Self Management

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                         SELF MANAGEMENT

The fields of humanistic psychology and organization management
have gone through enormous changes in the past 20 years, and the
discoveries from these fields have also changed the field of
personnel management.  Changes in our thinking about human
potential and management can also be applied to ourselves as
individuals, in our everyday lives.  When applied to self rather
than others, these self-awareness tools are part of the field of
self management.

There is a large body of knowledge based on people's perceptual
style, or preferred sensory mode of taking in the world.  The work
on perceptual style has ramifications for learning, expression, and
motivation--all major issues in personnel management--and is
developing every day.  Managers are interested in knowing the
styles of their people; leaders should be interested in their own
styles so they have a greater self-knowledge.

There is also research that has consistently shown that people,
when placed in environments that are non-threatening and conducive
to creativity, are more productive, comfortable with their work,
and very unlikely to behave agressively toward others.  Many
companies have been incorporating this notion into their
organizational dynamics, although it's also important for leaders
to create their own optimal environment.

The most basic principle of learning is that you will not learn
things without first knowing something about yourself; the more you
know about yourself, the faster your learning can be.  Methods of
knowing more about ourselves include giving and receiving feedback
within a group of people.  We can learn from sincere and
well-intentioned feedback, and grow more confident in ourselves
because of this.

Perhaps the most exciting research comes in the field of the mind
and its vast possibilities.  As more reports about techniques of
super-learning and mind-control are popularized, more and more
people realize that we all have incredible untapped capabilities. 
Self- awareness will allow you to start using some of these
capabilities.  Approach this unit with the sense of discovery.  You
are more than you realize you are.  You have talents and areas of
expertise that are waiting to be uncovered.

• Lois M. Frey, UVM Extension, RR #4, Box 2298, Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 223-2389, email: lfrey@sover.net
• "Group Development: Creating Group Effectiveness" by Duane Dale, DFD Associates, 99 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138-3402 (moving to 764 South East Street, Amherst, MA 01022 after 8/1/98);
• Bob Biagi, 142 Cherry Lane, Amherst, MA 01002 (413) 549-1412;

Comments to: crs@uvm.edu
Reviewed as of 4/20/98