1.

0 Know yourself

1.1 Overview

Recently I have been involved in a project during college, and I was part of a 6 persons
group. After completing a test, it resulted that my top skills are team leader and
coordinator. As a team leader, one of my duties was to assign each member suitable
tasks and to create targets. During this project I had to make sure that activities are
going according to our plan and to solve any issue that might arise. The delivery of the
project was a success, with a positive feedback from other colleagues and our tutor.

One of my key strengths is achiever and I demonstrate this during the project and at the
end of it, where I did a wide research and looked for as much information as I could to
deliver a top presentation, with clear and concise information and also to be prepared
for any question it might arise during or after the presentation.

1.2 Clifton Gallup Strengths and Johari Window Theories

Clifton Strengths Finder is a vital tool to the business users and through a large
extension individual as well identify their talents and abilities, understand and thus chat
a way forward on how to maximize them (Louis, 2012). For that reason, the Clifton
Strengths Finder is very important since it helps individuals to increase their
productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness. People are always talented yet are not aware
of how they can exploit such talents. Some employees are also battling the dilemma of
personal and professional needs and career obligations. As such, the strength finder
helps in harnessing strengths like an achiever, activator, adaptability skills, analytical,
communication, believer, and ability to take constructive criticism for personal growth.
Accordingly, the Johari Window Model is critical since it assists individuals to have
personal awareness and perception of individuals on other people (Saxena, 2015). The
model intended to enhance the relationship of an individual and the others with whom
they work or interact with. Clifton Strength Finder and Johari`s Window Model are
critical in the aspect of the position of manager. First, a person would discover
themselves more, and relate well with other stakeholders to deliver desired
results. They motivate a person`s inner strengths and translate it to deliver results and
give satisfaction at work and in personal life.
1.3 Personal Key Strengths
Based on the Clifton Strength Finder, some of the personal strengths and
abilities have gained overtime are developer, achiever, ideation, maximiser and
empathy. As a developer, every person is a work in progress and needs various
methods to challenge them. I look for methods to make them realise their full potential
through establishing and assigning tasks which match their potential. Accordingly, my
empathy as an ability is critical since it has helped me be in the position of other
employees and related to the problems and challenges, they are facing, to help the
organisation deliver on key objectives. The achiever ability is critical since it helps me to
always want to deliver results and see every challenge as an opportunity to get a
positive outcome.  The ideation strengths would help me as a manager to enhance
innovation and creativity at the workplace. Innovative ideas and occurrence assist in
thinking outside the box as well as setting off innovativeness. As a maximiser, excellent
and perfection is the ideal measurement of success and progress. Therefore, whenever
a task is being assigned, evaluation is being conducted with the aim of having the best
result. The strength puts me at an added advantage in a management position.

1.4 Application of Theories

There are several ways I can apply the Johari model and the Clifton Gallup
Strengths model in the position of a manager within the cab services industry. The
aspiration of being a manager at a Minicab Operator Agency is enhanced by my
empathy ability where both customer and employee needs would be addressed
effectively. I am in a position to related people`s problems as if they were mine. It helps
me to identify the challenges both customers and employees face. As such, with the
ideation skills, I am at a better position to implement policy frameworks or establish a
job designation that will respond to concerns and challengers facing all stakeholders.
The theories are critical in self-actualization mechanisms they instil in a person thus the
achiever skill helps in creating focus and determination more so in establishing the
vision, mission, short and long-run objectives which must be achieved ultimately (Noe et
al., 2017). The inspiration as an achiever is critical in meeting sales target, marketing
objectives and overall mission of the firm. However, as a developer and achiever, I
would want to get the best from the workforce to ensure customer needs are met,
consumer expectation and satisfaction reached to foster loyalty and preference for the
services of the agency. 

2.0 Know your sector

2.1 Comparison of UBER UK and VIA VAN UK
UBER UK                
Uber in the United Kingdom launched its operations in July of 2012 as a
technology company. Over time, the company has been able to grow, though not
without controversies and court battles. Drivers of the contemporary taxis were left in
agony. The company has a value system where customers are valued and their needs
and expectations met (Smith, 2017). Safety and concerns of passengers come first,
since the customer convenience is paramount as the company seeks to enhance the
passenger experience, comfort, and safety. The firm has however battled negative
press from striking employees on minimum wage claims, and competition from rivals
like Taxify, Via Van UK, and Taxicab services.

VIA VAN UK          

Via Van was launched in London on April 4th, 2019 as an alternative to Uber (Via
Van, 2019). It is a company that has partnered with Mercedes- Benz a German car
manufacturing company and via. The value system and ethical code of conduct of the
firm are based on offering customers who are the passengers and the drivers a safe,
affordable and convenient means of transport. The company also encourage drivers to
earn some decent wages by deducting a smaller percentage of the money paid by
passengers.
The two firms are technology-driven where a mobile application is downloaded to
a hand gadget like phone, tablet or any other personal device. However, unlike Uber,
Via Van has its cars and charge only 15% of the transport money as compared to 25%
charged by Uber. The objective of Via Van is to have a satisfied driver and a satisfied
passenger on the services they either offer or receive. However, it is significant to note
that Via Van is a new company which is yet to stand the test of time and
competitiveness in the market.

2.2 Interrelationship of Values

The value system entrenched within the two firms to a very large extent is related
to my value system. First and foremost, I am a believer in the people. The people here
constitute employees and customers. Accordingly, the needs and wishes of the people
must be met to enhance profitability. The employee`s needs for good pay must be met
and better working conditions to increase their engagement and productivity.
Conversely, the needs of the customer must be met in order to maintain safety and
affordability of the goods and services that are offered in my company.

2.3 Job description

2.4 Skills alignment

2.5 Professional Qualification

To be a credible and successful manager for a cab agency, it is paramount to be
a professional cab driver. As a professional cab driver, and one who has worked in the
public transport or services sector for long time, the experience as a driver would be the
key to success. First and foremost, one would develop further the skills of empathy to
be able to listen and know the needs of the drives as and when they arise. Knowing
how to drive helps a manager to be equipped with the road dynamic of the job. It also
allows conducting monitoring and evaluation of the job designation and specification of
other departmental needs within the firm. Most importantly, a manager can occasionally,
take a ride and meet customers and have a conversation with them about passenger
experience, thus collecting primary data which can be used by the firm to improve the
passenger experience. Additionally, the complaints and compliments from drivers and
passengers through the customer relationship management and driver portal can be
understood deep by the manager. Moreover, when one is a professional, understanding
the dynamics of the work environment from the competitor angle is significant in
thwarting threats and exploiting opportunities for the benefit of the company.

3.0 Let them know you

3.1 Importance of Networking
There are several benefits that networking brings to a business to help a
manager become more enlightened and aware of the general business environment.
Networking will be very critical since it helps in relationship building with key players
within the industry. When it comes to regulations, policies, and pricing or marketing
rules, such relationships are critical for a manager for the prosperity of the company.
One of the effectiveness of networking is to make one known by industry players
including customers, and other stakeholders. Networking is vital in helping to learn more
about best practices within an industry and thus improving the quality of service. When
one meets competitors within the association say the association of cab managers, one
can bring the latest technologies to the firm. Nevertheless, the advance for networking
also helps in the enhancement of new business trends and market dynamics (Noe et
al., 2017). Besides, networking is important in helping the managers and by extension
the firm to learn about emerging issues and how such issues can be turned to
opportunities and if they are opportunities mechanisms to exploit them can be initiated.
Networking is important in my sector since it can help me be in the cutting edge of
technology trends.
Vital to mention is that good networking brings confidence to a manager and
helps to lead a team to prosperity since, from comparative analysis, a manager can
learn and acquire the best from the market. Through networking, I would be able to be
more commercially aware of my sector due to the friendships and opportunities I make
and come across. Friendships are vital in creating new customer leads, sealing deals
like mergers and acquisitions and being able to influence players within the sector like
government officials. Therefore, it is being said that my network defines a net worth.
The more one is networked within the sector, the more valuable and marketable s/he
becomes within the playing field of cab agency.

3.2 Networking event

3.3 Event advice
3.4 Skill Development
Throughout the module, I have learned that there is a need to be competitive
within the industry, and one way of increasing competitiveness is through networking.
Networking is significant since it helps in career development through learning about
industry trends, making critical friendships, and learning about technological
advancements. Accordingly, I have been able to acquire and strengthen certain life
skills and abilities like ideation, empathy, achiever, developer and maximize. Through
the theory of Clifton Gallup Strengths, I have been able to acquire the interpersonal
skills to deal with employees and customers effectively. In particular, have been able to
enhance my skills on achiever were delivering on set goals and targets are paramount.
Empathy skill has been enhanced and I am able to share the frustrations of employees
like drivers, and customer service employees. Besides, in solving customer problems,
empathy is critical to foster a good relationship with all stakeholders. However, there is
a need to learn more about customer service skills or customer relationship skills. Such
skills include dispute resolution and product knowledge skills. Dispute resolution comes
with a dilemma as to listening to the customer without offending the employee or
listening to the employee without losing the customer.
 

 
 
 
 

Bibliography

Knight, S. (2016). How Uber Conquered London. The Guardian.

Louis, M.C., 2012. The Clifton StrengthsFinder and Student Strengths Development. Omaha

NE: The Gallup Organization.

Noe, R.A., Hollenbeck, J.R., Gerhart, B. and Wright, P.M., 2017. Human resource management:

Gaining a competitive advantage. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.

Saxena, P., 2015. Johari Window: An effective model for improving interpersonal

communication and managerial effectiveness. SIT Journal of Management, 5(2), pp.134-

146.

Smith, G. (2017). How Uber’s Tumultuous History in London Resulted in It Being Banned.

Fortune.

Via Van (2019).Via Van launches revolutionary shared ride service in London.