Self-Directed Learning for Professionals

This assignment delves into the significance of self-directed learning for professionals, particularly within the field of marketing. It examines the evolving demands of the marketing landscape and how continuous self-improvement is crucial for marketing managers to thrive. Students will analyze various aspects of self-directed learning, such as its benefits, challenges, and practical applications in a marketing context. The assignment also encourages critical reflection on personal learning styles and strategies for fostering self-directed learning habits.

Personal and Professional
Development
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
ASSIGNMENT 1............................................................................................................................3
Ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts can be encouraged and
benefits of self-managed learning to individual and organization (1.2, 1.3)...............................3
ASSIGNMENT 2............................................................................................................................5
Approaches to self managed learning (1.1).................................................................................5
Evaluating own current skills and competencies against professional standards (2.1)...............6
Identifying own personal and professional development needs and activities required to meet
them (2.2).....................................................................................................................................7
Development opportunities to meet current and future needs (2.3)............................................8
Personal development plan to achieve intended goal (2.4, 3.1, 3.2)...........................................9
Critically discussing own learning against the aim and objectives (3.3)...................................10
Update PDP (3.4).......................................................................................................................11
Identifying one work based problem and learning styles which can be implemented to
overcome the problem (4.1, 4.2)................................................................................................12
Three time management strategies and discussing the most suitable strategy (4.3).................12
CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15
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INTRODUCTION
In order to pursue learning at the workplace, personal and professional development
(PPD) plays a vital role that assists in enhancing the existing skills and abilities of individuals
(Moon, 2013). Main purpose of enabling personal and professional development is to heighten
the existing skills and abilities of an individual so that they can perform their job effectually.
Hence, PPD also supports in increasing the productivity as well as in making the interpersonal
relationship strong among the team and individuals that are working in the organization.
Presently, the report focuses on assorted concepts as well as approaches related with self-
managed learning, lifelong learning, etc. that benefit the individuals in encouraging their
learning process.
ASSIGNMENT 1
Ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts can be encouraged and
benefits of self-managed learning to individual and organization (1.2, 1.3)
Lifelong learning is not a new concept. It generally refers to an ongoing process that
generally assists in encouraging individual’s learning throughout their lifetime. The concept of
lifelong learning is also not just restricted to the workplace. However, the characteristics of
lifelong learning not only enhance or raise the competency of an individual at the workplace but
it also improves an individual in personal and social growth in their personal life. Through
conducting SWOT analysis, I can easily identify learning and development need that support me
in both personal and professional contexts. By evaluating the individual’s strengths, weaknesses,
threats and opportunities, I can easily ensure lifelong process that assists me in developing my
competencies (Alna 2010). There are different ways that support lifelong learning of an
individual in both personal as well as in professional contexts. These ways are like:
Self reflective learning supports me in gaining new and efficient competency and skills
that overall benefits me in performing the activities. Self reflective learning is the method that is
about assessing the opinions of others and understanding personal skills so that they can easily
enhance their personality. With the help of self-managed learning, it will amend the individual’s
skills that support them in managing their allotted duties and responsibilities so that they can
perform within organization in an effective and efficient manner.
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Another way for encouraging lifelong learning is to ensure the process of personal
assessment that basically includes observing oneself by analyzing their interest, value, skills, etc.
With the help of SWOT analysis, I can easily assess and observe my strengths that support me in
attaining the organizational goals. In addition to this, through personal assessment by conducting
SWOT analysis, I can also identify the weak areas that act as the barrier in attaining my future
and career growth. Furthermore, personal assessment also aids in measuring future opportunities
and threats that influence the lifelong learning procedure. Therefore, with personal assessment, I
can easily increase my knowledge as well as learning in both personal and professional contexts.
Despite of this, enabling self managed learning results in enhancing and raising lifelong
development of an individual that supports him/her in attaining the overall objectives and goals
of organization. However, learning provides different benefits to individuals as well as to the
organization that are as follows-
Benefit of self-managed learning to individual
The foremost benefit of self-managed learning to an individual is that it results in gaining
individual career opportunities (Work-Based Learning, 2014). With the activity of self managed
learning, individuals can easily improve their skills that support them in increasing their career
opportunities by targeting new fields. With the continuous development and self managed
learning, they will gain required or possible skills that would assist them in the professional
contexts. For instance, an individual working as a sales executive in the famous supermarket
chain, that is, individuals working in Sainsbury must focus on self managed learning that would
result in enhancing the future skills so that they may fulfil their aim of becoming sales manager
of the reputed firm.
Another benefit of self-managed learning results in improving employee effectiveness
that is developing the skills and competencies that would result in enhancing the overall learning
and knowledge of individuals (Personal development review, 2013). Thus, further, it supports in
rendering effective services within organization. For instance, through self managed learning
process, individuals improve their technological skills. Therefore, while rendering services
within organization, it may result in reducing the additional cost that is associated with training
sessions to gain technological knowledge. However, enabling self-managed learning not only
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benefits the individual but it also acts as an advantage for the organization as increases the
organizational productivity.
ASSIGNMENT 2
Approaches to self managed learning (1.1)
There are assorted approaches that are being used by an individual so that they can easily
attain the purpose of managing self-managed learning process that would support individuals in
improving their required skills and competencies. There are various approaches such as
enhancing learning through researching with the help of social media sites, attending seminars
and conferences, etc. All the above approaches are essential to manage self learning. It generally
includes approaches like- Learning through research- One of the effectual approaches that enables self-managed
learning among individuals is through conducting research by their own (Activity 1 -
reasons why becoming more self-directed is important to you, 2014). Conducting
investigation promotes a person in gaining in-depth knowledge with respect to the
specific field and topic. However, enhancing learning through exploring or researching
can also alleviate the activity of gaining insight content that broadens the individual level
of understanding various issues. Social networking sites- Another effective approach that focuses on self-managed
learning includes gaining knowledge from different social networking sites that is
YouTube, Twitter, etc. It is a contemporary approach of self-managed learning that
improves personal skills and gains knowledge regarding different fields (Wilde-Larsson
and Larsson, 2012). However, with this approach, individuals can easily gain knowledge
by sharing the ideas, images and views with the mass audience.
 Seminars and conferences- Another approach of self-managed learning includes
attending different conferences and seminars that support an individual in gaining
experienced knowledge (Trong, 2013). Through attending seminars and conferences,
individuals gain confidence level and their presentation skills get improved that are
required in the organization to carry out activities. The foremost benefit of attending
seminars is that it generally involves large number of people to share and to come up
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with their ideas and knowledge that results in facilitating learning among all individuals
who have attended seminars.
Evaluating own current skills and competencies against professional standards (2.1)
In order to pursue as a marketing executive of reputed hotel in hospitality industry, I am
required to have assorted range of skills and abilities that assist me in accomplishing the goals
and objectives of hotel (Keller, 2009). However, the aim of Marriott International Hotel is to
become the leading organization in hospitality industry. In addition to this, another goal of
organization is to enhance their brand image and awareness in the industry. Therefore, to meet
the above stated organizational goals and objectives, I must have different skills that mainly
include- Technical skills- The foremost skills that are being required by an individual to meet the
organizational goals and objectives are related with the technical skills. Through
possessing effective technical skills, they can easily get engaged with their customers and
devise user friendly application for marketing the services of their hotel (Five Essential
Skills for the Future Marketing Manager, 2016). Technical skills are also required by the
manager to carry out day to day operational activities.
 Analytic skills- Other skills and competencies that are required by the marketing
executive for accomplishing the objective of Marriott International include analytical
skills (What Aptitudes, Strengths & Skills Does a Marketing Manager Call For, 2016).
With the help of analytical skills, marketing executive can easily research and investigate
the needs of market customers as well as he can analyze the industry that would support
him to gain competitive information.
Through above required skills and competencies, I have evaluated my own current skills
and abilities that support me in performing and carrying out services as a marketing executive. It
means I possess effective communication skills that support me in collaborating with different
functional areas within organization so that I can devise effective marketing plan for Marriott
International.
CV of marketing manager
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Name- Edward Janes
Skills and
competencies-
 Web marketing
 Marketing planning
 Team management skills
 Time management skills
 Corporate communication
 Effective product positioning and branding
Experience- I have experience of 3 years in the reputed hotel organization at the post of
marketing executives.
Identifying own personal and professional development needs and activities required to meet
them (2.2)
In order to perform the role of marketing executive within Marriott International, it is
effective to identify the personal and professional development needs that would support me in
performing my job efficiently. It has been assessed that I must focus on developing and
amending technical and interpersonal skills that would further support me in performing my
activities in an effective manner.
With the help of developing technical skills, I can easily use technical equipments and
tools for performing regular activities. However, through this, I can also communicate with the
department and functional area so that I can easily formulate marketing strategies for the
organization. However, with the help of amending technical skills, I can engage with customers
and guests and can come to know regarding their services. In addition to this, I should also focus
on developing interpersonal skills that would support me to communicate with other
professionals in the organization. However, it also supports me in communicating with the
marketing team members so that I may come to know about their ideas and suggestions that are
related with the marketing plan.
Personal and
professional needs
Required activities Time frame
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Technical skills 1. Training program to heighten
the technological skills.
2. Implementing technical
instrument within premises to
execute regular activities
(Haskins, 2012).
2 weeks
Interpersonal skills 1. Engaging team members by
conducting activities.
2. Continuous discussion and
meeting with the team members
and other departmental
authority.
3 weeks
Development opportunities to meet current and future needs (2.3)
From the above table, I have identified that there are different development opportunities
available to meet the current and future needs that support me in performing my activities
effectually. However, through this, I can also improve the required skills and abilities that further
support me in meeting current and future requirement. The development opportunities to meet
current and future needs include- Current needs: Currently, for rendering services as a marketing executive within
Marriott International Hotel, I must focus on amending the current skills by focusing on
proper training sessions. With the help of training, I can improve my required skills
which assist me in developing the skills that further result in enabling progress in my
career.
 Future needs: However, my future aim is to become the marketing manager of Marriott
International therefore, to accomplish the future aim, there are different development
opportunities existing in the market. For example, the foremost development opportunity
to meet the future needs is to attend the seminars and lectures that would support in
gaining new experience and knowledge that is related with the marketing field.
Furthermore, with the help of developing personal and professional development, I can
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easily improve and amend the skills that support in accomplishing future needs and
requirements.
Personal development plan to achieve intended goal (2.4, 3.1, 3.2)
Personal and
professional
development
needs
Current
ranking
Development
Opportunities
Success
judgement
criteria
Time
Scale
1 Team work 1  Engaging team
members and
individual
meetings.
 Focusing on group
discussions
(Beausaert, 2013).
Appraisal and
measuring
outcome
taken from
the team
associates and
superiors.
2 weeks
2 Time management 3  Regular planning of
activity.
 Precedence of the
action in
accordance with
their importance
and urgency.
 Making To-do lists
of all the activities.
 Setting time for
each and every
activity.
Self
assessment
1 weeks
3 Presentation skills 6  Proper participation
in class
presentations
Assessment
from
2 week
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(Thiry, Laursen and
Hunter, 2011).
superiors.
4 Leadership 2  Directing and
motivating other
members.
 Engaging
respective
personnel in
decision making
procedure (Munro,
2008).
Taking
appraisal from
other team
members.
3 week
5 Planning and
organizing
5  Communicating
with the top level
management.
Self rating 3 weeks
Critically discussing own learning against the aim and objectives (3.3)
From the above discussed plan and by assessing own learning against the aim and
objectives, I have identified that I have easily amend time management skills that support me in
performing my activities in an effective manner. However, from reflective learning against the
aim and objectives, I have also come to know that I lack in presentation skills that further act as a
hindrance in my career. However, the aim of marketing executive is to research and analyse the
customers and guest’s requirement and then to promote the required services so that large
number of customers would get attracted towards the services of Marriott International Hotel.
Therefore, to achieve this objective, I had focused on analytical skills that support me in thinking
logically so that I can easily achieve the objective.
Moreover, from preceding PDP, I had improved and developed IT skills that are technical
proficiencies that support me in using different technological devises within organization so that
I can easily communicate and engage with the customers and guests who visited the hotel. In the
present scenario, amending technical skills also assist me in managing and maintaining proper
records of customers so that it can be used in the future prospect.
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Update PDP (3.4)
Through taking feedback from team members and superior authority, it can be concluded
that I need further improvement in amending the skills so that I can easily meet the current and
future needs of individuals. Therefore, I must focus on updating PDP so that I can further amend
the additional skills and competencies so that I can manage my role within organization. The
updated PDP includes-
Skills Activities need to be
performed
Monitoring and
reviewing
Time frame
Problem solving
skills
 Effectual
communication
process among
disputed parties.
 Regular meeting of
team members.
 Proper provision
regarding
managing the
grievance.
 Feedback taken
from other
members.
 Reviewing the
reduced rate of
problem and
issues within
organization.
1 month
Stress
management
 Continuous
communication
among the staff
members.
 Enabling
relaxation
activities for the
individuals.
 Self-
monitoring.
 Taking review
from
subordinates
(Boud, Keogh
and Walker,
2013).
2 months
Managerial skills  Organizing daily
operational
 Reduced
problems and
3 months
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activities.
 Storing data and
information related
with customers and
guests (Bodell,
Hook and Wade,
2009).
issues within
organization.
 Proper
management of
activities.
Identifying one work based problem and learning styles which can be implemented to overcome
the problem (4.1, 4.2)
Working as a marketing executive in Marriott International Hotel, there are different
work based problems that arise within organization. For instance; the common work based
problem that arises within hospitality organization is regarding measuring the demand and
requirement of customers and guests who visited their hotel. As the marketing team consists of
different executives that have their own knowledge regarding requirement of customers,
therefore, different perceptions and thinking of individuals result in arising problem at the
workplace as marketing manager will not able to devise an effective marketing strategy for the
overall organization. In order to overcome the problem that has been identified, I must focus on
theorist learning style that generally focuses on understanding the reason behind all activities.
Three time management strategies and discussing the most suitable strategy (4.3)
In order to manage the activities and tasks, individuals must possess effective time
management skills that assist them in prioritizing and managing the important activities (Moon,
2013). Through gaining time management skills, people can easily manage and organize their
activities in such a manner that they can accomplish their activities in minimum time with higher
efficiency. There are different time management strategies that are required by individuals so
that they can easily complete their activities in minimum time period. These time management
strategies include-
 Prioritizing the tasks and activities: The foremost time management strategy that is
being used by an individual while working within organization includes prioritizing
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the important and urgent activities that need to be firstly done by an individual
(Merryl and et.al., 2013). For example, while rendering service as a receptionist of
reputed hotel, their main task is to greet and warmly welcome the guests who visited
their hotel. Therefore, individuals need to prioritize their activities in such a manner
that important activities would be accomplished within specific time period.
 Delegation of activities: Another time management strategy that an individual uses is
to delegate the tasks and duties to their subordinates in a way that every employee
would get equal work which he/she can complete easily within specified time limit.
However, it has been determined that employees face less issues and problems at the
workplace if they are not overloaded with the pressure of work (Alna 2010).
Therefore, delegating activities is an effective time management strategy that
accomplishes the goals and objectives of the firm within stipulated time period.
 Maintaining To-do list: However, maintaining To-do list is also considered as an
effective time management strategy that an individual should use to manage the time
(Austin, Marini and Croteau, 2005). With the help of checklist method, they can
easily schedule the activities according to their importance and urgency. The
advantage of maintaining To-do list is that it manages the situation of overload.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been analysed that personal and professional development
plays an essential role in amending the employability skills among individuals so that they can
perform their activities in an effective and efficient manner. Furthermore, it has also concluded
that there are different approaches of self managed and lifelong learning that assist the
individuals in amending and enhancing their continuous development as well as of organization.
In addition to this, the report has also measured that in order to carry out the activities and tasks
effectually, individuals must possess time management skills that aid them in precedence and
negotiate the essential activities. Through gaining time management skills, people can also
manage and deal with their activities in such a way that they can execute the activities in
minimum time period with highest level of efficiency.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Alna, S., 2010. Managing Performance Through Training and Development. Cengage Learning
Publishers.
Austin, Z., Marini, A. and Croteau, D., 2005. Continuous professional development: a qualitative
study of pharmacists' attitudes, behaviors, and preferences in Ontario, Canada. American
Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 69(1-5). pp. 25.
Beausaert, S., 2013. Effect of using a personal development plan on learning and development.
Journal of Workplace Learning. 25 I(3). pp.145 – 158.
Bodell, S., Hook, A. and Wade, W., 2009. Creating a learning community in today's world: how
blogging can facilitate continuing professional development and international
learning. The British Journal of Occupational Therapy. 72(6). pp. 279-281.
Boud, D., Keogh, R. and Walker, D., 2013. Reflection: Turning experience into learning.
Routledge.
Haskins, M., 2012. Partnering with your leadership development provider: seven worst practices.
Strategic HR Review. 11 (6). pp.335 – 339.
Keller, J. M., 2009. Motivational Design for Learning and Performance: The ARCS Model
Approach. Springer.
Merryl and et.al., 2013. Self-directed Learning: Critical Practice. Routledge.
Moon, A. J., 2013. Reflection in Learning and Professional Development: Theory and Practice.
Routledge.
Munro, K. M., 2008. Continuing professional development and the charity paradigm: Interrelated
individual, collective and organisational issues about continuing professional
development. Nurse Education Today. 28(8). pp. 953-961.
Thiry, H., Laursen, S. L. and Hunter, A. B., 2011. What experiences help students become
scientists?: A comparative study of research and other sources of personal and
professional gains for STEM undergraduates. The Journal of Higher Education. 82(4).
pp. 357-388.
Trong, T., 2013. Leading to learning and competitive intelligence. Learning Organization. 20(3).
pp.216–239.
Wilde-Larsson, B. and Larsson, G., 2012. Self-Managed and Coach Led Stress Management.
Bookboon.
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Online
Activity 1 - reasons why becoming more self-directed is important to you. 2014. [Online].
Available through:
<http://www.selfdirectedlearning.com/becoming-self-directed/activity-1-why-self-
direction-is-important-to-you.html>. [Accessed on 22nd February 2016].
Five Essential Skills for the Future Marketing Manager. 2016. [Online]. Available through:
<http://essentialsofbusiness.ufexec.ufl.edu/resources/marketing/five-essential-skills-for-
the-future-marketing-manager/#.VsrRnqW1Gko>. [Accessed on 22nd February 2016].
Personal development review. 2013. [pdf]. Available through:
http://www.learning.ox.ac.uk/media/global/wwwadminoxacuk/localsites/
oxfordlearninginstitute/documents/careerdevelopmetreview/
PDR_handbook_for_reviewers_new.pdf. [Accessed on 22nd February 2016].
What Aptitudes, Strengths & Skills Does a Marketing Manager Call For. 2016. [Online].
Available through: <http://smallbusiness.chron.com/aptitudes-strengths-skills-marketing-
manager-call-for-18427.html>. [Accessed on 22nd February 2016].
Work-Based Learning. 2014. [Online]. Available through: <http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-
Instruction-and-Assessment/CTAE/Pages/Work-Based-Learning-.aspx>. [Accessed on
22nd February 2016].
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