Ch. 11 Reading Reflection

asdfjklawjefl;kawe

Ch. 10 Reading Reflection

asjdfla;kwefawef

PAR Stories

Attribute #1: Engaging in Difficult Conversations

Problem: At one point in my life, I was in a living situation that was less than ideal. One of my best friends was making decisions for her life that were affecting all those around her. After many attempts to make the situation better, I decided the only thing left to do was to move out. But before I could do that, I had to talk with my friend about my reasons why I would be leaving (many of those reasons stemming from her actions).

Action: I knew that this would be a difficult conversation to have, and that it would take some time to say everything that needed to be said. On the day I decided to speak with her, I budgeted out a couple hours that I knew only her and I would be home without interruptions. I began the conversation telling her that I needed to talk with her, and that I was going to say what I needed to say and then wanted her to tell me her reaction/response to what I was saying. I felt that it was important for each of to say what we needed to say without being refuted or interrupted by the other.

Resolution: We were both able to speak freely and say the things we wanted to say. In following a Speaker One-Speaker Two sort of format, we were able to feel heard and respected. Although the outcome of going our separate ways in terms of living situations was a sad outcome to face, we were still able to maintain a solid friendship based on trust and respect. 

Attribute #2: Customer Service

Problem: While working at Allyses's Bridal and Formal, we once had an angry bride who had come to pick up her dress. She was upset over the price she was being charged for her wedding gown alteration and was convinced that she was being overcharged. 

Action: I told the bride I would make sure we would figure out why there seemed to be a miscommunication with the discussed alteration costs. I explained to her that since I was not a seamstress, I wouldn't be able to fully clear up the issue, but I would call down one of the seamstresses that could fully talk over that charges with her and clear up any confusion. I was able to call the exact seamstress that worked on the bride's dress and explained the situation and frustration the bride was feeling. The seamstress was able to come down and talked with the bride about every charge listed on the ticket and went through where each charge was on the dress and why it was priced the way it was. 

Resolution: All the confused was cleared up and the bride understood and accepted why her dress alterations were priced the way they were. She apologized for her angry behavior and thanked me for making sure she had all the information she needed. She went through with paying for the rest of her dress kindly and smoothly. 

Attribute #3: Delivering Constructive Criticism 

Problem: While working at Subway as an assistant manager, there were many times that I needed to meet with employees if they were not delivering work that was up to expectation. There was a specific time that this conversation had to happen, and I felt it went as well as it could have, even though the conversation had the potential to be uncomfortable and ill-received. 

Action: I asked to meet with this specific employee during their shift at a time that was calm enough to have a constructive conversation. We met in a booth that was away from the rest of the employees, so that the conversation could remain private and no one would be embarrassed. I made sure that we started our meeting telling this specific employee the things that they were doing well and things that had impressed me. I then asked them to tell me about things that they believed to be doing well and discussed my observations. I then proceeded to tell them about other things that I had observed that I felt were not up to the expectations of the job description that they were expected to fulfill. I told them the things I had seen, how they could be better executed, and then gave this employee time to speak about how they felt on the matter, and what their opinion was on the problem we were discussing. 

Resolution: We openly discussed things that led to the behavior slipping and then worked together to make quantifiable goals that we could record and work towards together. I asked this employee how they felt I could help them achieve the goals we had set. I felt it was best to make sure that the employee did not feel attacked in this conversation, and for them to know about the things that they were doing well. I also wanted to make sure that they had a plan and a goal to better their situation and for them to know that I was there for a resource and would be in on it. I feel that delivering constructive criticism can be difficult because people can feel attacked easily. But when approached with positivity and respect, the situation can be handled effectively.  

Ch. 7 Reading Reflection

I found the reading for chapter 7 to be incredibly useful and enlightening. The first sentence of the chapter reads, "seeking new employment is one of the most critical things you do, because your employment affects nearly every aspect of your life." I couldn't agree with this statement more. In the society we live in, everything revolves around one's career. For that reason, it is of the upmost importance to take the interview/hiring process seriously. Resumes and letters (application, thank-you, recommendation) are the only way an employer is able to "get to know you" before meeting you. They are a representation of yourself, therefore, they need to be constructed carefully and seriously.

Being the daughter of a business owner, I learned a lot about the impact a resume can have. My father owns two restaurants in the Seattle area and receives many resumes and applications on a weekly basis from hopeful workers. My dad definitely had his preferences when it came to how a resume was presented. For him, he would never read a second page of a resume. He would never even consider hiring someone if they hadn't at least one other job for a least one year. When reading over a resume, the only things he would look at were work experience and taking into consideration the comments of the applicant's references. The thing that is difficult when creating a resume is that every employer  truly does have their own opinion of what think is the most important thing in a resume. I think it is so important to be concise, professional, and articulate when it comes to creating a resume. Professionalism translates to almost every employer, and they don't want to be bogged down with reading a lengthy and wordy resume. They will have their pieces of information they are looking for and then make their decision from there.

Bad News Letter

February 19, 2014

Ms. Emma K. Jones

XXX N XXX E

Anywhere, UT XXXXX

Dear Ms. Jones:

                  Firstly, I would like to commend you on your well-communicated proposal of a BYU Expansion in Heber. You were fully able to explain your position and that you articulated your supporting arguments maturely and cohesively. Your reasons for a Heber expansion were solid and justified and resonated well with both my board and me. The university is indeed in high demand and creating a smaller campus in Utah would definitely provide a unique learning experience while still allowing students to be a part of the BYU lifestyle.

At this time, there are some large projects in regards to building and construction that are taking top priority. The new Life Sciences Building is approaching its final stages of construction and there is an expansion/remodel of the Clyde Building set to begin in 2016. Unfortunately for that reason, the decision was made that creating a BYU expansion in Heber is not something the University will be able to move forward with at this time.

Please know that your idea of expanding BYU’s campus to other locations is one that may be considered at a later time. I urge you to continue to communicate your feedback and ideas regarding the betterment of BYU; feedback from students is always valuable feedback.

Sincerely,

President Cecil O. Samuelson 

BYU Heber Expansion Proposal Letter

February 19, 2014

President Cecil O. Samuelson

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT 84604

Dear President Samuelson:

The BYU experience is one of a kind. It’s something that people dream of being a part of one day as they pursue their college education. But with BYU being in high demand and the qualifications for acceptance being even higher, many people’s dream of attending Brigham Young University becomes only a dream and never a reality.  But what if more people’s dream of attending BYU could be a reality? With a BYU Expansion/Extension in the City of Heber, that dream could in fact be a reality. The Heber Expansion would provide (a) a unique location, (b) seamless integration for the BYU Education Program into the Wasatch County School District, and (c) the opportunity for more people to be a part of BYU experience.  

Unique Location. The city of Heber is a smaller town. The 2010 census reported the population of the city being 11,362. With a population being approximately 9.9x smaller than the city of Provo (which has a population of 112,488 according to the 2010 census), a BYU campus in Heber would allow for an intimate and lasting relationships formed between students. Heber is a town described as more “rural.” Having a college experience in a more rural area would allow for a unique experience. BYU Provo is near a busy town filled with shopping centers, large franchises, and many other learning institutions. A smaller expansion of the large campus would allow for a more focused environment. 

School Integration. One of the largest work forces in the city of Heber is the Wasatch County School District. With the school district having such a large emphasis on the town, BYU and the BYU Education Program could greatly benefit from the opportunity of seamless integration from BYU into the work place for hopeful graduates seeking work. A BYU expansion in Heber could be a potential campus for the education program at BYU to grow and expand.

Provides the BYU Experience. While being on BYU’s campus, it is undeniable that there is a certain feeling of goodness that is in the air. This feeling is a huge selling point for BYU. It is what drives people to work hard in hopes of getting accepted to the university. But with BYU becoming more and more competitive each year, less and less people are able to have that opportunity to learn in such a wholesome and unique environment. Having a Heber Expansion would allow more people a BYU education and BYU experience. BYU is in high demand, especially in Utah. Having another campus would respond to that demand and still allow people the BYU experience in Utah, just on a more intimate scale.

President Cecil O. Samuelson

February 19, 2014

Page 2

A Heber Expansion of BYU would bring so much good for BYU as a whole and the students attending. Its location and connection to the local school district provide so much opportunity to grow the economy as well as job security for graduates. A smaller, more rural campus would provide a unique experience, yet still give students the famous BYU experience that they are looking for. I ask you to seriously consider this proposal and respond as soon as you have made your decision. I thank you so much for your time and consideration towards this proposal and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Emma Jones, Student