Approaches of Self Managed Learning

Personal and Professional Development

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1...........................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Evaluate approaches of self managed learning....................................................................3
1.2 Propose ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts could be
encouraged. ...............................................................................................................................4
1.3 Evaluate the benefits of self managed learning to the individual and organization.............5
TASK 2...........................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Evaluate current skills and competencies against professional standards and
organisational objectives ...........................................................................................................5
2.2 Own development needs and activities required to meet them............................................6
2.3 Identification of development opportunities to meet current and future defined needs......7
2.4 Prepare a personal and professional development plan based on identified skills...............8
TASK 3...........................................................................................................................................9
3.1 Discuss the processes and activities required to implement the development plan............9
3.2 Undertake and document development activities as planned............................................10
3.3 Critically evaluation of my own learning experience........................................................11
3.4 Update development plan based on evaluation and feedback............................................11
TASK 4.........................................................................................................................................12
4.1 Select solutions to work-based problems...........................................................................12
4.2 Communicate in a variety of styles and appropriate manner at various levels (covered in
Poster)......................................................................................................................................13
4.3- Evaluate and use effective time-management strategies (covered in Leaflet)..................13
CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES.............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development can be defined as a way which is chosen by an
individual so as to setting goals, strategies or policies for future period of time. Apart from that,
personal development is used by individuals so as to developing their own skills whereas,
professional development is a set of certain functions or activities which are done by an
individual so as to securing their place at workplace. Furthermore, use of an effective
professional development provides higher growth within the career of a specific individual.
Chosen organisation for completing this project is National Trust which was established in 1895
and known as a charity and membership organisation for environmental and heritage
conservation in UK. This assignment will discuss about the approaches of self-managed learning
along with its benefits for individuals and the organisation. Implementation of personal and
professional development plan along with interpersonal and transferable skills will also
discussed in this report.
TASK 1
1.1 Evaluate approaches of self managed learning
Self managed learning is the manner through which individuals can manage their
personal learning. It means in every organisation includes self managed learning programs that
are already fitted in the in the structure and ensure the development of personnel in definite
direction or individual can take the decision of their learning about what they need to learn and
how it is possible and when the need of particular learning arise and from where they learn. The
approaches of self managed learning are as follows:-
Seminars and conferences :- individual can enhance their knowledge, skills and
learning by attending productive and educational seminars and conferences about any subject.
Seminars and conferences boost the confidence of the personnel as well as presentation skills of
the individual. There are many seminars and conferences are organised by many personnel as
well as by organisation to enhance the learnings and skills of the individual (Calderhead and et.
al., 2012).
Social networks :- Social network is a biggest platform to learn different things. There
are various social networks such as Instagram, LinkedIn ,Facebook, twitter so on where people
spend their lots of time. On these such sites people chat with friends and learn many new things

by interchanging information. This interchanging procedure of any information enhance the
knowledge and learnings of people.
Online courses :- Individual can learn from the online available courses. In now days
there are number of courses that are available on the educational sites which also offers free
courses with certificate of number of subjects. Through these courses individual can learn
different things and also increase lifelong learning that helps in their professional life also.
Personal strategy :- Personal strategies work very effectively when individual wants to
learn something or wants to improve their skills. As individual is well aware about their skills
and capabilities and also know that what are the things that is need to be improved and how. In
this personal strategy is formulated by the individual to enhance their particular skills. Such as
to improve basic skills individual need to start reading business pages of newspaper and books.
1.2 Propose ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts could be
encouraged.
Lifelong learning is the procedure in which individual systematically collect information
and involve in learning throughout the life . Therefore it is not compulsory and mainly depends
upon the self motivation where the main goal of individual is to improve their personal and
professional development (Cooke, 2012). There are many ways in which learning in context to
various personal and professional can be promoted such as :-
SWOT analysis :- It is necessary to realize the need to learn which is possible with the
help of swot analysis and through SWOT analysis individual also able to find out various space
where development is need. It is done through analysis the strength, weakness, opportunities and
threats. Through this SWOT analysis individual can find out their strength, weakness,
opportunity, and threats. Strength of the individual is helps to achieve their goals. Individual
can also learn about their weakness and threats which is need to be defeat. And opportunities
are the chance by which individual can achieve their goals more effectively.
Self reflective learning :- Self reflective learning is a very effective tool to increase the
leaning of the individuals. It helps to learn new skills and knowledge at the workplace by
performing particular task that is assigned to the individual. This aid in coupling of work
supported learning opportunities with a regular development programme that is intent at
continuous individual learning.

1.3 Evaluate the benefits of self managed learning to the individual and organization.
Self managed learning helps the individual in their self appraisal and analysis. It helps
the individual knowing the field in which they need to spread and create their horizons in. In self
managed learning people are taking their own initiatives in which they are lacking. The
procedure of self managed learning helps an organisation as well as individual in inculcating
many skills that are as follows :-
Team work skills :- The self learning leads professional and personal development of a
personnel. It motivate and support the individual in team working and helps each other in the
organisation in acquiring new knowledge and skills. By being a portion of team individual learn
various things such as how to work, how to balanced in team and so on.
Communication skills :- Self managed learning also improve the communication skills
of the individual which is beneficial to achieve objective of an organisation. Better
communication skills increase the ability of the personnel to hold strong brand customer
involvement. Any individual can easily counsel others who have good communication skills and
able to interact with others (Dietl and Schweizer, 2015).
Presentation skills :- Individual learn the presentation skills by the help of projectors,
power point presentation which provide chance to the individual to explicit their information
and knowledge that have learnt from any topic. It also boost up the confidence level of
individuals so that they can easily present themselves in the front of huge crowd and it is very
beneficial for the organisation when any task is presented at the front of other company. This
way he is not only develop their skills on a personal basis but all these skills are helps in the
professional events and working in the organisation.
TASK 2
2.1 Evaluate current skills and competencies against professional standards and organisational
objectives
Professional standards can be defined as a set of principles or methods which are ethical
and legal practice codes against organisational circumstances. These kind of standards provides
benefits to individuals so that they will able in performing their roles and responsibilities in an
effective manner. Each association have set their specific standard so that each goals and
objectives of organisation can be achieved easily and effectively. As I was recruited as a visitor

welcome manager in National trust then I have responsibility to identify all skills and
competencies which are necessary for performing this role. Objectives of National Trust are:
 To increase awareness within the citizens regarding the historical places.
 To provide unforgettable experience to guests.
As I was recruited as visitor welcome manager in National Trust then I have
responsibility to improve my skills and competencies so that employees under me will perform
their duties in better manner. In this context, my skills and competencies are given as below:
Skills and Competencies Score Score from others Difference
Effective communication skills 9 9 0
Leadership skills 8 7 -1
Critical Thinking skills 10 9 -1
Confidence and trust 9 10 1
Good IT skills 8 9 1
From the above given skills and efficiencies, I have identified my strengths and
weaknesses which are given as below: Strengths: As per my skill audit, I have identified my strengths which are confidence
and trust, communication and Good IT skills that can be prove beneficial for me in
performing my given role (Elliott, 2012).
 Weaknesses: From the above personal skill audit, my Critical Thinking and leadership
skills are week that can provide restrictions to me while performing business operations.
2.2 Own development needs and activities required to meet them
I have to develop myself to meet the need and activities in an organisation. This can be
developed by analysing my weaknesses from personal skill audit. For surviving in organisation I
should learn more skill against organisational standards set for objectives.
Requirements Personal
Audit
Rating
(Scale 0-10)
GAP/ Development
needs
Remedial Actions/
Activities to meet
needs
Deadline
for
remedial
actions
Critical 9 During my training For improving these 3 Months

Thinking sessions, I have not
provided my focuses on
lectures that are related
with Critical Thinking.
This is the reason I faces
issues related with
providing solutions for
the risk.
skills I have to engage
myself in complex
situations so that my
ability for incorporating
solutions in complex
situations can be
increased effectively. By
self analysing the
solutions this
competency of myself
will improve which will
be beneficial for me in
framing effective
solutions for complex
situations.
Leadership
Skills
7 As a membership and
visitor welcome
manager my leadership
skill is week as per the
standard of organisation.
Due to which, I have
faced issues such as
mismanagement in the
work, lower working
performance of
teammates etc. Because
of this, customer's
complaints can enhance
within the trust.
For improving these
skills I have to attend
leadership programmes
and take support from
leadership theories and
approaches. Through
this, issues with
management of
teammates will be
resolved in an effective
manner.
2 Months

2.3 Identification of development opportunities to meet current and future defined needs
For attaining strong position within the trust I have to incorporate some effective skills
so that current and future needs of Trust can be fulfilled easily and effectively. Through
fulfilling these needs of organisation I will secure my job position within the Trust for a long
time period. This will also provide opportunities to Trust in terms of enhancing revenue figures
and developing customer base in UK. Current and future needs for myself are given as below: Current Needs - These are those skills which are required within the trust in current
period of time. My current needs are leadership and Critical Thinking skills so that I will
be able in leading my employees in an effective manner.
 Future Needs- When the skills are required for future period of time then it is termed as
future need. These needs will enable National Trust in gaining attraction of large number
of visitors towards their cared historical places. For fulfilling these needs I have to make
changes in me on the basis of market trends and needs of visitors (Elliott, 2016).
Different opportunities of enhancing customer base and market share can be gained by
Trust when the weaknesses will be improved. Opportunities that are available inside and outside
of trust for improving weak skills are given as below:
 Inside Trust – Management of National Trust have responsibility to provide effective
services to visitors during their travel so that they feel satisfied while visiting to
historical places. For this, they have to provide training programmes to their visitor
welcome manager so that they will provide effective contributions for welcoming and
solving queries of visitors during their visit. This will automatically leads the National
Trust in building good image in mindset of visitors.
 Outside Trust – National Trust have to build effective relations with investors and
donors so that more historical and natural places can be look after by them. For this,
managers of Trust have duty to provide rewards or attractive compensations to their
visitor manager so that large number of visitors will get attracted towards services of
National Trust.
2.4 Prepare a personal and professional development plan based on identified skills
Personal and professional development plan is very important for an individual because
it assists them in identifying skills along with strengths and weaknesses of themselves. Through
this plan, management of Trust can easily know about the performance level of their employees

along with their strength and weaknesses which will be beneficial for reducing weaknesses
effectively.
S.
No.
Needed
Skills
Present
Proficiency
Target
Proficiency
How these skills
will be developed
Criteria for
Judging
Attainment
Time
Scale
1 Critical
Thinking
skills
9 10 For improving these,
i have to engage
myself in complex
situations so that i
will be able in
finding solutions for
a specific risk in
given time-frame.
Senior
managers and
executive
charipersons
55 days
2 Leadership 7 10 In order to
improving these
skills, i have to
engage myself in
training programmes
of leadership and
identifying the skills
of great leaders.
Through this, i will
be able in
encouraging my
teammates for
completing the given
tasks.
Board of
Directors
60 days

TASK 3
3.1 Discuss the processes and activities required to implement the development plan
For developing the skills that are discussed in previous task I have decided to frame
some effective activities and strategies which will assist me in gaining success in my future
professional career (Gamrat and et. al., 2014). There are some activities that should be used by
me in implementing development plan are given as below:
Define goals – This is the first part of implementing development plan process in which
I have to identify the goals that would be achieved by me after implementing this plan.
Understand your strengths – In it, I have to analyse my strengths on personal level
which will assist me in improving weaknesses. Through this, I will be able in finding ways for
improving the weak skills which are essentially required for retaining myself within the Trust.
Arrange training – For improving these weak areas and loop holes I have to engage
myself in training programmes as it will prove beneficial for me in implementing development
plan easily. As a result of it, I will be able in providing better contribution in solving the queries
of visitors which automatically builds good brand image of trust in mind-set of travellers.
Set a deadline – By completing all the above discussed phases, I have to set an effective
deadline in order to implementing development plan successfully because through this
motivation of myself will be improved which leads me in improving my weaknesses.
From the above discussed process of implementing development plan, It has been
analysed that I have set short term and long term goals along with a proper time-frame which
will be beneficial for me in improving my weaknesses as per the requirement of my job role
(García-Carmona and et. al., 2018).
3.2 Undertake and document development activities as planned
All the documents which are related with planning of development activities are given as
under:
Time
Period
Action Interpreted What is learn till
now
What is required to
do next
Estimated
time
3 months For improving my
Critical Thinking
skills I have decided
I have understood
analysis of situations
which arises risks that
In upcoming period of
time, I will engage
myself in complex
2-3 months

to engage each
activities of decision-
making process.
will assist me in
finding better
solutions as per the
need of risk.
situations which will
encourage me in
finding better
solutions for removing
risk.
2 months In it, I have decided to
read journals and
articles related with
leadership so that my
leadership skills get
improved.
Through reading
journal and articles, I
have understood the
concept of leadership
which have assisted
me in encouraging my
teammates for
completing the given
tasks.
In future, I have to
increase my
knowledge regarding
leadership concept
which will support me
in leading my
teammates in an
effective manner.
1-2 months
3.3 Critically evaluation of my own learning experience
From the above professional development plan, i have decided to improve my Critical
Thinking and leadership skills. Due to lack of these skills, i was not able in making effective
solutions for the risks which arose during welcoming of guests because of this i wasn't able in
carrying out my roles and responsibilities in an effective manner. Because of these reasons, i
have decided to improving my weak skills which are leadership and critical thinking skills. For
improving leadership skills i have decided to read journals and articles related with the concept
through this i have identified those characteristics which are essential to acquire for becoming
successful leader in personal or professional career. In addition to this, for improving critical
thinking skills i have analysed situations and grabbed in-depth information about the reason of
risks. Through this, my analytical skills were improved which have encouraged me in finding
better solution for the risks. Apart from that, some major challenges such as unavailability of
reliable sources, unexperienced tutors etc. are faced by me during the improvement of skills that
have restricted me in achieving my short-term as well as long term goals. But i never lose hope
and identified better improvement methods such as engaging myself in complex situations,

taking support of books and journals related with leadership for my weak skills which have
supported me in improving my week skills (Grant, 2017).
3.4 Update development plan based on evaluation and feedback
Objectives Why objectives were
not achievable at the
first time
Requirements to
undertake in
achieving objectives
Time period
Leadership I have not considered
the concept and
characteristics of
leadership that have
restricted me in getting
desired results for
improving my skills.
Through taking
support from journals
and articles of
leadership I have
identified my main
weaknesses that
should be improved by
me for achieving pre-
determined objectives.
3 months
Critical Thinking
Skills
By analysing
situations I was
become overconfident
about my
improvement of skills
due to which my
critical thinking skills
were not improved
effectively.
For improving my
these weaknesses I
have decided to
engage myself in
critical situations so
that my thinking and
finding solution skills
get improved. This
will automatically
leads me in retaining
myself within the
Trust for long time
period.
4 months

TASK 4
4.1 Select solutions to work-based problems
In National Trust, there are several problems are prevailing at workplace due to which
their employees are not performing well on the given duties. So that it is very important for the
managers of Trust to find the reason of problem so that effective solution can be find out in an
effective manner. There are some effective steps that can be taken by the managers of National
Trust in finding solutions (Hildebrand, 2018). Some of them are given as below:
Identification of issues – In this part, issues along with origin has to be identified by the
managers of organisation so that daily activities can be carried out in an effective manner.
Provide training – In order to reduce issues like bullying and partiality from the
workplace management of trust have duty to engage newer employees in training programmes
and motivate their senior and old employees through providing rewards. So that they will
provide their effective efforts in providing unforgettable experience to visitors. This will
indirectly assist the employees in improving their weak skills.
Clear their roles and responsibilities – For solving the issues of workplace, managers of
National Trust have responsibility to allot the duties to their employees as per their skills and
efficiencies. So that they will be able in performing their duties in well manner.
Reduce work loads – Due to hiring of new joiners at workplace of Trust expectations of
managers are increased from their senior employees because of which experienced employees
are leaving the trust on regular basis. So that, it is obligations upon the managers of Trust to
provide works according to the efficiencies or capabilities of employees so that they doesn't feel
bored or dissatisfied at workplace.
Create effective communication – It is also very important for the managers of Trust to
form an effective communication structure at workplace so that employees will be able in
discussing their grievances or problems with the senior employees.

4.2 Communicate in a variety of styles and appropriate manner at various levels (covered in
Poster)
4.3- Evaluate and use effective time-management strategies (covered in Leaflet)
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the above report that personal and professional development
is important because it assists individual as well as organisation in enhancing competencies and
skills of their employees. Self managed learning helps the individuals in improving themselves
so that goals and objectives can be achieved in given time-frame. There are several methods of
self managed learning such as coferences, seminars, online sources etc, that can be used by
individuals for improving their weaknesses along with achieving goals and objectives. Personal
skill audit is an important approach that has to be used by individuals for identifying their weak
areas so that relevant measures can be taken by them for improving these areas. Leadership and
critical thinking skills are required more for the job role of welcome manager in respective firm.
So that it is very important for the individual who is adhering this job role and responsibilities to
improve their knowledge, skill or behaviour so that specific goals can be achieved easily.