Personal and Professional Development

This document discusses personal and professional development, including perceptions and feelings at the start of the module, learning journey and career aspirations, awareness of development needs, and literature on the importance of PPD. It also includes a summary of activities focused on decision making, self-assessment on assertiveness, and helping the poor and needy children.

Running head: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

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Introduction
• Your perceptions and feelings at the start of the module
At the start of the module I felt that I will not be able to carry on the activities properly or answer
the questions in a proper manner. However, when the assignment finally began, I started feeling
comfortable and realized that this is one of the best opportunities to work over my areas of
weakness and nourish my strengths.
• Your learning journey and/or professional life to date (though keep description brief)
I have also made sure to write about the different experiences that I had after finishing up each of
my assignment activities (Jackson, 2014). This had surely been very helpful for me, as I could
connect them with the different activities that have taken place in my life and take steps for the
future.
• Your career aspirations and the main skills you feel need developed to achieve these
I aspire to attain a good managerial position in future. It is for this reason that I have to develop a
good communication and decision making skill.
• Your awareness of development needs before you undertook the module based on previous
feedback
I knew that I had to work on my decision-making skills and also on my communication level.
These skills would surely help me to stain a good professional position in future.
• Any literature on importance of PPD generally or your career path specifically
It is through this self-reflection that I have tried my level best to set a routine that will help me
in setting the goals that I want to achieve in future, I want to attain a good profession in future. In

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order to do that I have to understand the strengths that are already present within me (Jackson
2014). I have also undertaken several activities that have been very helpful for me in reflecting
on the past experiences and on the mental state that I had (Green, Jarratt and Mahaffie 2018).
PPD has been very helpful for me as I could progress in a step by step manner. I had to work on
my decision making skill (Harris, Pattie and McMahan 2015). This PPD helped me to develop a
clear understanding about the resources and the proper time period that I will be requiring to
carry on with this job (Maher et. 2017).

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Activity 1
Learning styles workshop
Aim-The primary objective is to develop my skill in the aspect of decision making
Objectives
I think that the main purpose of making this reflection is because I want to measure the level of
my personal development.
Gender diversity in leadership is one of the most important concepts that I have learned in the
course of this personal development activity.
Background
I have to reflection for action method in order to learn some useful lessons after the
reflection (Cottrell 2015). However, this has really been very helpful because it is because of the
activity that I came to know about the other skills that might get developed during the course of
these activities.
Process
I have been really lucky as I got the chance of using the Honey and Mumford style as a
part of this assignment. This has really been very useful for the purpose of my personal
development as well. The honey and Mumford style has been very useful for me. This helped me
to gather a good knowledge about my strengths and weaknesses as well. I had been working as
part of the group project. It was a group assignment that was being done by the rest of the
classmates as well (Capranzano et al. 2016). I was I itia.ly very tensed as I thought that I will not

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be able to deliver any group assignments or any another such lecture. I was given the post of the
group leader and I was really very afraid to carry on with the responsibilities of this post. I also
recollected the past experiences that I had while delivering any kinds of lectures in front of a
large group or a large number of people (Eisenberg, Spinrad and Knafo‐Noam 2015). However,
the responsibility of delivering the presentation was on one of my teammates.
Analysis of learning
This activity has been very helpful for the overall developmental and learning g process. I
have focused more on the skill development process rather than the outcome. This is because I
believe that in order to be successful in the future. I will have to focus on skill development
rather than the actual outcome or result of the activity. During the cure of this activity, I was
initially very upset as I thought that there is no way in which I can support my team. I was
suffering from a kind of nervous breakdown. I felt that my team will lose as I will not be able to
deliver the lecture or him presentation properly. However, I thought that it is during these crucial
times that I have to support the rest of the team members. I have to make sure that my teammates
are not suffering because of me. I could not see them suffering from tension or any loss. Thus, I
made up my mind to support them at any cost. I developed my skill of organizing and
management. I called for a meeting or all my team mates and asked for their suggestion. I also
tried to focus on my communication skill so that I could explain the matter to all my team
members in a proper way.
I narrated the entire situation and the unforeseen crisis that has come up suddenly. In
also made sure to maintain a kind of transparency between me and my team members. I started
that I am not good in public speaking and I often suffer from a kind of nervous breakdown. I felt

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that my team mates understood the situation and decided to give in their hundred percent of
cooperation. I realized that I had the active support of my team mates and they really liked my
honesty. I was very honest about confessing about my drawbacks. However, I saw that there is a
kind of gender biasness going on in the team. This was mainly because the team comprised of
two girls and 4 boys. The male members are of the opinion that the girls might not be able to
deliver the presentation properly. Thus, the responsibility must be either taken up by me or given
to any of the male members. Being at the position of the team lead I had to make sure that I am
following a neutral and an unbiased position.
I could neither hurt the sentiments of the male nor the sentiments of the female members.
I realized that one way of solving this problem was to take up the role myself and the other was
to give this responsibility to someone capable in the team. However, there was a kind of gender
discrimination that was being followed in the group and I had to deal with this in a proper way. I
started referring to the Belbin team roles that had been taken by us as a part of this module
(Harris, Pattie and McMahan 2015). I studied all the different characteristic features of the
different tam roles that are enlisted in that part. I could connect myself to the role of a resource
investigator. A resource investigator is one who has the most in trusting and the innovative
solutions to the kinds of the complicated problems that are present in the scenario.
I divided the work of the group presentation among all the members; I made sure that
there is no gender biasness going on within the team members. I decided that the presentation
will be delivered by one male and one female member in a form of a pair. This would be an
innovative approach and will also add a special touch to the presentation. This is because the
activity itself was based on gender diversity.

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Future Development
This is one of the most important parts of the assignment because I was able to
summarize over all the incidents that took place during the course of the activity. I have realized
that I am good at investigating the resources that are available within the team. However, at the
same time, I was a bit nervous while communicating with my team members I felt nervous. I
realize that this is not right for a leader. If I want to develop myself as an able leader, then I will
have to make sure that I am working over my confidence level.
Activity 2
The class activity that was undertaken was called Self Assessment test on assertiveness. I
feel that this activity is one of the best in class actions that can be undertaken for the purpose of
improving the self-asserting skill.
Aim-My prior objective here was to be able to make a thorough analysis of the positive and the
negative aspects that are present within my persona.
Objectives
I thought that the MCQ or the multiple choice format of the paper will be very easy for
me. I will be able to see the questions and realize the qualities that are present within me.
However, then I thought that this is indeed one of the best opportunities for finding all the
strengths and weakness within me. As a result, I can take the proper steps for developing the
negative points or the errors that are present within me.
I have often suffered from this view that I am not good at social interaction. I often try to
stay all by myself without sharing anything with people around me. However this is not right if I

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have to be successful in future, I will have to make sure that I am being able to get over my
introverted nature and mingle with people around me.
Background
I was really feeling nervous when our teachers decided to take up this in class activity. I
was not afraid because of the fact that I have to be honest about myself but I thought that I might
get to know about many drawbacks that are present within me. Thus, it will help me to make sure
that I am trying to relate each and every aspect of the mcq questions with my personality. I
realized that this will be very useful for my future and I will be able to work over my areas of
weakness. I realized from the test that one of my weaknesses is to get very depressed whenever I
am upset by somebody. I think that this is really bad for my career. I have to work on this
particular aspect and make sure that I know how to keep myself refreshed if I get upset by
anybody. I will not let any such aspects of having a negative impact on my career. I will have to
strike a proper balance between the right and the wrong.
Process
I recollected the past incident and made up my mind that I will have to take part in this
activity. Thus, the class action began and I was trying to make sure that I perform well. I was
trying to give my full concentration while the teacher was explaining something or teaching
some lessons in class.
Analysis of Learning
This activity has been very helpful for me as I was able to overcome many of my
problems. I learned how to present an answer in front of a large number of people. This is indeed

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a very good step, to begin with. This will help me to conduct and address all the people in any
business meeting.
Future Development
I will try to develop my public addressing skills in the future. I will make sure that I am
making a proper judgment between what is right and what is wrong (Chan and Mai 2015). I will
have been more careful about the ones who are actually in need of my help and the ones that will
take undue advantage of my good nature. It is for this reason that I will have to check and double
check the intention of the person before telling yes. I have also learned that I do not always like
to control others from behind the back. In other words, I never really like to rule over others.
I will make sure that I am using all the available resources so that I can make myself well
versed in terms of communicating. I will try my best to take part in many public speaking
classes. Apart from this, I have learned that keeping a bit of self-confidence is always good for
taking up any new challenge. Thus, I will study many books that will help me in learning the
ways in which I can actually work over my communication skills.

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Activity Three
Aim-The activity that was undertaken in this session is mainly about helping the poor and the
needy children.
Objectives
I think that these are some of the most essential qualities that are to be present within an
individual (Jones, Greenberg and Crowley 2015). In particular, an ideal leader must be one who
can be empathetic towards his or her followers. I thought of working over my compassion skills
and also make sure that I am trying to work over my anger level. This was a voluntary activity
that was undertaken in order to enable the students to learn the art of group discussion and group
work (Green, Jarratt and Mahaffie 2018). I was happy in knowing that this work is mainly
dedicated to the welfare of people who are poor and in dire need of food and money. This was a
very important activity for developing ourselves because empathy and caring for others is one of
the most essential qualities that must be present within every individual.

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Background

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This activity has been very helpful for me as I got the chance of meeting with many new
people and also render them my help. This was also a good chance where I could undertake
different tasks fund collection, food purchase, and food distribution, donations and other such
work. These are the works that need good patience and organizing ability. Some had to look after
the funds collection, some had to arrange for the food and the clothes while some had to arrange
the vehicles for carrying the, This was also a very hectic job and needed a very good amount of
patience I took up this job and felt that this would help me in grooming myself.
I was initially feeling very nervous as it was a very big responsibility. I had to make sure
that the work is being done properly and we are being able to reach out to the poor in proper
time. On the final day of arrival, I went to the place along with my friends and teachers. I also
realized that my communication and interaction skills were being developed as I spoke to them. I
realized that empathy is one of the most essential qualities that I need to develop within myself.
However, I could recollect that even in my childhood I was always helpful to the poor children
of my locality.
I always used to help them as and when they were I need. I recollected one cricket match
that helped in my locality during my childhood years. I saw that one boy was very poor and
could not play as he did not have the shoe. However, I knew that he played very well but could
not afford to buy the shoes and the other cricket equipment for taking part in the game. Thus I
made up my mind to help him out. I used my pocket money and made sure that he gets all the
cricket equipment and a pair of new shoes. I also discussed the same with my family. My parents
helped me to collect the money and together we bought a pair of shoes and other cricket
equipment for that boy. He was very happy and thankful. Thus, I knew from this reflection that a
small act of kindness and empathy can put a huge smile on the face of others.

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Process
On reaching the donation spot we met with a large number of poor people. They were
happy to see that we were there to help them with money and food. I also saw that they were
happy when we interacted with them.
Analysis of Learning
This activity has been very helpful as it taught me how to interact and communicate with
others; I was also able to work over my speech and my listening skills. I was trying to listen to
the sorrows that they shared with all of us (Kivimäki and Meriluoto 2018). Thus, I will have to
get rid of my introvert nature and start speaking with people.
Future Development
I will try to work over my anger and impatience issues. I have realized that though I am
compassionate and helpful towards others, I often get irritated due to pressure. I have to deal
with any kids of pressure that might arise as a result of work (Lloyd, Downes and Romeo 2016).
I will have to realize that I have to keep my calm and manage with work at the same time. I
cannot afford to back out from the work under any kinds of fear or work pressure.

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Account of a learning journey
I have been able to learn many new things after taking part in the three activities. There
are many opinions that underwent changes. I have always seen that there is large scale
discrimination taking place between the male and the female members in the localities, schools,
colleges, offices and other places. However, after taking part in the activities, I learned that
interaction and communication are some of the most essential professional qualities. In order to
become a successful manager or a leader, I will have to widen my areas of thoughts and make
sure that I am being able to gather a large number of innovative ideas.
However, in the beginning, I was feeling very unsure and unwilling to interact and talk
with people. However, in the end, I thought that I will not be able to talk with people, so I was
keeping myself aloof. However gradually I came out from that closet and communicated with all
the people in my surrounding.
I learned from activity 1 that I was a bit relieved because I thought that I will not have to
take up this responsibility (Gee, Schult and Matsumoto 2018). However, on the arrival of the
final day of presentation that team mates fell ill. He was not able to come up for delivering the
presentation. I have always been a great supporter of the concept of learning from the
experiences. In other words, I always make sure that I am being able to make some or the other
kinds of reflection from the incidents that have taken place in my life (Ghosh et al. 2017).
However, in due course of time, I have been able to learn that reflecting on the experiences is not
enough. I realized that I have to see the kinds of resources that are available in my team and use
them in a proper and organized way (Jones, Greenberg and Crowley 2015). In order to do this, I
have to carry on a thorough investigation (Steinberg and Darling 2017). I realized that the tram
will be successful only when there is the joint effort put forward by the male and the female

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members of my team. Thus, I asked all of them to work together rather than fighting with each
other.

Running head: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Appendices
CPD Plan
What is my
learning
objective?
What will I do to achieve this? What will my success criteria be?
The target date
for review or
completion
Which skill are
you trying to
develop?
Detail the activities or experiences that you will undertake to
allow you to develop this skill. Be as specific as possible.
What is your target i.e. how will you
know that you have improved? How will
you measure your development?
Specify a
timescale for
each activity

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1.communicatio
n skills
I will try to take part in many of the communicative classes. I will
also talk to my colleagues and friends o a daily basis
I will try to take feedbacks from my
friends and teachers
2months
2. Reduce my
anger
I have this habit of getting angry when I face a lot of work
pressure. It is for this reason that I will have to overcome this
habit. I will take part in many group discussion sessions so that I
can develop the habit of group work. This will help me to share
the burden of work and keep my mood under control.
I will maintain a record by taking
feedbacks and reviews from my peers. I
will try to improve myself accordingly.
2months
3.interaction
skills
I will have to work over my introvert nature and start interacting
with people. I will do this by taking part in many group discussion
sessions and extracurricular activities.
I will see if I am noticing any change in
my behavior or my thought process.
2months

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