Skills Assessment Best PRactices

Skills Assessment

The skills assessment is a good activity to complete. This activity only allows a person to select three skills out of a possible thirty. The skills I chose are speaking, helping, and reasoning for various reasons. Other skills I also took some time to consider were managing time, troubleshooting, decision making, writing and authoring, reading comprehension, and listening. I believe I have all of the skills mentioned, but speaking, helping, and reasoning would have to be my top skills.

Speaking

            The assessment defines speaking as “talking, giving speeches, or speaking in a group to convey information, explain ideas, or give instructions.” Admittedly, speaking to a group and giving speeches is not something I am fond of doing as I get nervous, but I have been told many times that I have a very nice speaking voice and should consider speaking professionally. That is why I considered it one of my top skills in this assessment.

            Speaking will be essential to my future in the marketing industry. If I expect to move up in the marketing world, then I would need to become more comfortable in my presentation skills, and continue to develop those skills. In the marketing world, a person will constantly be presenting and speaking with people.

Helping

            The assessment defines helping as “actively looking for ways to help people.” I am a person who likes to help, encourage, build, comfort, and provide for people. I have been this way as long as I can remember. I like the opportunities to help people and provide for a need they have but cannot fulfill themselves.

            I think helping is an essential skill to every career field. Remembering that other people might require help and that you should provide it to them because you have the means will keep you grounded and humble. Doing good for the right reasons is important and will make you a better person, doing good for the wrong reasons will not make you a better person.

Reasoning

The assessment defines reasoning as “using logic to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.” My mind is pretty quick to think through ideas, solutions, problems, etc. There are time when a person identifies their problem to me, and I will be quick to think it through, come up with ideas, think about the potential results, and suggest one or two potential solutions to the person.

            Reasoning is also essential, because there will always be challenges and problems to be solved. If a customer or client does not like a solution, then it is important to identify the weaknesses of that solution and ensure the same weaknesses are not present in other solutions.

Troubleshooting

            Troubleshooting is described, as “the practice of analyzing the symptoms of a problem and deciding what actions should be taken to resolve the problem.” Troubleshooting can be performed in any situation such as the analysis of a defective device (refrigerator, microwave, TV, etc.), or in the analysis of a conflict between two people or groups, and in the analysis of a business issue of falling profits, rising costs etc.

            I have previous experience in troubleshooting home appliances throughout my day. The troubleshooting process is the same no matter what the situation is, the only difference is the problem and the solution. Peachpit Press (2005) identifies two stages in the troubleshooting process: identifying the issue and repairing or fixing the issue. My troubleshooting skills are within the first stage of the process.

            There are seven steps in stage 1:

1.     Gather information about the issue—will be provided or questions need to be asked

2.     Verify the issue—repeat the issue back or verify the original issue statement is still true

3.     Try quick fixes—is there a power issue, do job descriptions have some crossover causing conflict

4.     Use appropriate diagnostics/ask more probing questions—a person will need to dig in to the issue a little deeper to find out more information

5.     Perform a split-half search—process by which a person begins eliminating potential causes by checking out items within the defined problem (Peachpit Press, 2005).

6.     Use additional resources to research the issue—use program guides, descriptions, specifications, etc.

7.     Escalate the issue (if necessary)—if necessary, send a repair technician to work on the appliance, get assistance from another manager, etc.

Reading comprehension

Reading comprehension is the understanding of complex written paragraphs, instructions, or reports. I chose this skill as well, because I enjoy reading instructions, reports, etc. When I am finished reading, I feel exhilarated that I finished reading, understood the content, and can put it in to practice or my own words. If I do not understand something I have read, I will read it over until I understand it. I am also comfortable asking questions if I did not understand something.

Reading seems like it is becoming a think of the past due to the popularity of audiobooks and digital information, but reading is not going anywhere. No matter what words, reports, instructions, etc. will always be present. Reading comprehension is going to be an essential part of my life to read and understand business reports, financial reports, customer inquiries, etc.

References:

Peachpit Press. (2005). General troubleshooting theory. Retrieved from http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=420908&seqNum=2

Peachpit Press. (2005). Split-Half Search. Retrieved from http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=420908&seqNum=3