Capstone Argument

Starting at the beginning of the semester until the near end, I was asked to create a series of goals, including personal, interpersonal, inclusive, and crisis, which I could work toward and possibly accomplish by the end of the semester.  Each goal I have created can be guided and achieved through examining and applying it to The 7-D Model by Gene Knott.  The 7-D Model is an approach to coaching an individual through accomplishing their goals. The first D of the model is declare.  Declaring means to restate all of the reasons why one would go about finding coaching assistance.  The second D is defining.  When one defines, the individual clearly states the goal.  Next, distinguishing means to express the key features of the situation or goal and the strengths apparent in the individual.  Then, differentiate refers to reflecting on what works well while working through the situation and what does not.  After differentiating the goal, one develops by reflecting on the lessons learned and the key points taken away and how that affects the progress of the goal.  The sixth D is deciding.  When deciding an individual decides the change in behavior and cognition throughout the journey in achieving the goal.  Lastly, an individual determines to share in the overall feedback of the experience.  Throughout the following text I will demonstrate my use of the 7-D Model to accomplish my personal, interpersonal, inclusive, and crisis goals.

To begin, my personal goal is to find a new inner strength to abolish anxiety that I experience in developing new relationships and having crucial conversations.  In the past year I have developed anxiety when engaging in new relationships, whether romantic or not.  This type of anxiety makes me feel insecure within relationships, questioning the feelings of my significant other, and feeling that I am always doing or saying something wrong to ruin the relationship.  I talk about my feelings too much and I need to just feel and live my relationship the way I feel.  My personal goal is to find a new inner strength to abolish anxiety that I experience in developing new relationships and having crucial conversations.  The key components of the situation are over-analyzing conversations and instances with the other person involved, creating problems that do not exist, and fear of problems occurring at unexpected times.  Differentiating the specifics working through my goal, I find that talking myself back down to reality works.  When I over-think a situation it triggers my anxiety.  I have found that also talking to another individual allows me to clear my head and come back to reality.  Using these techniques, problems that I have created lessen and I am able to focus on the facts of the situation.  I believe I have not fully accomplished this goal, but have progressed to the developing stage of the model.  One specific lesson I have learned through the attempt to reach this goal is that if I put my faith in fate it is most likely the result of fate will most likely be the same result as if I acted upon my anxiety.  This experience has proved my belief that everything happens for a reason.  Daily I am getting better at going with the flow and being more adaptable to relationship development that is beyond my control. If I were to utilize the last two D's of the model I would be able to notice my behavioral change.  I still think I have a long way to go in order to effectively alter my behavior in a positive manner.  Once I complete this goal I will be able to fully look back on this experience and recognize the effects my anxiety once had on my relationships and overall perspective on life.

Next, my interpersonal goal is to show my service supervisor in the Feinstein Center for Service Learning that I can be more of an influence and reference for URI students in and out of the classroom and office.  The majority of my time spent on campus is spent in the Center for Service Learning in Roosevelt Hall as a service intern.  My duties as an intern are to simply answer question students have when they come into the office, answering the phone, and various miscellaneous "house keeping" tasks around the office.  I also have the position of one of two Scholarships for Service Americorps Peer Mentors.  My responsibility as a Peer Mentor is to meet with and guide the SFS members through an exciting and fulfilling Americorps experience at the University.  I have realized that I would like to become a more vital part to the "bigger picture" of community service events and operations on campus.  Although the smaller tasks are necessary for the department to run, I would like to play a larger role for the University service department.  Therefore, I have defined my goal as proving to my supervisor that I can take on more responsibilities in and out of the office in order to prove that I can be a larger part of the URI service community.  I believe that through distinguishing I have discovered that time is the biggest issue in accomplishing this goal.  This past semester I have had an extraordinarily time-consuming, productive schedule.  I have not been able to dedicate more time to the Center for Service Learning than I would have liked.  Another key prevention of meeting this goal is that my position as a peer mentor for the SFS Americorps program does not suit my talented abilities and professional development.  Toward accomplishing this goal, differentiating has helped me realize that offering to do things I have not been asked move the progress of my goal.  I take initiative of larger tasks within the office, along with offering to run portions of the CSV 302 course I assist facilitate.  Also, my responsibilities as a Peer Mentor have been changed for next semester in order to better suit my future career goals.  I will be taking on the responsibility of connecting with community partners to strengthen the partnerships between the organizations and the Feinstein Center for Service Learning.  I will be working alongside various community partners, making site visits, and communicating with the SFS members to ensure dependable relationships years to come.  I believe that the future plans my supervisor and I have implemented will bring success to my goal.  Through developing this goal I have learned that if I had not stepped outside of my comfort zone then I would not know how reliable I can be.  I can be more than I expect of myself as long as I put my best foot forward and take a chance.  I have also learned that gaining trust takes time.  I have decided that through achieving this goal I can commit to being a reliable resource to others.  My determining reflection shows that with cooperation, dedication, and taking risks anyone can prove to be more than they once thought of themselves.  I not only had to believe in myself but I also had to communicate effectively and compromise with my supervisor so both she and I were happy with the end result of the situation.

Then, my inclusive goal is to improve my patience and communication skills at work in order to welcome and include the new employees.  I began working at the Ram's Den in the Memorial Union at the University of Rhode Island as a sophomore.  Entering the workplace as a newcomer is one of the most intimidating experiences I have experienced throughout my college experience.  I had very little work experience and only knew one friendly student manager who generously landed me the job.  She took the time to show me the correct way to complete tasks and how to go above and beyond the required expectations of a general employee.  Without the warm welcome and patient manner of that specific manager I would not have acquired the skills and mindset to continue with the same work study position for four consecutive years.  Like myself, most newly-hired employees at the Ram's Den need a helping hand.   I would like to take the time and care to show new employees the right way to complete tasks and reach common goals so that they can feel comfortable and confident while working with experienced employees in the work environment.  I therefore define my goal as taking the time and patience to introduce new employees to the proper work ethic and the family of the Ram's Den.  I would like to improve their initial impression of the workplace I call my second home.  The distinguished difficulty of achieving this goal is getting other employees with negative impressions to help me in this cause.  There are many employees who come to work simply because it is a work study job.  Through differentiating I find what works for new employees is first showing them how to complete a task and letting them complete is next on their own.  When it comes to other employees attitudes' I find that I can use my positivity and includer to lighten the mood in the work environment, therefore making it more enjoyable and less demanding on the new employees.  A simple lesson I can take away from this situation is laughter is contagious and a smile can go on for miles.  It only takes the positive mental attitude of one employee and others will eventually follow.  I noticed that positive thinking reduces the negative impact of group think among the experienced employees.  My attitude or behavior has not changed aside from learning to be a little more patient than I was before.  Being patient is a very difficult skill for me to attain, but  through this experience I feel that with taking on this mindset of positivity, patience comes along with it.  Overall, I have realized I enjoy working at the Ram's Den more than I express or show to others.  Although there are frustrating instances I go through on a daily basis, I would not have developed my determined work ethic and my strength of positivity.

Lastly, my crisis goal is to learn how to go through the appropriate steps of containing a major crisis and how to publicly respond to such an event. Although I feel I am confident in working well under pressure, I have never experienced working under a crisis.  There are quite a few problems I have found in distinguishing through this goal.  First of all, who actually knows how to handle a crisis before a crisis occurs?  I believe it is difficult to predict an extremely unique event that requires immediate attention and effort.  Secondly, it is hard to think of specific crisis I would have to deal with seeing as most crisis are not the same.  Lastly, I do not believe that a single crisis could prepare me for one to follow.  Fortunately, I had the opportunity to work with a group of leadership students in order to explore crisis and the appropriate leadership responses.  In a group of leadership students all with various strengths, we were able to compile a presentation on the BP Oil Spill.  We had the opportunity to analyze the crisis, it's prior leadership structures, crisis leaders, life during and after the crisis, and it's connection to leadership theories.  I believe I am still in the developing phase of achieving my goal.  Although I had the experience of studying a specific crisis, I feel there is much more to handling a crisis then is exposed from the point of view of students.

The 7-D Model by Gene Knott is the most effective way I have learned to achieve a goal.  The model is applicable to most goals and can help one work through the goal in a step-by-step manner.  I have utilized this model in attempting to achieve my goals, a few successfully done so.  Although all goals were not accomplished I continue to use this model on a daily basis to move to the next step in achieving them.

Boyd-Colvin, M. (Director) (2012, September 14). The 7-D Model. HDF 412. Lecture conducted from University of Rhode Island, Kingston.