Lifelong Learning and PDP Plan

This assignment focuses on the significance of lifelong learning and self-managed learning in career development. It utilizes a SWOT analysis to identify strengths and weaknesses, informing the creation of a Personal Development Plan (PDP). The PDP aims to enhance personal skills, while acknowledging areas needing improvement such as finance and sales-marketing knowledge. The document demonstrates the application of various learning theories and strategies, including self-reflection and practical problem-solving in a work setting.

Running head: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Personal and Professional Development
Student’s name:
Name of the university:
Author’s note

1PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Table of Contents
Task 1............................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Assess the approaches to self-managed lifelong learning......................................................3
1.2 Proposing methods through which people’s lifelong learning in professional and personal
contexts could be facilitated..........................................................................................................3
1.3 Reviewing the advantages of self-managed learning to organisations and individuals..........5
Task 2............................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Evaluating own competencies and skills of organisational objectives and professional
standards.......................................................................................................................................6
2.2 Identify own development needs and the activities required to meet them.............................8
2.3 Recognise improvement scope to meet present and future defined requirements.................9
2.4 Devising a personal and professional development (PDP) plan based on recognised
requirements................................................................................................................................10
Task 3..........................................................................................................................................12
3.1 Analysing the methods and activities that are needed to implement the plan.......................12
3.2 Undertaking and document development activities...............................................................12
3.3 Analysing on own learning with original objectives set in the progressive plan....................13
3.4 Updating the development plan that is based on received feedback....................................14
Task 4..........................................................................................................................................15
4.1 Selecting solution to work based problems...........................................................................15
4.2 Communicating in various styles and appropriate manner on many levels..........................16
4.3 Evaluating and using effective time management strategies................................................17
Task 5..........................................................................................................................................17
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................17
Reference List..............................................................................................................................19

2PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Introduction
It is very important to have personal and professional development (PPD) plan for an
employee in order to have lifelong growth and it helps to encourage the learning. Personal and
professional development assists to meet the challenges in order to achieve objectives and
goals. PPD plan provides actual understanding of required skills of an employee and utilising
the resources, the employees can grab the professional development in organisational life. This
study aims to demonstrate the acquired knowledge in understanding the professional and
personal skills that are needed to achieve the career objectives. In this study, my career
objectives to manage, organise and practice will be discussed in order to improve my
performance.
I have been working in one of the Hilton Hotels in the UK, Double Tree in Ealing for last
few months. I have been working there as Assistant Hotel Manager. Hilton Hotels and Resorts
is a global brand and it serves in a worldwide basis. It is in the Hospitality industry and most
importantly, it has hotels in more than 570 locations in worldwide. The parent organisation of
Double Tree Hilton is the Hilton Worldwide. Headquarter of Hilton Hotel is in Virginia. In the UK,
it has several hotels and I have been working in Ealing. This hotel is a four-star hotel with
polished restaurant provides services like food, lodging, restaurant, accommodation and Wi-Fi
(Doubletree3.hilton.com 2017). My role in the organisation is to help the Hotel Manager in
planning in accommodation and catering. I also help the organisation in marketing and
promoting the business. I participate in the discussion of financial plans and budget.

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Task 1
1.1 Assess theapproaches to self-managed lifelong learning
It has been observed that self-managed learning is mostly helpful in knowing different
things and this process provides assistance in working diversified working environment (Arends
2014). Self-managed learning can be learned through observing a business, researching the
business environment and analysing the problems within oneself.
Attending seminars and conferences is one of such wayof self-managed learning as in
these seminars and conferences; people share their thoughts, experiences and ideas. Listening
to these ideas, one can learn and improve the professional and personal skills. Communicating
with other people in conferences can improve the confidence in speaking and learning new
things (Benson et al. 2014).
People can learn so many new concepts through social networking sites as a virtual community
or local community post and share many interesting videos and thoughts. Individuals can like
and follow many motivational and self-learning pages in order to get an update on self-managed
learning. In this regard, people should aware of meta-learning as it makes conscious and
understanding better of one’s own learning.
In addition, the internet is another medium through which one can learn related to one's
study, they can improve their shortcomings. The Internet has unlimited sources of information
on self-learning and it provides knowledge that people do not know earlier (Cottrell 2015). They
can access many websites, article and books on management studies and can learn their
interests.

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1.2 Proposing methods through whichpeople’s lifelong learning in professional and
personal contexts could be facilitated
Personal SWOT
Personal SWOT analysis is a way in order to understand one’s own strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The person can assess the weaknesses and through
which they can encourage their vulnerabilities in order to improve the career. The persons do
not need to depend on the other person in order to judge the weaknesses and threats; they can
identify these by themselves.
Self-reflection
Self-reflection is related to the inner-motivation of a person to identify the good things as
well as bad things in previous experiences from own life. The person can self-reflect the area in
which he/she needs to improve. As stated by Drissen and Van Tarwijk(2013), self-reflection
helps to develop in the areas of improvement and try to make better in a career.
Continuous learning
Continuous learning is a process to learn from own experiences and occurrences. This
continuous learning can be applied to a team, individuals or in a whole organisation. This is one
of the key points that help an individual to gather the lifelong learning in a successful way to
achieve the goals. Individual’s understanding depends on skills, talents, thinking and knowledge
and the environment through which he/she develops.
SSDL model of self-learning
Stage Learner Tutor Instances
Stage One Dependent Authority coach Feedback,
Immediate,

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information lecture
Stage Two Interested Motivator, guide Goal setting
learning
Stage Three Involved Facilitator Discussion
facilitated by
teachers, seminar
Stage Four Self-directed Consultant Dissertation,
internship and
study-group
Table 1: SSDL Model of self-managed learning
(Source: Hill et al. 2016)
Effective leadership
Effective leadership can be defined as interpersonal dynamics that helps the persons to
influence others. The leaders in an organisation or in the team can influence on the members
and they can influence on education, thinking perspectives, cultural and tackle the conditions
(Moon 2013).
1.3 Reviewing the advantages of self-managed learning to organisations and individuals
Self-managed learning can help a person in various ways as people can aware and
control of learning.
Communication
Through self-managed learning, individuals learn different things from books, articles, social
networking and seminars. This learning helps the individuals to improve the communication
skills as the learning reflects on the communication process. The individuals can share their

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ideas in an effective way as they have enough knowledge and ideas on the field they are in
through continuous learning (Pedler 2015).
Presentation
Attending seminars and doing the self-managed learning increase the confidence level and
communication that would be effective in conducting the presentation. Attending conferences
also helps in the present the presentation in front of many people. In my workplace, I have to
conduct the presentation in front of guests and attending seminars helps me to enhance the
speaking style.
For the organisations, self-managed learning helps in many ways.
Team working skills
Successful organisations facilitate the teamwork in the organisation as the management
encourages the employees to work within a team. In each day the employees learn different
things from on-the-job training in Hilton hotels and the employees are given motivation in
working in a team as well.
Hilton hotel also motivates the employees to start self-development programme as it is
innovative, positive and self-assured. The managers in the organisation have helped me to gain
substantiate enthusiasm, behaviour and concentration in the workplace. This helps the
organisation to provide customer satisfaction.

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Task 2
2.1 Evaluating owncompetencies and skills oforganisational objectives and professional
standards
I have been working in Hotel Hilton that is in Ealing and my job profile is Assistant
Manager in this hotel. My job is to help the managers of the hotel in managing the day-to-day
operation of the hotel work according to the proposed standard of the hotel. In addition, Hotel
Hilton is a well-known name in the hospitality sector and I always try to train myself in a way that
my work must touch the benchmark of the organisation. I have been using the self-evaluation
method and I try to collect the feedback from the managers of the hotel who are in this sector for
a long time. I have identified some of the aspects in which I need to develop myself, leadership,
management and communication.
In my workplace, it is needed to demonstrate the competency in communicating inefficient
manner that can portray the high quotient of professionalism in front of management and
customers. Skill competency is required in the field of hospitality and I acquired an internship in
the field of customer service work.
Strengths Planning
Analysis
Knowledge of professional standards
Knowledge of global standards
Managing resource
Internship in the same sector
Weaknesses Communication
Time management

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Decision-making
Holdover different languages
Finance based knowledge
Opportunities Knowledge that can support to gain higher position in the
organisation
Confidence
Encourage in learning
Meet organisational goals
Threats Changes in the process of organisation
Follow the organisational benchmark
Changes in hospitality sector
Involvement in technologies
Customer satisfaction issues
Table 2: Personal SWOT analysis
(Source: Self-developed)
2.2 Identify own development needs and the activities required to meet them
As I am the assistant manager of the hotel, my role is to plan the daily-based operation,
accommodation management and catering management. I participate in the meeting of the
managers when they discuss budgeting and financial planning of the organisation. Moreover, I
put my view on the marketing of the hotel in order to increase the customer-base of the hotel in
the UK. SWOT analysis and feedback from the managers help me to find the places where I
need improvement and I need to take up different activities in order to improve me.
Communication 1. Listening to the opposite persons
2. Improve in non-verbal communication, such as body

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language, body gesture and eye-contact
3. Show friendliness
4. Increase Confidence
5. Empathy towards others
6. Respect for other people
7. Learn different languages
Time management 1. Know the time I can do my work
2. Eliminate the distraction in workplace
3. Stick to deadline in work
4. Identify the work that needs attention
5. Know the nitty-gritty related to the work
Decision-making 1. It is needed to know the pros and cons of decision
2. Research on the topic
3. Evaluate the significance of the subject
4. Narrow down the options
5. Get the opinions that are well-informed
6. Legal knowledge
Leadership qualities 1. Focus on work
2. Act as mentor to the employees and help others
3. Lead the work by setting examples
4. Providing the opportunities in the workplace by growth
example
5. Core knowledge in work field
6. Reading books
Table 3: Development needs and activities

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(Source: Self-developed)
2.3 Recogniseimprovement scope to meet present and future defined requirements
Development
opportunities
Current rating Action for development to reach future
needs
Desired
rating
Time management 3 In order to develop the skills, I will
utilise the previous planning and
scheduling process. I future, this time-
management skills will make me
believable in my professional life.
4
Leadership 3 I will study about leaders’ biographies
and I will observe the activities of my
senior leaders and managers of my
workplace.
5
Communication 2 I will join in communication skills as a
crash course that can improve
workplace communication. I will
provide undivided attention to my
work and I will listen to others
carefully.
5
Team working 4 I will encourage the staffs to work in a
team. I will also listen to my managers
by taking time in participating in
meetings.
5
Table 4: Development opportunities and activities

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(Source: Self-developed)
2.4 Devising a personal and professional development (PDP) plan based on recognised
requirements
Needs Identified Actions to be taken Resources required Timeframe (Short-
mid and long-term)
Time management Scheduling of plan
Take actions daily
No delays
To-do list
Time management
strategy
Sticker on the cubicles
Online courses
Within 3 months
(Short-term)
Leadership Improve
communication
Know the fellow
employees
Confidence level
Know the ideas of job
roles
Podcasts
The growth shows
Great books
Great journals
Feedbacks
Within 6 months
(Mid-term)
Communication Short courses in
communication
Confidence to talk in
front of all
Identify the flow of
communication
Develop listening skills
Internet resources
Books
Colleagues
Within 6 months
(Mid-term)
Team working Identify the team Internet sources Within 12 months

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members
Develop bonding with
team members
Showing empathy
Online tests (Long-term)
Table 5: Personal and Professional development plan
(Source: Self-developed)
Task 3
3.1 Analysing the methods and activities that are needed to implement the plan
In order to develop the personal and professional qualities, the implementation of the
development plan is very necessary. I will undertake the various activities in order to perform
effectively in the workplace.
In maintaining work-life balance by managing the personal and professional
development plan, it will be very difficult for me to focus on my career growth. In this regard,
daily meditation can help me. Reading helpful books and articles on the subjective area can
help me in focusing on my career. In order to increase my mental strength it is needed for me to
do meditation and it can enhance my concentration level as well.
In following the PDP plan, I need to find a mentor who can check my progress through the plan.
I have a set of activities on short, medium and long-term basis; the mentor can help me to go
with my plan. Hilton Hotel Success Manager can be my monitor who can help me to go
smoothly my flow of learning. I have mentioned my resources that could help me to achieve the
personal growth.

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The training process is necessary for achieving the personal growth and it can help me to gain
the success according to propose a plan. I am going to take training on leadership and
communication to sharpen myself. I will undertake online tests and courses to develop myself.
As opined by (Nahavandi 2016), training can help one to get the desired objectives in the
workplace.
3.2 Undertaking and document development activities
Objective Skill competency Self-assessment To-do list
To improve
communication
Enhance the
confidence
Average Learn more than one
language
Real-time feedback
collection
To improve leadership
quality
Increase core
knowledge
Increase negotiation
skills
Increase empathy
Good Lifelong learning
Improve interaction
Decision-making
To improve
professional
knowledge
To interact with
seniors
Attend meetings
Average Gain knowledge of
professional standard
Time-management
Team working
Leadership
Time management To finish the work on
desired time
Poor Planning
Scheduling
Table 6: Undertake and document the planning

14PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
(Source: Self-developed)
3.3 Analysing on own learning with original objectives set in the progressive plan
I have enhanced in the specific regions like correspondence in various languages,
arranging and basic leadership as indicated by expected rating standard, yet at the same time,
there are a few qualities that should be improved. With a specific end goal to increase higher
position at work put, I need to attempt more endeavours as per designing of the plan. To
encourage investigation of advancement, I will gather input from the staff individuals and guide
that will assess the change and roll out improvements in the arrangement. Moreover, through
this investigation of criticism, I got recognised that time-administration; a group working as well
as initiative are the ranges that are not up to the normal standard. In this scenario, I will roll out
improvements in the advancement design; incorporate diverse exercises to support the
aptitudes. Aside from that, some positive criticisms, I have increased through after the
improvement plan. These kinds of improvement can help me to meet the personal and
professional goals.
3.4 Updating the development plan that is based on received feedback
I have made a few changes in the development plan to make my ultimate development plan
and these changes have been done according to the advice of my fellow colleagues and self-
evaluation.
Skills required Lack Action plans Timeframe
Team working Distribution of work
and support through
communication gap
Interaction process
needs to initiate
12 months
Leadership Guiding the team Read books 6 months

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members with intrinsic
motivation
Observe the
managers
Understand the
requirements
Time management Finish the works on
time
Scheduling the works
with planning
3 months
Communication Confidence and
listening skills
Gain knowledge in
throwing of words
Interpersonal
communication
6 months
Table 7: Updated PDP plan
(Source: Self-developed)
Task 4
4.1 Selecting solution to work based problems
In my workplace of Hilton Hotel in Ealing, this hotel has been facing the issues of high
employee turnover and that has been affecting the quality of services and operations. Senior
managers of the hotel are trying to take measure by considering the employees' issues. The
senior managers of the hotel have arranged a meeting in which they were asking about the
solving the employees' issues. I have provided two major solutions to solve the employees'
issues. Reward and incentives can solve the issue of employees' leaving the hotel as this can
encourage the employees to perform well and stay longer in the organisation (Oslen 2015). In
the hotel industry, the pressure of work is high and employees can expect proper allocation
work at right time. The employees may consider workload and stress in the workplace that has

16PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
been resulted in leaving the hotel. Top management must think over in redistribution of work
pressure.
Hotel Hilton has also been facing the issue of customer satisfaction and it results in lower
number of online booking from domestic and international level. On the booking site, the
customers are providing grievances that lead to the lower booking in accommodation. The
management of the Hilton in Ealing needs to manage online presence and extensive marketing
in social media can solve the issues. Providing training to the staff can also solve the issues
with guest satisfaction. The guests have their own expectation; reach towards guests’
expectation is needed.
4.2 Communicating in various styles and appropriate manner on many levels
In the Hotel Hilton, communication is seen in top-down approach as the communication
flows from top to down. As opined by Pedleret al. (2013), in a vertical structure organisation,
communication comes from top management and it has to listen to the staff in lower level. This
communication can be forwarded to intranet software, online media and notice or in vocal.
Communications in Hotel Hilton consist of mainly three levels:
Strategic levels:
In Hotel Hilton, there are top managers who take the decisions and they pass the
decisions to the middle level of employees. The top management takes the decision in financial
levels and corporate level also. This type of communication is mainly done through meetings,
memos and intranet.
Middle level:
When a communication is fixed by the top managers, it is now the role of managers to
enforce this on the lower level of employees. In Hotel Hilton at Ealing, the top managers provide

17PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
feedback to headquarter. This type of communication is done through meeting and
presentation.
Operational level:
In making success to the strategies or communication of the top management, the
managers arrange all the facilities to each division. Managers and staff need to do the work in
functional level by implementing the communication in operational level. Operational activities
are related to the marketing, production, personnel management and office management.
4.3 Evaluating and using effective time management strategies
In the hospitality sector, time management is important as it manages the delivery of
services and maintains the functions. In the hospitality sector, it is all about to provide customer
services. In time management strategy, I recommend the senior level management to take
Gantt Chart in forwarding planning in any project it provides efficient distribution of time
management in any work.
Moreover, scheduling strategy that helps the planning done in an efficient way and one
can add an extra column in scheduling by contingency plan (Reynolds 2014). Hotel Hilton in
Ealing can assign one work to someone as per the quality and skills and ask him/her to
complete the work on time.
Prior planning is another strategy in making any event, daily function and operation
based work. Managers of the hotel can make a plan to complete the work with distributing the
work to the assigned employees.
Task 5
(Refer to PPT)