Personal Development Plan (PDP) for Professional Success

This article provides guidance on creating a Personal Development Plan (PDP) for professional success. It explains the importance of self-analysis, reflection, and evaluation of strengths and weaknesses. The PDP is divided into three parts: Knowing Yourself, Developing Yourself, and Promoting Yourself. It also includes information on submission requirements and grading criteria. The article also discusses the importance of teamworking skills and values in academic and professional settings.

LCBS5028
KNOWING & DEVELOPING YOURSELF FOR PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (PDP)
__________
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This PDP contains exercises that we will complete during the module. These exercises
are designed to help you think about your skills and how to make the most of your time
at Leicester Castle Business School.
This module is accredited and this PDP forms a major piece of your module.
Submission Date: _______________________________
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What is a personal development plan?
The aim of creating a personal development plan is to document a process of self-
analysis, personal reflection and honest appraisal of your strengths and weaknesses.
This should enable you to evaluate your current position and where you are right now
and consider your future development.
The purpose of the Personal Development Plan (PDP) is to encourage you to learn and
plan by becoming more aware of your capabilities and the opportunities around you at
the Leicester Castle Business School. The PDP can be applied in a range of contexts,
changing the way you approach your studies, make choices in both your academic and
personal life and prioritise your actions.
You should consider this as a live document that captures your current situation at
DMU, your goals and aspirations both whilst at studying at the Leicester Castle
Business School and longer term.
What do I need to do?
This PDP is divided into three parts. In each area we expect specific examples
to illustrate your point.
1. Knowing Yourself: What did I learn about myself?
2. Developing Yourself: How does what I learned about myself help me to
shape my goals?
3. Promoting Yourself: How do I use the knowledge from parts 1 and 2 to
develop strategies for promoting myself for my future career?
You are required to complete the PDP workbook. You should carefully review what you
have learned during the Knowing and Developing Yourself module (including the
prescribed readings, theories and conceptual frameworks) and apply this in the PDP
document.
The word count for the PDP should be 3000 words (excluding the reference
list).
How do I submit my assignment?
Submit on Turnitin a zip file containing the following separate documents:
 The PDP workbook
 Your Strengths finder/MBTI results report
 Your completed Career Values Inventory
 Completed feedback forms
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Please use only a zip file to upload these separate documents. Do not use a file of the .rar type, as they
require special software to open.
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How will my assignment be graded?
The submitted plan will be marked using the following grading criteria:
Coherence (30%)
Are there clear and logical links between the 3 different sections of the report?
1. Knowing Yourself: What did I learn about myself?
2. Developing Yourself: How does what I learned help me to shape my goals?
3. Promoting Yourself: How can I use this knowledge to develop strategies for
promoting myself?
4. Do the goals formulated in Developing Yourself clearly build on the learning
discussed in Knowing Yourself?
5. Do the promotion strategies in Promoting Yourself clearly build on both sections
1 and 2?
Engage with course materials (30%)
 Has the student effectively used the content of the module to construct the plan?
 Does it show how core theories, models and frameworks introduced in the
module have impacted on learning and informed plans?
 Is there clear evidence of engagement with classroom experiential activities?
Wider Reading and Reflection (30%)
 Does the plan show evidence of wide and relevant reading?
 Are the prescribed module readings used to support the plan?
 Is there evidence of independent research, using additional written or audio-
visual sources beyond what was provided in the module?
 Is there evidence that the student has not only understood the readings but also
evaluated and applied what has been read to learning and goal setting?
Quality of writing and referencing (10%)
 Is the student able to communicate effectively his/her plan and the rationale for
this?
 Is there a structure to the plan?
 Does it have a conclusion?
 Are external sources acknowledged and correctly cited in the text?
 Is there a reference list?
 Is the writing style professional and clear, with accurate spelling, grammar and
punctuation?
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PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
____________________________
KNOWING YOURSELF
MARSHALLOW TEAM CHALLENGE
Questions Responses
What did you learn from this
activity?
(Consider how the team collaborated
and worked as a team, and your role
within the team)
All the tasks which are done in the form of a team can be stated to be very
comprehensive in nature. This can be stated because, the team tasks tend
to require input from all the members as present in the team. In line of this,
it can also be stated that, in cases where the role of the team members is
not played adequately, the overall output of the team cannot be achieved
carefully.
In our team, it was my belief that, the overall output as given by the team
can be stated to be quite impressive in nature. Having said this, it can be
stated because, my team experience was highly exhilarating as I got to
meet new people and achieve the overall team challenge with them
My role in the team can be stated to be that of an organizer because I have
good organizing skills. In line of this, I was required to ensure that the team
is able to meet on a timely basis, and in addition to this, I was also required
to see to it that, the team was able to meet at regular intervals.
Hence, I learnt the following in the team activity:
The contribution of all members in a team is something which goes a long
way in achieving all the team objectives as well as the targets of the team.
In line of this, it was also learnt that, there exists various dynamics in a
team and the team must work as per the dynamics.
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How will this help you when working
in teams as part of your MSc?
Why do future employers look for
teamworking skills?
As mentioned earlier, the team cannot function alone as the members of a
team need to work in a tangent with one another, which will go a long way
in ensuring that the team is successfully able to attain all its future
outcomes. In line of this, it can be rightfully mentioned that, now that I have
gained a considerable experience by working in the team, I shall be
benefitted in the following manner while working with teams:
I will be able to contribute in a better manner
I will get an idea, as to how team conflicts need to be resolved
I will be able to play a better role in the long run.
I would be able to organize the team in a better manner.
The business environment can be stated to be very dynamic in nature and
the reason why the team working skills can be stated to be very important
for the future employers can be understood with the help of the following
reasons:
Team work helps in motivating the different members at the workplace.
This means that, by making use of the team working skills, the
management can ensure that the different employees remain motivated in
the workplace.
Another reason why team working skills are appreciated can be stated to be
the fact that it helps in gaining different perspectives and feedbacks.
Having stated this, it helps in understanding that what perspective will be
required in order to solve a business issue.
Additionally, the employees with adequate team working skills have the
capability to be more efficient and engage in more production. This means
that, they will be easily able to attain the overall goals.
Lastly, another reason why Team work is promoted because, it helps the
firm to work in synergy and be able to present a positive environment to all
the employees as present.
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VALUES
Questions Responses
What are your top 3 values & why are
they important to you? As per the details of the Values inventory, I would like to believe that as a
person I am under the belief that I am culturally valued and in line of this, it
can be largely understood that, I believe that my top 3 values are as
follows:
Independence: The independence can be understood to be a critical virtue
which can be made use of by any individual to complete their individual
tasks and in addition to this, it also allows to complete the overall
objectives in the long run.
Accountability: The accountability can be understood to be another virtue
which I would state that I have. In lieu of this I would like to mention that
accountability can be considered to a good virtue whereby we can provide
reasoning to others or those in a higher position for some action or activity.
Cooperative: Being cooperative can also understood to be an important
virtue which can be possessed by an individual in order to ensure that a
person can help an assist others.
How will knowing these values help
you during your studies and in your
future career?
In the future, these values will go a long way in ensuring that I am
successfully able to prosper in my career and in addition to this, I will also
be able to ensure that, I am able to attain my overall objectives as well.
The manner in which these values will assist in my career can be stated to
be as follows:
It will assist me in attaining my overall goals as well as objectives, in
addition to this, it will also go a long way in helping me to ensure that I do
not need any further assistance.
The values will also help me to be a responsible employee for the firm and
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be accountable for the different actions which I will undertake as an
employee and also account for the different expenses which I will incur on
behalf of the firm.
Lastly, the value of cooperation will make me a good team member, in
addition to this, I will be successfully able to contribute effectively to the
overall mission as well as objectives of the overall team.
What steps could you take to ensure
you live by these values? Think of
some actions you can take?
Although the possession of the values can be stated to be a considerable
aspect, however, it becomes important to understand that, these values
are maintained throughout. With respect to this, the following actions can
be rightfully undertaken
I would be maintaining a record in the form of a journal in order to ensure
that I will be able to go through my records and analyse my mistakes
In addition to this, I will be also engaging in various team activities as well
as tasks so as to see to it that I am able to attain my long term objectives.
Additionally, I will be ensuring that I undertake and spend some time alone
so as to remain being independent.
Download the Values Inventory from Blackboard
StrengthsFinder
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Questions Responses
Name your top 5 from your strengths
profile?
1. Learner
2. Restorative
3. Woo
4. Futuristic
5. Responsibility
What surprised you when reading the
report?
Identify any specific words or phrases
that you agreed with and why?
As a part of the particular class activity, I was provided with a particular
strength finder which went a long way in assisting me to understand what
my top five strengths were. The test was in the form of a questionnaire
which required me to provide various responses based on which my overall
profile was formed. While I was reading the report I arrived at the
understanding that I possessed certain skills like the Learner, Futuristic as
well as Responsible in nature. I was not surprised to see these and agreed
with the particular result as I believe that I am responsible, futuristic as
well as a learner. In line of this, it can also be understood that I was
surprised to see the particular strengths like the Restorative and woo.
This is because, very often I perceive myself as very weak and unable to
find my emotional strength in myself anymore, however, as I discovered
the overall aspect of Restorative as a strength, I have arrived at the
understanding that, the skill which I possess is restorative and that I am
comparatively quite stronger than what I actually perceive as myself to be.
The next strength was the strength of Woo. The woo means the power to
win over others. Those means that, I have the ability to win over others
which I did not realise that I possess. This means that, when I thought that I
had it in me to make others not like me much, I actually have the capability
to attract the other individuals as present.
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What can you do to invest in these
talents to become strengths?
Identify some specific actions – list at
least 3
As I have figured it out that I possess certain skills like Responsibility, Woo,
Restorative, Futuristic and Learner, it would be my overall objective, to
convert these into my over strengths. Hence, I am under the understanding
that I would be required to undertake certain initiatives, which would then
enable me to, achieve my objectives. These actions can be classified in the
following section:
I will be ensuring that I never leave the overall objective of learning and in
line of this, I am also able to learn as many new skills as possible which will
enable me to master my strength.
Secondly, I would be becoming more serious about my future. In line of
this, it can be mentioned that, I would be taking up more opportunities
which would come in my way and in line of this, I would also be taking up
financial courses to undertake a further knowledge of financial markets.
Lastly, another step which I would like to undertake can be stated to be
related to strengthening my overall responsibility skills. By this, I mean to
take up more opportunities which come in my way and undertake
procedures to ensure overall success.
How can others see these strengths
as perceived weaknesses?
(sometimes known as basement)
A strength for a particular individual might often turn out to be a weakness
for some other individual and hence, with respect to this, it can be
rightfully understood that, many of these strengths might be understood as
weakness by others. These strengths can be as follows:
Restorative: As I have the ability to find strength in everything I do, it
needs to be understood that, others may believe that it is easy to hurt me
and in line of this, they can engage in activities which may hurt me in the
long run.
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Responsibility: As the different people are under the belief that I am quite
responsible in nature, they would intend to hurt me in the long run and
may also provide me with additional burdens which I would not be able to
take.
What have you learned from your
strengths profile?
Consider what you discovered about
yourself and how this might relate to
you as a person and your career
interests.
From the strengths profile, I would be successfully able to gain an
understanding that, I possess a strong list of strengths like responsibility,
woo, futuristic, learner and restorative. In line of this, it can be mentioned
that, I have learned that there are certain priorities which I possess as a
person like woo and futuristic which can be rightfully used by me in the
long run, which wold assist me in ensuring that I would be able to attain my
overall goals in the long run.
As I have discovered that I possess the skill of a futuristic individual
and am highly responsible, I would be needing to, work upon these
specific skills in the long run and in line of this, I would also be
needing to, work upon these specific skills in the long run, as these
would go a long way in helping me to attain a successful career in
the long run and also be able to attain my overall objectives as well.
Attach your strengths insight report and highlight those words and phrases that relate to you.
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Attach your prioritised student action items and highlight those key action
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Continued…
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DEVELOPING YOURSELF
Setting Future Goals and Aspirations
SWOT Analysis
Before setting your personal development plans, you should conduct a personal analysis: Eg - What are my
strengths and weaknesses? What external opportunities or threats might affect any plans I might make?
Strengths
 I am very independent in nature. This
independence will then enable me to ensure that, I
will be able to carry out all tasks in the long run on
my own.
 Additionally, I have identified with the help of the
skill test, that I possess additional skills like being
Futuristic in the long run, Restorative, Woo,
responsible and being a learner.
 Hence, I am a capable person with good skill set.
Areas for Development
 The following aspects need to be improved
upon by me:
 I need to work upon my overall punctuality. I
often feel that, I am unable to reach at the
right places at the right time and with respect
to this, it becomes increasingly difficult for me
to reach my overall objectives in the long run.
 In addition to this, I will be required to work
upon my communication skills which shall
allow me to get up in a better manner with
the different people and in addition to this, be
able to engage in a better relationship with
the different associates and allow me to
strengthen my career in the long run.
Opportunities Threats
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 The different opportunities which are available to
me in the long run which will go a long way in
assisting me to attain all my future objectives can
be stated to be as follows:
 I can participate in various debates and get into
classes which will help me to attain my overall
talents and allow me on a path of learning process
 Additionally, I can also volunteer for different
charities as this will help me in showcasing my
responsibility skills and allow me to develop them
further.
 I might face threats in regard to the
weaknesses I possess. I may be good with
responsibilities, however, as I am not
punctual, the different people may perceive
that I am irresponsible.
 In addition to this, as I have comparatively
poor communication skills, I may be perceived
as less intelligent than others and may not be
provided with varied opportunities.
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Create at least 5 specific goals – these can be a mix of Career Ambitions, Academic Achievements,
Personal Development, Starting a Business
What do I want to
achieve?
(short / long term
goals)
How am I going to
achieve it?
What additional support
and resources will I
need?
What strengths can I
use to help achieve
these goals?
By When?
I want to achieve a
distinction
I will dedicate
6hrs per module
for studying
Regularly follow up
with tutor
Focus and
Discipline
Next 3
months
I want to improve
my communication
skills
I will be attending
various workshops
which will assist
me to improve my
overall
communication
skills.
Assistance from my
university
Assistance from my
friends
Communication
skills
Next 6
months
I want to work on
my punctuality skills
I will try and
improve my sleep
cycle which will
then allow me to
wake up on time
and start
becoming more
organized.
I would be requiring
technological and
health support so as
to overcome my
sleeping habits.
Punctuality as well
as responsibility
and being
organized
Next 6
months
I want to improve
upon my debate
skills
II will be
attending public
speaking classes
which will then
allow me to
present my
argument in a
better manner.
I would be requiring
certain additional
reading resources
In addition to this, I
would also be
requiring assistance
from the university
Outspoken and
confidence
Next 6
months
I would like to start
my own business in
I would start
meeting experts
I would be requiring
technical as well as
Responsibility and
hard work
Next 6
months
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the long run. and look out for
ideas.
financial assistance.
Continued…
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Managing and Dealing with Challenges at University
Outline the key challenges you might face in the next few weeks and months?
Time management: Time management has always been one of the challenges which I tend to face in general
course of life whereby I often tend to face certain problems while completing and meeting deadlines on time.
With respect to this, it becomes important that I ensure that these challenges are avoided.
Difficulty schedules: The schedule at my college can be understood to be very comprehensive and busy in
nature and hence, in line of this, it can be understood that, in my way of achieving my overall goals my
schedule can cause a barrier.
Conveyance issues: Very often due to personal transportation I also tend to face conveyance issues which
then restrict me and come in my way of reaching on time.
How can I go about managing these?
1. Waking up on time: The first step which I would be required to take is reaching on time as it will assist
me in becoming punctual and correcting my sleep cycle.
2. Manage and prioritise works: If I want to ensure that I can fit in adequate tasks during a day then I
would be required to ensure that, I am prioritizing the important work and perform crucial tasks in
adequate order.
3. Start using local transport: If I start making use of local transport then I would not face any issues
regarding parking.
Knowing my strengths what can I do to overcome these challenges?
As I know, that I am an independent individual with good responsibility skills and an appetite for learning with
extreme strength, I am sure that I will be successfully able to meet the overall needs I possess and ensure
that, I will be able to overcome these challenges successfully.
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Continued…
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PROMOTING YOURSELF
Personal Branding
Questions Responses
What is a Brand?
A brand can be described as an overall experience of a particular customer
which helps in distinguishing a particular organization or a product from
the products of the competitor firms. In line of this, it can be mentioned
that branding can be used in marketing and advertising. A good brand
name goes a long way in helping a firm to attain overall success. In a
similar manner, the firm will be able to attain success in the long run with a
good brand name.
Why do we buy one Brand over
another?
The reason why one brand name over another can be stated to be as
follows:
It proved pricing policy
It helps to ensures better quality goods
It has a better brand equity in the market.
What do we expect from our brands?
We expect the following from our brands:
Good quality goods or services
Better pricing policies
Better image in the market
Overall social status association
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Why is this relevant to my job
search?
The brand is considered to be very crucial as it ensures that the overall
image of the firm remains stable as well as constant. The knowledge of a
brand is required to be very efficient as it will help me in understanding the
requirements and demands of the customers and the organization where I
will be working in the long run.
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In the box below write down three words you would like someone to use when describing you, and why?
 Helpful
 Understanding
 Hardworking
I would like someone to describe me in the following manner, as it will make me friendlier towards others and help in
building my overall image in the long run. In line of this, I will also be able to ensure success.
Attach responses to personal feedback form
Personal Branding - Questions to ask others: Family, friend or boss or someone who will be honest!
Questions Responses
Do you remember your first impression of
me? What was it?
Good kind heart , intelligent and knowledgeable.
If someone asked you to describe me what
would you say in 3 words? Tall and handsome , Well Educated and
multitalented person
What do you think is my most noteworthy
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personal trait? Openness: appreciation for a variety of
experiences. Conscientiousness: planning ahead
rather than being spontaneous. Extraversion: being
sociable, energetic and talkative. Agreeableness:
being kind, sympathetic and happy to help
What do you see as my key strengths?
Quick learner ,Critical thinking , teaching skills ,
stress tolerance, flexibility
What attributes do I have that stand out
from others?
Be disciplined
Know yourself
Be conscious
Be confident
Practice listening
Cultivate emotional intelligence
Be response-able
Lead with excellence
Overall how would you describe my
image?
Growing intellectual
If you were trying to convince someone to Yes I will do , you have handling/manageable
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hire me what would you say? capability and leadership quality
What do I do Next?
Write down below all the different ways you will be promoting Brand You.
The different ways I will be promoting my brand will be as follows:
 Building my profile in social media as the social media has a key role to play in the brand image in today`s
environment.
 Participating in various shows and workshops
 Taking efforts to interact with different people
PERSONAL REFLECTION
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What did you learn from this module? What did you discover about yourself and others? How can you put
this into practice?
The following was learnt by me in this model:
 How to manage my time
 How to manage the brand `me`
 How to strengthen my talents
 How to manage and sustain my values
I discovered about myself that, I have various strengths like learning, independence and woo which I was not aware
of earlier. Moreover, the module also made me understand that, communication and overall personality has a strong
role to play and this can be put into practice, by taking part in various shows as well as workshops which then go a
long way in ensuring that I will be successfully able to manage and have corporate relationships in the long run.
Actions you will take to achieve your goals
The following actions will be taken to achieve my overall goals:
 I will dedicate 6hrs per module for studying
 I will be attending various workshops which will assist me to improve my overall communication skills.
 I will try and improve my sleep cycle which will then allow me to wake up on time and start becoming more
organized.
 II will be attending public speaking classes which will then allow me to present my argument in a better
manner.
 I would start meeting experts and look out for ideas.
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Conclusion
Therefore, from the given assessment, I was greatly able to understand my overall goals as well as objectives. In
addition to this, it can be rightfully understood that, I was able to gain an overall understanding of my strengths and
understood actions to be undertaken.
Reference any specific reading / videos / personal thoughts that inspired and encouraged you whilst completing your
PDP
Cummings, D.J. and Poropat, A., 2016. Personality traits. In Encyclopedia of Human Resource Management. Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
Hezlett, S.A., 2016. Enhancing experience-driven leadership development. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 18(3), pp.369-389.
McAdams, D.P., 2015. Three lines of personality development. European psychologist.
McAdams, D.P., 2015. The art and science of personality development. Guilford Publications.
Sanford, N., 2017. Self and society: Social change and individual development. Routledge.
Wagner, J., Becker, M., Lüdtke, O. and Trautwein, U., 2015. The first partnership experience and personality development: A propensity score
matching study in young adulthood. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 6(4), pp.455-463
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Word Count: 3100
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