Achieving and Maintaining Individual Excellence

Achieving and Maintaining Individual Excellence

Naturally, it is generally the desire of man to achieve and maintain individual excellence. It is the very thing that drives us to work to further our education in order to obtain a desirable career that will enable one to succeed. It drives the working person to work harder in order to be considered for promotion. Furthermore, we work extremely hard to live an American dream, one that allows us to purchase the home that we are to a raise a family in. As for me, I am working on achieving and maintaining my individual excellence in the career path I have chosen. I would like to one day lead a successful human service organization with an all-star team.

Throughout my years of employment, I have been able to achieve certain set goals that have allowed me to become successful in what I do. I have always set goals in hopes of escalating my role and position within the places of employment that I have had. In doing so, I have been able to acquire skills that have allowed me to further develop the leader that I one day hope to be. However, there are still areas that need development especially for use within the human service field in which I have chosen to pursue. In order to do so, I need to list my personal driving and restraining forces as well as my current position and desire for nine specific condition, which are (1) managing the environment, (2) planning and program design, (3) organizational design, (4) human resource development, (5) supervision, (6) financial management, (7) information systems, (8) program evaluation, and (9) leadership and organizational change, that are designed to help me achieve and maintain individual excellence.

Force Field Analysis helps "identify driving forces, which aid the change or make it more likely to occur, and restraining forces, which are points of resistance or things getting in the way of change" (Lewis, Packard & Lewis, 2007). Force Field Analysis is a productive tool when one is face with making a change in their lives, especially a change that take a lot of though and research in order for one to make sure it is achievable. "When a change is planned, Force Field Analysis helps one look at the big picture by analyzing all of the forces impacting the change and weighing the pros and cons" (Force field analysis, 2014). There are five steps that will help me layout my force field analysis. The five steps are (1) define the problem, (2) define the change objective, (3) identify the driving forces (4) identify the restraining forces, and (5) develop the comprehensive change strategy (Force field analysis, n.d.).

Lets take a look at each step a bit more. Defining the problem allows us to find the nature or current situation that is unacceptable or in need of change. We then define the change objective. This allows us to select the desired goal that we are to work towards. Once that is defined, we can then identify the driving forces, which are the factors that provide strength that we currently have to promote such change. We then need to identify the restraining forces. Restraining forces are factors that will impose and resist change. Once we have that figured out, we must develop a comprehensive change strategy. This will allow us to strengthen any driving forces and add any new ones if needed. It will also serve the purpose of eliminating or reducing the restraining forces that may hinder us (Force field analysis, n.d.). Personally, I would like to change my career from being a Graphic Designer to a Human Services Manager. Below I have designed a personal Force Field Analysis Chart.

Managing the environment Lack Internal Expertise

Planning and program design Need continuing education

Organizational design Need continuing education Human resource development Lack Internal Expertise

Supervision

Financial management Lack Financial Expertise

Information systems

Program evaluation Lack Internal Expertise

Leadership and

Organizational change

Managing the Environment

Although I currently hold a managerial position, I am aware that I lack internal expertise in order for me to manage the environment. However, I am confident that once I get hands on experience, I can manage the environment.

Planning and Program Design

I believe that I need to continue my education and experience in the human service field in order for me to plan and design a program. My past employment experiences have not allowed me to explore this area of business.

Organizational Design

Although I am aware of designing structure within a place of employment due to my managerial experience, I still feel the need to continue my education in human services in order to properly execute organizational design.

Human Resource Development

I currently have no experience in human resources and am aware that I lack internal expertise yet I am sure with on the job training I will be able to do so.

Supervision

I have held a supervisory position for my last 10 years of employment and am quite confident in what I have learned, which will be useful in my goal of becoming a human service manager.

Financial Management

Although I have had financial experience with being the executive treasurer of my church, I feel that I lack the financial experience to properly run a human service organization.

Information Systems

Being that I am a graphic designer, I am quite technologically savvy and am always up to date with the hardware and software