Development Planning Assignment

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Part A- Pro-forma of reflective journal..................................................................................1
Part B- Self evaluation and Measures to be taken..................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
A personal development plan is an important tool or the development of an individual.
The development plan help individual in enhancing their capabilities. The development planning
is a process of creating an activity plan that is based on reflection within the context of career or
self-improvement. A reflective journal is a space where a learner can record upon their
observation and response. The present study aims to develop personal development plan that
covers core strength and weakness of the individual. To identify own strength and weakness
SWOT analysis will be done. The skills analysis will be outline in reflective journal that provide
an in-depth understanding of all the aspects such as; importance of skill, how this will help in
future.
MAIN BODY
Part A- Pro-forma of reflective journal
What is the core skills?
Concentration and Attention is the ability of brain to concentrate its attention on the target. This
ability is essential in reacting effectively on the things that need proper concentration. It is a
kind of correspondence that enable an individual to put their mind on other's the target to
achieve the result effectively.
Importance of this core skill? Reason to select this skill to reflect on?
An ability of focusing and concentrating is one of the most essential ability one should posses.
Concentration, attention and focus is important as it is the gateway to all the thoughts or
thinking; learning, problem solving, decision making, memory, reasoning, etc. It is essential in
future career and in person. In personal life it enable individual to improvise their understanding
ability and memory and in professional life it help in to attain the objectives effectively.
Regarding this skill, reflect on your present competent. Mention how did you evaluate
your current competence? (use your finding on self-evaluation or your tutor's or peer's
feedback and your own point of view on your feelings, thoughts and behaviours)

it has been analysed through Appendix 1 that my focus and attention skill is my weakness
because I am stubborn as well as negative that limits my concentration power on anything.
People with this style are generally good listener and and quick decision maker (Baccarani and
Bonfanti, 2015).
Can you determine any from the above analysis? For instance, is there a link between how
you consider yourself and how others see you, or not?
Focus and attention must be reserved in situations in daily life. In accordance I required
feedback from my family, colleagues or faculties I utilised Johari Window test where my peers
mentioned regarding me that I am sentimental, stubborn. Those characteristics and adjectives
make me understand that I losing my concentration at some point. I also feel that I am
impatience that is also a big reason of lacking this skills. Also it has been suggested to me that I
can improvise this skill through meditation and memorise stuff.
In future, how this skill will help me? (To support your argument, use references)
This is an necessary aspect in my future whether in personal life or professional life. This skill
is must to handling the conflict situation in my professional position effectively. It is essential to
have an calm mind and listening skill with proper concentration and attention to avoid any
misunderstanding (Bassot, 2016). As a good manager is require to listen to their subordinates
and their opinions and then he can take effective decisions.
What is the core skills?
Negotiation is refers to a activity by which two or more individual place differences. It is a
procedure by which agreement or compromise is reached while confronting dispute and
argument.
Importance of this core skill? Reason to select this skill to reflect on?

This is a skill that can be developed in along period of time, and it is a basic skill for personal
and professional life. It gives rise to multi-sided sentiments that help in maintain strategic
distance (Brown, 2015). On the other hand many businesses around the world completes and
happens each day. This infers that I need to start the negotiation practice from the point of time
when I made sense of how to interact and I will use this skill each time I ought to accomplish
something.
Regarding this skill, reflect on your present competent. Mention how did you evaluate
your current competence? (use your finding on self-evaluation or your tutor's or peer's
feedback and your own point of view on your feelings, thoughts and behaviours)
I think over this skill that negotiation skills is one of my qualities as I have enough tactics and
persistence to negotiate with opponent. From Appendix 2 this has been analysed that I am an
average negotiator. I am realistic and whenever in the position of negotiating, I came to an
adequate outcome from my perspective. Throughout the studies, I made many efforts and
participate in such activities that improves this skills.
Can you determine any from the above analysis? For instance, is there a link between how
you consider yourself and how others see you, or not?
Although I am good at this skill, but as concentrating and focusing is my weakness that lead me
towards Impatience-Ness. I used Johari Window where my family mentioned that I am really
stubborn and argues that I must be listen to other carefully first and analyse their reaction and
then exposing my perspective. I accept this review that is quite genuine and I have to improve
the listening skill that will help me throughout my life.
In future, how this skill will help me? (To support your argument, use references)
According to (Chollet and et. al., 2015) the quality to negotiate is interrelated with
communicating skills. Moreover, for the foreseeable future, the negotiation skill will assist me
to interact with others and to also help me in building better relationship. The negotiation skill

also enhance the ability to solve any problem. In future it will assist me to develop and evolve
into better employee. Another benefit of this skills are; it will help in conflict resolution,
develop communication skills, persuasion, etc.
What this core skill means?
Team working skills is all about being capable to function efficiently within a team or group. It
is a skill that enable individual to cooperate or collaborate with each other to achieve a common
goal or in carrying out a task or project.. the unit can be powerful only if all the team members
are positive and respect each other's thought and ideas.
Why this skill is essential? Why did this skill is selected to reflect on? (use relevant
concepts and theories to support your answer)
The team working skill is necessary and is mention in every job-description as individual with
this skill are more compatible in compare to others those do not have the team working skill.
Team working interlinked with innovation, improvement, engagement and motivation.
According to the wisdom of teams, every team members should focus on continuous learning
and accepting other people and gain knowledge and experience from them (Gould, 2017).
Reflect on your present workmanlike regarding this skill. How did you identify your
ability? (use your findings on own evaluation, response from tutor and your peers and
your personal reflections on your behaviours, feelings and thoughts to answer this
question)
It has been analysed through Appendix 3 that I have good team working skills. I observed
having average preference for introversion under extroversion, emotion over reasoning and

judgement over perceiving. Past year through my process of learning I had an experience where
I observed in a task of my school, I saw my work in the team and I could practice my roles and
develop the skilfulness in my team and my team won the challenging situation.
Can you identify any contradictions from above analysis? For instance, do you see any
link between your perception and how other see you, or not?
The Window of Johari test stated that I am realistic, sentimental, sensitive, objective and serious
that is a necessary elements required in a team member that is present in me and I can stated
that I have skill of good skill regarding working under a team.
How this skill will assist me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
This skill help me in future professional career life. This can assist me to amend skill of others
that are needful in the future position (Lejeune, Beausaert and Raemdonck, 2018). Other than
that it will also help me in building trust and faith in other's and to learn new innovative things
from other person.
What this core skill means?
Public speaking is an crucial skill that refers as a process of interacting info to the mass
audience. This skill is valuable in both personal life and in career. The individual who is
interacting with the audience are required some specific skills along with this skill to take the
attention for his statement.
Why this skill is essential? Why did this skill is selected to reflect on? (use relevant
concepts and theories to support your answer)
Public speaking is one of the most essential and most dreaded form of communication. Being
well spoken and articulate in the interpersonal communication, is a great personal assets. In the
personal life, public speaking build confidence in the individual. In the professional life, a good

manager also use this skill to be capable to make the staff retrieve his words and to follow the
instruction carefully. The person should be creative with choosing the words and able to analyse
person through their body language and facial expression to understand the impact.
Reflect on your present workmanlike regarding this skill. How did you identify your
ability? (use your findings on own evaluation, response from tutor and your peers and
your personal reflections on your behaviours, feelings and thoughts to answer this
question)
I could reflect through Appendix 4 that I am a sociable individual, I prefer to put my effective
words in front of others and to influence them but as in person only. As per my experience, I
believe that I am a individual who can influence group around me easily with my words. As I
am very realistic that my words and examples can relate anyone (Vicary, Young and Hicks,
2017). But speaking in public and sharing my thoughts to the mass is one of the biggest
weakness of mine. I get to know by my peers and friends that I am self-conscious that limits to
put my words through public.
Can you identify any contradictions from above analysis? For instance, do you see any
link between your perception and how other see you, or not?
I had analysed some opposition and difficulties. I see myself as a cold person that is energetic
and enthusiastic but others see my positive points that effectively influence others. I would
sometimes interpret the words in the wrong way of other people, which lead me to
misconception and misunderstanding. I advised to listen others carefully this is because I don't
focused on what is being communicated to me instead of what I convey to them. With the
experience and time assembled over time I am trying to correct my own problems.
How this skill will assist me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
it is an essential skill for a flourishing life in person and professional and I require improving
the skills. Being a student, this is important to develop this quality that will also help me in the
future as a manager (Panadero, Jonsson and Botella, 2017). I need to overcome self-

consciousness to being a great leader.
Part B- Self evaluation and Measures to be taken
Self analysis enable individual to outline the strength and weakness of their own. It is
essential to carry out self analysis to understand what they are great at and what they should
improve. For self-evaluation SWOT analytical tool is effective. It can be defined as a strategic
technique that utilise to assist individuals to identify their own strength, weakness, future
opportunities and threats. This tool makes the process of self-evaluation easy. Along with it there
are more advantage of using SWOT analysis;
 Helps to develop strategies to attain the objectives
 Measures individuals scope of reaching desired objective.
 Help individual to maximise the strength and diminishes the weaknesses.
Strength:
 I understand that I am good at negotiation skill, team working, assertiveness and problem
solving are my strength. The skills I consider in my strength list are developed naturally
or with support.
 I have always been good at Negotiation skill that helped me a lot in my personal and
professional life. Although I am not so good in public speaking but under the negotiation
skill,l I am able to influence people with my words. While, team working was developed
through my academic time as we were usually bring into a team and assigned to complete
a task (Smith, Geng and Black, 2017). As I was very realistic that helped me to build my
skill of problem solving that is very essential in an individual.
Weakness:
 As I was self-conscious person, I was very bad at public speaking from the beginning. I
need to improve this skill. In my academic time, I was so self-conscious that I afraid of
giving presentation in front of my classmates. Along with it, I am weak at focus and
attention. I am not able to concentrate on things that is a big reason of lacking of active
listening skill.

 As per the Johari window test, I get to outline that I am stubborn and unable to
understand other's perspective effectively and I do not have capability to see things from
other's point of view. Thus, another weakness of mine is focusing and giving attention as
I have my own strict perspective that limits my mind to give attention and focus on
other's thought (Tasker, 2015). Thus, this skill I feel needs improvement that smooth my
though process in personal and professional life.
Action plan
Development
areas
Detailed Action for
improvement
Measure Time-scale
Public speaking Improve
communication
skill and
overcome
nervousness.
Practice with
family and
friends, join
classes or
courses, require
to do mediation
daily to overcome
my self-
consciousness,
group
presentation will
also help.
Taking feedback
from my teachers
as well as friends
and family.
10-12 months
Focus and
attention
Improve the
ability of
understanding the
other people and
improve the
concentrating.
To improvise my
focus and
attention I will
planning to
meditation
classes.
Attend more
seminars and
Team feedback
regarding active
listening and
concentrating
skills.
9 months

presentations.
Reading books
will also help me.
CONCLUSION
From the present study it has been analysed that there are various skills that are essential
in personal and professional life for an individual. From self analysis, I get to know that I have
good negotiation and team working skills but my biggest weakness is public speaking skill and
focus and attention that are required to be improved. The PDP plan outlined that who these skills
has been improved within a specific time period. There are many resources has been analysed
that helped in improving or developing the skills.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Baccarani, C. and Bonfanti, A., 2015. Effective public speaking: a conceptual framework in the
corporate-communication field. Corporate Communications: An International
Journal. 20(3). pp.375-390.
Bassot, B., 2016. The reflective journal. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Brown, G., 2015, October. Self and peer assessment. In Assessment & Grading Seminar Series.
Chollet, M. and et. al., 2015, September. Exploring feedback strategies to improve public
speaking: an interactive virtual audience framework. In Proceedings of the 2015 ACM
International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing. (pp. 1143-
1154). ACM.
Gould, J., 2017. Career development: A plan for action. Nature. 548(7668). pp.489-490.
Lejeune, C., Beausaert, S. and Raemdonck, I., 2018. The impact on employees’ job performance
of exercising self-directed learning within personal development plan practice. The
International Journal of Human Resource Management. pp.1-27.
Panadero, E., Jonsson, A. and Botella, J., 2017. Effects of self-assessment on self-regulated
learning and self-efficacy: Four meta-analyses. Educational Research Review. 22.
pp.74-98.
Smith, P., Geng, G. and Black, P., 2017. Teachers as reflective practitioners. In The Challenge of
teaching. (pp. 25-32). Springer, Singapore.
Tasker, F., 2015. How to prepare a personal development plan. BMJ, 351, p.h4603.
Vicary, S., Young, A. and Hicks, S., 2017. A reflective journal as learning process and
contribution to quality and validity in interpretative phenomenological
analysis. Qualitative Social Work. 16(4). pp.550-565.

APPENDIX
Illustration 2: Appendix 1
Illustration 1: Appendix 2

Illustration 3: Appendix 3
Illustration 4: Appendix 4