Personal and Professional Development

Personal and
professional
development

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Approaches of self managed learning....................................................................................3
1.2 Ways in which lifelong learning could be encouraged..........................................................4
1.3 Benefits of self managed learning to organizations and individuals.....................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Evaluation of own current skills and competencies..............................................................5
2.2 Own development needs........................................................................................................6
2.3 Identification of development opportunities to meet current and future needs.....................6
2.4 Personal and professional development plan.........................................................................6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Process and activities require to implement the development plan.......................................7
3.2 Undertake and document development.................................................................................7
3.3 Own learning against original aims and objectives...............................................................8
3.4 Update the development plan...............................................................................................8
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................8
4.1 Solutions to work based problems.........................................................................................8
4.2 Variety of communication styles at various levels................................................................9
4.3 Effective time management strategies.................................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Concept of personal and professional development is very popular as under this an
individual take part in various events and learning programs to increase his knowledge. This
benefit him during process of his career development and make him able to take effective
decision to solve complex business problems (Hopkinson, 2014). Vast number of tools,
techniques and methods are there which can be used by an individual to ensure effective
implementation of his learning process. In order to achieve success it become necessity for an
individual to have skills and abilities. To achieve the same that individual can formulate a
development plan in order to increase skills. ALDI, multinational grocery retailer firm based in
United Kingdom is taken under this report for study. Different methods and approaches of self
managed learning and ways in which an individual can encourage lifelong learning is all detailed
under this report. Further, various time management strategies and solutions to work based
problems is also given in this.
TASK 1
1.1 Approaches of self managed learning
Concept of self managed learning refers to the learning under which an individual take part
in various programs of learning in order to enhance the level of his knowledge. Various
approaches for this are there which can be used by an individual for this. Further, in order to
enhance the level of information, an individual can carry out research and take help of
various resources such as books, articles, magazines and journals. Along with this, different
methods which can be used by an individual for increase the level of knowledge can be better
understood by following points:
 Seminars and conferences: An individual can increase the level of his knowledge by
take in different type of seminars and conferences. Main feature of this method is that
under this various individuals exchange ideas and thoughts which each other. This
help individual in increase his knowledge and increase his self confidence.
 Internet: Today internet is known as a tool which provide lot of information about any
topic. An individual can increase the level of his knowledge by use internet.
 With help of various social media sites: Due to technology development, different
type of social platforms are there which can be used by individual to enhance level of
knowledge. This help individual in understand what other think about a particular
topic an issue.

1.2 Ways in which lifelong learning could be encouraged
Learning on continuous level is known as lifelong learning which can be either personal
or can be professional (Stenfors-Hayes and et. al., 2010). Advantage of this type learning is that
knowledge level of person and at the same time ensure development of various skills and
abilities in a person. All this improve communication skills of individual guide him how to
communicate in variety of situations. Main methods by which an individual could encourage
lifelong learning includes the following:
 Self evaluation: This is a process under which an individual analyze own strengths,
weakness, opportunities and threats as this guide in formulate an effective development
plan. This contribute in achieve positive results of development program. SWOT of an
individual can be understood by example:
Strengths are good leadership skills and effective communicative style.
Weakness are rude behavior.
Opportunities are different opportunities for growth.
Threats are recession.
Continuous learning: This is another way in which lifelong learning of an individual can be
encouraged. In this individual learn various things and methods from his own past experience
and life events. Main feature of this type of learning is that it guide individual in set goals and
objectives (McNiff, 2010). Employer can use various methods such as coaching, workshops and
training programs in order to increase learning and skills of employees.
 Effective leadership: Leadership is a trait under which an individual use various tools and
methods to direct the behavior of others. This help a person in learn how to find better
solution of complex business problems by encourage the behavior of workers.
1.3 Benefits of self managed learning to organizations and individuals
One of the main advantage of concept of self managed learning is that it provide various
benefits to both individual and organization. For individuals it direct and guide them in how to
make the process of decision making more effective. Under this concept various type of workers
who work in enterprise do discussion with each other in order to find the better solutions of
business problems. During this, every workers share their ideas and information with each other.
This increase both knowledge and self confidence of an individual also help him in take better
decisions at workplace. Further, enhance knowledge and skills of workers ensure effective
execution of various business activities which provide advantages to enterprise. further benefits
of self manages learning to both individuals and organizations are states below under following
points:
 Team work skills: Various activities covered under the concept of self managed learning
encourage an individual to take part in different type of conferences and seminars. This
enhance level of knowledge of person and at the same time develop his ability to work in