(This is a list of behaviors observed in people who possess this competence)

• They are coherent and authentic and sure of their own personality.

• They know their weaknesses and strengths.

• They recognize their limitations and do not make excuses for them.

• They believe in their own abilities and undertake difficult tasks. 

• They are aware of the effect their emotions have on their actions.

• They are able to confidently relate to others from a position of trust. 

• They show an interest in constant learning and self-development.

• They frequently examine their own behavior.

• They are open to honest, well-intentioned criticism and new perspectives.

• They consider other people’s errors and corrections as a driving force for improvement.

• They change their mind when there are sufficient grounds to do so, even if it makes them look bad.

• They analyze their feelings and how these affect their performance and relationships with others.

• They achieve their goals because they know how much effort is required.

Behaviors in the assessment questionnaire

• They frequently analyze their own behavior.

• They are open to constructive criticism to improve their behavior and learn.

• They analyze their feelings and how these affect their performance and relationships.

• They are aware of their weaknesses and strengths.

(This is a list of negative behaviors observed in people who do not possess this competence to a sufficient extent)

• They don’t know the personal strengths they can draw upon.

• They don’t believe in their own abilities.

• They don’t portray themselves as they really are, but according to others’ expectations.

• They are conformists and don’t make suggestions for improvement that involve personal leadership.

• They can’t control their feelings and are unaware of how their feelings affect their own and others’ work.

• They think others will do a better job than they are capable of.

• They don’t know or can’t accept their own limitations.

• They don’t examine their behavior or ask for feedback from those around them.

• They go with the flow so as not to stand out.

• They change their minds when faced with peer pressure.

• They don’t know how to behave according to their position.

• They make commitments they can’t stick to.

• They set unrealistic deadlines and goals.

• They fall apart when they fail or make errors.

(Suggestions for questions that mentors can ask students to reflect on and, therefore, propose ways they think they can improve)

• Do you know your strengths, i.e. things you do really well?

• Could you list the behaviors or habits you need to improve with relative ease?

• Do you effectively use your strengths to make up for your shortcomings?

• Do you frequently commit to tasks beyond your abilities?

• Do you really know what effect your emotions have on your actions?

• Have you ever unintentionally achieved something and really surprised yourself?

• Is there anything about your colleagues’ attitude towards you that surprises you? Have you stopped to wonder why?

• Have you ever been criticized? Were you able to accept the criticism with humility and analyze it?

• Can you predict how you will react to different scenarios at the university or at work? What about in your personal life?

• Analyze the strengths and weaknesses identified by your self-assessment and external assessment. Identify the competences with the widest gap between the two perspectives and analyze why this is the case.
• Discuss this with your mentor or your parents and, based on their opinion, try to learn something about yourself that you didn’t know.
• If you wish, you can use the strengths and weaknesses questionnaire on this website to help you:

• Take the temperament test included in the resources section and identify your predominant temperament component.

• Do you know what temperament is and why it is useful to know about yours? Read the document Temperament Theory to learn more about your innate qualities. Also (or alternatively), watch the video about temperament suggested in the resources section.

• From the qualities of each temperament, indicate the two strengths and two weaknesses of your predominant temperament with which you most identify.

• Next, identify two actions in which you can use the strengths of your temperament and two actions you will find harder because of your weaknesses. It is especially useful to focus on your strengths, because these are what will help you grow.

• Read the document Steps to Form a New Habit and listen to the TEDx talk The Power of Habit.

• Identify at least three habits in your daily routine that you would like to develop.

• Through the guidelines in the improvement notebook and the content of the document, draw up a specific plan to develop them.

• Take the Life Compass test to find out your predominant values and discuss the results with your mentor, your parents or someone you trust.

• You can also find out how important a value is for you in theoretical terms and the importance you attach to it through your actions. After that, you can create plans to make the most of values that are being absorbed by others but that are important to you.

• Make a list of three activities you have carried out that you are most proud of. Based on these, identify common steps that led to the successful outcome and the measures you took to get there. Could you repeat them?

• Now make a list of the three situations you remember most negatively and answer the following questions: What led you to that situation? How did you behave? If it happened now, what would you do?

• If you set aside a few moments to spend alone each day, without any distractions nearby, you’ll develop a better sense of who you are and what led you to act that way. Reflect on what you did and what feelings it triggered in you.

• Carry out activities that involve nothing but thinking.

• Read books or watch movies that present interesting ideas you can use to improve.

• Think about how the different people you have met have contributed to your life.

Articles

• Managing Oneself, Peter Drucker

• Un viaje hacia la introspección (A Journey of Introspection).

• Etapas de la formación de un nuevo hábito (Stages for Forming a New Habit)

• Teoría de los temperamentos (Temperament Theory)

• Cultura, renovación, formación (Culture, Renewal, Training), Alfonso Aguiló

Note: This deals with the importance of knowing how to reflect and think about ourselves, the importance of culture in personal development, and the need to acquire culture in order to grow.

• La propia identidad (One’s Own Identity), Alfonso Aguiló in Hacer Familia

Note: Self-knowledge is a never-ending task, since we are always changing. But we can’t live life to the full without it.

• Proyecto de persona interior (Inner Person Project), Fernando Sarráis

Books

• Temperamento, carácter y personalidad (Temperament, Character and Personality), Fernando Sarráis

Note: This book explains the differences between these three concepts and the different types, including positive aspects and other aspects to consider.

• Do You Dare to Dream? InKNOWation.

Note: This video illustrates the importance of leaving your comfort zone to grow as a person.

• Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. Animated Book Summary. FightMediocrity.

• Temperamentos (Temperaments). Instituto Hune.

Note: This video explains the theory of the four classical temperaments, as well as the key characteristics associated with them.

• The Power of Habit. Charles Duhigg at TEDxTeachersColleague.

Note: Acquiring a habit inevitably leads to an improvement in our lives, since it’s easier to do routine things. But you need willpower to get there...

• The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz. TED talk.

Note: This video looks at how infinite options end up creating more stress when we can’t accept ourselves and our decisions, recognize mistakes or consider the possibility that a decision doesn’t need to be perfect, but just good for ourselves and others.

• On Millennials in the Workplace, interview with Simon Sinek.

Note: The generation born after 1984 presents strengths that are conditioned by their complete lack of confidence. Where does this lack of confidence come from? What can we do to improve it? If you want to learn more about this fascinating generation, or if you belong to it and want some advice, this interview is really helpful.

• Dead Poets Society

Note: Peter Weir’s film is a master class in the importance of finding what we really want to fill our lives with excitement. The protagonists, a group of boys at a British boarding school for wealthy families, witness the arrival of a teacher like no other: he not only teaches them, but also makes sure that each of them undertakes a personal quest to uncover the purpose of their lives

• Jerry Maguire

Note: The most striking aspect of this film is the change experienced by Jerry Maguire in the first 30 minutes of the film. He struggles with an inner conflict and questions who he is and why he does his job. The rest of the film shows how the decision he has made about who he wants to be affects his personal and professional life.

• Self-Assessment of Skills and Presentation in a Mind Map

Note: Score your skills and use a mind map to pinpoint your strengths and areas for improvement with a view to defining development plans.

• SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats)

Note: Define the strengths you can draw upon, the weaknesses that are standing in the way of your personal and professional improvement, opportunities for improvement and the external and internal threats that can affect your growth.

• Temperament Test

Note: In this Excel-based test, participants choose four adjectives with which they most identify from a list that contains both positive and negative terms. By the end, you’ll have collected a series of “points” to help identify your temperament. It is complemented by a text that describes each temperament (in the reading section).

• MBA Exercise: Life Compass

Note: This simple exercise, which combines numerical and written assessments, allows you to obtain a quick, accurate analysis of your key values.