Question 2 Have you ever engaged in self-promotional or self-depreciating speech on a team? If you think back on it, how might you have spoken differently? How might this have changed the team’s interaction?
I have been called upon to make presentations to my team and lead in group discussions severally. I once engaged in self-promotional speech when I felt superior above my teammates. This behavior made my teammates feel inferior, and failed to admit my weaknesses or ask for help from my teammates. I also engaged in self-depreciating speech where I focused on my shortcomings more than on the group task ahead. This made my audience wonder if I was really fit to be in the group and whether I was seeking their reassurance.
Thinking about my experience, in future I will focus on discussing the group’s objectives without focusing on my strengths and weaknesses. I would also avoid making other team members feel inferior since everyone’s special abilities contribute to the success of a group. I would be honest with the team about my weaknesses and show confidence in my abilities, while avoiding focusing on them. I would also emphasis on understand my audience and the norms so that I avoid judging them from what is normal to me.
This approach would have helped avoid possible group conflicts when some team members feel unappreciated and inferior to others. It would help the group focus on our agenda thus make meaningful interactions to brainstorm and come up with solutions to accomplish the goals. It would also help the team develop confidence in each other’s abilities and thus work together with a cordial relationship. The team would also know each other’s shortcomings and support each other to accomplish the group’s objectives.
