Teamwork
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking encompasses the ideas of conceptualization, analysis, application, and/or evaluation of information, and the process of developing such skills comes primarily through practice. On a personal level, a prime anecdote of me employing critical thinking skills was my first trip to France. Ultimately, I learned that critical thinking can make a crucial difference in unexpected scenarios.
While standing on the corner of the cobblestone street, my eyes fixated on a woman sobbing. New to the French culture and the language, I validated every excuse to continue on my way. Nevertheless, I naturally responded to the call to serve. I stared intently as foreign words came out of a Portuguese woman’s mouth. Nothing, I understood nothing. I thought my fluency in French, English, and limited Spanish would at least help me pick out a few words.
Regrettably, I was not the solution to the problem; however, I knew there was some unknown resource that could be the solution. After a few minutes of failed charades, I overheard a passing woman speaking French with a Portuguese accent. The answer was clear, so I immediately flagged her down. The solution and I returned to assist the struggling Portuguese woman.
All things considered, one does not solve problems by sitting around doing nothing. The ability to recognize weakness and look outside of one’s own ability was the solution. I chose to stay. I chose to help. I chose to serve despite my weaknesses. This resulted in a lifelong friendship with my new Portuguese friend, Silvia. Responding innovatively to this unanticipated circumstance to solve a problem resulted from conceptualizing the context of the problem and analyzing the weakness of my own capabilities. The application of my analysis continues to be a strength that I utilize daily to evaluate information and circumstances, especially in foreign environments where I seldom possess the immediate solution.
In addition to this experience, graduate school has equipped me with the theories and tools to attack problems from all sorts of angles. The use of STATA to analyze data and the array of research methods to measure different indicators and relationships are some of the most significant ways that my time at the Bush School has developed my ability to think critically. In the end, critical thinking is a skill that I push myself to improve. Specific moments, like the one in France, rely on the ability to critically think and act in order to provide the optimal service to others.
Teamwork is a critical component to businesses, organizations, and governments. My summer 2016 internship in Berlin strengthened my understanding of a team on the macro-level of the European Union as well as the micro-level within my organization. Four principles of effect teams relate to my team at CIFE as well as the European Union team:
1. Create a clear objective
2. Create interdependence
3. Clear and open communications
4. Shorter deadlines with accountability
It also demonstrated how friction can occur when these principles of teamwork are not followed.
One organization that allowed me to put my leadership skills to practice was at my internship. During the summer of 2016, I had the opportunity to intern at the Centre International de Formation Europeen (CIFE), an organization under the Erasmus+ program as part of the EU (European Union) with funding provided by the European Commission. The summer of 2016 was exciting and busy as a result of the historical vote for Great Britain to leave the EU at the end of June 2016. The future of the organization and the EU became more uncertain. The striking news of the British referendum has not only caused many Europeans to re-evaluate the European project but allowed internal organizations of the EU to reassess efforts of European integration (large-scale team building). The British referendum in favor of Brexit allowed me to have an “ah-ha" moment of the importance of small and large-scale team building.
My inability to understand and hypothesize an action plan for the EU forced me to think about the smaller unit of my fifteen person "CIFE" team. From the perspective of an intern (a person coming from the outside for a limited time), it was intriguing to examine the interchange of personalities and overall the team dynamics from week to week. I recognized the principles and teachings of team building that I learned during the career development courses over the past year fit perfectly in both situations. The degree in which we implemented the four principles determined the degree in which our team was effective.
My “ah-ha" moment pinpointed the reality that teams and organizations will be my main involvement throughout my life, whether it be familial, recreational, social, or professional. Friction in our work environment could always be and my internship, I learned that my ability to understand how to best be a member of each team as well as my ability to integrate members will ultimately be a large indicator of my future success and happiness.