineering. ?

Ans. John, a consultant working at Red Sky, possesses the following qualities
related to human engineering:

He tries to avoid reacting impulsively and criticize because these attempts

are futile.
He appreciates the efforts made by others.
Before asking another person to do something, he looks from that person's
point of view.
He tries to remember the names of all persons he interacts with and
ensures that he calls them by their names.
In any conversation, he listens carefully to people. It makes the other
person feel important.
He tries to avoid an argument. If he enters in an argument with anyone,
he tries to reconcile as soon as possible.
He admits mistakes easily and tries not to have an argument to prove his
point, which has already been proved wrong.
He tries not to punish or humiliate a person in order to correct the
mistakes made by that person. He tries to be considerate and thoughtful
in his behaviour .
He tries to be friendly with all the people around him and always tries to
make other person feel comfortable while talking to him.
 He tries to convince the person working with him that he considers that
person honest, upright, and fair.

Q2. List out the qualities in you that need improvement from the point
of view of Man Management skills in Human Engineering. ?

Ans. Sam, a consultant at Red Sky Inc., needs to work on the following points to
improve his skills related to human engineering:

He is unable to put his ideas across in an interesting manner, and this

results in dull presentations. He needs to improve his presentation skills.
He tends to make work-related decisions on his own without discussing it
with his team. He should involve his team members in planning activities
because this will give them a sense of belonging.
Sometimes, he is unable to control his anger. He should learn to stay calm
if things are not happening as per plan.
He avoids making personal contacts with colleagues; therefore, he has
limited knowledge about his colleagues. He should try to get to know his
colleagues. This will make them feel special.

Behaviour Styles
The knowledge of dealing with people is the biggest key factor in human
relations management. There are three types of human behaviour styles
depicted by different people in different conditions and circumstances. These
styles are Submissive, Aggressive, and Assertive. These three behaviour styles
are present in every human being. However, each person has one behaviour
style as the dominant one. Some people manage to strike a balance between all
the three styles and use these styles according to the situation. You can assess a
person's personality by determining a person's dominant behaviour style.
Understanding these styles will help you decide how to deal with different
people.
Explain to the students that they can identify different behaviour styles by
referring to the characteristics given below. The characteristics of people having
submissive behaviour are:

They do not stand up for themselves.

They do not express their views. If they express their views, they do it in a
cautious and mild manner.
They allow others to move ahead of them in professionally and allow
others to take credit for work they them selves have completed.
 People having aggressive behaviour have little or no concern for other people's
ideas, feelings, and concerns. The characteristics of people having aggressive
behaviour are:

They can be directly or indirectly aggressive.

They can become sarcastic.
They sometimes adopt a patronizing attitude.
They blame others for problems and mistakes.
They can get verbally hostile or abusive.

People having assertive behaviour express and pursue their own views, ideas,
and feelings. At the same time, they respect the right of other people to express
their views, ideas, and feelings. The characteristics of people having assertive
behaviour are:

They are honest with themselves and others.

They express their views directly but not at the expense of others.
They are confident and have a positive attitude.
They are able to negotiate and compromise.
They respect the self and others.

Chapter 9

Q1. Identify a successful role model and list two or three additional
qualities other than those listed in this module. ?
Ans. My role model is Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft Corporation. He started
developing computer programs at the age of 13. In 1975, he started a company
along with his friend Paul Allen. Today, Microsoft Corporation is a leader in
software services and solutions, employs 55,000 people, and is present in 85
countries. Microsoft generated revenues worthUS$36.84 billion for the fiscal year
ending June 2004.
Bill Gates has all the characteristics of a successful person. He has complete
knowledge of his own field and has common sense to make practical judgments.
He never waited for any external help and realized his dreams on his own. He
has the natural ability to comprehend difficult concepts and analyze them clearly.
He possesses strong work ethics and organizational skills.
Besides having these qualities, he has the following three abilities, which have
made him one of the most successful business persons in the world:

Vision: Gates had a clear vision at a very early stage in his life that
computers will be available in every house and office desk.
Continuous advancement: Gates always aims to introduce innovative
products. This keeps his organization always at the top and in demand.
Making cost-effective and user-friendly products: Making cost-
effective and user-friendly products has been one of the main reasons
 behind Gate's success. As a result, Microsoft has a strong base of happy
and satisfied customers.

Q2. List out some of the important principles of human engineering in

which you are good at. ?
Ans. John, a consultant working at Red Sky, possesses the following qualities
related to human engineering:

He tries to avoid reacting impulsively.

He ensures that no chance to appreciate the other person is missed.
Before asking another person to do something, he looks from that person's
point of view.
He tries to remember the names of all the persons he interacts with and
ensures that he calls them by their names.
In any conversation, he listens carefully to people. It makes the other
person feel important.
He tries to avoid an argument. If he enters in an argument with anyone,
he tries to reconcile as soon as possible.
He admits mistakes easily and tries not to have an argument to prove his
point, which has already been proved wrong.
He tries not to punish or humiliate a person in order to correct the
mistakes made by that person. He tries to be considerate and thoughtful
in his behaviour.
He tries to be friendly with all the people around him and always tries to
make other person feel comfortable while talking to him.
He tries to convince the person working with him that he considers that
person to be honest, upright, and fair.

Q3. List out some of the important principles of human engineering in

which you need improvement. Prepare an action plan for improvement
of those qualities. ?
Ans. Following is the list of important principles of human engineering that John
should work upon:

He is unable to put his ideas across in an interesting manner, and this

results in dull presentations. He needs to improve upon his way of
presentation.
He tends to make work-related decisions on his own without discussing it
with his team.
Sometimes, he is unable to control his anger.

He is unable to make hard decisions related to people he works with. This

results in people taking him for granted.
He avoids making personal contacts with his colleagues. As a result, he
knows little about them. Following is the action plan for John:
He should improve upon his way of presenting his ideas and concepts.
 He should involve his team members in planning the activities. This will
give them a sense of belonging.
He should learn to calm down if things are not happening his way.
He should convey to the people that disciplinary measures can be taken
against them if they do not comply with the working standards.
He should try to get to know about the people working with him more
closely to make them feel special.

Characteristics of a True Professional

Case Study
Anita topped in her Class XII board exams. She studied software engineering at a
highly rated engineering institute and won an award for her project. Then, she
completed her management diploma at a premier management institute and got
a job in a top software development company.
During her first project, she had an idea that contradicted that of her immediate
superior. She went to her manager and told him her idea. He explained why it
was not feasible. She disagreed with him and started arguing. The manager
explained again in detail why the idea was not feasible. Anita kept arguing. After
the meeting, she told her team members about what had happened and spoke of
the manager very rudely. She did not tell them the reason why he had not
agreed with her idea.
She made the situation seem as if he had not bothered to listen to her and did
not want to accept her idea because it was better than his. Her manager
reviewed her work after a week and was impressed. He gave her a very positive
feedback and showed her work to the Head of Department. Anita was deemed
the 'Star Performer of the Month'.
Soon after, she had a bitter argument with her team members Grace and Tom.
Grace had pointed out that Anita had not sent her a certain document for review
that she was supposed to send two days before. Anita argued that Tom was the
one who had not sent the document. Tom was taken aback because Anita had
never asked him to send the document.
Anita began spreading rumour about Grace. At home and with her friends, she
complained about how unprofessional the organization was and that the bad
work atmosphere was affecting her.
After three months, during her appraisal, Anitas manager told her that he was
very pleased with her work. However, the team felt that she was not a team
player. Because of this, her rating was average. He told her that this was a
serious issue and that she must work towards improving her communication and
teamwork skills.
The preceding case study proves the point that a professional should always take
the initiative to improve his or her softs kills. Tell the students that a true
professional should:

Be diplomatic and tactful

Admit mistakes
 Act as an ambassador of the organization
Be responsible
Display mutual respect
Display integrity
Have no favourites
Be enthusiastic and optimistic

Chapter 10

Team Building Spirit

Successful IT Tyros, besides being proficient in their field, should also get along
well with their seniors and team members. They need to ensure a high team
spirit to accomplish their project and organizational goals. A team is a group of
people working together towards a common goal. Team spirit can be promoted
by sharing experiences and by being flexible, co-operative, and committed.
Every member is an important part of the team and is responsible for its success.
To become a responsible and efficient member of a team, an individual should be
enthusiastic. Highly enthusiastic team members are always willing to participate
in all team activities and are considered as future team leaders.
Ask the students to form groups of six members each and perform the following
activities:

Forming: In this stage, people get to know each other and make
impressions. Ask the students in each group to interact with each other to
know each other better.
Storming: This is the argumentative phase. Ask students to resolve
various issues and concerns pertaining to the team goals among
themselves.
Norming: In this stage, the students will be comfortable with each other
and with the goal that they have decided upon to work together.
Performing: In this stage, the students will start working together and
giving good performance.
Avoidance: People with this style do not actively participate in the conflict
and tend to avoid being in such situation. Tell the students that avoiding
such situations is not always helpful. Sometimes it is necessary for each
team member to participate and help the team reach a decision in an
amicable manner.
Accommodating: People with this style participate in a conflict but do
not get affected by the result. They tend to adapt to the scene that seems
to be suitable for the whole team.
Competing: People with this style actively participate in a conflict. At
times, they initiate conflicts and try to prove their point of view. Such
people are aggressive in nature and usually bring out new points related
to team activities.
 Compromising: People with this style participate in a conflict in a
reconciling manner. They don't fight over their point of view but try to
settle the conflict within themselves.
Collaboration: People with this style try to soothe conflict and inspire
each team member to work together in a joint intellectual effort. Such
people are actively involved in planning activities that can bring the team
together