Professional Development Plan

Professional Development Plan Introduction Leadership is an important process in team management. It is always important to understand the characteristic of self and that of team members in order to offer effective leadership. By understanding the personal characteristics and of the other team members, a leader will be able to understand the strengths and weaknesses in order to find a way of achieving success in addressing the specific duties.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Professional Development Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In this learning group, there are four members; they include Elizabeth, Jason, Rachel, and I. Each one of us has unique characteristics which make us diversified in our capabilities. Where one of us has weaknesses, the others may have strengths, and this makes it possible to address various challenges as a team. As a leader, I need to analyze these characteristics in order to determine how we can address diff erent tasks, and how we can help one another overcome some of the personal challenges that may affect our career (Rughani, Franklin Dixon, 2003). In this assignment, I seek to develop a plan that will address the characteristics of the group and me as the leader of the learning team. Combined DISC Chart of the Learning Team Members The group members have taken their time to generate their DISC profile based on the specific questions that were set for them. The following is a combined DISC chart of my Learning Team members. Figure 1: Combined DISC Chart The characteristics of the team The chart above shows the characteristics of the team. It is clear that the four team members have different traits that make each one unique. When describing the characteristics of the team, it would be important to look at the composition of the personality and behavior of the different members. The chart shows that this team has the right composition that it needs in order to succeed.Advertising Looking for coursework on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Each of the four members do not share the personality trait as given by DISC assessment. In each of the four personality traits described in the DISC, there is only one person. This makes the group an all-rounded team with all the four different personalities. This may be advantageous because of the diversity of opinions that may exist in the group. This means that each of the ideas proposed by the team members will be analyzed from different perspectives, and the final decisions will be based on a clearly informed knowledge that is convincing to the four people with different traits. However, this may also have its own challenges. The difference in personality means that each of the team members has a different reasoning approach. This may not only delay the process of coming up with a decision, but also may lead to a complete breakdown in communication and decision making processes. What one of the team members finds to be very important may mean very little to another member. What one member may consider a best course of action may be the complete opposite of the thought of another team member. This means that it would take compromise and support in order to make any progress in some cases. Development Plan on Characteristics of my Team Members As a leader of this group, it is important at this stage to create a development plan to address specific characteristics of the team members both individually and as a group (Beers, 2007). This will clearly demonstrate my ability to lead them under various circumstances. Group professional development plan This group has four members with varying characteristics. The report we obtained from the personality self-assessment reveals that we are very unique in this group. As a leader, I consider this as the main strength. It is evident that where one of us has a weakness, we fin d strength in the other person. This makes it easy to develop as a learning team. The results reveal that each one of us needs some development in specific areas in order to develop into a better person. In this team, we will work together and identify these weaknesses, and find a solution that will help all the team members overcome them in order to advance our careers (Peine Peine, 2008).Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Professional Development Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Individual professional development plan It is vital to start by creating an individual professional development plan based on the results obtained from the DISC assessment of the four members. The four members included Elizabeth, Jason, Rachel, and I. Elizabeth The results reveal that Elizabeth is predominantly an interactive style who is sometimes referred to as an enthusiast. It means that she is more direct and less open. The main goal that that drives her is to influence people around her to act in a given pattern. Some of the key characteristics of Elizabeth include seeking status symbol, slow in pace, dislike of routines, comfortable to delegate duties, an enthusiast, persuasive and inspirational, and very trusting. Sometimes she may be evasive when under pressure. In her growth opportunities, she focuses more on the big picture and very impulsive. Her personal empowerment pointers show that she needs to improve her ability to deal with substance of the tasks, state her positive views, and learn from the Steadiness. Her main weakness is that she is sometimes careless and disorganized. Jason Jason comes out as predominantly a Dominance Style- sometimes referred to as the Producer- based on the results that were obtained from the DISC assessment. Generally, he is less direct in his speech and actions. His primary goal is to accomplish better goals within his organization or group. He dislikes people who he considers to be obstacles to his achievement of the set goals, and prefer working as a team. Her ability to produce makes him valuable to this learning team because he is always dependable and very efficient. He rarely delegates his duties, strict on working as per the schedule, and can manage pressure. He is always focused and very confident when working with people. However, his weakness is that he dislikes being instructed and is always reluctant to change. Rachel Rachel comes out predominantly as a person with Steadiness style traits. She is a go-getter whose main drive in life is the desire for a steady flow of greater achievements in all the tasks that she does. She is a good short-term planner and self-reliant person. She does not rely on others to achieve her goals in life. She is an industrious person who knows how to break work into smaller tasks.Advertising Looking for coursework on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More She is less concerned about what other people say about her, but always wary of people who may beat her to the goal or take advantage of her. Rachel’s main weakness is that she is always uncomfortable with multiple or complex tasks. She may also be guarded and rigid when under pressure. Anita From the results obtained from the self-assessment report, it is clear that I am predominantly cautious. The results show that I am a perfectionist who is more indirect and less guarded. My main motivation in all that I do is to have predictable outcomes. I pay a lot of attention to details and key processes, and value relationships. I am a thorough and dependable person who prefers methodological approach when handling tasks. I am always keen to embrace change when it is confirmed that it is attainable. I prefer following established rules other than working without a plan. I also prefer having control over procedures and very keen on details. My main weakness is that I dislike oppositi on. I may be critical, and sometimes unresponsive to some issues. My ability to lead them The above characteristics identify critical personality traits that make me a good leader for this team. It is clear that I am a good planner. This is an important trait in leading a learning team. I will be able to plan and predict the outcomes of our group when handling various academic tasks. A leader should be someone who is dependable. That is another strength of mine that will make it possible for others to rely on me. I believe I am a problem solver and an industrious person, which makes it easy for me to work with and lead others. References Beers, S. (2007). Strategies for designing, implementing, and evaluating professional development. Alexandria, Va: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Peine, J., Peine, J. (2008). The educators professional growth plan: A process for developing staff and improving instruction. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. Rughani, A., Frankl in, C., Dixon, S. (2003). Personal development plans for dentists: The new approach to continuing professional development. Abingdon, Oxon: Radcliffe Medical Press.

Mental Lexicon Definition and Examples in English

Mental Lexicon Definition and Examples in English In psycholinguistics, a persons internalized knowledge of the properties of words. Also known as a mental dictionary. There are various definitions of mental lexicon. In their book The Mental Lexicon: Core Perspectives (2008), Gonia Jarema and Gary Libben attempt this definition: The mental lexicon is the cognitive system that constitutes the capacity for conscious and unconscious lexical activity. The term mental lexicon was introduced by R.C. Oldfield in the article Things, Words and the Brain (Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, v. 18, 1966). Examples and Observations The fact that a speaker can mentally find the word that he/she wants in less than 200 milliseconds, and in certain cases, even before it is heard, is proof that the mental lexicon is ordered in such a way as to facilitate access and retrieval.(Pamela B. Faber and Ricardo Mairal Usà ³n, Constructing a Lexicon of English Verbs. Walter de Gruyter, 1999)The Dictionary Metaphor- What is this mental dictionary, or lexicon, like? We can conceive of it as similar to a printed dictionary, that is, as consisting of pairings of meanings with sound representations. A printed dictionary has listed at each entry a pronunciation of the word and its definition in terms of other words. In a similar fashion, the mental lexicon must represent at least some aspects of the meaning of the word, although surely not in the same way as does a printed dictionary; likewise, it must include information about the pronunciation of the word although, again, probably not in the same form as an ordinary dictionary. (D. Fay and A. Cutler, Malapropisms and the Structure of the Mental Lexicon. Linguistic Inquiry, 1977)- The  human  word-store is often referred to as the mental dictionary  or, perhaps more commonly, as the  mental  lexicon, to use the Greek word for dictionary. There is, however, relatively little similarity between the words in our minds and the words in book dictionaries, even though the information will sometimes overlap. . . .[E]ven if the mental lexicon turns out to be partially organised in terms of initial sounds, the order will certainly not be straightforwardly alphabetical. Other aspects of the words sound structure, such as its ending, its stress pattern and the stressed vowel, are all likely to play a role in the arrangement of words in the mind.Furthermore, consider a speech error such as The inhabitants of the car were unhurt. where the speaker presumably meant to say passengers rather than inhabitants. Such mistakes show that, unlike book  dictionaries, human  mental dictionaries  cannot be organized solely on the basis of sounds or spelling. Meaning must be taken into consideration as well, since humans fairly often confuse words with similar meanings, as in Please hand me the tin-opener when the speaker wants to crack a nut, so must have meant nut-crackers.(Jean Aitchison,  Words in the Mind: An Introduction to the Mental Lexicon. Wiley-Blackwell, 2003) An Australians Mental LexiconEven with hard yakka, youve got Buckleys of understanding this dinkum English sentence, unless youre an Aussie.An Australian has no difficulty understanding the above sentence, while other English speakers might struggle. The words yakka, Buckleys, and dinkum are in the vocabulary of most Australians, that is, they are stored as entries in the mental lexicon, and therefore an Australian has access to the meanings of these words and can consequently comprehend the sentence. If one possessed no mental lexicon, communication through language would be precluded.(Marcus Taft, Reading and the Mental Lexicon. Psychology Press, 1991)

Challenge to U.N Charter Framework on Use of Force Essay

Challenge to U.N Charter Framework on Use of Force - Essay Example Supporters of humanitarian intervention give explanation for it principally in the name of a honorable imperative: "we should not let people die." This proposal is stranded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, written in 1948. For these supporters, intervention is only justifiable when it is aggravated by a substantial abuse of human rights and when it is positioned in movement by a super national body, normally the United Nations Security Council. (Wikipedia) Humanitarian intervention proceedings are all the time approved by combination of nations, which can generate two fairly diverse circumstances: The first one is the Right to Interfere which is a phrase invented by the philosopher Jean-Francois Revel in 1979. It is the acknowledgment of the right of one or many nations to disobey the national independence of another state, when an authorization has been contracted by a supranational power. In practice, due to the humanitarian emergencies, it is frequent that the permission is supplied retroactively. The second one is the Duty to Interfere, which is a responsibility which irritates all nation-states to present support at the demand of the supranational influence. Evidently, this concept is next to the imaginative perception of humanitarian intervention. It is also thoroughly discarded by the member states of the United Nations who see this concept as an undesirable violation on their privileges. (Wikipedia) Debate Surrounding Humanitarian Intervention What motivates the humanitarian intervention dispute is an apparent nervousness involving the principles of guaranteeing admiration for essential human rights and the predominance of the principles of independence,... This study stresses that  humanitarian intervention is the warning or utilization of force by a state, cluster of states, or international association principally for the function of defending the public of the objective state from extensive withdrawals of internationally acknowledged human rights (Simons). Supporters of humanitarian intervention give explanation for it principally in the name of a honorable imperative: â€Å"we should not let people die.† This proposal is stranded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, written in 1948. For these supporters, intervention is only justifiable when it is aggravated by a substantial abuse of human rights and when it is positioned in movement by a super national body, normally the United Nations Security Council.  This discussion highlights that  what motivates the humanitarian intervention dispute is an apparent nervousness involving the principles of guaranteeing admiration for essential human rights and the predomin ance of the principles of independence, non-intervention, and strength of mind which are measured indispensable features in the preservation of harmony and worldwide protection. These standards are placed out in the United Nations Charter as elementary principles of the United Nations. However, while there are instruments within the Charter for the fortification and enforcement of harmony and worldwide protection, there are no corresponding requirements or instruments in the Charter for the fortification of human rights.

Debate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 11

Debate - Essay Example If the issues of abortion are resolved at the legislature, a woman’s right to decide is more likely to be given much weight because of their right of privacy. However, it is worth noting that the concern of the fetus’ inability to decide whether to live or not. It is for this reason that I believe this issue should be resolved by the courts that are more likely to protect the interests of the meek which in this case are fetuses (Ginsberg, Theodore, Margaret, Caroline, & Robert 750). In addition to being resolved by the courts, this contentious issue should also be resolve at the federal level and not state level. The United States of America is comprised of a number of states and in the event that the issue of abortion is solved at the state level, it is most likely that all the states will not have a unanimous ruling on the matter. Therefore, women would easily travel to states with legislations that favor their interests. This implies that in the event that the issue of abortion is resolved at the state level, people would easily move from one state to another with the hope of finding a soft spot to carry out an abortion (Ginsberg, Theodore, Margaret, Caroline, & Robert

What makes Margaret Mead so important in Anthropology circles Essay

What makes Margaret Mead so important in Anthropology circles - Essay Example In the documentary videos about her life and work perused for this essay, one could witness the key developments in anthropological study that she initiated. One could see in the videos, that Mead contributed immensely to not just the study of cultural anthropology retrospectively, but she played a role in creating new trends and fashions in her own era. In this view, Mead was a key figure who ushered the cultural upheavals in the American society of the 1960s. The ‘Hippies’ culture of this period was inspired by thoughts of such intellectuals as Mead, who were able to present anthropology from a feminist perspective. In her early field work in remote islands in the South Pacific and Southeast Asia, Mead had documented the significance of face-to-face interactions, especially the crucial role that adults play in the lives of children, simply by virtue of their presence. Mead’s work on gender roles and behaviour in a society has withstood the scrutiny of time. For example, in the case of development of boys, by having regular contact with various kinds of men (some abrasive, some gentle, some caring, some others playful, some serious, some sporty, some cerebral, etc) boys get a well-rounded and empowering notion of what is possible in their own lives when they grow up. This is in contrast with the Boy Scouts of America's rather narrow definition of proper masculinity, which causes more harm than help boys realize their full potential. For example, â€Å"misogyny and homophobia are characteristic of mid-century definitions of masculinity in part because those definitions are oppositional: a man is manly because he is not womanly, or feminine, or subject to the male gaze. Opening masculinity up to different modes of behavior, including traditionally "feminine" ones, helps to define men in the context of what they are, not what they are not. Moving away from abstractions, and allowing boys the flexibility that we currently as a society claim to want for our girls, can only be for the good.† (Lanclos, 2010, p.341) Mead’s studies showed the impact of culture upon nature, at a time when the pre-eminence of nature was still holding forte. She followed the precedence set by Franz Boas (who had earlier conducted fieldwork in South Pacific) and pointed to the fact that attitudes and behavior related to sexual conduct differed greatly between the studied group and that of middle class Americans. This was a radical new idea at that time, as adolescence was seen as universally turbulent and conflicted. Mead’s insights into the role of ‘nurture’ in sexual conduct revolutionized Western notions of culture and interpersonal relations. For example, the culture of these people from distant lands created a â€Å"more permissive, guilt-free attitude towards sexual intercourse in teenage years, without any commitment to permanent relationships†. (Cravens, 2010, p.299) In general, sex was seen as a re creation and indulged in for fun. American readers of these studies were taken aback at first. But they soon warmed up to the allure of â€Å"exotic young maidens were having delightful sexual romps on exotic isles with a changing cast of young male companions was virtually irresistible to many literate Americans. Mead thus reached great fame and popularity in the United States.† (Cravens, 2010, p.299) Margaret Mead’s path-breaking book Coming of Age in Samoa offered such a fresh perspective that in the foreword to the book, her mentor Franz Boas summarizes the core thesis thus: â€Å"Courtesy, modesty, good manners, conformity to definite ethical standards are universal, but what constitutes these is not universal. It is instructive to know that standards differ in the

Future, past. present Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Future, past. present - Essay Example Therefore, this discussion seeks to analyze the past, present and future of law enforcement, with a view to establishing how this particular component of the legal system has evolved over time, how it has related with the other components forming the criminal justice system, its present state, and the likely nature of this component in the future. The past of law enforcement The history of the concept of law enforcement dates back to the settlement of the colonists in America, where the colonists who settled in America imported their constable system of law enforcement, with each community required to constitute a watchdog force that kept peace while dealing with the criminals and crime resolution, under the leadership of a chief peacekeeper, also referred to as the constable (Bumgarner, 2006). This was mainly applicable in the urban regions where the settlers had established their settlements. In the southern states, the concept of law enforcement developed with the establishment of the slave patrols, which was meant to whip and terrorize slaves, to prevent them from holding meeting or leaving their plantations without the express authorization of their masters, or even travelling (Roth, 2011).The first organized and paid policing force was established by City of Boston in 1635, followed by Texas in 1835, whose police force was referred to as the rangers, followed by the Municipality of New York in 1884, and eventually the other cities started following suit, but it is only until the Civil War, that a uniformed law enforcement force was established, which used nightsticks as their main weapon (Roth, 2011). Despite this organization, the law enforcement forces were controlled by politicians who presided over the cities and the municipalities, and thus they operated on the basis of their orders. However, the data of the number of the police officers in America remains scanty especially regarding the past, considering that the police officers established by diffe rent municipalities and cities could not be practically enumerated, since the law enforcement forces were not organized into a full disciplined force (Bumgarner, 2006). However, the existing data regarding the earliest disciplined force that was well organized is that of the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) formed in 1852, which comprised of the 7 officers, with a chief officer, 4 assistant chiefs and 2 other ground patrol officers (Bumgarner, 2006). The U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) forms one of the few primary law enforcement force, still maintained by the federal government, which currently comprises of over 1,000 disciplined officers, forming the USCP federal department. The major reforms in the law enforcement started in the 20th century, where reforms regarding the qualifications, education and training of the enforcement officers, as well as the elimination of the political control over the law enforcement came into the limelight. The present of law enforcement The present state of la w enforcement in the US now comprises of well trained and disciplined forces, with well structured recruitment formulae and requirements. The other aspect of the current state of the law enforcement component of the justice system is that their duties and responsibilities are now well cut out, with such provisions enshrined in the constitution and in the law enforcement policies and regulations that guide their operations. Presently, as

State Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

State Responsibility - Essay Example State rights and responsibilities are implicit in all types of treaties and conventions. In fact such rights and obligations on the part of states form the basic foundation on which such treaties and conventions are negotiated. The Permanent Court of International Justice observed in the case concerning the factory at Chrozow that â€Å"it is a principle of law that any breach of an engagement involved an obligation to make reparation. Reparation was the indispensable complement of a failure to apply a convention and there is no necessity for this to be stated in the convention itself†. Further the court observed that the rules governing the reparation are the rules of Public International Law in force between the two states concerned and not the law governing the relations between the states which has committed a wrongful act and the individual who has suffered damage. The court has indicated what this obligation amounted to. It observed ; â€Å"The reparation must, in so far as possible, wipe out all the consequences of the illegal act and re-establish the situation which would in all probability, have existed, if that act had not been committed. Restitution in kind, or if that is not possible, pa yment of a sum corresponding to that value which a restitution in kind would bear, the award, if need be, of damages for loss sustained which would not be covered by restitution in kind or payment in place of it†. The court in its observation mentioned restitution or compensation as modes of reparation.... The Permanent Court of International Justice observed in the case concerning the factory at Chrozow that "it is a principle of law that any breach of an engagement involved an obligation to make reparation. Reparation was the indispensable complement of a failure to apply a convention and there is no necessity for this to be stated in the convention itself". Further the court observed that the rules governing the reparation are the rules of Public International Law in force between the two states concerned and not the law governing the relations between the states which has committed a wrongful act and the individual who has suffered damage. The court has indicated what this obligation amounted to. It observed ; "The reparation must, in so far as possible, wipe out all the consequences of the illegal act and re- establish the situation which would in all probability, have existed, if that act had not been committed. Restitution in kind, or if that is not possible, payment of a sum corresponding to that value which a restitution in kind would bear, the award, if need be, of damages for loss sustained which would not be covered by restitution in kind or payment in place of it". The court in its observation mentioned restitution or compensation as modes of reparation, but it is generally accepted that reparation may also take the form of satisfaction. State responsibility in Public International Law has assumed a much greater role today. The UN conference on Environment and Development or the Rio Declaration (1992) imposes state responsibility in controlling emission of green house gases. It envisages compensation to the victims due to accidents occurring as a result of state activity. It imposes greater responsibility on