Personal and Professional Development: A Self-Managed Learning Approach

This report explores the significance of personal and professional development through self-managed learning. It examines various approaches to self-directed learning, including social networks, bulletin boards, and seminars. The report also proposes ways to encourage lifelong learning in both personal and professional contexts, highlighting the benefits for individuals and organizations. Furthermore, it delves into the processes and activities required to implement a development plan, including documentation, reflection, and updating based on feedback and evaluation.

PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
LO1..................................................................................................................................................2
1.1 Evaluate approaches to the self managed learning................................................................2
1.2 Propose the ways in which lifelong learning in the personal and professional contexts can
be encouraged..............................................................................................................................4
1.3 Evaluate the benefits for self-managed learning to individual and organization..................6
LO3..................................................................................................................................................9
3.1 Discuss the processes and the activities that are required to implement the development
plan..............................................................................................................................................9
3.2 Undertake and document the development activities as planned........................................11
3.3 Reflect critically on the own learning against the original aims and objectives that are set
in development plan...................................................................................................................13
3.4 Update development plan based on the feedback and the evaluation..................................14
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................16
References......................................................................................................................................17

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Self-managed learning.....................................................................................................2
Figure 2: Bulletin board for self learning........................................................................................3
Figure 3: Impact of lifelong learning...............................................................................................4
Figure 4: Benefits to individual.......................................................................................................7
Figure 5: Benefits to organization...................................................................................................8

LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Professional and personal development document..........................................................11
Table 2: Updated development plan..............................................................................................14

Introduction
Developing personally and professionally is very essential part for securing the career by
learning from various sources. Self managed learning can be the major way for getting the things
learn by the self efforts that will increase the innovative ideas and the talent of an individual.
Personal development provides the clear idea of utilization of resources, taking the time for
completion of the tasks that can be managed by the self learning. This report will show the
various approaches of the self learning and it will also propose the ways in which the lifelong
learning will help in developing the person in personal and professional manner. The report will
discuss about the advantages that the organization and individual can gain from self directing
learning. This report will also focus on activities that are required by the individual to make
development plan and the documentation of various activities of plan will be undertaken in this
report. At last, the report will show about the reflection of owns performance for setting the aims
and objecting and the points that will be required to update the development plan.
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LO1
1.1 Evaluate approaches to the self managed learning
Self managed learning refers to the efforts that are being taken by an individual to learn different
ways and techniques through which various ideas and plans can be implemented and helps to
achieve personal growth as well as development of organization. Different organizations
manages and plan the programmes which help the employees in adjusting into the structure of
the firm and also takes charge for developing them in proper direction. For individual learning
first of all he needs to analyze what is important topic for increasing his skills that will help in
increasing the skills for production of the materials for his organization as an employee
(Cunningham, 2017). All the short term and long term goals must be calculated that should be
achievable in predefined time. Following are the approaches that can be sued by the self learner
for increasing the skills for career goals and they are as follows:
Figure 1: Self-managed learning
(Source: Use of Social Media, 2013)
Social Networks
Social network is the platform that is very useful these days. The range of various social
networks like twitter, Face book, etc are used as the basic source of information for the learner as
it provides different kind of information that is very helpful in increasing the personal skills of
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the person. These sites help the people to connect with each other which help them in sharing the
information on social platform.
Bulletin Boards
This is the best way of learning the things by managing and making notes, scheduling the tasks
in attractive manner and defining the goals that needs to be achieved by the person. The bulletin
boards are very easier to make and can be managed properly which directly impacts on the
learning style of the learner (Peacock and Cowan, 2016). The information or the idea that is
being learned by the person must be added to the bulletin board so that it becomes easier for the
learner to achieve the career goals by remembering the way of learning something.
Figure 2: Bulletin board for self learning
(Source: Elizabeth Stein, 2015)
Seminars and Conferences
This is the best way for learning and presenting the skills in front of the team. It is very effective
that helps in presenting the knowledge to other people that had been learned new and fresh
things. Seminars help the person to make more confident so that he or she can speak in front of
public also which will also helps in developing the presentation skills for achieving the
organizational skills (McConnell, 2014).
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1.2 Propose the ways in which lifelong learning in the personal and professional contexts can be
encouraged
Lifelong learning refers to the regular learning from the personal capacity that contributes
directly to the professional contexts. Personal assessments can be taken by the individual which
is very common way to evaluate the personal strength and weaknesses from the lifelong learning.
This type of approach of lifelong learning helps to increase the communication skills of the
person and builds the confidence and morale of the individual (Quendler and Lamb, 2016). There
are many way in which the person can increase the learning capabilities and achieve the career
goals for the organization which are as follows:
Figure 3: Impact of lifelong learning
(Source: Reflection of Lifelong Learning, 2012)
Kolb Model – This model helps the individual to gain the professional and personal objects by
constant learning. The knowledge can be gained by transforming the experiences that have
earned by the individual during his course of life. The model includes observations, knowledge
from experiences and practical approaches.
Self Evaluation – This is the best method for calculating one’s own performance from lifelong
learning. This can be done through SWOT analysis which includes the person’s strengths,
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weaknesses, threats and the opportunities that helps in learning the new skills, by following
various approaches (Mega, et.al, 2014).
Good Relationships and Communications – The self learning helps the person to increase the
better relationships with the co-staff that helps to grew by the method of self learning. The
person can also increase its communication skills with the staff that helps in personal growth and
development of an individual.
Motivation – The individual must be self motivated so to complete the things and tasks for
lifelong learning. For getting self motivated the person can learn new skills and then should
implement those in the organization which will help them in getting bonuses and promotion
which will foster the career of an individual.
Achievement – The achievement can be captured by achieving something new in creative
manner, which will let the person feel self confident and self satisfied (Broadbent and Poon,
2015). The lifelong leaning helps the person to increase the work efficiency through defining the
goals and observing the results. The lifelong learning helps to increase the mind ideas and lets to
add more achievement by creating skills and techniques for achievement.
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1.3 Evaluate the benefits for self-managed learning to individual and organization
There are various benefits and advantages that can be analyzed from self managed learning. This
can benefit the organization as well as the individual in developing personally and
professionally. It helps the person for making proper decisions regarding the organization and its
operations. Self-managed help the person by making them full of calibre that enhance the skills
of solving all the problems and personal experience also fosters the growth (Cunningham and
Bennett, 2017). From the self managed learning various benefits can be drawn which are
described below.
Benefits to Individual
Presentation Skills – By group discussions and seminars the individual grows its skills in
presenting the knowledge in front of the people which makes him strong for speaking in public
and maintains the growth in professional and personal context.
Team Work Skills – The working in a proper coordinated team helps the individual to grow its
skill in enhancing the style of working in a team. The team work pays best bonuses and rewards
to the individual at the time of achievement by the organization (Bayley, et.al, 2016).
Communication Skills – Self managed learning helps the person to increase its writing and
interaction skills that helps in achieving the objectives of the organization. This skill helps the
person to work independently and sharing of new concepts will be fostered by the person for
growth purpose.
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Figure 4: Benefits to individual
(Source: Author)
Benefits to Organization
Increase in Responsibility – If the person is capable of getting the things done by the employees
and applies new ideas and information for completing the production part in the firm than has
been proves the person who is capable enough to achieve the higher responsibility which helps
him to pay back at the time of achieving the things.
Increase in Competency Level – The organization has more number of employees which have
the attitude of self learning helps the organization that can increase the competency level of the
organization and makes the employees strong enough to handle the tasks and objectives on their
own (Sithole, et.al, 2017).
Creation of More Effective Processes – Self learning helps the person and organization to
implement more number of innovative ideas that fosters the growth of the organization by
providing them more innovative ideas to the products and services that are being offered to the
customers for increasing the profits of organization.
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PresentationSkillsTeamWorkSkillsCommunicationSkills

Figure 5: Benefits to organization
(Source: Author)
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IncreaseinCompetnecyLevelIncreaseinResponsibilityCreationofMoreEffectiveProcesses

LO3
3.1 Discuss the processes and the activities that are required to implement the development plan
For bringing and implementing various improvements in the qualities of professional and
personal development, it is essential to make development plan which considers regular
operations of the organizations. The idea of development plan is not new, it is being widely used
in various industries that changes constantly for betterment of organization. Following are the
key points that are being required to implement the development plan:
Scope and Content – The plan must be prepared according to the scope and the content of the
organizational idea that has been prepared to achieve the higher success while planning the
development plan (Cunningham and Dawes, 2016).
Better Relation between PDP’s and their Links – For performing in better way in the job the
development plan must be created with focus and purpose that can be used for getting the next
step in achieving the career goals.
Support and Implementation – For reaching the organizational objectives, lot of communication
skills and support of training must be properly implemented. Self managed learning also needs
the re-thinking of the plans so that they can reach to the desired goals which affect the growth of
the organization.
Impact – The development plans that have been made should be properly implemented and the
impact of the plan can be analyzed so that if any of the changes are required than the plan must
be again revised properly. The impact can be also checked by the growth of the firm by
performing various tasks with self managed learning.
Employment Support – This is the major activity that needs the support while making the
development plan. The support of the staff also provides various ideas to make the development
plan which helps in initiating the best and correct idea of achieving the success of the
organization (Cummings and Worley, 2014).
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Education & Training – The development plan which will be prepared should have the ideas of
the educated and trained staff which will help in providing the best ideas that will also foster the
growth of the person and organization at the large scale that impacts the growth of the firm.
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3.2 Undertake and document the development activities as planned
The development activities can be documented properly so that the criteria for achieving the
success of the organization (Huczynski, 2017). For synchronizing the major aims and objectives
of the professional and personal development, it is necessary to undertake the following activities
for documenting these activities for marinating the balance for achieving the higher standard.
Table 1: Professional and personal development document
Development Needs Documenting the Activities
Interpersonal Context  Life-long learning
 Improving the interaction skills with staff
 Communication and decision making
Organizational Context  Collection of real time feedbacks
 Utilizing the resources
 Planning the working of team
 Anticipation and monitoring the requirement of staff
Professional Context  Management of time and functioning of HRM
 Collecting knowledge on professional development
 Distribution and planning of the resources
 Leadership and team working
Participation in Training  Motivating and encouraging the staff to attend the
training sessions
Creation of to-do-list  Meetings and conferences for discussions on
particular topic by jotting down the to-do-list
In the above table, following are the activities that need to be achieved in timelines and intervals
that have to be set forth with ourselves. Proper strategy and plan must be made to achieve these
activities which will help in gaining the desired results for the organization.
Personal and professional development requires various efforts that can be collected from self
managed learning that provides positive impact on the individual in professional terms.
Controlling and monitoring of these activities will help the person to change the desired activity
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whenever it is harmful for the growth of person. It just not only helps in achieving the aims and
objectives by the individual but it also checks the performance of the person so as to achieve the
personal development for increasing the career skills. Therefore, the development plan should be
made by using table and different activities that are necessary for completing the tasks which are
related to the professional and personal development (Megginson and Whitaker, 2017). The
activities must consider various sub-activities, strategy, measurement, progress, timelines which
helps in getting higher standard by monitoring the evaluation and feedback of the results.
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3.3 Reflect critically on the own learning against the original aims and objectives that are set in
development plan
For gaining higher status in my organization, I have initiated the steps to improve my skills from
self managed learning. Even I had also followed different activities that are being mentioned in
the development plan. For getting desired objectives I have tried my best by working on set of
skills and interpersonal calibre by following the activities from the timescale which has helped
me in getting the competitive advantage too at my working place. From the following
development plan, I have learned and improved in certain fields which include Interaction in
various languages, decision making and the planning for achieving the standard. For getting me
at best position I had made various efforts that have supported me to grow by taking reviews and
feedbacks from my staff members for evaluating my performance and changing the same
according to the requirement (Symanyuk and Deviatovskaja, 2015).
It is very essential for me to reflect and giving time to my personal and professional growth by
evaluation the working progress for achieving the goals, aspirations and ambitions. Evaluation
will logically provide me the thoughts, ideas, knowledge and experience that will help me in
applying improvement in my ideas for achieving the success in upcoming future. The plans and
aims will initially motivate me so that I can foster the growth by achieving the success in higher
terms of standard which will reflect my learning from self management. At the time of reviewing
the performance I have kept various points in my mind for achieving the organizational growth
that are as follows:
 Initial meeting preparation that includes the factors like what has been achieved till date?
This is necessary to ask for knowing the expectations of me and my team that thinks in
same direction (Feuz, et.al, 2015).
 Previous experience and knowledge will help in knowing about my talent and skills that I
had developed from past experiences and self managed learning. That includes the
question what have I done and what reward I have achieved?
This improvement has helped me to grow in better way and even I can bring more changes for
achieving the desired growth in developing personally and professionally.
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3.4 Update development plan based on the feedback and the evaluation
From the feedbacks and various evaluations, I have focused on those areas which require the
changed for achieving the standard success in developing my personal growth. The activities
need to be updated according to the change in needs and market trends of the customers which
requires the improvement in my learning skills and thoughts. For this updating of activities, I
need to make different changes in the professional and personal development plan so to revise
the ideas of achievement. The changes in the development plan has been done according to the
ideas and advice that have been collected from mentors and the staff members which are senior
to me and provides me the direction for bringing change in developing for better growth (Fallon,
et.al, 2015). The plan that has been updated is described under the following table which is
mentioned below:
Table 2: Updated development plan
Skills Points in Lacking Action Updated Time Requires
Team working Distributing and
supporting of the tasks
and operations
Require to improve the
communication and
interaction skills
2 months
Leadership quality Providing the proper
guiding and the
motivation for the staff
members of the
organization
It can be solved by
observing and reading
the way of working of
the senior staff.
2 months
Management of Time Achieving the tasks on
given deadlines and
timings
Maintaining the format
of achieving the tasks
by proper scheduling
4 months
Global standard
knowledge and idea
Calculating and
analyzing the new
trends and behaviour in
the functions of HRM
Online sources can be
used properly for
collecting and gaining
the knowledge and
information
2 months
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From the above table, the proper change and improvements must be implemented in the
development plan which will help in achieving the organizational growth (Göçer, et.al, 2015).
The plan for gaining success will help in increasing the skills of self managed learning and
individual learning which will foster the personal and professional development of the
individual.
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Conclusion
From the above report, it has been concluded that the self learning is very essential to increase
the development of person which makes the career strong. The report has described the
approaches and factors that are very important for self learning and can provide the growth at
local and organizational level. The report has also concluded about the benefits that can be
increased from self learning that provides the positive impact to organisation as well as to
individual. The report has also shown the activities that have been used to implement
development plan. At last, the report has updated the development plan and also reflected the
performances from the self learning.
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