Consultancy in Practice: Reflection on Learning and Skills Development

This study evaluates learning and skills development in consultancy practice. It highlights the importance of an action plan and draws a development plan for filling skill gaps. The content includes reflection on project experience, skills gaps, and improvement plan.

Consultancy in Practice

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................4
TASK ONE - Reflection on learning and skills development ........................................................4
TASK TWO - Action plan ..............................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
Appendices.....................................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
As we all know consulting practise provide detailed guidelines to a third party with
expertise knowledge and skills on a matter in exchange for a fee. The major purpose of
consultation is to identify problems, provide solutions, offer expertise knowledge and initiate
change in the market. The present study will be based on reflection which is going to evaluate
about learning and skills development across the task. It will provide detailed information about
skills gaps and how they might be addressed. Furthermore, it will provide highlight on
importance of action plan and it will draw development plan for filling skill gaps.
TASK ONE - Reflection on learning and skills development
During the project, I have worked with the team as consultants, in which have research
about convenience store that provide its customers eastern Europeans products. While doing
project, I have developed my skills and can to know about my weaknesses too. We as a team
have identified the problem that was the tight space between the shelves. Due to this issue
customers was complaining about tight space. As a consultant I have offered solutions to them
that was to purchase a larger space but also to find the necessary funds for it. Our objective was
to provide effective solutions to customers as they were complaining about tight space between
the shelves. In order to achieve our objectives every week each member was allocated a
particular task and told them to use effective strategy to find out appropriate solutions. The very
first step was to allocation of tasks in which one of my team-mate have to do proper research on
marketing strategies. During this task I have developed my research skills and critical thinking
skills which helped me a lot providing customers services (Markkanen and et.al., 2020). By
researching skills, me and my team have find out the effective strategies which helped us to
know about problems such as solution based tree framework and SCQA. At that time I have
understood the importance of solution based tree framework in which I have learned about
negative and positive aspects of an existing situation. On the basis of that I have provided the
solution to customers so that it can easily satisfy them. As a result of this project I have
developed skills such as research skills, problem solving skills and enhance my self-confidence.
I have always preferred to work in groups and enhance teamwork while working on
projects. With the help of my collaborative nature I have created positive environment while
working on this particular project. It is my strongest attribute I think which has helped me a lot in
my past experiences and projects. By having communication skills and collaboration skills

conflict resolution can be done. On this project that I have done, I work well to motivate my
team-mates and work side by side with them and find them solutions in order to support them.
By using my positive attitude and determination skills I have achieved the project goals. In fact, I
have also developed my productivity level by having problem solving skills. I believe that this is
my one of the greatest strengths which has helped me a lot to solve problems related to
customers very quickly and efficiently. Now I am able to see any given situation which is
difficult in nature from multiple perspectives, which makes me unique from others. As we all
know that person with problem solving skills can enhance their personality as a better
communicator. Problem solving skills, communication skill, active listening skills and teamwork
skills allows me to be a better person who can communicate with team-mate for the completion
of projects.
After working in this industry as a consultant, I am able to know about the importance of
consultancy, I know I have the skills to maximize the chances of successful completion of
projects. In fact when I started this project I was quite nervous and feeling tensed whether I will
be able to provide solution to customers or not. But with the support of my team and my leader I
have completed this. I was able to increase the performance on daily basis as I am becoming
better person.
With the help of Gibbs reflective model, I have expressed my feelings, thoughts and
experience. Upon delivery of my presentation I felt very nervous as it was the first time I have
done this kind of project (Adeani, Febriani and Syafryadin, 2020). My team-mates have
encouraged me a lot to work effectively on this situation which has developed my self-
confidence too. During the time of project I have developed my communication skills and active
listening skills too. As my overall objectives was to enhance my public speaking which
contributed to my personal development as now I am confident about learning (Gibbs reflective
cycle, 2022). Overall I think the project was well managed however I am definitely able to
recognize aspects in which require improvement such as nervousness, self-criticism and
leadership skills must be taken into consideration. I think I need to focus on skills such as self
criticize, nervousness, patience level and leadership skills. Sometimes I tend to be overly critical
of myself, even though I have done everything well in projects but I always doubt myself.
During my past years also, whenever I complete a project I always think that I could have done
better even if my work receives a lot of appreciation and a positive response from top

management people. This often leads me to think more about my success and overwork myself
which has created a lot of issue related to self-confidence. In order to improve this one of my
collogue have supported me and helped me to appreciate my success.
Not only this, me and my team-mates were effectively used method like open
communication and use of emails, whatsapp, zoom meeting and Facebook group chat to
communicate with each other. I was the lead administrator there, as per my opinion this form of
communication was well situated for my group discussion . However, zoom meetings and face to
face communication was a better method we have chosen for most of the time. In order to
provide effective solution I have committed myself to sustain open communication with my team
mates after group discussion to acknowledge the progression of the teamwork. By using
feedback method we all as a team of consultants able to know about strengths and weaknesses of
people. By this we have determined where someone in our team is lacking and what more
improvement is needed. By using 360 degree feedback method, I am able to know my areas of
improvement such as lack of patience, self-criticism and nervousness (Sekarwinahyu and et.al.,
2019).
During the project, with the help of positive thinking and regular practice on such topics I
have developed my self-confidence at a good level which help me to improve and boost my
levels of confidence (Adeani, Febriani and Syafryadin, 2020). I know confidence comes from
regular practice, feelings of well-being, effective teamwork and self-esteem. In order to develop
teamwork me and team have applied Tuckerman's theory which has helped a lot. I believe I have
gained the benefits of teamwork such as building trust between team members, establish strong
relationships with each other. For example- with this teamwork development I was able to
project out there ideas, knowledge such as elaborate strategies, as this has allowed us to reflect
on each other strengths and weaknesses and take major steps to improve it. The trust and mutual;
respect in my team gave confidence in each other's distinct abilities. This has also developed my
interpersonal skills as I have increase self-assurance with this that my ideas and experience are
worthy. For future Now after the project I am able to belief in my own skills, experience, my
areas of improvement and ability. I will focus on motivating myself to provide more effective
solution and complete projects to meet deadlines.

TASK TWO - Action plan
With the help of action plan I will be able to make improvement in the areas which I am
not good at. This action plan intends to demonstrate the skills which still need more focus and
development and what approaches I will take to do so.
Skills I have Skills I have
learned during
project
Skills I need to
improve
Resources Time required
Communication
skills
Self confidence Lack of patience Online classes 5 months
Active listening
skills
Teamwork Nervousness Workshops 5 months
Positive thinking,
positive attitude
Problem solving
skills
Self criticism Online seminar 4 months
Determination
skills
Public speaking Leadership skills Regular practice
with team and
support of leaders
3 months
SMART GOALS
Specific action Measurable Achievable Realistic Timescale
This consultancy
project has
indicated that
self-criticism,
nervousness and
patience need
more attention.
This is something
in which I
struggled with
In order to
measure I will
focus on taking
support from my
leaders and use
methods like
online classes in
which I will
regular practice
mindfulness
To achieve these
skills gap I will
enquire for
regular feedback
from peers on my
individual
performance and
ask them to
provide me some
suggestion. By
This goals is
realistic as I will
be able to handle
my skills gaps in
future where it
will require me to
be a positive
person for my
performance and
be a good team
Within 6 months

mainly. The
significance of
this goal is I will
be able to
improve my
productivity and
performance level
by not wasting
my time on
overthinking
about my
performance.
doing, so I will be
able to foster
positive
environment as it
allows me to
brainstorm my
ideas.
player.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Adeani, I. S., Febriani, R. B. and Syafryadin, S., 2020. USING GIBBS’REFLECTIVE CYCLE
IN MAKING REFLECTIONS OF LITERARY ANALYSIS. Indonesian EFL
Journal. 6(2). pp.139-148.
Markkanen, P. and et.al., 2020. A reflective cycle: Understanding challenging situations in a
school setting. Educational Research. 62(1). pp.46-62.
Neville, K. L. and et.al., 2020. Implementation of a standardized seizure action plan to improve
communication and parental education. Pediatric Neurology. 112. pp.56-63.
Norrving, B. and et.al., 2018. Action plan for stroke in Europe 2018–2030. European stroke
journal. 3(4). pp.309-336.
Sekarwinahyu, M. and et.al., 2019, February. Development of problem based learning for online
tutorial program in plant development using Gibbs’ reflective cycle and e-portfolio to
enhance reflective thinking skills. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 1157, No.
2, p. 022099). IOP Publishing.
Online
Gibbs reflective cycle. 2022. [online]: available through
<https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/reflective-cycle.htm>