Reflective Assessment: Bucket and Dipper Theory

The module was centered on the issue of positive response and feedback on events. It relied heavily on the bucket and dipper theory which was developed by Don Clifton and Tom Rath. It purports that we all have an invincible bucket and dipper. When our bucket is overflowing, we are filled with positive emotions and we impact others around us constructively through words and reaction. The dipper is what we use to fill other people’s invincible buckets. The theory is bent on the positive repercussions of positive responses and influences on others. When we receive information positively and respond graciously, we maximize the positive impacts on our recipients and positive outcomes are reflected in our being as well. This theory is further enhanced by the study by Shelly Gable, which proposes highly that when people share good news and their experiences in life, they form more productive social connections. Sharing promotes one’s emotional well-being and allows them to continue engaging positively with the people and environments around them.

 The bucket and dipper theory is very fundamental in informing and enhancing interpersonal relations. It fosters the development of personal skills and, thus, it is very relevant to the growth of a corporate and to one’s personal development. The bucket and dipper theory is a positivity pathway that informs productive relationships within and outside the workplace. It emphasizes the need for active and constructive responses as opposed to passive and destructive inputs (Rath & Clifton, 2009). The theory can be enhanced in one’s life through acts such as active listening to our family and friends as they communicate with us, and practicing mindfulness and emotional and physical presence during the communication. It would also be enhanced further when we avoid cutting into the stories of the speaker, with our own experiences and advice very early into the conversation. Further, we should be genuinely authentic as we engage in asking positive questions about the incidents of the speakers. Our support should be gracious and we should commend and congratulate our peers for their positive undertakings. Consequently, our engagement with the speaker should be used to enhance their experience and highlight the importance of their achievements. More importantly, we should always seek to fill the empty buckets around us through gestures and extra acts of kindness.

One of the main limitations of the theory is the assumption that we can attain optimal positivity in all undertakings in life (McCloud, 2015). In some instances, it is not possible to give active and constructive feedbacks; we are required to critique negative undertakings and behaviors in our peers and friends. While passive and destructive and active and destructive responses will do more damage than good, we need to find a place of agreeability where our response is not active and constructive. We should aim at balanced emotions and reactions based on the specific incidents.

On an average day at work, I have extensive contact with the younger workmates who are training interns with the organization. I am required to assist them with their assignments and direct them on issues they do not understand about the organization. Being a junior manager, this is a duty I considered cumbersome since it includes my daily engagement in evaluating their experiences in the field and going over minor details of their routine. It requires a lot of patience and skills in directing the interns, who are fresh from college, regarding their assignments. In most of our discussion engagements, I have noticed that one of the interns is especially enthusiastic about minor details which I considered irrelevant. She enjoyed highlighting her experiences with her peers and customers through the day and fusing the interactions with the eventual assignments. This habit was initially annoying to me since it drew me from the main target which was to complete my assessment with the all the interns and redirect my efforts to more serious assignments of the day. After engaging with the module readings, however, I am more informed on how nurturing positive feedback mechanisms and sharing the minor details and achievements of the day have a positive impact, not only on my interns but on my personal and professional development as well.

By applying the module teachings, I started listening attentively and responding actively and constructively to the interns, especially to the arguments of the most enthusiastic lady in the group. I observed better learning experiences for both of us. I was able to inspire her understanding of the assignments in a better manner since; we would apply the lessons from her interactions with her friends to solving major issues of the assignments and illustrating more applicable principles to corporate development. I realized that my relationship with her and my other interns has been greatly enhanced as I continued to fill their buckets on a daily basis. I am a better friend and a better aid by applying the simple concept of listening positively and responding adequately to experiences that I once considered irrelevant. My application of the theory has since extended to other spheres of my life. I am able to relate better with my other colleagues and seniors at the workplace, and with people, including strangers, I meet on a daily basis. I am a better team player at work; I have a better understanding of the people around me and the little things that impact them in their daily lives.

Overly, I am positive of the immense contributions of the module teachings to my overall life. I have become a better listener, I pay more attention to details that are necessary to those around me and I have learned to accommodate views in a more positive and engaging manner. I am striving to be an active and constructive listener to my workmates and family members. I strongly believe that the lessons learned will be of great value as I continue to grow professionally and interact with people around me. They are surely, a great component in the making of a good leader.

 

References List
McCloud, C. (2015). Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids. New York: Bucket Fillers.

Rath, D., & Clifton, D. (2009). How Full Is Your Bucket? Educator’s Edition: Positive Strategies for Work and Life. New York: Simon and Schuster.