Improve Communication Skills for Business Success

This assignment focuses on improving communication skills and emotional intelligence for effective business dealings. Over the next five months, the student will work on long-term objectives to enhance decision-making skills and learn strategies to improve problems-solving abilities. Additionally, the student aims to overcome hesitations in interacting with others by focusing on their shy nature and engaging with diverse people.

Personal and Professional
Development

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Approaches to self-managed learning..............................................................................1
1.2 Lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts..................................................2
1.3 Benefits of self- managed learning to the individual and organization............................3
4.1 Solutions to work-based problems...................................................................................4
4.2Communication in a variety of styles and appropriate manner at various levels..............5
4.3 Effective time management strategies..............................................................................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Own current skills and competencies against professional standards and organizational
objectives................................................................................................................................6
2.2 Own development needs and the activities required to meet them..................................7
2.3 Development opportunities to meet current and future defined needs.............................7
2.4 Personal and professional development plans..................................................................7
3.1 The processes and activities required to implement the development plan.....................8
3.2 Development activities as planned...................................................................................8
3.3 Own learning against original aims and objectives set in the development plan.............8
3.4 Development plan based in feedback and evaluation.......................................................9
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................11
ANNEXURE 1...............................................................................................................................12
ANNEXURE 2...............................................................................................................................13
ANNEXURE 3...............................................................................................................................14
.......................................................................................................................................................15
ANNEXURE 4...............................................................................................................................16
ANNEXURE 5...............................................................................................................................16

INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development is a learning process of an individual to enhance
his/her skills. It defines the best activities which can improve knowledge and skills of employees
in an organization. The main purpose of personal and professional development process is to
improve the personality of an individual as a whole. It can define the best plan to achieve their
own personal goals and evaluate innovative process to develop their personality in an appropriate
manner. It also includes all learning opportunities and skills which can help to meet the
organizational goals and objectives in the most effectual manner (The difference between
personal and professional development, 2014). This report is based on the self-managed learning
and enhance lifelong learning in personal development which assist in achieving organizational
goals. Present report involve different plans like training and development process to motivate
their employees to achieve goals and objectives and improve their performance in marketplace.
In the below mentioned report define the development plan which helps in achieving the
personal and professional goals in appropriate manner.
TASK 1
1.1 Approaches to self-managed learning
Self-managed learning is an effective mode to define personal learning which is managed
by an individual. It is reflect to organization to evaluate to improve programs which is managed
by itself in effective manner. It is an important process to take the initiate by individuals in an
organization. Self-managed learning includes different approaches to analyse problems and
define the best process of business to define that what is going on in organization.
Seminars and Conferences- Self learning managed define seminar and conference
approach it is a best way to increase personal skills. With the help of sharing personal ideas and
experiences improve tier personality and confidence. It is a best tools which is helps in
presenting their new and innovative ideas in front of another people. It can help in become more
confidence that is assist to speaking in the public.
Setting goals: In this approach it define organizational goals and objectives. For their it
develop the specific as well as unique skills in every employee so that they are able to achieve
setting goals in appropriate manner (PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PLANS, 2012).
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Strategic approach: This process of self managed learning maintain as well as build the
mind set of the individuals all the complex situations which arise in organization process and
also find the better solution in appropriate manner (Bolton, 2010).
Social network- By using social network employees of M&S show new and creative
things in market place and improve their personal skills as well as performance of the company.
It is a best way to share their ideas and information to another people that is more helpful to the
people to increase their own skills and get more success.
Internet- Now days the more popular amount of data which is used by the whole nation to
completed their work in less time period. It is a best technology in world to gain more knowledge
to improve their skills and personality.
In another word individuals use different styles to improve their skills and knowledge like visual
(pictures, symbols), Aural (musical things), Verbal (with the help of words), Physical (body
sign).
1.2 Lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts
Lifelong learning is a process of personal analysis of an individuals which can maintain
good confidence and also improve their communication skills. It can also help to build relation
with another people (Brody and Hadar, 2011). With the help of lifelong learning an individuals
can improve their talent and resolve their personal issues in company to get higher success in
appropriate manner. There are some main and important points which is followed by the M&S :
Self evaluation and analysis: According to this every person define their own strength and
weakness so that they effectively work on it and enhance their skills and knowledge in effective
way.
Collaboration continuous learning: According to this process the manager of the company
manage their team and their employees and also provide same guidance to perform their task.
The important benefit of this process is that all the team members are different so that they
exchange their ideas and opinion form each other which assist in development of employees
skills and knowledge to find better solution in effective way.
Communication and relationship: For reducing all conflicts in business organization, effective
communication and relationship\ is more important. These assist in maintaining positive
relationship among all the employees in appropriate manner and get higher success at
marketplace (Forte and Flores, 2014).
2

Leadership: According to this, leaders are an important person in organization whop lead
individuals and group of people to motivate to perform their task effectively and get positive end
result in appropriate manner (Kalén and et. al., 2010). In organization effective leadership assist
in improving overall performance of the company which contribute in achieving its goals and
objectives.
1.3 Benefits of self- managed learning to the individual and organization
Self- managed learning is important tool to develop personal skills of an individual to
attain best success in Mark and Spencer. It can also help in organization to setting the goals and
objectives in effective manner. Self-learning is a positive process of an individual to develop
their skills and communication which is related to the organization objectives to attain best
success in marketplace.
Benefits for individuals:-
 Confidence- Self managed learning is one of the best process to improve confidence level
of an individual. Confidence level can motivate employees to face any problems and
solve it easily and get best result in an organization. It can help to interact with another
people and share their ideas and experience in public (Kumari, 2011).
 Personality development- Self- managed learning is essential process of an individual to
improve their personality level which can attract large number of customers to attain best
success in marketplace.
 Increase income- Personality development is also helps in increasing the income of an
individuals because individual do best work in company then they earn more income in
effective way.
Benefits to Mark and Spencer:-
 Decision-making- Self managed learning is also important to M&S take best decision
regarding their process to attain higher success in marketplace.
 Problem solving- A person with improved manager skills can resolve various issues that
company faced in their business operation like decrease sale, profit issues and product
quality.
 Team management- Self managed learning is beneficial to manage team work skills and
maintain employee’s activities to get more success in appropriate manner (Lago, 2010).
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 Motivation- it is important to an organization to motive their employees to do work
effectively and also encourage uneducated people to attain personal objectives and goals.
Manager of M&S motivates their employees by conducting various programs so they
can remove their shortcoming and become specialist of a particular field (Lago, 2010).
4.1 Solutions to work-based problems
In organization at the time of working an organization the person face many problems. In
another term the large number of competitors is a major problem in market place. When new
player in an industry enter it crate serious trouble at workplace (Bolton, 2010). so that it is more
important for manager of the organization to evaluate as well as identify all the problems and
also fine the better solution to reduce conflicts and improve overall performance of the company
as well as its workers. There are some important problems which faced by the M&S workers are
as follows:
Collaborative of working: In business organization the main problem is lack of communication
and coordination among all the employees which create more obstacles in their process. This
problems increase the operation cost which affect to the company profitability. It is important
responsibility of manager of the company to find better solution to resolve it effectively.
Through effective use of available resources in firm helps in maintain effective coordination
between employees. Unnecessary roles and regulations also create obstacles among employees.
Solution of problem: It is essential for the company to resolve all the problems which assist in
increasing overall productivity as well as performance of the company. Effective solution can
not affect the company activities. There are some appropriate solution to solve communication
problems which arise among every employees:
 Improving as well as developing communication channels: In this the main and important
responsibility of manager to focus on effective use of communication channels which
assist in reducing the conflicts in organization activities (López‐Pastor, Monjas and
Manrique, 2011).
 Maintain and manage team work: According to this, the main focus of manager of the
company to motivate their employees and team workers so that they contribute in
achieving positive results in appropriate manner. This helps in increasing skills and
knowledge to fine better solution of the problems in better way.
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To solve these problems and barriers have to need some solution to improvement their
performance in appropriate manner.
4.2Communication in a variety of styles and appropriate manner at various levels
In today's complex business environment lack of communication is a big issue among
employees which reduce the productivity and also increase the operation cost of the firm. There
are some various type of communication which assist in transferring the information in all level
of organization.
Verbal communication: In this style it define as well as include many style of words and
symbols which used in sending information from one person to another (Maskit, 2011). This
style is more formal which is sued by the lower level workers to send their information to upper
and middle level about operation process. It is more important to the sender that they should be
use effective and simple symbols so that receiver easily understand the purpose behind the
message.
Non verbal communication: It include body language, gesture which is used in sending
the message to another person.
Written communication; This type of communication process used by the top level
management to float their important information in front of all the employees. This process is
more formal and the sender write a message and send to the receiver in formally.
Public communication: This type of communication used by the sender in front of large
number of public by using oral and give speech to send their message.
The another style of communications are :
Assertive: It is an effective skills which related to the core communication in order to
increase the skills and self esteem of the individuals in order to improve overall personality of
the person in effective manner (Mitchell, 2013).
Aggressive: It is related to the physically and verbally which helps in individuals to
expressing their feeling in front of other person.
4.3 Effective time management strategies
Manage time is more important for the every individuals as well as organization to
achieve higher success. It is one of the important thing which assist in making successful person.
5

It the individual use their time effective so that it increase the chance of achieving competitive
advantage. So that time management is more important to achieve positive results and
appropriate success. There are some time management strategies which is follows by the M&S
to take competitive place in marketplace:
Set goals and objective on priority: It is essential for the manager to manage effective time and
set its goals and objectives accordingly. Manager define best direction to their employees so that
they can easily performed their activities in order to achieve competitive advantage in
appropriate manner.
Better organization of available resources: It is performed by the manager of the company to
maintain all the available resources in effective way so that they can able to increase maximum
output (Rikard and Banville, 2010).
Scheduling: It is more important for the manager of the company to make and prepare effective
schedule of every task which is evaluated by the workers in order to achieve its goals in
systematic manner.
Time bound: Define as well as setting time for all activities is more important for the company
because it contribute in getting positive end results in effective way.
Proactive: In this Approach the manager of M&S evaluate the gap between actual skills and
standard skills of the employees which aid in achieving organization goals and objectives ion
appropriate time period.
Focused: In this manager of the company define whole activities which is performed by the
employee in same direction to achieve appropriate success in effective manner.
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TASK 2
2.1 Own current skills and competencies against professional standards and organizational
objectives
Self-assessment is a very important process to develop my own personality which is relate
to the professional standards to attain higher success and achieve best goals and objective
in an organization in appropriate manner. One of the most important quality that I passes,
is that I am improving my knowledge and work quality continuously which is good in
formal and informal workplace. For this I make a CV description which assist in me to
achieve organizational goals and objectives ion appropriate manner.2.2 Own development
needs and the activities required to meet them
It is very important to define the personal and professional needs which is improve the
learning skills that can helps in doing specific job in an organization. It is an effective process
which include individual strength and weakness which aid in enhancing the overall performance
in appropriate manner and get better results at workplace. Own development needs of the person
which include various skills and ability that have to be in a person so that they perform well and
achieve its results. All the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and treats describe the person
needs and requirement to develop their performance in effective manner.
2.3 Development opportunities to meet current and future defined needs
At the time of examine my own strength and weakness I have to analysis regarding my
recent and future demand which is define my own development of an opportunities. Define need
plan of an individual is more important to develop their personal goals and objectives in
appropriate manner.
Current needs Future needs
With the help of self assessment I have to
remove my hesitation while infracting with
other people so that I can share my own ideas
easily friendly with other. Anger management
is one area where a lot of work is needed to be
done in current scenario because it impact
complete operation of business
at the time of analysing my strength and
weakness I have to study regarding my needs
and wants which is required in future time
period to improve their own personality.
There are some future needs which is improve
my own personality in effective manner
I have to be a strong person to face any
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problems and resolve it easily in future to get
personal goals and objectives.
Learn how to take active decision by taking all
the essential factors in consideration.
2.4 Personal and professional development plans
Growth plan is very important to resolve the problems and weakness to improve my
personal skills and knowledge. Development plan assist in avoiding various obstacles that arises
at the time of implementation of organizational goals. Personal and professional development
plan is more important for the individuals to enhance their skills and abilities in appropriate
manner. All learning and current needs of the individual define the capability to perform their
work and get positive results to improve their qualities in appropriate manner. Communication,
leadership and motivational skills of the individuals aid in increasing the overall performance at
workplace in order to achieve better results.
3.1 The processes and activities required to implement the development plan
Plan is more important for every individuals as well as organization which define various
activities and process that implement in the organizationals process effectively. So that it is more
important for the manager of the company to update their plan on regular basis in order to
achieve appropriate results. Implement the development plan is more effective because it aid in
increasing the workers performance by performing their best at workplace. It in effective process
to determine the gap between skills and available resources which is establishing in the business
to fulfil workers needs to improve the overall performance of the company in effective manner.
3.2 Development activities as planned
After making a development plan then make a effective document to define activities to
attain best success as well as personal goals and objectives. There are some points of
documentation of a planned with aid in evaluating the various development activities in order to
enhance their capability as well as ability at workplace. All the development action is depend on
the personal plan that focus on organization goals and objectives to evaluate the overall
performance of the individuals.
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3.3 Own learning against original aims and objectives set in the development plan
From my point of view I have best quality to involve with another people easily and share
their views with other people to get more knowledge. It is not simple to operate multinational
organization like Mark and Spencer which is involve different type of organizational skills to
develop their goals and objectives. I have positive qualities to develop goals and objective of an
organization:
Current skills Grade Objective
Problem solving 2 Solve problems with the help of taking
best step to overcome hard position it is a
positive strength to faced complex
situation.
Decision maker 5 Best sense to take best decision.
Managing ability 4 Ability to deal with hard situation in an
organization
Innovator 3 Find innovative ideas by using creativity
of mind.
Resolve the business problems as well as
barriers.
Communication 4 I am good communicators so that I easily
communicate with my top level
management and my employee which
assist in to achieve all the targets of the
company.
3.4 Development plan based in feedback and evaluation
After study of development plan I have to know about my weakness with the help of
feedback strategy. After review, next step is to make changes in present scheme so necessary
changes can be done without wasting any time. This process is more important to find changes
9

and attain goals and objectives of an organization in appropriate manner. There are some plan
which is based on the review process:
firstly I have to change the strategy with the help of consulting more experienced person.
Enough capital is more important to to make development plan which can helps in achieving
goals and objectives and improve their performance in marketplace.
The last step is essentials to study about the internal and external factors so major term and
condition can be fulfilled according to plan.
CONCLUSION
In the above mentioned report it has been conclude that personal development plan and
set the effective plans which can help to enhance the personal and professional skills. Every
organization have to believes in improving the employees knowledge regarding their work
process and get best result to improve their performance. With the help of learning style and time
management theories manager improve their skills and also motivate their employees to perform
their task in appropriate manner and achieve positive end results.
10

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Avalos, B., 2011. Teacher professional development in Teaching and Teacher Education over
ten years. Teaching and teacher education. 27(1). pp.10-20.
Black, P. E. and Plowright, D., 2010. A multi‐dimensional model of reflective learning for
professional development. Reflective Practice. 11(2). pp.245-258.
Bolton, G., 2010. Reflective practice: Writing and professional development. Sage publications.
Brody, D and Hadar, L., 2011. “I speak prose and I now know it.” Personal development
trajectories among teacher educators in a professional development community. Teaching
and Teacher Education. 27(8). pp.1223-1234.
Forte, A. M. and Flores, M. A., 2014. Teacher collaboration and professional development in the
workplace: a study of Portuguese teachers. European Journal of Teacher Education.
37(1). pp.91-105.
Kalén, S. and et. al., 2010. Mentoring medical students during clinical courses: a way to enhance
professional development. Medical teacher. 32(8). pp.e315-e321.
Kumari, N., 2011. Personal therapy as a mandatory requirement for counselling psychologists in
training: A qualitative study of the impact of therapy on trainees’ personal and
professional development. Counselling Psychology Quarterly. 24(3). pp.211-232.
Lago, C., 2010. On developing our empathic capacities to work inter‐culturally and inter‐
ethnically: attempting a map for personal and professional development. Psychotherapy
and politics international. 8(1). pp.73-85.
López‐Pastor, V. M., Monjas, R. and Manrique, J. C., 2011. Fifteen years of action research as
professional development: Seeking more collaborative, useful and democratic systems for
teachers. Educational Action Research. 19(2). pp.153-170.
Mitchell, R., 2013. What is professional development, how does it occur in individuals, and how
may it be used by educational leaders and managers for the purpose of school
improvement?. Professional development in education. 39(3). pp.387-400.
Maskit, D., 2011. Teachers’ attitudes toward pedagogical changes during various stages of
professional development. Teaching and Teacher Education. 27(5). pp.851-860.
Rikard, G.L. and Banville, D., 2010. Effective mentoring: Critical to the professional
development of first year physical educators. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education.
29(3). pp.245-261.
Online
The difference between personal and professional development. 2014. [Online]. Available
through: <http://brayleinolearning.co.uk/blog/2014/october/09/what-is-the-difference-
between-personal-and-professional-development/>.
PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS. 2012. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.faculty.londondeanery.ac.uk/e-learning/assessing-educational-needs/
personal-or-professional-development-plans>.
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ANNEXURE 1
SKILL AUDIT
Description of a C.V:-
Name:
Address:
Mobile number:
Email address:
Carrier Objectives: To make as well as build a future carrier in your developing organization
so that it assist in improving my skills and knowledge and I also work in your organization with
more effectively in order to achieve targets.
Academic qualification:
 Graduate
 Master in marketing
Experience:
 Working in M&S from last one year
 Assistant manager in marketing
Strength:
 Ability to undertake research activity
 Able to face complex situations
 Leadership skills
 Team spirit
 Positivity in every situation
Declaration:
I fairly declare that all the information are true and pure.
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ANNEXURE 2
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Strength Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
I like take more
challenge and it is my
one of the best
strength.
Good communication
is also my positive
skills which is helps in
interact with another
people in order to
exchange my own
views in front of
peoples in effective
manner.
Learn new and
innovative things in
organization to attain
best success. I can
easily interact and
friendly with
colleagues.
Short tempered is one
of the negative point in
my own personality.
In my personal
development
indecisiveness in front
of other people is my
weakness and also less
power of taking
decision in my
personality
While doing and
performing the
particular task I feel
comfortable and free
to get more effective
result.
I also remove various
personal and
professional barriers
which can stop growth
of an individual.
I also set the job
opportunities to
unemployed person
and also establish best
company which is
provide job and
improve their
employee personality.
I make effective
chance to develop
personality to attract
number of customers.
According to this
analysis less capital is
a major problems to
get personal and
professional goals and
objectives.
With out capital I can
not attain success
because fund is a more
important to improve
their performance
level in an
organization.
13

ANNEXURE 3
SAMPLE PORTFOLIO
S.N. Learning
Objective
Current
proficienc
y
Target
proficienc
y
Developm
ent
possibility
Criteria
for
deciding
success
Time
scale
Evidence
1 Leadershi
p skill
Currently
I use
autocratic
style to
develop
my
leadership
skills.
Have to
develop
this skills
I needs to
use
democrati
c skills to
improve
my overall
personalit
y and
effective
lead my
team.
Learning
from my
top level
manageme
nt bout
leadership
and how
to lead
team in
appropriat
e manner.
Attain
effective
feedback
from
senior
managers.
1.5
weeks.
Top level
manageme
nt make
written
report.
2 Motivatio
nal skills
Having
negative
mind set
regarding
traditional
theories
that how
I need to
lean about
all the
theories
which is
used in
motivation
With the
help of
training
and
developme
nt
programs.
Needs to
motivate
their
employees
and they
have to
work
3 weeks Co-
workers
judgement.
14

to use in
motivatio
n.
al factors
but I have
to focus
on modern
approach
to evaluate
the same
at
workplace
in order to
motivate
my
workers.
under me.
3 Bettermen
t of
communic
ation
skills.
Less
knowledg
e
Language
style.
Read
books ,
novels.
Communic
ate with
higher
authorities.
2 weeks. Books and
novels.
15

ANNEXURE 4
PDP WITH TIME LINES
Goals Objectives Time duration
Short term goals I analysis my own recent goals and objectives
which can helps in improving my performance.
For example I have to work my
communication skills and on my shy nature.
This will help me in solving various problems
and effectively dealing with other persons.
4 to 5 Week
Long term goals From the plan I have understood that I need to
improve my emotional feeling for effective
business dealings. In business worlds there is a
no place for emotions and this will help me in
doing practical dealing and finding effective
solutions to business problems.
1 month
ANNEXURE 5
LEARNING LOG
Skills Description Time period
Communication
skills
I have to work on my long terms
objectives which define I given plan
the important need which assist in
make best decision in less time of
period. For this I go to watch video
5 Month
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and other motivational factors to
encourage my knowledge which leads
more than 3 to 4 month. I have to
follow the effective and best strategies
to improve their problems
Motivation skills After study of development plan I
also focused on my weakness like
communication skills which can helps
in interacting with other people to
attract more customers.
5 to 6 weeks
Hesitation I have to focus on my shy nature so I
can involve with different kind of
people and share my views and listen
their opinion.
2 week
s
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