Personal and Professional Development Report

This report examines the concept of personal and professional development, focusing on the case study of Travelodge Hotel. It explores various approaches to self-managed learning, identifies development needs, and outlines a personal and professional development plan. The report also discusses the importance of effective time management strategies and communication techniques in resolving work-based problems.

PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Various approaches to self-managed learning..................................................................1
1.2 Ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional context could be encouraged
................................................................................................................................................2
1.3 Evaluation of the benefits of self-managed learning........................................................3
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................3
2.2 Identifying my own development needs and activities required to meet them................3
2.3 Development opportunities to meet current and future needs..........................................4
2.4 Creating personal and professional development plan according to needs......................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
3.1 Process and activities required for implementing the development plan.........................6
3.2 Undertake and document activities as planned................................................................6
3.3 Reflecting own learning against aims and objectives ......................................................7
3.4 Update the development plan that you prepared based on the feedback and evaluation. 8
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................9
4.1 Solution to work-based problems ....................................................................................9
4.2 Communicating solutions to work-based problems in different ways ............................9
4.3 Evaluate and use effective time-management strategies..................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11
ANNEXURE .................................................................................................................................13
2.1 Evaluation of own current skills and competencies against professional standard........13

INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development refers to the gaining of knowledge and skills for
personal development and career advancement. It is an essential process that give an
understanding about the skills that is required for an individual in personal and professional life.
The report is based on personal and professional development of individuals and staff of
Travelodge Hotel, the second largest in the budget hotel sector and the third biggest hotel chain
in UK.
The assessment will evaluate various approaches to self-managed learning and different
ways to encourage lifelong learning in the context of personal and professionals. Along with that,
the report will evaluate the benefits of self managed learning to individual as assistant manager
and to the organisation. On the basis of the position as an assistant manager, report will evaluate
current skills, competencies for the position of Hotel Manager, with the objective it will identify
own need of development, development opportunities and various activities required to meet
them. The report will devise personal and professional development plan that is based on
identified need. The assessment will also discuss the process and activities required to implement
the development plan and will demonstrate acquired interpersonal and transferable skills.
TASK 1
1.1 Various approaches to self-managed learning
Self managing learning is an approach, in which management of Travelodge Hotel
develop for individuals to learn various things from surrounding. The effective learning include;
skills of personal appraisal including planning, organising and evaluation. Generally self-
managed learning is related to goal setting for learning, identify the purpose of learning, self
reflection, etc (Bolden, 2016). The learning give opportunity to individuals to develop or make
their own strategy in learning process. There are various approaches of self-managed learning
that seems effective in the Hotel that are:
Social networks- The most common way of self-learning is get socialize including; local
community or virtual community (Bouman, 2018). There are a range of various social networks
such as; Facebook, Twitter and many more internet based community that help people to learn
many new ideas and things and it provides various thoughts and knowledge to the learners.
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Conference and Seminars- Conferences and seminars are the best way to self-managed
learning. Individuals can learn various things on their own by attending conferences and
seminars where experienced person as well as new ideas and thoughts are shared that help them
to improve their personal skills and that help them to develop their personality. Seminars and
conferences are helpful for individuals to become more confident in public speaking and it can
develop their presentation skill (Cullingford, 2017).
Use of the internet- Individuals can develop their knowledge as well as learn many new
things by seating at home through internet. People can gain knowledge by surfing various
websites that help them to increasing their understanding and enhance their personality.
From the above approaches of self-managed learning, Being as a manager I probably
think that internet is more useful and suitable for me and for the staff at Travelodge Hotel.
Internet is ocean of information of every type and the staff and I can personally gain a variety of
knowledge and skills through the internet and mostly I learn things from internet, from seminars
and conferences.
1.2 Ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional context could be encouraged
Life long learning refers to a process whereby throughout the life, an individual
consistently gathers information and learning. This kind of learning person can pursue
throughout life and is very important for the development of both professional and personal skills
(Cunningham and Bennett, 2017). Being as a manager at Travelodge Hotel, lifelong learning can
be encouraged by many ways such as; self-reflective learning that can be done on periodic basis
so that there should a continuous development for lifelong.
Apprenticeship- Being as a manager at Travelodge, This is the most effective tool for
lifelong learning. Apprenticeship is a system of training that focuses on on-job training that
means most of the training is done while working. With the help of this approach individual can
grow their personal and professional abilities and skills further it inspires gather more
information and knowledge.
Continuous professional development- Development of professional skills and
knowledge on the regular basis will drive employee towards acquiring efficiency at work. As
being a manager at the hotel, I build the system for individuals that provide them continuous
learning programs. The development programs are implemented and give the employees on the
basis of their existing knowledge and skills and in which field they need.
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1.3 Evaluation of the benefits of self-managed learning
Self-managed learning help me in the self-assessment and as an Assistant Manager, it
helps to knowing the areas in which I have to develop and expand (Cunningham, 2017). Self-
managed learning is beneficial for me as well as for the organisation too.
Benefits to me as an Assistant Manager
 Self-managed learning such as seminars and conferences will improve my
communication skills and improve my presentation skills that is very essential in
becoming more productive at workplace. As well as SML technique make me able to
efficient use of self-capabilities such as active listening that been important part of
resolving workplace conflicts.
 Use of self-managed learning techniques and approaches helped me to improve my
other skills that is required for the position of an assistant manager (Hildebrand,
2018). For example; mostly I learn how successful managers think, they work or
make decisions by using the source of internet that help me to understand various
management style that I can implement in the organisation in various situations.
Benefits to Travelodge Hotel
 By encouraging the staff of the hotel for lifelong development and self reflective
learning. Continuous improvement in the skills and abilities of staff increase their
efficiency that is beneficial for Travelodge to gain overall growth.
 Self-managed learning assist Travelodge hotel offer quality services to the guests by
supporting market competition (Lejeune, Beausaert and Raemdonck, 2018). The
skills and knowledge gain by the staff including me made the hotel in staying ahead
from its competitors by evolving new and innovative ideas.
Task 2
2.2 Identifying my own development needs and activities required to meet them
In order to conduct skill audit, I need to adopt some self assessment tools to identify my
personal strength and weaknesses.
Evaluating self management : Self management is the way or process to evaluate
personal skill performance. It helps me to measure my own weaknesses and current performance
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level. That affect the long term management goals. I need to adopt self evaluation by taking
feedback from others by measuring my current performance with my past performance.
Personal and interpersonal skills : I also need to conduct survey to identify my
interpersonal skills and need to make list which is required in future. Such as I am less effective
and good in time management etc.
After analysing my own strength in skills and abilities, I get to know that are certain
skills that need to be developed and improvement as a successful manager to cope up with
dynamic change in Travelodge Hotel:
Time management skills- I am not good in handling more than two tasks at a time (Wu
and et.al., 2016). To develop this skill, I need to do various activities practically such as; By
setting goal in the daily work routine. Time management skill need to make focus on the task and
make sure that I can being far from bad distraction to enhance my focus I am going to join
mediation classes. Also, I am planning to join some coaching classes to learn how can I manage
time effectively.
Leadership skills- I need to improve my leadership skill in order to lead the team and
individuals in Travelodge Hotel effectively. Though, I am good at motivating people but to add
more in this skill to create enthusiasm into them and command them to work effectively to meet
customer need that is a major objective of the organisation. To develop this competency, I need
to observe and learn from successful leader and implement their style and skills into my work
that will help me to overcome this barrier to being a successful manager in the organisation.
Other than that, joining a course to learn leadership skill will help me to improve and add require
criteria within the existing skill (Sun, Jin and Tan, 2018).
2.3 Development opportunities to meet current and future needs
I believe goal setting would one of the key opportunity. In order to meet current and
future needs, I need to work on the skills in both personal and professional contexts. This skill
can give me opportunity not only in the professional life also in personal life. There will be great
opportunity to implement my learning in the practical world.
Training and development programs within and outside of organisation are opportunity
for me to develop my skills and gather knowledge that is required for the position of manager in
the Hotel (Wolters Won and Hussain, 2017). As well as lots of books and the source of internet
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is also an opportunity to develop my needed skills within the context of professional standard
and according to business objectives.
Setting goals and objectives in working pattern give opportunity to learn things
practically and understand the area where I need improvement to enhance my time management
skills. For time management, mediation and yoga classes are also an opportunity that
maintaining the mind calm and enhance my focus by avoiding distraction.
By understanding the need of improvement and development, ASPIRE internal
development programme come as an opportunity to build my skills and experience. Basically
ASPIRE is internal development programme for the people of hotel and has been developed
within the organisation to develop specifically to help in improve and add more skills and
experience according to the need. By gathering this opportunity and applying in my work will
help me in my current role being as a manager and to help with my progression as well.
2.4 Creating personal and professional development plan according to needs
Personal and Professional Development Plan
Needed Skills Action for improvements Timescale
Leadership skill Observing successful leader
and join training courses
(Petrie and et.al., 2017).
Within 4 months
Time management Training courses of time
management skills, by prior
planning, identifying and
allocating
Within 3 months
Management and
organising skills
Necessary concepts and
theories are needed to be
learnt, observing the skills
of seniors, gather important
knowledge over
management through
internet (Ziapour, Khatony
Jafari and Kianipour,
Within 3 months
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2015).
TASK 3
3.1 Process and activities required for implementing the development plan
In order to implement the developmental plan there are some processes and activities which are
described as below:
 Set the goals for the developmental plan: It is the first step in which a person has to
figure out the goals which are quite important, these goals can be financial or career
based (Saddawi-Konefka and et.al., 2017). In this, for each of the goal, set a priority such
that the short term goals should be listed first and keep the long term goals at bottom.
 Creating the timelines: In this, for every goal, a person has to set a deadline and it
should be realistic. Such that it's fine if the goals take months or years to achieve but the
main aim should be achieve with defined timeline. Such that I am lacking a time
management skills and it took many months to overcome my weaknesses.
 Determine the strength: after set up the deadlines, it is also necessary to determine the
strength because it helps to feel confident, also it finds out the ways in order to achieve
the goals and also determine the areas of improvements (Luke, 2018).
 Identify the weaknesses: After determining the strength, a person should also know
about their weaknesses because the developmental plan is actually made to overcome the
weaknesses.
 Determine the new skills which is learn: The main purpose of implementing a
development plan is to determine where a person stands and where they want to be.
Therefore, a person has to develop new skills that helps them to become successful and to
achieve something, which never have done also requires skills (Manuti and et.al., 2015).
Thus, in this stage, determine new skills which is learn.
 Take Action and measure the progress: In order to overcome the weaknesses, the
person has to be take action immediately and then measure the progress level so that it
will help to determine the improvement level.
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3.2 Undertake and document activities as planned
As per above implementation plan, I am lacking of time management, leadership skills
and managing and organizing skills. To overcome time management skills, I schedule my all day
task list and set deadlines for individual task. This helps me to complete my defined goals in
prescribed time which further help me to overcome this skill. It also takes around 3 months to
overcome (Rodríguez-Gómez and Ibarra-Sáiz, 2015). On the other side, to defeat my another
weaknesses i.e. leadership skills, I start reading some leaders biographies, I also start motivating
others and take some initiatives which further help me to enhance it. As a strong discipline is
also required to overcome leadership skills and this is also helpful to execute the plan in more
effective way. The set deadline for this is around 4 months.
In order to implement the above plan, as I realised that I am lacking of some management
skills and to overcome this I also read management books and scheduling my entire work in
defined deadlines. Apart from this, I also start taking some training session which further help
me to overcome this and the set deadline is Within 3 months. In this the developmental plan can
be implementation in order to overcome my weaknesses (Redmond, 2017).
3.3 Reflecting own learning against aims and objectives
As per the above study, I have learned so many learning skill and knowledge that I can
use in my career development. I learned managerial skills that helps me to learn different
management styles and approaches that I can apply in my professional career. Overall
experienced of my is wonderful and energetic that helps me to move in my further task. My aim
was to develop time management skills and technological capabilities. Even though I need to get
more experienced to improve my different new skills that can more helpful for me to get better
things. Further, I got to learn and improve my marketing skills that helps company to develop
new promotional plans for Tour and tourism development (Savignon, 2018). I come over from
my weaknesses that is leadership skills, by learning leadership approaches and implemented into
the team leadership goals. I learned new developing task in order to meet out the best developing
goals. Besides, that I also learned management styles by acquainting some managerial skills,
observing seniors etc. It helps to move developing goals and make the better task oriented goals.
For improving my time management skills, I learned new time management approaches and
make set priority objectives in order to meet out the best developing results and growth. I
partially achieved my all aims and objectives, that helps me to make my career objectives more
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productive and in efficient manner. I set my objectives more efficiently and adopted in more
effective manner. I learned so many things and enhance my current skills. I improved my
presentation skills by handling the Travelodge working services etc. There is lack leadership
skills that are required in terms of feedback that has to be provided by workers regarding my
performance. So I need to develop my leadership skill. Along with this, I also need to work on
my time management skills.
3.4 Update the development plan that you prepared based on the feedback and evaluation.
Level of skill Strategy Time Scale
As per the feedback and my
leadership skills has been
improved completely but still I
need to learn how to
implemented those styles and
approaches into the business
functional task.
In order to improve my
leadership skills into more
effective manner by
implementing the strategies
into more effective manner.
2 months
I improved my Time
management skill previously
which is very underdeveloped.
But as per the feedback from
my seniors. It required some
more improvement.
In order to improve my time
management skills and in
order to meet out the best
developing and effective
leading results and growth. I
need some more practised and
need some more experienced
to handle uncertain situation.
2 months
As per my feedbacks and
review process, my seniors
approved me for my
managerial and organisational
skills. They give positive
feedback and recommend that
I improved my skills
Adopt continuous practices
and management skills (Patton
and et.al., 2016).
1 month
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completely.
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TASK 4
4.1 Solution to work-based problem 4.2 Communicating solutions to work-based problems in different ways
1

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
In order to resolve various problems related to employee turnover,
customer care etc, in Travelodge Hotel various strategies and techniques
can be used for as discussed below –
Hiring right people – It is important to select right people at the first
place by competency screening and behaviour-based testing. Human
resource managers can get an idea whether a person can fit in the
organisational culture through onsite interview. Along with the skills and
ability it is important to select a candidate who fits in the culture of the
Travelodge hotel, so that can work and perform better for longer period of
time.
Offering competitive benefits and pay – Employees want to be
compensated as they need to cover standard expenses such as utilities,
housing and food (Patton and et.al., 2016). Travelodge can offer good pay
and benefits to their employees so that they can get satisfied with their job
and perform better.
Allowing flexible work schedules – Flexible work schedules helps
employees to adjust their location and work time. Employees can create a
work life balance for themselves. Workers in Travelodge Hotel can pursue
things other than work such as take care of their families. This strategy
can help employees stay motivated and happy while working in the
organisation.
Improving customer service skills – It is important for each and every
organisation to improve the essential skills of the customer service team in
order to manage the needs of their customers. There are various skills
needed to provide effective customer care such as –
 Clear communication – It is important to ensure that employees
convey relevant and exact information needed by their customers.
It is essential to use understandable and positive language while
interacting with the customers so that they can get satisfied.
 Knowledge – It is important for the customer service team to
develop good knowledge of the products or services offered by the
organisation. Customers totally rely on employees of Travelodge
to get information regarding the services provided by them such as
facilities, packages etc (Saddawi-Konefka and et.al., 2017).
Improving the customer service strategy – The staff of Travelodge
hotel needs to have sufficient skills and should be aware of effective way
to communicate with the customers. Customer service executives needs to
response customers in the most effective way possible so that they feel
like they have access to real people not robots or machines. The hotel can
use social media platforms to interact with the customers for sharing their
views and feedbacks. These reviews can be further used in order to
improve the services of the hotel.
There are various methods of communication in an organisation such as Travelodge which
can be used in order to share an information or solution related to any problems at the
workplace (Luke, 2018). The solutions to problems regarding employee turnover and
customer care services can be communicated in the following ways –
 Open meeting – It is an easy way to communicate or interact with a group of
individuals and teams. This method of communication can be helpful at various levels
of Travelodge hotel such as top-level management, middle level management or the
bottom level worker. Open meetings enable open discussion and sharing of feelings or
views among the employees which can be very effective. This is usually used within
departments or among team members that are working together in Travelodge. This
method is useful to share ideas or views openly with each other.
 Emails – Among the managers or top level management the best method of
communication can be via emails. The suggestions or solutions to the issues or
problems can be circulated through professional emails. It is helpful to organisation as
it is time saving which can be used in other important activities in particular business.
Top level management highly use emails to circulate important information to various
departments of business.
 Communicating via training – Training can also help Travelodge hotel in
communicating solutions to employees for overcoming the issues organisation is
facing. It can help to develop skills of the employees which are required to provide
improved customer cares services. This will further help in solving complaints of
customers related to products and services that are offered by particular brand. Thus,
administration of Travelodge should conduct training and development sessions for
workers.
 One to one – Some people understand better when they are communicated one to one,
employees can be informed about new practices or activities to resolve the work based
problems arising in the Travelodge hotel (Sun, Jin and Tan, 2018). this will help in
easy understanding of information which will directly impact on productivity of
particular organisation.
Solution to work-based problem Communicating solutions to work-based problems
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bolden, R., 2016. Leadership, management and organisational development. In Gower
handbook of leadership and management development. (pp. 143-158). Routledge.
Bouman, N., 2018. Personal Development Plan.
Cullingford, C., 2017. 13 Institutional Development and Professional Needs: Some
Reflections. Professional development and institutional needs. p.223.
Cunningham, I., 2017. The wisdom of strategic learning: The self managed learning solution.
Routledge.

4.3 Evaluate and use effective time-management strategies
In order to improve performance at the workplace it is very essential to manage time
effectively, it helps to overcome most of the issues faced while working in any organisation. I
as an assistant manager needs to perform a wide range of activities every day which cannot
be possible without appropriate time management. I use the following time management
strategies to complete my daily tasks work in proper manner.
1. Starting the day with clear focus – I focus on determining what I need to achieve in
a particular day and I must accomplish on that day. In order to get this clear, I check my
emails and start responding to the queries and resolve any issue if arises. I help me to save
several hours and efforts.
2. Preparing a list of important tasks – I prepare a list of tasks or lists which I need to
do and ensure that its getting updated regularly (Wolters Won and Hussain, 2017). It helps
me to get a quick overview of everything that is important and urgent.
3. Focus on high value activities – I focus on the important tasks which is beneficial
for the hotel by ignoring smaller activities that are not much essential. It plays a vital role in
improving the organisation’s performance and achieving the goals.
4. Minimize interruptions – Another most important strategy or technique for
managing time is to minimize any kind of interruption while doing any task or work. For
example – I avoid answering calls or messages while conducting any meeting or performing
an important task.
5. Limit multi-tasking – Another technique I use to manage my time is eliminating
multi-tasking, if a person tries to perform different tasks at a same time it will lack
effectiveness. Therefore, it important to perform each task individually with proper focus
(Petrie and et.al., 2017).
CONCLUSION
As per the above report and suggested working area, it helps to make the better and
developing result in order to accomplish the professional or career development. Present
study explained about the approaches to self managed learning. Report evaluate present own
developments needs and the activities required defined needs. It discussed personal skills and
development plan of Assistant manager that helps to upgrade the developing result goals to
make the best approachable result and growth. The main purpose behind this report is to
evaluate the self competencies and growth in order to meet out the career and professional
goals and objectives. Through professionals are self motivated and encouraged itself into new
1

practices. It described the importance of time management strategies and their role in the
business functions.
2

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Cullingford, C., 2017. 13 Institutional Development and Professional Needs: Some
Reflections. Professional development and institutional needs. p.223.
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programmes. In Self Managed Learning in Action. (pp. 127-148). Routledge.
Cunningham, I., 2017. The wisdom of strategic learning: The self managed learning solution.
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Lejeune, C., Beausaert, S. and Raemdonck, I., 2018. The impact on employees’ job
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Patton, L. D. and et.al., 2016. Student development in college: Theory, research, and
practice. John Wiley & Sons.
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