Reflecting on Personal and Professional Development

The report highlights the importance of personal and professional development in enhancing skills and abilities for effective performance. It emphasizes the role of self-directed learning, continuing professional development, and action learning in fostering growth and improvement. The assignment also stresses the need for planning and organizing personal and professional development to achieve desired outcomes. Furthermore, it underscores the significance of building a learning organization through self-directed learning, collaboration, and innovation.

Personal and Professional
development
1

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
a) Individual own skills and competencies against professional standards and organizational
goals.............................................................................................................................................6
b) Personal and professional development needs........................................................................7
c) Development opportunities required to meet both current and future needs...........................8
d) Personal development plan to achieve intended goals............................................................9
e) Process and activities required to implement the development plan.....................................11
f & g) Document planned activities...........................................................................................11
h) Update the development plan based on feedback and evaluation ........................................12
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14
2

INTRODUCTION
In order to improve and enhance the individual capabilities it is essential to focus on
personal and professional development through rendering proper education and training at the
workplace (Black and Plowright, 2010). Professional development refers to the increasing the
knowledge and skills of individual that result in personal development as well as also result in
career advancement. It includes all types of possible learning opportunities, meetings and
informal learning opportunities situated in practice. This report discussed about the different
approaches to self-managed learning and the skills require to meet structural goals and
objectives. There are assortment of approaches related with professional development, including
coaching, consultation, mentoring, technical assistance and supervision. Individuals may take
part in such development because of an interest in lifelong learning, to improve and maintain
professional competence.
TASK 1
a) Approaches to self-managed learning
The best method to self-managed learning is to observe the present work of ASDA,
analyse all the problems and try to find out the environment learn efficiently. There are two
different learning styles that individuals possess-
Vark learning style-
 Visual- Individuals can prefer graphical form like diagrams, charts or symbols in ASDA
supermarket (Sweitzer and King, 2008).
 Auditory- Individuals that prefer auditory style can be in the spoken form like listening,
speaking.
 Reading and writing- Individual can gain learning through reading and taking notes.
 Kinaesthetic- Individual that prefer kinaesthetic learning style in ASDA can gain learning
through experience in the form of hands-on, tactile activities (Tomlinson, 2005).
Honey and Munford learning style
 Activists- It helps individuals to understand and involved in new experience of ASDA
supermarkets. Individual that prefer activists learning style are enthusiastic about gaining
new ideas (Beausaert, 2013).
3

 Reflectors- Individuals that prefer reflectors stand back and analyse the situation from the
different mindset. Individuals collect all the data of the products of ASDA supermarket
and then think about it carefully and then come up to the conclusions.
 Theorists- Individuals who prefer theorist’s style, think about the problems step by step.
They are analytical about their thinking rather than subjective or emotional. Individuals
have to use their skills and knowledge. They can offer interesting ideas for the new
ASDA food products (Glover and Law, 2005). Pragmatists- Individuals that prefer pragmatists are very social and down to earth.
b) Ways in which life-long learning would be encouraged
Learning is an essential component that supports an individual in enhancing and
amending their different skills and knowledge that support them in performing required tasks and
project in the effective manner. There are different ways through which a individual determine
their learning and development that is with the help of conducting SWOT analysis. This method
will support the in identifying different areas that require learning (Intrator, and Kunzman,
2007). Thus, there are different methods that supports an individual in encouraging their life-
long learning that is-1. Meetings and conference participation- For enhancing or amending the required skills
and knowledge an individual must focus on attending meeting and seminars that would
support in providing diverse knowledge regarding various topics to promote the
development of a individual.
c) Benefit of self-managed learning to the individual and to organization
There are several benefits of self-managed learning to an individual that assist in building
new learning skills and competencies that supports them in enhancing the performance in the
organization. It enhance their knowledge by learning new things and can become more confident
in speaking in public area (Teare and et.al., 2011). Further, it develops their presentation skills in
context of both organization and individual. However, by achieving learning skills it increase the
responsibilities too of the individual to the organization and it will create more interest and desire
to learn more and more in the organization. Individuals can enhance their knowledge by reading
newspapers, magazines too and by doing research and experiment in the organization. Benefits
of self-managed learning to the organization can be communication skills as if skills are good
4

then they can interact with the people effectively and should produce good delivery of service so
that cost can be minimized and profit get maximised in the organization. Therefore, it will
increase the performance in the organization (Kukulska-Hulme and Pettit, 2008).
d) One work based problem and their solution
Working as the newly appointed manager in Asda one of global discounted supermarket
chain in the UK faces different work-based problem like ineffective communication with their
staff those who are rendering services in the supermarket. Since, the individual has recently
joined the Asda supermarket as manager so they need to enhance their communication skills in
the effective manner so that they must easily communicate with there different staff members in
the proper manner (Sangster, 2010). To overcome the work based problem regarding ineffective
communication channel individual must require to provide a training sessions so that they may
get familiar regarding the environment and manpower of the Asda. However, manager of Asda
should also listen effectively and properly to overcome the communication problem.
e) Learning style to overcome the problem & communicate this information in an appropriate
manner at different level
There are different learning styles that would support me in overcoming the work based
problem that arises within the Asda (Throop and Castellucci, 2007). Therefore, I must focus on
auditory learning for overcoming the communication problem. To communicate this solution to
the work based problem there are different ways like; Strategic level: The strategic level provides direction to the organization and their
employees through formulating effective strategies. I must formally pass on the
information by using e-mail or letter. Tactical level: However, the tactical level is solely responsible for implementing the
framed strategy in the organization. Therefore, to communicate the solution of work
based difficulty at the tactical level I must adopt the verbal as well as written form of
communication (Duffy, 2005). Operational level: Operational level considered as the lower level that execute day to day
activities and tasks. However, it is essential for the respective to focus on impressive
communication instrument foe communicating with them. Thus, it will also result in
determining the required skills and abilities of employees.
5

f) Different time management strategies
It is all-important for us in developing effective plan of actions for managing the
individual time to balance the conflicting demands of time. Therefore, after determining different
ways for managing the time it will be beneficial for an individual yo manage their time and their
behaviour patters that would also result in reducing the stress level from the lives (Weeks, 2008).
There are different time management strategies that would support the individual in managing
their time that is scheduled the activities, Prioritizing the work, checklists, get organized etc.
From the above strategies prioritizing the work according to their urgency and
importance that would support the individual working in Asda. As this time management
strategy would support me in identifying the work and activities that are important and not so
important in the working lives. To prioritize Day-to-day operational activities of the Asda I must
focus on categorizing the activities into four different quadrants that is urgent, not urgent,
important and not important. By concentrating on different important ad urgent activities will
support me in completing my important tasks ad activities in the effective manner. However,
through prioritizing my activities would support me in managing my time as well as it will also
save my waste time so that I can perform other activities that are not so urgent and not so
important.
TASK 2
a) Individual own skills and competencies against professional standards and organizational
goals
There are different abilities and skills that I required to achieve the stated objectives ad
goals of Asda. Working as manager I must have various skills and capabilities that would
support me in rendering effective services within the organization. However, it will also support
me in executing the day-to-day operations of Asda that support me in enhancing the performance
of organization. There are varieties of skills that I need to meet the Asda objectives that is: Technical skills: It is essential for me to have technical skills to perform my job in the
effective manner. Technical skills will support me in managing my daily operations of
managing the variety of stocks in Asda supermarket. Moreover, with the help of technical
skills I can easily handle assorted range of merchandise as well as it also assists in
keeping the information regarding the purchases their products.
6

 Communication skills: Another essential skills that is required to meet the Asda goals
and objectives is effective communication skill that will support me in sharing different
thoughts and ideas to staff and different employees. With the help of effective
communication skills I can easily transmit the day to day activities among different staff
ad employees so that they can easily perform their work and satisfy the customers.
Furthermore, with the help of communication skills I can easily communicate with the
customers and take relevant feedback from them regarding their product ad services.
Name- Edward Cullen
Address- 45-A central London, UK
E-mail ID
Career qualification-
General manager with more that 5 years of experience in the departmental stores, have also
knowledge regarding the stock management as well as logistics.
Education Master of Business administration
Competencies 1. Fostering team work
2. Motivational support
3. Managing change
Key skills 1. Managing diverse team
2. collaborative skills
3. Leadership skills
4. Time management skills
5. IT skills
b) Personal and professional development needs
There are different developmental needs of an individual that have been identified so that
they should effectively plan to meet the required needs that is communication skills, IT skills etc.
that will support me in enhancing and amending my skills so that as manager I ca easily
7

contribute within the organization. There are different activities that would support in gaining
personal and professional development needs that is-
 Self-reflection: With the help of self-reflection techniques it can easily support me in
developing and amending my skills and different needs that support me in grooming my
personality. However, with the help of self-reflection technique I can easily find out
different field and areas that I need to develop and amend so that I should work properly
in the future.
 Personal leadership: with the help of personal leadership I must also attain different
personal and professional needs. However, personal leadership mainly focuses on team
development, teamwork and motivation, coaching and mentoring. It supports me to work
with broad potential by following self-mastery that result in gaining positive impact on
my development needs.
Needs Required activities Time period
Communication
skills
1. Open meeting of staff and
employees
2. Group discussion
3-4 weeks
IT skills 3. IT tools and equipment
4. Training sessions
1 month
c) Development opportunities required to meet both current and future needs
There are different development opportunities available for me to meet both
current as well as future required needs that support me rendering quality ad effective
services in the organization (Wilkins, 2007). However, working as manager in the reputed
organization that is Asda I have different skills that support me in rendering proper
services.
Needs CURRENT ACTION PLAN FUTURE ACTION PLAN
Communication Skills The development opportunities for
meeting the current need is that I
must focus on attending different
seminars and lectures that support
Furthermore, in the future
scenario I can focus on
attaining number of events
that support me in providing
8

me in improving my
communication skills. However,
with the help of proper listening I
can also amend by skills (Hart,
2013).
various information
regarding different
communication strategies
that must be used in the
organization.
Organizational
qualities
The current plan for enhancing
and amending the organizational
qualities can be done with the help
of focusing on the different
management and organizational
studies.
Therefore, for the future
action plan I can further
achieve masters degree
program that improve my
knowledge towards
organization qualities.
However, it will also
support me in gaining better
opportunities in the future.
Time management
qualities
The development opportunities for
gaining current time management
qualities I must focus on
scheduling or prioritizing the day
to day operational actions. Thus, it
will assist me in executing my task
on proper time without any
wastage of time.
Therefore, development
opportunity for enhancing
the time management skills
I the future can be improved
by attending training
sessions. However, in the
future I can also improve
time management skills
through reading newspaper
or books that assist in
gaining required
information regarding
managing the time (Juffa,
2011).
d) Personal development plan to achieve intended goals
9

Personal and
professional
development
needs
Current
Proficiency
Development
Opportunities
Success
judgement
criteria
Time
Scale
1 Time management 2  Day to day
preparation of
work activity
 Prioritizing the
work
according to
their
importance and
urgency.
 Checklist
Self
assessment
3
2 Team work 4  Engagement in
the meetings
 Group
discussions
 Brainstorming
sessions (De-
Laat, 2012).
Review and
feedback take
from the team
members as
well as from
the superiors.
2
3 Presentation skills 1  Involvement in
rendering class
presentations.
Assessment
from superior.
2
4 Planning and
organizing
3  Discussion
with top level
management.
Self
evaluation
and problem
solving
papers.
3
5 Leadership 2  Leading Review of 4
10

 Motivating
other staff
 Engaging
individual in
the decision
making
process
team
members and
their
satisfaction
level.
e) Process and activities required to implement the development plan
From the above framed and devise personal and professional development plan I have
determine certain objectives that must be categorize in the short term and long term objectives
(Donnelley, 2009). However, all these objectives positively support me in rendering proper
services so that as a manager I can easily accomplish my stated objectives.
It has been identified that my short term objectives is to define and determine my own
goodwill within the Asda supermarket so that it can support me in developing my career in the
retail sector. However, another short objective that I attained while implementing the
development plan include that I want staff as well as lower level employees direct or follow my
path so that it support me in enhancing my services within the organization.
However, the long term objective that I have gained by developing the plan ensure that it support
me amending and improving my overall knowledge that support me in the future scenario.
However, there are different processes and activities required to implement the development plan
include self assessment, reviewing performance etc.
f & g) Document planned activities
The planned activities will have execution with an aid of ensuring formal training process
and learning from professional that have decent information about various subjects. Other than
this, I will also take part in different work based education programs so that my enlightened level
of knowledge can be developed in amended way (Hayes, 2014). Furthermore, I will also look up
my superior to amend my social and motivational abilities. I will also focus on team work so that
I can revise my observation skills. With the aid of proper team work I can also have feedbacks
from my colleagues that will help in understanding my performance level and motivate to amend
11

my abilities. I can also prefer reading of some books and journals based on leadership and
problem solving methods so that I can amend my leadership skills and identify some new ways
to solve issues.
h) Update the development plan based on feedback and evaluation
As per the evaluation and feedback taken from the superior I have recovered that there
are different skills and abilities that I need to update so that I can easily perform the services in
the Asda supermarket. However, these skills ad abilities also support me in amending skills so
that at the time of any occasion I can easily renders services within the workplace. Thus, I must
modify my PDP to increase further knowledge that would support me in the organization.
Skills Activities need to be
performed
Monitoring and
reviewing
Time frame
Stress management  Engaging
individual in
entertaining
activities
 Meditation
 Self-evaluation
 Taking review
from the
subordinates
1 month
Problem solving skills  Discussion
 Day-to-day
meeting with
the staff and
employees
 Grievance
management
 Feedback from
Employees and
staff
 Lowers the rate
of issues within
the workplace.
2 month
12

Managerial skills  Managing and
planning day to
day actions
 Record
keeping of all
the activities
 Classification
by their
subordinates
and staff
members
3 months
CONCLUSION
Conclusively, it can be stated that personal and professional development assist the
individual in enhancing the skills and abilities of individual that would support them in
performing their activities in the effective manner. However, the report has also measures
different time management strategies that support an individual in managing their time more
efficiently. Furthermore, the report has also developed a personal and professional development
plan that support the individual in amending their current as well as future required skills.
13

REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Beausaert, S., 2013. Effect of using a personal development plan on learning and development.
Journal of Workplace Learning. 25(3). pp.145-158.
Black, P. E. and Plowright, D., 2010. A multi‐dimensional model of reflective learning for
professional development. Reflective practice. 11(2). pp. 245-258.
Duffy, G. G., 2005. Developing metacognitive teachers: Visioning and the expert’s changing
role in teacher education and professional development.Metacognition in literacy learning:
Theory, assessment, instruction, and professional development. pp. 299-314.
Glover, D. and Law, S., 2005. Managing professional development in education. Routledge.
Intrator, S. M. and Kunzman, R., 2007. The person in the profession: Renewing teacher vitality
through professional development. In The educational forum. 71(1) pp. 16-32.
Kukulska-Hulme, A. and Pettit, J., 2008. Semi-formal learning communities for professional
development in mobile learning. Journal of Computing in Higher Education. 20(2). pp. 35-
47.
Sangster, C., 2010. Planning and Organizing Personal and Professional Development. Gower.
Sweitzer, H. and King, M., 2008. The Successful Internship: Personal, Professional, and Civic
Development. Cengage Learning.
Teare, R. and et.al., 2011. The role of action learning in personal, professional and business
development. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes. 3(1). pp.60-65.
Throop, K. R. and Castellucci, M., 2007. Reaching Your Potential: Personal and Professional
Development. Cengage Learning.
Tomlinson, H., 2005. Educational Leadership: Personal Growth for Professional Development.
SAGE.
Weeks, J., 2008. CURRENT ISSUES IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A PERSONAL VIEW. Journal of Educational
Administration. 26(3). pp.382-392.
Wilkins, P., 2007. Personal and Professional Development for Counsellors. SAGE.
Online
De-Laat, M., 2012. Enabling professional development networks: How connected are you?.
[Pdf]. Available through:
<https://www.ou.nl/documents/14300/1097433/Oratie_de+Laat+_WEB_271112.pdf>.
[Accessed on 8th December 2015].
Donnelley. R. R., 2009. Learning Together: The roles of continuing professional development,
collegiality and chartered teachers in implementing Improving teaching, improving
learning Curriculum for Excellence. [Pdf]. Available through:
<http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/Images/ltcfe_tcm4-712914.pdf>. [Accessed on 8th
December 2015].
Hart, J., 2013. Supporting self-managed team learning in the organization. [Online]. Accessed
through http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/blog/2013/03/11/supporting-self-managed-team-learning-
in-the-organisation>. [Accessed on 8th December 2015].
Hayes, D., 2014. Innovations in the continuing professional development of English language
teachers. [Pdf]. Available through:
14

<http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/sites/ec/files/E168%20Innovations%20in
%20CPD_FINAL%20V2%20web.pdf>. [Accessed on 8th December 2015].
Juffa, J., 2011. Ten ways to build your organization through self directed learning. [Online].
Accessed through <http://rutraining.org/2011/10/04/ten-ways-to-build-your-learning-
organization-through-self-directed-learning>. [Accessed on 8th December 2015].
15