Module One Understanding Self: GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program
Module One Understanding Self: GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program
Module One Understanding Self: GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program
Module One
Understanding Self
1
Table of Contents
4. A Portrait of Yourself
6. Success Stories
9. Responding to Change
13. Transitions
17. Feedback
GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program – Module 1 2
Introduction to Module One
Understanding Self
Knowing oneself is critical to being an effective team member as well as being successful in life,
work, and relationships. Your personal identity influences everything you do, and it changes
The purpose of this module is to help you deepen your understanding and appreciation for who
you are as a person. You will explore how you see yourself through the lenses of personal
identity, your skills and talents, roles, values, personal core, and how you meet your
psychological needs. You will also examine how you respond to the pressures of changes and
You will have an opportunity to examine how your personal identity has been shaped by a
variety of people and experiences. You will also have opportunities to think about and discuss
your values, interests, hopes for the future, as well as, your strengths and challenges. You will
learn about how your psychological needs are the primary source that motivates and drives
your behavior. You will also learn critical knowledge about change and how important it is in
today’s workplace to be adaptive and to embrace change as a personal and professional growth
experience.
You will be invited and encouraged to take risks, to step outside your comfort zone, and to
challenge your thinking and the thinking of others. You will be engaged in reflection, partner
activities, storytelling, discussion groups, self-assessment, and giving and receiving feedback.
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GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program – Module 1
Words That Describe Me
____________________________
____________________________
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GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program – Module 1
Your Personal Identity
Roles
Where have you taken
on responsibilities
in your life?
Interests
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GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program – Module 1
A Portrait of Yourself
• I admire ________________________________________________________________
• I am motivated by ________________________________________________________
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GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program – Module 1
• It is easy for me to focus on ________________________________________________
• My dream is _____________________________________________________________
Values are beliefs, feelings, and principles that guide a person’s actions and give those actions
meaning.
Values
1. Money
2. Peace of mind
3. Happiness
4. Success
5. Nature
6. Spiritual Life
7. Friends
8. Taking on Challenges
10. Learning
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GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program – Module 1
Success Stories
1. ____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
What does this say about who you are and what’s important to you?
Share with your group “why” these success stories are important to you.
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GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program – Module 1
Basic Psychological Needs
Belonging
Recognition
A sense that someone
truly cares about you. A sense that you are
That you are in a mutual acknowledged for
and loving relationship what you accomplish
with another person. and who you are. To
feel significant, that
you make an impact.
Freedom
Self-Esteem
The need to have choice in
your life, to have a sense of The need to feel
control over the decisions competent & confident.
that direct your behavior. The sense that you can
To be free from a sense of achieve results, make
external control. good decisions, and you
will stand by your
principles.
Fun
Safety
The need to have joy and
laughter in your life. The The need to feel physically
sense that we can and psychologically safe.
experience elation and light Free from emotional and
heartedness. physical threats or harm.
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GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program – Module 1
My Unique Picture Album
Think about the people, places, and experiences in your life that are very special to you. This is
where you get your psychological needs met. Write two examples in each box of how you meet
this particular need.
Belonging Recognition
Self-Esteem Safety
Freedom Fun
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GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program – Module 1
Responding to Change
How do you feel about change? When you are being asked to change, mark where you
fall on the continuum between the descriptions.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program – Module 1
Changes in Our Lives
3. How were you feeling before, during, and after you made the change?
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GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program – Module 1
Change and Emotions
1. Why is change hard for most people?
3. What strong emotions do people feel when they are asked to change?
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GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program – Module 1
Understanding Change
The two most important reasons why people find it difficult to change are loss and fear.
Loss of Fear of
Confidence Failure
Identity Embarrassment
Talk about some personal examples with participants in your small group.
Loss Fear
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GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program – Module 1
Transitions
The psychological process people experience when going through change.
Ending Neutral Zone Beginning
“It’s not so much that we’re afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it’s that place in between that
we fear. There’s nothing to hold onto.” Marilyn Ferguson
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My Lifeline – Important People and Experiences
Who are the important people that have helped shape who you are today?
Birth 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40+
What are the important life experiences that changed you in some way?
What have you taken forward into your life (attitudes, behaviors, beliefs)?
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“What If” Discussion Groups
• What if you won a million dollars? What would you do with the windfall?
• What if you could travel to any place in the world? Where would you go, why would
you go there, and who would you invite along?
• What If you were granted three wishes? What would you wish for?
• What if you had the power to give yourself a special ability? What talent or ability
would you give yourself and why?
• What if you had the chance to spend a day with anyone in the world? Who would you
choose and why?
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Two-Minute Speeches
Prepare a two-minute speech about yourself describing the essence of your personal identity,
“Who are you?” You can choose to share a personal story or an interesting experience. You can
talk about your family and career, or your goals and dreams.
Presentation Notes
Debriefing Questions
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GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program – Module 1
Feedback
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GE Foundation Workplace Skills Program – Module 1