A good learning experience

March 14 2007 07:55:34 PM Add/Read Comments [13]
Yesterday I attended an all day event at IBM which focused on career growth.   We had several sessions about mentoring, personal skills development, career paths, etc.  One of my favourite parts of the day was a self assessment exercise, where we had to think about things we like and don't like, and that we are good at and still need work on.  The way it works is that you fill in a grid as follows:
1. Things I like to do, and am good at. 2. Things I like to do, but am not yet good at.
3. Things I don't like to do, but am good at. 4. Things I don't like to do, and am not yet good at.


  • Quadrant 1 is the area you certainly want to spend the most time in.
  • Quadrant 2 could represent areas where you are learning new skills.
  • Quadrant 3 might represent the "necessary evils", or parts of your job that you don't really enjoy, but you are very good at, and do for the good of the company.
  • You don't want to spend a lot of time doing things in Quadrant 4!  You should either change what you are doing, or at least develop the skills that can move the tasks into Quadrant 3.

For fun, let's each list one job related skill, and one life related skill in each quadrant.  Here are my answers:
1. Public speaking. Playing Ultimate Frisbee.
2. Statistical analysis of company data.  Golf.
3. Creating presentations.  Obeying speed limits.
4. Filling out paperwork/redtape/documentation.  Sticking to a diet.

Now what are yours?