Skills and Professional Development

This article discusses the components of a portfolio, the importance of employability skills in professional development, and the concept of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). It explores skills like complaint handling, negotiation, decision making, and time management. The article also provides insights into the CPD process and its implications for personal and professional growth. The content is relevant for individuals looking to enhance their skills and capabilities in the workplace.

Skills and Professional
Development

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
COMPONENTS OF PORTFOLIO.................................................................................................3
Introduction............................................................................................................................3
Aims and Objectives...............................................................................................................3
CPD..................................................................................................................................................4
Reflection.........................................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Employability skills are defined as those transferable skills which is requisite by an
individual in order to get higher employment. This is essential for employees that they inhale
appropriate skills and technical skills so as to understand changes and knowledge of pertained
subject. Besides this professional development is defined as learning process which is required to
be earned by professionals so as to manage their formal coursework and to provide appropriate
credential as well (Kaushal, 2016). This is defined as collaborative aspect which is providing
intense learning so as to enhance employability skills and other professional skills in appropriate
manner. In corporate work is required to be performed in manner that positive outputs can be
attained and this report is prepared in order to understand varied concepts of employability skills
in the background of Marks and Spencer. The organisation was established in 1884 and
headquarters in UK. The major purpose of this report is to enhance skills and capabilities in
order to attain goals and objectives of the organisation.
COMPONENTS OF PORTFOLIO
Introduction
The personal development plan is providing information regarding capabilities and skills
which are not present in an individual due to which they are required to improve the same. PDP
is regarded as the procedure which is helpful in defining objectives in such a way that a person
can get success in their career at utmost manner. This is helpful in recognising skills and
knowledge in such a way that personal competence can be inhaled in a manner so as to attain
professional growth in short term. This is helpful for recognising inner skills through which
knowledge can be attained by an individual within their personal and professional development.
By taking assistance of Continuing professional development plan lacking skills can be enhanced
and impact can be seen over attainment of goals and objectives of individual.
Aims and Objectives
This portfolio is based on CPD Plan which is prepared by HR Manager of Marks and
Spencer. For attaining best results there are varied skills which are required to be improved so
that desired results can be attained. Aims and objective are as under:
Aim

To enhance varied skills so that I can enhance my performance in such a way that goals
and objective of workplace can be attained (Rowe and Zegwaard, 2017).
Objectives
To intensify my skills of complaint handling so that I can solve problems which are faced within
workplace.
To enhance my negotiation skills so that to solve any major conflict at workplace.
To enhance decision making skills so that I can make myself eligible to take proper decisions.
To enhance my skills of time management by which I can finish up given task in appropriate
time.
CPD
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is defined as the process which is used in
order to track knowledge and skills which are gained by formal and informal manner. This is a
record by which an individual may learn, apply and experience by another individual.
Professionals are engaged in such activities which are helpful in developing capabilities and
skills of an individual so that to take out effective outputs. This is helpful in making process of
learning highly proactive through which prominent results can be attained. CPD is associated
with varied aspects such as e-learning, trainings, workshops and many more by which an
individual get assistance of developing their personal and professional career. This is also called
the procedure under which maintenance, documentation and development of various procedures
are undertaken. After Professional development plan, CPD Plan is prepared and with the help of
this an individual can enhance their desired skills up to the mark so that to provide better results
to the organisation in which they are working. People are engaged in CPD in such a way that
they can use their academic qualification as well.
CPD is having high implications over helping organisation in such a way that up to date
knowledge can be gained by individual which could lead them to survive in competitive world.
CPD Leads an organisation to grab diversified knowledge in order to satisfy stakeholder of their
business. This is associated with varied workshops those are undertaken during training and
prescribed courses. Besides this, these are related with learning needs of the business through
which requirements can be satisfied in a way that time needs can be met. CPD provides training
and learning in way that high implication can be seen over capabilities and growth within career.
An individual can easily adapt situation of change with the help of CPD. This shows that

professionalism is one of the major aspect of one's career when they are willing to inhale success
and filling gaps in clear manner. On the other hand CPD assists in enhancing brand position and
brand equity in a way that proper recognition can be met by the organisation. For meeting staff
needs and requirements training and development sessions are to be held so that positive
outcomes can be drawn (Taylor, 2016).
CPD process is designed for the major purpose of identifying needs which are requisite
for personal development. This process gets start from recognising plan through which learning
activities are initiated. This is necessary for the individual that they develop their skills and
capabilities in regular manner so that they enhance opportunities of their survival and attain
growth in marketplace. This is also helpful for personal and professional growth and to attain
success by an individual. By analysing personal development plan I have analsyed that there are
various skills in which I am lacking behind such as complaint handling, negotiation skills,
decision making skills and with the help of CPD plan these skills can be improved in better way:
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Plan
Identifying
learning
needs
Define
expected
learning
outcomes
Identify
learning
activity
Resources Timescale Communicatio
n
Evaluation
Complaint
Handling
Skills
These skills
are helpful
for handling
complaints
in better way
by which
higher
customer
satisfaction
can be
attained.
For
enhancing
these
activities I
am
attending
various
seminars
and
sessions.
With the
help of
team
leader,
mentor and
manager
these skills
can be
enhanced.
2 months For complaint
handling skills
communication
plays vital role
so by written
communication
strategies I can
draw positive
impact on my
complaint
handling skills.
This skills is
required to
be existed in
an
individual
as positive
career
implications
can be seen
through
which at
workplace

problem
faced by
customer
can easily
be resolved
in order to
attain higher
customer
satisfaction.
.
Negotiation
Skills
Negotiation
skills are
helpful in
enhancing
goodwill of
the
organisation
in such a
manner that
expected
outcomes
can be
accomplishe
d. On the
other hand
this skill is
useful to
persuade
client so that
they can
become
By
attending
various
workshops
I
understood
regarding
concepts
and
importance
of
negotiation
skills.
Besides
this by
choosing
appropriate
method of
negotiation
obstacle
can be
The major
resources
for these
skills are
mentor,
trainer,
team
leader and
knowledge
able
person.
3 months In order to
attain positive
results proper
communication
strategy are
required to be
used through
which I can
enhance my
negotiation
skills. Oral
communication
is required
within this skill
so in order to
enhance
negotiation
skills I am
emphasised
over dealing
with oral
For
enhancing
this skills
CPD is
helpful for
me to deal
with
respective
ideas
through
which I can
lead to have
enhancemen
t in skills.

loyal
customer.
Besides this
these skills
are helpful
in
maintaining
trust of
supplier so
that they
provide
material of
appropriate
quality
(Fletcher,
Sharif and
Haw, 2017).
removed. communication
.
Decision
Making
Skills
Major
outcome of
decision
making
skills are
that during
performing
business
activities I
can take
prominent
decision
without
facing any
For
decision
making
required
learning
activities
are
interactions
with other
peers so
that by
making
collaborati
ve efforts
For
improving
decision
making
skills
required
resources
are time
and space.
By using
training
method
experience
in various
2 months For making
prominent
decision at
workplace oral
and written
communication
is required and
by adopting
proper
strategies of
communication
long term
benefits can be
CPD is
helpful in
making
effective
decision by
an
organisation
without
dealing with
any
prominent
problem in
order to
reach out to

delay which
enhances
overall
capabilities
of the
business.
This is
helpful in
attaining
major
opportunities
by which I
can exhale in
various
fields.
working of
the
business
can be
enhanced.
field can
be attained
and
positive
implication
can be
seen over
developing
decision
making
skills.
reached out. goals and
objectives
as well.
Analytical
skills
This skill
will help in
developing
the
analytical
skill through
which i
would get an
ability to
evaluate the
situation
rightly. The
proper
evaluation
can help in
forming the
To enhance
this skill in
me i have
to study for
various
case
studies
which can
help me in
encounteri
ng with
various
situations
which can
take place
in a
The
resources
that would
be needing
to develop
such skill
is books
related to
case
studies or
the sites
which
provide the
manageme
nt related
case
3 months The
communication
plays an
important role
in this because
through it an
individual can
communicate
the analytical
situations to
other
employees or
members to
make them
understand
about the
When i
believe i
generate the
full ability
to analyse
and evaluate
the situation
from every
angle and
perspectives
.

better
strategies for
the
organisation
which can
achieve the
department
goal along
with the
overall
organisation
al goal.
manager’s
job. This
will help in
boarding
the
thinking
and
perspective
of an
individual
and
generates
the ability
to think the
situation
from every
angles.
studies. situation.
Reflection
While making this CPD report I have come across with the skills and knowledge which
actually have to attain in myself. To became the manager for well known company Marks and
Spencer personally have to get many skills which would do justice with my position. By
performing this particular report and the preparation of CPD analysis skills which I need to
inculcate in me. This support has helped me not only in getting know about the skill but also in
the preparation of timetable and the activities through which I can gain such skills. Every person
has setting dream and he works in such a manner which helps him attaining that dream. Likewise
I have a dream to became a manager for my company marks and Spencer (Castillo and et al.,
2018). To accomplish that dream there are certain skills which I believe I have to inculcate in me
if I have to perform justice with my work. Through the mode of preparation of this particular
report I come to know about the skills and knowledge which I suppose to gain for achieving my
goals. Through the help of CDP I made a list about the skills which I need to build in me along

with the ways through which I can attain it. During the preparation of plan I come of know about
some skills which may include decision making, customer complaint handling, management
skills, communication skills, analysis skills and the like. After the realisation of the skills which I
believe I need to insert in me, I made a plan also which helps me in achieving those skills in me.
I figure out the activities which can help me in bringing the necessary improvements in me along
with duration till which I need to perform these activities. For example to build the customer
handling skills in me I come out with an activity of regular practice of various case studies which
could help me in encounter with various situations and problems. I can perform the role play also
in these care studies so that I can have the idea about the situation from all angles. Through this I
would also be able to come out with the right kind of behaviour and decision a manger needs to
take so that the customer can handle with all efficiency. This exercise can help me in generating
the right skills for customer handling which would ultimately results in satisfied and happy
customers. While the preparation of this report, I also become very clear about my steps and
activities which I would going to undertake in these next 6 months (McGill, Heikkila and
Lazarowicz, 2020). This activities has enable me in getting clearing up my mind and head me
towards the direction through which i can attain the performance which I have seen for myself.
While the preparation of this report I did face many issues which I have to surmount. These
issues may includes the time duration and formation of report. The time which I was available
with to perform my research work and report was very short. In such a short time period I have
to look into a lot of time consuming topics like how to prepare a report, contents to include in
report, the writing part, clarification part and much more. To surmount this problem I have to
make a plan or time table in which I distributed the tasks which I need to perform in a report.
Due to the segmentation of tasks I got very peculiar to follow it. I followed the time table which I
made very religiously and only through it I had performed my report before the due date.
Research work was another issue which I believed I faced during the preparation of the report.
The research which needs to be done was very huge in comparison of the time which I had to
prepare (Zhang and Bingham, 2019). To overcome this issue, I have decided to prepare a
framework for my research. In that frame work I prepared an outlines of the topics which I need
to include into my work. This has limit the scope of my research work as I draw the outline. The
research materials which lies in my research zone I complete it by covering only the major
topics. Performing this report was total a fun experience for me and it had thought a lot to me.

CONCLUSION
From the above report this can be concluded that proper skills are required to be held by
an individual when they are willing to work with higher efficacy. This is required that an
individual recognise their own strengths and capabilities in such a way that the same can be
aligned to attain organisational objectives and goals as well. With the help of PDP plan inner
weakness and strengths can be identified and in CPD plan the same can be improved. These
skills are helpful for an individual for attaining their career goals and objective in transparent
way.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Aslam, S., Delgado‐Angulo, E. K. and Bernabé, E., 2017. Perceived learned skills and
professional development of graduates from a master in dental public health
programme. European Journal of Dental Education. 21(1). pp.1-5.
Castillo, J.M., and et al., 2018. A longitudinal analysis of the relations among professional
development, educators’ beliefs and perceived skills, and Response-to-Intervention
implementation. Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation. 28(4). pp.413-
444.
Fletcher, A. J., Sharif, A. W. A. and Haw, M. D., 2017. Using the perceptions of chemical
engineering students and graduates to develop employability skills. Education for
Chemical Engineers. 18. pp.11-25.
Kafyulilo, A., Fisser, P. and Voogt, J., 2016. Teacher design in teams as a professional
development arrangement for developing technology integration knowledge and skills
of science teachers in Tanzania. Education and Information Technologies. 21(20).
pp.301-318.
Kaushal, U., 2016. Empowering Engineering Students through Employability Skills. Higher
Learning Research Communications. 6(4). p.n4.
McGill, C. M., Heikkila, M. and Lazarowicz, T., 2020. Professional development, performance
expectations and academic advisors’ perceptions of relational skills: a sequential
explanatory mixed methods study. New Horizons in Adult Education and Human
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Nelson, M. E. and Ahn, B., 2017, October. Improving engineering students professional
development skills in the make to innovate program. In 2017 IEEE Frontiers in
Education Conference (FIE) (pp. 1-5). IEEE.
Rowe, A. D. and Zegwaard, K. E., 2017. Developing graduate employability skills and
attributes: Curriculum enhancement through work-integrated learning.
Taylor, L. ed., 2016. How to develop your healthcare career: A guide to employability and
professional development. John Wiley & Sons.
Zhang, C. and Bingham, G. E., 2019. Promoting high-leverage writing instruction through an
early childhood classroom daily routine (WPI): A professional development model of
early writing skills. Early Childhood Research Quarterly. 49. pp.138-151.