Self-Managed Learning and Professional Development

This report documents a self-managed learning process for improving communication, presentation, and team-building skills. The author attended seminars, conferences, and workshops to address weaknesses and developed a positive change in their personality. They learned the importance of lifelong learning and became a team leader due to these efforts. The report provides insights into self-managed learning, motivation theory, and career growth opportunities.

Personal
development for
employees

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................2
1.1 Identifying own learning styles ............................................................................................2
1.2 Identifying own development needs.....................................................................................3
1.3 Potential barriers to learning.................................................................................................3
1.4 Ways to overcome learning barriers.....................................................................................4
TASK 2 ...........................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Learning and development to meet needs ............................................................................5
2.2 Support mechanism for development....................................................................................5
2.3 Prepare a personal and professional development plan........................................................6
2.4 Method that could be used to monitor development.............................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
APPENDIX......................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development plan is conducted by the business organisations in
order to improve skills, knowledge and competencies of employees. It helps managers to
accomplish their goals and objectives (Avalos, 2011). The present report shows that it is an
essential duty of employers to continuously provide training and development assistance to their
staff members for achieving better outcomes. Along with this, there will be a discussion on the
benefits and barriers of own learning style. It also involves PPD plan in order to achieve learning
objectives of an individual.
TASK 1
1.1 Identifying own learning styles
There are various types of learning styles which influence people by improving their
professional as well as personal skills. It also put a direct impact upon the experience, words and
information of an individual. There are given following own learning styles which are stated as
follows: -11 Social media – Now a days, each and every person is linked with social media where
such person can met a lots of people. These people belongs from diverse cultural and
religions. Therefore, social media is a platform where a person can easily learn and
interact with each other. This will also extend their knowledge and information. Internet – It is the good place of learning where employees can learnt a lot of things. In
today's modern world, there are various websites through which an individual can acquire
more and more knowledge and competencies. . With the help of audio and visual
channels, a person can learn anything whatever he or she wants. Therefore, it is also
required for the managers to give online training assistance for their growth and
development (Cooke, 2012).
 Seminars – Corporate workshops, exhibitions, seminars, etc. are effective ways from
where an employee can learn a lot. It helps in increasing a person's skills and
competencies in a proper manner. Main aim of these seminars is to develop the
professional abilities of their staff members.
Learning styles -

 Visual Learning style – In this, individuals concentrate on pictorial or graphical
information rather than words. It helps in providing opportunities to explain information
to others using words
 Reflective Learning style – It is used when a decision has to be made or an action taken.
Managers involve themselves in decision making process of the company and try to
apply practical information.
1.2 Identifying own development needs
STRENGTHS
 It is an essential tool by which a person
can accomplish its goals what he or she
wants. Team building is my greatest
strengths; I can easily influence people
to do work in a team or a group.
 My another strength is that I am a good
listener.
 I am the person who always think
positively; my positive attitude at
workplace helps me to do better from
others.
 I have good leadership and management
skills which will help me to become a
good leader or manager in future. Effective research skills and capability
to take initiatives.
WEAKNESSES
 Sometimes I feel hesitate while
communicating something among large
number of people. This will also impact
upon my leadership skills as well.
 My angry nature is my another
weaknesses, this would influence my
relationship with my colleges and co-
workers.
 My presentation skills are also poor; I
feel hesitated while giving any
presentation.
 Lack of working experience
 lack of self confidence while dealing
with people.
OPPORTUNITIES As right now, I am taking classes of
English speaking, my communication
skills will be improved. So, I can easily
THREATS
 Competition is the biggest threat for
me.
 Family restriction is also another big

communicate with my senior managers. This would be a great opportunity to
attend various meetings and group
discussions, for that I will have to take
permission of my senior managers and
higher authorities.
threat for me.
1.3 Potential barriers to learning
There are given following barriers which can come in learning process of an individual,
such a are stated as follow: - Financial barriers – It is the most common barrier that affect on individuals learning
process. Along with this, sometimes companies have not proper capital so as it can
arrange training and development assistances for their employees. Due to the lack of
funds, managers also cannot learn new skills and methods of production which makes
them better from their external rivals. Cultural and social issues – In many learning sessions, there is discrimination made
among people on the basis of age, religion, race, colour, etc. At many places, women
employees are not involved in technical and scientific learning sessions. In addition,
social and cultural factors also affect a person's performance as well as its working
activities within company (Forte and Flores, 2014). Language and communication – This barrier is generated when learner and trainer are
belonged to different cultures. With this, both are not able to understand each other’s
language and feelings. Such barriers are mostly linked with deaf and dumb people when
they do not understand the sign and symbol of their trainer. Lack of protective legislative policy – In many organisations, there is no policy regarding
health and safety of employees. This is also a major barrier of self-managed learning
activities. Along with this, impact of lack of legal laws and legislations can inhibit the
self-development of learners.
 Work life balance – Sometimes, due to high work pressure, an individual cannot
establish balanced between the work and life. Such persons can not gives proper attention
to their learning and not acquire proper knowledge what he or she wants.

1.4 Ways to overcome learning barriers
Some of the ways to overcome from learning barriers are:
 It is essential for an individual to positive build relationships with colleagues and staff
members. This helps in gaining more knowledge and skills. If all staff members or people
are learning together, they can share any issue and make a relevant solution for it.
Healthy relationships with seniors or managers help a person as he or she can learn in
flexible time schedule which is preferable by both.
 It is very helpful to an individual if he or she can introduce himself/herself with other
members. For understanding each other’s behaviour, everyone needs to send audios or
videos. . In addition, a person has to be concise and clear with his or her expectations as
well as directions (Gamrat and et. al., 2014).
 Getting timely feedbacks and reviews is also another important way to improve learning
skills and competencies. This will help the students or employees as they measure their
progress in an effective manner.
TASK 2
2.1 Learning and development to meet needs
In order to identify learning and development needs an action plan is prepared so as to
achieve SMART career goals and objectives: -
S. No. LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
WAY OF
IMPROVING
Time duration Outputs
1 Communication
skills
I have to take
proper sessions of
English speaking.
This will help me
to communicate
with people in a
proper manner.
Along with this, if
I have excellent
communication
2.5 month Helps me in
interacting with
all employees and
manage healthy
relationship with
them.

then I am able to
present myself
effectually. This
will also assist me
to give proper
guidance to my
subordinates and
my leadership
skills will also
improve
communication.
2 Presentation
Skills
My presentation
skills are also
very weak as I
cannot express
my feelings, ideas
and thoughts
among others.
Right now, I have
started work on
my presentation
skills. This will
help me to show
my ideas and
innovation to
others.
1.5 month Assist me to
present my views
or opinions
among others so
as to deal with
every situation in
an effective
manner.
3 Team building
skills
As I have good
team building
skills, but I need
to little more
2 month Team building
helps me to be a
good leader who
is capable to

work on them,
this will help me
to become a good
leader. Effective
team building
skills helps me to
achieve goals and
objectives of my
team as well as
overall business
organisation.
influence and
inspire other for
completion of
working
activities.
2.2 Support mechanism for development
As mentioned above, there are diverse factors that put a huge impact on self-managed
learning and growth of an individual. In order to overcome with these issues, employees can take
help of their senior managers and higher authorities. They are able to give proper guidance and
training to individuals. It is because; they have a great past experience and ideas by which senior
managers can provides a road map that helps in managing self managed learning of
individuals. . Managers can organise various simulation training in which a realistic environment
is created and individuals are put into it (Mwalongo, 2011). In other words, they have to solve
problems and issues of these tasks. Apart from this, managers help in organise conferences and
seminars in order to resolve all issues and problems regarding learning programmes.
2.3 Prepare a personal and professional development plan
PDP plan of an individual: -
PROFESSIONAL
SKILLS
PERESENT LEVEL
5 = strong
1= weak
BEST CURRENT
EXAMPLE
IMPROVING
METHODS
Communication skills 3 Presently, my My managers are very

communication skills
are not so good as I am
not able to coordinate
with my senior
managers and
subordinates as well.
supportive for me as
they organise training
and development
assistance for me
where I can easily
groom my skills. This
could help me to talk
with strangers as well
as with my colleagues.
Team building skills 4 I have good team
building and
leadership skills as I
am able to manage an
effective team and
easily influence my
subordinates as they
can work hard for
achieving goals and
objectives of the
company.
I need to attend some
seminars and
workshops this will
help me to build my
team building
capabilities.
Problem solving skills 4 I have good problem
skills but need to
improve more and
more so as to gain
better results in future
Attending seminars
and conferences or
group meetings.
Communication skills 2 Helps me to
communicate with
others in a well being
manner.
Attending English
speaking classes and
reading newspapers or
articles.

2.4 Method that could be used to monitor development
There are various methods that could be used in order to measure the success of learning
programmes. Managers can organise then if they want to receive positive outcomes. There are
various activities and tasks that helps a person as he or she can measure performance. Along with
this, an survey also conducted by taking review of employees current skills and proficiency.
Below mentioned some methods that are assistive in monitoring development, such are: -
 Managers need to organise performance review meetings, it allows them to measure
employees' performance on regular basis. It also helps in considering progress for
preceding objectives of the company regarding productivity.
 It is essential that employers have to make performance development plan through which
they find out development needs of employees. PDP also relates with outline the
specification in which a person needs to be improved.
 They can also recreate project design that exactly matches skills and knowledges of
employees in the business organisation.
CONCLUSION
From the above mentioned report, it has been concluded that personal and professional
development is essential for every business organisation. In this assignment, there is discussed
various types of learning styles and their impact upon a person's personality and behaviour. .
Along with this, identification of own development needs this will helps a person to know his or
her strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as well. This report also prepare a personal
and professional development plan this will help in identify those areas which needs to be
improved. The document also describes that it is the responsibility of managers to support their
employees in their training and development sessions. Different methods are also involved that
are liable in order to monitor performance or development.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Avalos, B., 2011. Teacher professional development in teaching and teacher education over ten
years. Teaching and teacher education. 27(1). pp.10-20.
Cooke, N. A., 2012. Professional development 2.0 for librarians: Developing an online personal
learning network (PLN). Library Hi Tech News. 29(3). pp.1-9.
Floyd, A., 2012. ‘Turning Points’ The Personal and Professional Circumstances That Lead
Academics to Become Middle Managers. Educational Management Administration &
Leadership. 40(2). pp.272-284.
Forte, A. M. and Flores, M. A., 2014. Teacher collaboration and professional development in the
workplace: A study of Portuguese teachers. European Journal of Teacher Education.
37(1). pp.91-105.
Gamrat, C. and et. al., 2014. Personalized workplace learning: An exploratory study on digital
badging within a teacher professional development program. British Journal of
Educational Technology. 45(6). pp.1136-1148.
Moon, J. A., 2013. Reflection in learning and professional development: Theory and practice.
Routledge.
Mwalongo, A., 2011. Teachers' perceptions about ICT for teaching, professional development,
administration and personal use. International Journal of Education and development
using information and communication Technology. 7(3). p.36.
Lumpe, A., and et. al., 2012. Beliefs about teaching science: The relationship between
elementary teachers’ participation in professional development and student achievement.
International Journal of Science Education. 34(2). pp.153-166.
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APPENDIX
1. What happened?
There are some issues which are addressed in this report, such as- communication skills,
presentation skills and team building skills.
2. What did I do?
I started worked on the weak areas by attending various seminars, conferences and workshops.
3. How do I think/feel about this?
After taking learning and development session, I feel that there is a positive change in my
personality as now, I am not hesitated while talking with others.
4. How well (or badly) did it go?
All of this process goes very good and my training is also completed on time.
5. My conclusion/reflections/lessons learned
As per this above documentation, it has been found that self-managed learning is the primary
requirement of an individual.
6. What did I learn?
I learnt that it is essential to focus on lifelong learning. This will help an organisation to achieve
its all goals and objectives.
7. What have I achieved?
With the help of learning programmes, I have become the team leader of my department.
8. How have I put any theory into practice?
I focused on motivational theory, it says that managers need to implement training session in
order to motivate and encourage their employees to do work hard.
9. What have I learned about myself?
There is a big change in my behaviour as I am able to face any challenges and tasks at the
workplace.
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10. How does what I have been doing lead to me becoming better at a skill?
Team building and good communication skills help me to provide excellent career growth and
opportunities.
11. How can I use this to plan for the future?
The plan will help to achieve my career goals and objectives which is my dream.
12. How can I use this to plan new learning experiences?
I won't stop learning as this will help me to acquire new skills and techniques.
13. My plan to do something better/different by using what I have learned.
Yes, the plan helped me to provide better skills and knowledge according to my information. I
used my personal and professional skills while learning anything.
14. What will I do differently next time?
I need to concentrate on my leadership skills in order to become a good leader or manager of
my department.
15. How will I do it differently next time?
I will listen motivational videos of some successful leaders and apply their theories in my
personal life.
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