Question
Choose one internal and one external obstacle. Write a short reflection on a time when you were faced with each obstacle and how you overcame it.
Answers
GPT-5 mini
Here are two short example reflections you can adapt—one for an internal obstacle and one for an external obstacle.
Internal obstacle — self-doubt
For months I hesitated to put myself forward for leadership roles because I worried I wasn’t experienced enough. That self-doubt affected my performance: I second-guessed decisions, avoided stretch assignments, and missed chances to grow. To change that I started by reframing my thinking—treating early attempts as experiments rather than pass/fail tests. I set small, specific goals (lead one meeting, propose one new idea) and kept a short log of what went well and what I learned. I also asked a trusted colleague for regular feedback, which helped me separate useful critique from unfounded fear. Over time my confidence grew: I handled larger responsibilities, learned from mistakes without spiraling, and realized that competence builds through action. The experience taught me to notice negative self-talk early and replace it with practical steps.
External obstacle — limited resources and a tight deadline
On a project with an immovable deadline, our team lacked budget to hire extra help and had only half the tools we needed. The situation felt overwhelming at first, and progress stalled as everyone tried to do everything at once. I helped the team overcome this by clarifying priorities with the stakeholder, negotiating a reduced scope that preserved the most important outcomes, and reallocating tasks to match people’s strengths. We also found low-cost workarounds (open-source tools, templates from past projects) and established short daily check-ins to keep momentum and catch blockers early. By focusing on what mattered most and using available resources creatively, we delivered a solid product on time. The project reinforced the value of scope management, clear communication, and pragmatic problem-solving.
If you want, I can tailor these reflections to a specific situation you’re thinking of.
Internal obstacle — self-doubt
For months I hesitated to put myself forward for leadership roles because I worried I wasn’t experienced enough. That self-doubt affected my performance: I second-guessed decisions, avoided stretch assignments, and missed chances to grow. To change that I started by reframing my thinking—treating early attempts as experiments rather than pass/fail tests. I set small, specific goals (lead one meeting, propose one new idea) and kept a short log of what went well and what I learned. I also asked a trusted colleague for regular feedback, which helped me separate useful critique from unfounded fear. Over time my confidence grew: I handled larger responsibilities, learned from mistakes without spiraling, and realized that competence builds through action. The experience taught me to notice negative self-talk early and replace it with practical steps.
External obstacle — limited resources and a tight deadline
On a project with an immovable deadline, our team lacked budget to hire extra help and had only half the tools we needed. The situation felt overwhelming at first, and progress stalled as everyone tried to do everything at once. I helped the team overcome this by clarifying priorities with the stakeholder, negotiating a reduced scope that preserved the most important outcomes, and reallocating tasks to match people’s strengths. We also found low-cost workarounds (open-source tools, templates from past projects) and established short daily check-ins to keep momentum and catch blockers early. By focusing on what mattered most and using available resources creatively, we delivered a solid product on time. The project reinforced the value of scope management, clear communication, and pragmatic problem-solving.
If you want, I can tailor these reflections to a specific situation you’re thinking of.