LYBA FATIMA

LYBA FATIMA, 20, FASHION MANAGEMENT STUDENT

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STRATEGIC THINKING

Strategic thinking is about paving a path to success for a problem by viewing the road from all perspectives and assessing the situation with a neutral mind. I spent a year being on a local arts council that would create initiatives for youth in the city that were interested in the creative arts. I worked with a fellow member to plan and host a day-long conference in which hundreds of local creatives could attend. While planning we had noticed that attendance in the past few years had been going down and we wanted to reverse that. By looking into past attendees and changes that had been made to the conference, we realized that many of the youth that used to attend could no longer do so due to the location of the event being difficult to reach from public transit and that the ticket cost had been increased. Past hosts of this conference had failed to consider these factors so we vowed to change that. We looked at new venues and researched routes to it using public transportation as well as parking for those who drive. Understanding the context of the situation is what helped us find the best approach to the solution. Being able to find missing patterns and think from different perspectives is a crucial aspect in all workplaces. I can adapt this skill into many positions to help myself and those around me make decisions that ensure the best possible outcome for everyone.

Image from pinterest.

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TEAMWORK

Teamwork is a vital piece in the puzzle that is life. It is about the commitment to working with others in a respectful way to ensure success. In a recent research project, a group of 6 and I were required to work together for 10 weeks to present information on a given topic. To be able to work effectively in a team, a level of comfort and respect is required. My group chose me to take on the leadership role and delegate tasks and roles as I was the most educated on our topic and knew what needed to be done. I made sure to ask everyone what their strengths and weaknesses were and paired those who were compatible together on more difficult tasks. Seeing as this project was very important for this class, I wanted to certify that we were comfortable with each other. This was done by going out for coffee all together so we understood one another more and in return knew how to collaborate in the best possible way. We had a defined common goal and knew the steps required to meet it, so the 10 weeks that it took to complete the project went smoothly as we all knew what was asked of us. As a result, the report was completed with a high degree of effectiveness and we had stepped out of the class as new friends as well.

Artwork by Ana Leovy.

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COMMUNICATION

Communication is about understanding your audience and the many forms they may come in to be able to successfully voice your thoughts. Effective communication requires an eye for detail and an understanding of the confidence that is required. When working as a lead cashier at a new retail store, I was required to report hourly sales and train all new employees. I had to properly communicate standards and procedures to the new employees and ensure that they understood everything. If there was any confusion, I had to adapt the way I was communicating. When delivering hourly sales to management, I had to properly communicate the data to guarantee that there would be no information lost in translation. Having strong communication skills allows me to adapt to any role which not only benefits myself but the team I work with as well.

Artwork by Diana Ong.

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SELFWORK

Selfwork is the concept of being able to efficiently know ourselves as well as those around us to be able to build on our actions that will accurately help us work towards our goals. It is the skill of being able to push yourself so that you are seen as strong and valuable to yourself and others. After being unsuccessful during my training, I had to prove my reliability to others. I respected the fact that I had let them down and instead of being irrational, was determined to show through my actions that I could very well be the employee I was entirely capable of being. This is a valuable skill because it shows that I can take a step back and really walk a few steps in my employers shoes to be able to efficiently see what my own mistakes were. The value in this lies in the fact that I value my own growth and the respect my employers give me.

Photo from WeHeartIt.

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SMARTER LEARNING

Smarter learning is the act of using life experiences to be able to learn and grow to effectively change your next steps. Having a growth mindset is important so you are able to create clear goals for your future. During the process of learning new skills for my promotion at my first retail job, I made many errors a first-timer would make. I took my errors as an opportunity to learn and decided to adapt myself to the feedback I was given. Thanks to my growth mindset, my manager was impressed by my willingness to learn from my failure. An employer would value my unique smarter learning skills because I am very quick to make the necessary changes in myself to be able to recover from a failed situation. This is crucial in fast paced work environments especially because you must be constantly improving to be able to produce better and more efficient work.

Photo from Pintrest.