Personal and Professional Development [PPD Plan]

This report provides an overview of personal and professional development, the PPD planning process, skill audit, SWOT analysis, and more. It explores the importance of personal and professional development in managing one's learning and growth throughout their career. The report also includes a reflection on the identification of transferable skills developed during the course.

Personal and
Professional Development
[PPD Plan]

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The report includes information about personal and professional development. It is a
concept that foster individuals to engage in learning process for meeting challenges together with
attaining desired objectives. The report includes overview of PPD and PPD planning process. It
also covers skill audit, SWOT Analysis, CPPD and many more related topics. At last, it includes
a reflection on identification of transferable skills that are developed in the duration of course.

Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Defining PPD...............................................................................................................................1
PPD Planning Process..................................................................................................................2
Application of PPD Planning Process..........................................................................................3
Application of theory...................................................................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
Reflecting on issues and challenges that arises from PPD Plan..................................................5
.........................................................................................................................................................8
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
Reflective practice.......................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
APPENDICES ..............................................................................................................................11
A. PPD PLAN............................................................................................................................11
B. Results VARK Questionnaire...............................................................................................13
C. Results of Belbin Questionnaire............................................................................................14
D. CPPD ....................................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
As per Hildebrand (2018), the concept of personal and professional development refers to
growth of an individual in terms of personal qualities, soft skills, technical competence and hard
skills which improve performance together with capabilities within education, workplace or
career aspects. Personal development is used top improve recognition, awareness, developing
talents, building human resources, enhancing quality life, facilitating employability and realising
aspirations. Similarly, professional development is used by employees for enhancing action
addition to career mobility.
Main purpose of personal addition to professional development is to assist people in
managing own learning together with growth throughout the career. It ensures an individual to
keep their knowledge up to date along with continue to perform in safe, effective and legal
manner. Moreover, it gives competitive edge within crowded establishments and differentiate
among potential population. The concept develops great understanding and assist in gaining up
dated skills with knowledge so to apply them in work based areas.
The report is all about personal and professional development. It includes overview of
personal and professional development, process of PPD, application of process and theory. It
also comprises skill audit, SWOT Analysis and personalised Continuous Professional Personal
Development. At last, a reflection for personal and professional development is prepared to
identify skills that are developed in the duration of course.
MAIN BODY
TASK 1
Defining PPD
PPD refers to a process that grows attributes of an individual to improve capabilities,
competences and potentials in career. It is process within which a person engages in learning so
to meet challenges together with desired objectives. It is undertaken in multiple ways including
education, coaching, training, mindset changes, etc (Salter and Rhodes, 2018).
Personal development is said to activities in which an individual participates for
improving awareness, developing talents, intensifying quality of life, realising dreams and
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alleviate employability. It takes place over course of entire life of a person. Similarly,
professional development is termed to a learning which earns along with maintains professional
credentials, for example, academic degree, informal learning opportunities, etc in practice. It is
continued training addition to education of a person for their career.
PPD Planning Process
PPD planning can be described as a process to draft action plan which is based on values,
goal setting, awareness, planning for individual development in career, relationship along with
education for purpose of self improvement (Trorey and Cullingford, 2017). In other words, it is a
tool which is applied for presenting information concerned with competencies and skills of a
person with those that they will be using to attain their personal, academic and career objectives.
Illustration 1: PPD planning process. 2020
(Source: PPD planning process. 2020)
2

Establishing purpose or direction: It is the first step of PPD planning in which purpose
of own personal development are identified. This can be done either alone of working with
others including colleagues, mentors, superiors and friends (Bubnys and Kauneckienė, 2018).
Identifying development needs: Herein, needs of personal and professional
development are identified. It emerges by working on new tasks addition to responsibilities by
discussion with superiors.
Identifying learning opportunities: At this stage, list of opportunities for gaining
knowledge and skills are identified which are required for acquiring, updating and improvements
(Hayes, 2016).
Formulating an action plan: By setting development objectives in context to each skill
gaps which are identifies helps in formulating effective action plan.
Undertaking developments: Herein, formulated plan is put into action. It is choice of a
person to what to do and how to do (Yielder and Moir, 2016). Moreover, various training courses
are also taken to implement developments. Other development which will be undertaken by a
student are secondment, project work, work shadowing, networking and community
involvement.
Recording outcomes: In this, records are kept to emphasis on what are the achievable in
development activity. Proper records or results are kept in well systematic manner.
Evaluation and review: In personal and professional development planning cycle,
evaluation and review is critical phase. In this stage, an individual is able to reflect on whether
development activity undertaken was worthwhile and is there improvement in skills as expected
(Rajab and Silman, 2018).
Application of PPD Planning Process
The stages which are applied by the student for planning personal and professional
development are as follows:
Establishing purpose or direction: In this, students have established the main purpose
or direction that is to improve academic skills, managing time effectively in balancing life, and
achieving promotion for assigned responsibilities.
Identifying development needs: In this, an individual have identified that the areas
which are required to develop are presentation skills, Communication & IT skills, problem-
solving, and decision-making skills.
3

Identifying learning opportunities: Herein, an individual compares available with
existing skill sets to identify gaps. There are various learning opportunities available to the
students to develop skills in their life, some of the opportunities are online sessions, directions
from tutors, group assignments, and many more.
Formulating an action plan: To improve the areas of development, an action plan plays
a key role. To attain this, mini-milestones are created by the student for self-motivation.
Undertaking developments: In this stage, an individual takes various training courses
to implement developments. Other developments that will be undertaken by a student are
secondment, project work, work shadowing, networking, and community involvement.
Recording outcomes: All the outcomes attained by the students are recorded in the
proper format that includes the date, identified development need, selected method of
development, the duration when development needs are undertaken, their results, and further
required actions.
Evaluation and review: The students in this step ask themselves about the ways the
experience threw up further essential of development, could they gained more from the activity,
or would they follow the approach again. The PPD of student is attached in Appendices.
With the application of planning process, it can be said that individual PPD plan of
student guides them to develop their skill sets and knowledge areas in which they are lacking.
The PPD plan directs all stages in which a student can develop themselves for specific profession
in future.
Application of theory
VARK theory
It was propounded by Neil Fleming in the year 1987. The theory defines a way in which
students learn more for their choices and preferences. VARK is acronym of Visual, Auditory,
Read and Kinesthetic. In case with the student, the theory is adopted as method with the view of
acquiring knowledge, attitude along with positive skills. With application of the theory, a
fascination learning surrounding is created that stimulates senses in learning by a student or
employee.
4

For this, a questionnaire is prepared by a student that assist in learning through
suggesting strategies that must be used. The theory makes recollection of learned information
easier for an individual (Profiroiu and Păceşilă, 2017). The theory is applied by the student
through VARK questionnaire. As per the results in VARK Questionnaire, it can be said that
totality of Vs circled are four, total of As circled are seven, total of Rs circled are five and total
of Ks circled are three. There were 16 questions on the basis of which VARK results are
analysed.
Belbin Theory
The theory is effort of Meredith Belbin. The theory defines nine roles of a team as
tendency to act, contribute, behave and interrelate activities with others in a specified manner. As
per the theory, key roles are bifurcated into action oriented roles, cerebral roles and people
oriented role. Shaper, implementer along with complete finisher are categorised into action
oriented role. Similarly, cerebral role includes plant, specialist and monitor evaluator. Likewise,
people oriented roles are co-ordinator, resource investigator and teamwork (Zahid, Hong and
Young, 2018).
A student apply Belbin theory to analyse or identify behavioural strengths together with
weakness within them or workplace. The theory helps students in perceptive language for
ensuring that individuals communicate addition to work together by developing greater
understandings. By using Belbin model, a self aware student adapt their behaviours as per needs
and pertaining situations. It also foster people to do right tasks that results in better
performances.
Self Perception Inventory analysis sheet that is developed by a student is attached in
Appendices. From the results of Belbin questionnaire, it is said that there are various roles that
are performed by a team. The sections are categorised into CW, CH, SH, PL, RI, ME, TW and
CF in which different points are acquired.
5

TASK 2
Reflecting on issues and challenges that arises from PPD Plan
From PPD plan, there are various issues and challenges which a student faces. In PPD
plan, various challenges or problems are faced by an individual. Some of the challenges problem
solving, presentation and team working. In order to solve these, Skill audit as well as SWOT
analysis are conducted. are In this aspect, skill audit and SWOT analysis is conducted by the me
which are as follows:
Skill audit
It is the review of existing skills of a person against skills the against the skill they need
in present as well as in future (Cadero-Smith, 2020). The skill audit is carried out by using five
stage process that includes identification of current skills and knowledge, determining future
knowledge and skills, rating personal ability, reviewing ability ratings and analysing future
development. To a student, skill audit provides evidence of current and development
competences. Main purpose of conducting skill audit by a person is to determine skills and
abilities that they requires and the one they have at present duration. The skill audit for a student
is as follows:
Skills and knowledge that I consider to be significant for
my existing voluntary activity
Ability rating between 1 to 5
 Team working skill: Collaborating with others in
university and completing working on time is attained
through team working skill (White, 2017). As a
student, there are various tasks which requires working
with others so having team working skill is significant
for my current workings.
 Academic writing skill: Writing assignments is key
for a student to achieve good grades. For a student,
academic writing skill is important to work, learn
along with intellect in college.
4
4
Knowledge and skill that I consider to be important for
my career in future duration
Ability rating between 1 to 5
6

 Presentation skill: For a bright future, presentation
skill is important as it helps in delivering engaging
presentations to larger audiences. For me, presentation
skill is necessary to be taken into consideration for
future career.
 Communication & IT skill: In future career,
communication and IT skills are important to be
considered as these help in exchanging various
information by using right technology at workplace
(Taole and Mawela, 2017).
 Problem solving and decision making skill: In future
duration, various problems will be faced by a student
and effective decisions are to be made to gain success.
With this skill, a student have the ability to make right
decisions or choices to solve problems for achieving
growth.
2
3
1
SWOT Analysis
It is the process which assist in measuring strengths, weaknesses, opportunities along
with threats of a person in present duration. Performing personal SWOT Analysis aid a student in
identifying their own strengths and weaknesses (Hobbs and Coiro, 2019). Moreover, it also helps
is analysing opportunities and threats which they are facing in present academic career. The
SWOT Analysis is conducted by student in different aspects that include SWOT analysis
proforma and SWOT checklist.
SWOT Analysis Proforma:
Strengths:
 Creativity
 Academic writing skills
 Enthusiasm.
 Patience level
Rank
3
1
2
4
7

Weaknesses:
 Communication and IT skills
 Delegating tasks
 Taking too muck risks
 Coordination
Rank
2
1
3
4
Opportunities:
 Getting to know about professional
world.
 To learn with highly knowledgeable
people.
 Advancing career prior to end of
studies.
 Gaining concrete as well as practical
experience
Rank
4
3
2
1
Threats:
 Increasing competition among students.
 Lack of time.
 Stagnant state investment for higher
education.
Rank
1
2
3
CPPD
This can be termed to ongoing procedure of developing, maintaining addition to
documenting professional skills. Undertaking CPPD ensures a person that they must continue to
be competent in their area of profession (McNeil and Moore, 2020). Taking part on CPPD
provide various advantages to a student as it ensures capabilities for keeping pace with existing
standards of others on the same working. The CPPD for a student is attached in Appendices.
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TASK 3
Reflective practice
For reflective practice, Gibbs reflective model is used that includes certain stages which
are as followed:
Description: As per personal and professional development, I analysed that there are
various skills and knowledge that are developed over time frame of the course. Prior to taking
part in personal and professional development, my sill set such presentation skill, communication
& IT skills, problem solving and decision making skills were weak. In the plan, people involved
were respondents, tutors and me.
Feelings: I felt great in all workings of PPD plan and felt motivated to develop myself or
my employability skills. Also, these skills will also enable me to become successful within
workplace by communication information clearly to employees and top management (Cadero-
Smith, 2020). Furthermore, with these skills, I will be able to solve problems through providing
alternative options to managers for any problems and helping them to make decisions timely and
effectively.
Evaluation: In context to my presentation skill, I evaluated that I failed many times in
delivering effective or engaging presentations because of issues I faced in speaking with others
or audiences. Likewise, my communication & IT Skills were also not up to required aspects
which impacts widely on my effectiveness to deliver or speak in front of population. Moreover, I
was not a good problem solver or decision making as whatever decision I undertaken to solve
problem all turned into negative situation.
Analysis: Further, during the course of time, it is analysed that I have developed my
skills that includes presentation skill, problem solving and decision making skill as well as
communication & IT skills. All these are improved by taking actions that turned into effective
ones.
Conclusion: From the activities, it is concluded that the overall plan resulted in a positive
experience and there were certain negative events which leaded to negative experience. For my
employability, skills including communication and IT are required to develop.
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Action plan: Moreover, development of all these skills will enable to become success in
academic career as with these, I will be able to gain good grades and presenting my answers in
unique and understandable manner. To develop my communication skill, I will be exchanging
my ideas with othjers, using positive virtualisation, adjusting my surroundings and practising on
continuous basis. At same time, to develop IT skills, I have to learn about various technologies,
software, taking online classes and applying knowledge for getting hands on practice.
CONCLUSION
From the discussion, it is concluded that it is crucial to take part in personal and
professional development as it develops new experiences, skill sets and potentials among
individuals. It expands horizons for supporting developments in future career and establishing
networks with other people. PPD plan is an assessment tool which is an organised approach to
emphasis towards attaining objectives with best possible outcomes from available resources.
Skill audit is conducted for identifying required current skills along with the skills that an
individual have in present duration. It is an overall plan that assesses available skill set within an
individual at workplace and them determining potential gaps that have chances to impact on long
term planning or growth of person. CPPD is ceaseless approach which develops, keeps and
documents personal addition to professional skills. It ensures to continue being competent on
profession and enables to stay ahead in professional career. PPD make planning for career easy
and boost satisfaction of person.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Bubnys, R. and Kauneckienė, N., 2018. PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AS
A PREMISE FOR TEACHER’S LEADERSHIP. SOCIAL WELFARE:
INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH. 2(7). pp.71-85.
Cadero-Smith, L. A., 2020. Teacher Professional Development Challenges Faced by Rural
Superintendents. Online Submission.
Cardillo, D., 2019. Passionate About Nursing Professional Development. Journal for Nurses in
Professional Development. 35(1). pp.50-51.
Hayes, C., 2016. Approaches to continuing professional development: putting theory into
practice. British Journal of Nursing. 25(15). pp.860-864.
Hildebrand, J., 2018. Bridging the gap: A training module in personal and professional
development. Routledge.
Hobbs, R. and Coiro, J., 2019. Design features of a professional development program in digital
literacy. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy. 62(4). pp.401-409.
McNeil, T. and Moore, S.D., 2020. Bridging Mentoring and Professional Development for
African American Doctoral Student Success. In From Student to Scholar (pp. 21-41).
Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Profiroiu, A.G. and Păceşilă, M., 2017. Volunteering: a route to the students professional
development. Administratie si Management Public, (29), pp.91-107.
Rajab, F. M. and Silman, F., 2018. Perceptions of instructors and administrators of English
language on their professional development needs. Quality & Quantity. 52(2). pp.945-
959.
Salter, M. and Rhodes, P., 2018. On becoming a therapist: A narrative inquiry of personal–
professional development and the training of clinical psychologists. Australian
Psychologist. 53(6). pp.486-492.
Taole, M. J. and Mawela, A. S., 2017. A reflective practice approach: Reimagining teachers’
continuing professional development. In Teacher professional knowledge and
development for reflective and inclusive practices (pp. 36-44). Routledge.
Trorey, G. and Cullingford, C., 2017. Professional development and institutional needs. Taylor
& Francis.
White, B. J., 2017. A leadership and professional development teaching and learning model for
undergraduate management programs. Journal of Higher Education Theory and
Practice. 17(4).
Yielder, J. and Moir, F., 2016. Assessing the development of medical students’ personal and
professional skills by portfolio. Journal of medical education and curricular
development. 3. pp.JMECD-S30110.
Zahid, A., Hong, J. and Young, C. J., 2018. Coaching experts: applications to surgeons and
continuing professional development. Surgical innovation. 25(1). pp.77-80.
Online:
PPD planning process. 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.eventusrecruitmentgroup.com/blog/career-development/professional-
development-planning-cycle/>
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APPENDICES
A. PPD PLAN
The PPD Plan for student is as follows:
Name: (Client is requested to write his/her name) Desired position: Manager
Career Mission statement: To serve organisation with my key skills and develop my
knowledge in such a manner that benefits me and the company.
Major
career
goals
Goal 1 To improve my academic knowledge and skills by end of the academic year
through undertaking guidance from peers and tutors.
Goal 2 To manage my time n effective manner for having good work-education life
through devising a daily schedule and become organised.
Goal 3 To receive promotion in role with responsibilities while providing myself a
support to develop abilities till 2021.
SMART
Objectives
Priority Success
Criteria
Actions Resources
required
Target date Challenges
expected
To improve
my
presentation
skill by
taking
various
online
classes in
duration of
1 month
High I will
recognise
my success
in attaining
presentation
strategy by
presenting
any topic or
speaking in
front of
To achieve
the
objective, I
will take
part in
various
other
presentation
s, take
guidance
Required
resources to
attain the
objective
are laptop,
internet
connection,
online
classes and
audience.
The target
date for
achieving
the
objective is
December
10, 2020.
The
challenges
that are
expected to
come in the
path of
achieving
the objective
are poor
internet
12

large
audiences
with
confidence.
form my
tutors and
participate
more in
speaking
activities.
connection,
ineffective
online
courses and
no support
from tutors.
To improve
my
communicat
ion and IT
tool skill in
coming 2
months.
Medium The success
criteria for
the skill is
to
communicat
e effectively
and having
knowledge
about latest
and updated
IT tools that
are used in
wider
business
situations.
The actions
that I will
take for
achieving
the
objective
includes
learning
basics about
non verbal
communicat
ion, Using
PIP
approach,
recording
key
informations
, enrolling
and
attending
technical
digital
workshops
and
practising
The
required
resources
for attaining
the
objective
are suitable
workshops,
online
classes,
books and
magazines.
Target date
for
achieving
the
objective is
January 25,
2020.
Expected
challenges
in the path
of achieving
the objective
are lack of
attention,
complicated
languages
used by
online
courses and
physical
barriers.
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what I have
learned.
B. Results VARK Questionnaire
14

C. Results of Belbin Questionnaire
D. CPPD
Priority Skills Existing
ability
Target
ability
Developme
nt
opportunity
Criteria to
judge
Time
Duration
Priority 1 Communica
tion & IT
skill
At present, I
have
average
communicat
ion skills
My target
ability is to
speak
effectively
in front of
To develop
the skill, I
have
opportunity
to take part
The criteria
to judge is
speaking
convenientl
y with
The duration
of time
required to
achieve
success for
15

and limited
knowledge
about IT
tools.
large
audience
and
exchange
information
with them
efficiently.
in group
assignments,
reflective
learning
opportunitie
s, open
ended
questions
and many
more.
others
without any
barriers and
having
knowledge
about wider
number of
IT tools
(Cardillo,
2019).
developing
the skill is
around 2
months.
Priority 2 Presentation
skill
I have week
presentation
skills due to
having
issues in
speaking
with others
in more
open
manner.
Target
potential for
the skill is
to present
views or
thoughts on
some topic
in front of
large
audience in
comfortable
manner
(Hildebrand,
2018).
To develop
presentation
skill,
opportunitie
s available
are
practising
content,
adjusting
surrounding
s, attending
other
presentation
s, taking
help of
professors
and
guidance
from tutors.
In my
opinion, the
best criteria
to judge
achievement
of the skill
is to speak
confidently
in front of
others and
asking tutor
to rate my
presentation
s.
The time
duration
needed for
me as
student to
develop my
presentation
skill is 1
month.
Priority 3 Problem At present, I Target For the The Time
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solving and
decision
making skill
have weak
problem
solving and
decision
making skill
as I fail to
analyse
various
alternatives
and then
make
decision to
solve any
problem in
my
academic
career.
ability for
my problem
solving and
decision
making skill
is to solve
any kind of
problem in
no timings
and make
fast and
effective
decision fro
any
situation.
purpose of
developing
or
improving
my problem
solving and
decision
making
skill,
available
opportunity
to me is to
undertaken
benefits of
numerous
online
sessions
along with
taking
directions
from tutors
or family
that are
experienced
in decision
making or
solving
problem.
effective
criteria to
analyse
developmen
t of the skill
is to solve
preceding
problems
and making
decisions
adequately.
Also,
analysing
the results
of situation
in proper
manner.
duration for
developing
the skill is
15 days
(Yielder and
Moir, 2016).
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