Druckers Article

After reading Drucker's article, reflecting on the ideas shared in this course thus far, and thinking about our group project I have identified an area we have revisted on several occasions. The performance of an individual, whether it be in a team or not, is an important issue to understand and more importantly, identify how someone performs. As Drucker points out, Like one's strengths, how one performs is unique. It is a matter of personality. Whether personality be a matter of nature or nurture, it surely is formed long before a person goes to work ... A person's way of performing can be modified, but it is unlikely to be completely changed -- and certainly not easily. Just as people achieve results by doing what they are good at, they also achieve results by working in ways that they best perform. A few common personality traits usually determine how a person performs (Drucker, 5). I know we have discussed this many times in class discussions about how individuals performance can have a major impact on a group's performance and that is something students and faculty alike at Quinnipiac have tried to aid over the years of group projects we have been a part of. However, just as we are narrowing in on in our group project, we think knowing how you perform as an individual should be a focus here at QU. Drucker points out that identifying strengths and weaknesses is a very different topic, but that performance is a measure of your personality and it entitles some "feedback analysis". I think the courses here at QU utilize feedback analysis a little bit, but it could be blown out a lot more and would have our graduating students more equipped for their first real world job. Overall this was a very interesting article and I think Drucker raises several important and relevant points that are easy for us to relate to and apply in our lives as seniors today.

Drucker Reaction

"Whether personality be a matter of nature or nurture, it surely is formed long before a person goes to work.  And how a person performs is a given, just as what a person is good at or not good at is a given."

You're good at what you're good at, because its intrinsically thats what you understand best.  If you're an analytical thinker, you're wired that way, it not because you studied to be that way.  And sometimes people tend to stray away from what they are best at and try it some other way that might work well for someone else.

Conformity is a big issue, this issue plagues the work place just as much as it plagues our society.  What might work great for someone else, might not be the best approach best approach for you.  Now I'm not saying that branching out is a bad idea, learning new skills and techniques is how we grow.  But, doing something exactly how someone else does isn't going to help you.  I think it should be a collaboration of this new process and how it can best work for you, with your own twist on it.  Like Drucker said "what a person is good at or not good at is a given."

Drucker Article

I truly enjoyed reading this article by Drucker, and find many of his ideas extremely interesting. I definitely agree with many of his opinions on the state of managers and employees in the current state of business and corporations. He has a very optimistic view of the workforce and what employees can achieve if they capitalize on their strengths and opportunities that they have. I feel that it is true that companies do not manage employees careers any more, but it is the opposite. Only in the past did employees follow a set career path and stay at one company for many years. Now it is up to us to determine the best career path and opportunities depending on our strengths, values, and work habits. I also agree with Drucker's statement, "What one does well-even very well and successfully-may not fit with one's value system". Just because you might be very effective at a job, that does not mean you will be content and satisfied if the outcomes are not aligned with your values and beliefs. If you do something you really believe in, you will be much more successful and satisfied. By knowing yourself, you have a vast competitive edge over the workforce and have a much greater chance of long-term success and enjoyment in your career.

Drucker

I enjoyed the section from Drucker about managing oneself. Especially the part that basically says workers need to stay in charge of their own careers. Only you can control your future, not the company you work for. Also I though in important part from Drucker is that you need to obtain vast amounts of knowledge from all end of the spectrum, not just master one area and none of the others. I feel this is very true, especially for managers.

Druckers Article

After reading the assigned article one of the topics that caught my attention went beyond knowing your strengths and weaknesses and discussed how to know when to quit. Just like other " lost causes" a lot of people are aware of what they perform poorly in and believe it is in their best interest to try and improve those areas. But just like pouring money into repairing an old car, you should spend your time and effort on areas you already excel in. As we enter the job market hopefully we are going to become more aware of our true strengths and weaknesses. If we can successfully do this then I think we are allowing ourselves to experience even greater opportunities.

Drucker takes it to the next level by asking the audience to become aware of where they don't belong as opposed to where they think they do. At first I felt that Drucker was asking us to be extremely pessimistic, but instead he is just asking us to be realistic. Any employer will eventually find out what our weaknesses truly are even if we try to deny them. If we are honest with ourselves from the beginning then we can avoid feeling sorry for ourselves for a weakness that we cannot contol and spend time on strengths that we can only improve

Druckers article

I thought Druckers stance on people's strengths was very insightful. I thought it was interesting that he said that most people do not really know what their real strengths are, and that usually people are wrong about their strengths. Drucker stated that the only real way to know someone's strengths is through feedback analysis. You do this by writing down what you expect will happen everytime you make a key decision or action. Then, 9 to 12 months later, compare your actual results with your expectations. I thought this was a really good idea and I plan to use it in my future to help identify my strengths.

Thoughts About Drucker

It is pretty clear that in today's day and age, you need to be able to understand the concept of self-management. Now more than ever you have to try and distinguish yourself from the workforce as employment is at a premium. This article by Drucker helps us put in perspective ways that we can identify ourselves as an individual that is different than everyone else. Everyone has their own strengths, weaknesses, ways of learning and expressing themselves. To this same notion, Drucker says, "Do not try to change yourself - you are unlikely to succeed. Work to improve the way you perform". I agree with this statement 100%. Everyone is different and unique and that is why life is so interesting. If everyone acted the same way, had the same strengths and weaknesses, the same ways of learning, there would never be any innovation or progression; This is true in not only business but for the world. Drucker shows that it is important to understand your own capabilities, because once that happens your opportunities for success is endless.

Dan Colaianni Drucker Reflection

*THIS IS DAN'S POST via my login because it would not let him login and post

“The first secret of effectiveness is to understand the people you work with so that you can make use of their strengths."

I really enjoyed this idea because I feel that I try to follow this particular managing style in my own life. Whenever someone is in charge of a group of people they absolutely need to know what each person’s strengths and weaknesses are before they will be able to effectively utilize them. The easiest way to do this is by getting to know the people you are working with. By developing a good working relationship with those who are directly under your command your team productivity and effectiveness will surely increase. A great example of understanding the people that you work with and utilizing their skills lies in the armed forces. In a military squad there is squad leader who is in charge and other soldiers who all specialize in different areas. Some soldiers may be trained in communications, others in demolition. In order to remain an effective unit the squad leader must understand each specific skill set that his men posses. This way the squad will be able to work together to quickly complete the task at hand.

Ducker's Article

"Do not try to change yourself - you are unlikely to succeed. Work to improve the way you perform."

This quote was taken from the margin of page 5 and the entire page stuck out to me. In the first paragraph in bold print it says "How do I learn". This applies to the current world of being a manager. I believe that Drucker is not only talking about an educational setting but also the ever evolving business world we live in. In the quote it talks about oneself and changing your ways to conform. The most successful people identify that they have flaws but focus on their strengths and don't conform to straining over their flaws. While trying to improve ones flaws is important, it should not be the main concern. I believe that Drucker is trying to communicate a reciprocation of the quote as well. In management dealing with different employees brings different forms of learning and different working styles. This quote is essential in adapting to the different styles of employees. Managers must always maintain a level of adaptability to be successful for themselves while also ensuring success for their employees.

Drucker Article

“… you’ll need to cultivate a deep understanding of yourself – not only what your strengths and weaknesses are but also how you learn, how you work with others, what your values are, and where you can make the greatest contribution.”

I thought this quote tied most of Drucker’s ideas together. I thought the level of self awareness described by Drucker would be valuable to reflect upon when searching for a job and beginning my career. I can take what Drucker said and apply it to my career by looking for a company to start my future at that really fits who I am, rather than trying to find the highest paying position fresh out of college. It may be tempting to take a job at a company because it offers a nice salary or because it’s well known, but are you really achieving your potential if you truly don’t fit in with that company’s culture?

Drucker Article Reflection

After reading Drucker’s article, I was very inspired. He starts out by saying that no matter where you started, you can go anywhere. I think that is a great point and it actually reminded me of some things that the Dean’s Distinguished Speaker here at QU, Bill Tragos, mentioned last week in his talk that I attended. I think that being able to recognize certain aspects about yourself and be open to continuously learning more about yourself overtime is an important trait to have. Drucker says you should be open to feedback analysis and working on your strengths. I think that the more you learn about yourself now, the better you will be in the long-run. As seniors about to graduate and enter the workforce, we are going to be experiencing a whole new ball game. We are going to experience change, which many people are afraid of, including myself. However, Drucker makes it seem like change is a good thing and to embrace it. The best way to tackle change is then to know yourself and stay true to yourself and values because you will always be your biggest fan and biggest support. He states that "in order to manage the second half of your life, you must begin doing so long before it comes up". So, why not get started now instead of sitting around? Being well-rounded and constantly learning is how you have to be. Why wait? I should take actions now and today while I’m young and have so much ahead of me. I also liked how he said that with success, comes failure. Not everything is going to be perfect and to his point, when there is a failure, work with it and make a change that will better you for who you are. Every individual has something to offer and the sooner everyone realizes what it is they individually are like and how they work, the sooner they can live life in a more fulfilling way and see challenges and change as positive contributions. The only thing stopping us from going out there and accomplishing things is ourselves. So, to Drucker’s point, know yourself, be prepared for opportunities, know your strengths, know how you work and your values because that is where your success, whatever you may define it as, stems from.

Drucker

"...only when you operate from strengths can you achieve true excellence."

This quote is among one of the many quotes by Drucker that stood out the most to me from this article. When you are able to truly understand your strengths, not just what you aren't good at, then you will be in a better position to succeed in your career. For instance, I'm well aware that I'm not an artistic or creative person so I know that marketing was not going to be a suitable career path for myself. I am however detail oriented and I am able to think long term, which is why I chose management as my major. Drucker also mentions how "one cannot build performance on weaknesses..." This is so true. Why should anyone waste time trying to improve on a weakness? I'm glad that as seniors we read this article because it helps us understand how to find our strengths. That way, when we go out in to the world and start looking for a job, we will have a better understanding about the careers that we should have and the ones that we should disregard because it does not involve our strengths. In sum, once you find out what your strengths are then you can find a suitable career and continue to improve within it until you are great at what you do.

Drucker Article

I enjoyed reading the section of the article about learning how you perform. I thought it was interesting how Drucker claims that by working in a way that you perform best is the same as working on something you are good at. He also talks about how knowing whether you learn through reading or listening is crucial to success. I found the stories regarding Lyndon Johnson and Dwight Eisenhower to be proof of its importance. The most important thing I took away from the article is the importance of realizing what you are good at and not trying to change it, because this results in failure.

Drucker's Keys to Success

"We live in an age of unprecedented opportunity: if you've got ambition and smarts, you can rise to the top of your chosen profession, regardless of where you started out."

I think this quote is one that we should all take with us throughout our lives and our careers because ambition and passion are drivers of success. Drucker points out that it is our responsibility to make a place for ourselves in this world and to do so we must truly understand our strengths and weaknesses. By focusing on what we excel at we can then use it to succeed not only in the workplace but in life as well. He also points out the importance of being a well-rounded individual and someone who is open to change. I also think these are important characteristics to have today because change is constant in our society and if you are not open to new ideas or new ways of doing things you will most likely be left behind. Also, being knowledgeable in only one field and knowing all there is to know about it is great, but its not wise. How can you work with other fields and combine forces if you are completely incompetent in what they do? I think it is really important, especially as management majors, to have at least a basic understand of all the departments within the company you are working for. Incompetence is only going to allow for things to fall through the cracks and hinder our chances of being successful. Being well-rounded also gives you the flexibility to take on a number of jobs, and to not feel as though you are only suitable for one type of position.

Overall I think Drucker's article was important for us to read as seniors. I know for me at least that it made me think more about my own strengths and weaknesses and the importance of "playing" on my strengths once I enter full-time into the working world. And, it also made me think about my level of self awareness and if I truly do know where all my strengths lie.

Drucker Article

I found this article very interesting and I think it will be extremely beneficial to us as seniors. Many of us will be entering the workforce this year and I think that answering these questions that Drucker poses will increase our self-awareness. I believe that people are more effective and produce better result s when they know what they are good at and how they are able to achieve desired results. One suggestion made by Drucker that really stuck out to me was when he stated that “a planner may find that his beautiful plans fail because he does not follow through on them. Like so many brilliant people, he believes that ideas move mountains. But bulldozers move mountains; ideas show where the bulldozers should work.” This is important for me as I think about managing my life and career because it is essential not to stop working hard. Even though I may have come up with a great plan, this does not ensure success. I will need to make sure I push hard past the planning stages and ensure I follow through on the goals that I have set for myself. I will begin to use this advice immediately as I continue to go on interviews and apply for jobs for when I graduate.

Drucker Article

I found the end of the article concerning the second half of one’s life very interesting. In searching for jobs I often wonder if I will be in the same position and with the same company 30 years down the road. I really liked Druckers comment about a midlife crisis being the result of boredom; I totally agree. I can apply this thought to my current life. I should learn to take risks early on, because “no one can live very long without a major setback.” I truly believe that one learns the most from failures, and becomes a stronger more confident person from those experiences. I plan to leave time for “parallel” jobs in my life, this way I can remain entertained and engaged. In doing something that I love I hope I never count the days down to my retirement but rather count the days to my next business adventure!

Drucker and Learning Styles

Self management, in my opinion, is an important tool. If you cannot effectively answer questions about yourself, you may not be able to help your company to the best of your ability. You need to know where and how you fit in and what you can do to move forward. Understanding how you work best, as mentioned by Drucker, is so important. The presidential story about the uncertainly about being either a reader or a listener is a powerful one because it outlines how important this seemingly unimportant piece of knowledge can be. Currently, being a student, we should know how we learn best. Not everyone does… sometimes I wonder if I do. I do know that I work well under stress or pressure and often get the job done more efficiently. Personally I don’t like too much structure so working in a position where I was doing routine tasks all day every day would not fit my personality…and I would probably be miserable. What I found most important to take away from this was the quote: Do not try to change yourself- you are unlikely to succeed. It is more important to be who you are and excel at what you are good at than trying to fit the mold of something you were just not meant to do.

Drucker - Managing OneSelf

Please read the Peter Drucker article entitled Managing Oneself posted in Blackboard. After you have read it, please post your thoughts about the article here. One post should express an opinion about the article in which you reference a specific suggestion he made and how you can use it in managing your own life/career, while the other should be directed to another person's posting.