Portfolio of Personal Development Tasks for Desklib

This report discusses personal development tasks for managers, including SWOT analysis, personal development plans, and transferable skills. It also applies these concepts to TESCO Ltd. and discusses theories and strategies for improving management and leadership skills. The report emphasizes the importance of supportive communication, motivation, empowerment, conflict management, and team effectiveness in managing a large workforce.

PORTFOLIO OF
PERSONAL
DEVELOPMENT TASKS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
REFLECT ON OWN MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS.......................................3
SWOT ANALYSIS OF OWNS PERFORMANCE AS A MANAGER-...................................3
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN-.....................................................................................6
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS............................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Personal development tasks refer to the practice in which a person point out the areas of
its weaknesses so can make strategy to encounter it for betterment (Minhas, 2020) In the report
the reflections on own management and leadership skills will be presented using skill audit
model and on the basis of it a personal development plan for self development as a manager
would also be drafted. Along with it in the report transferable skills in context of a manager will
also be deeply scrutinized and will be applied to TESCO Ltd. In relation to it various theories of
such transferable skills will also be applied. The application of these theories and their
importance or use for the organization and also the skills or ability of supportive management
and leadership with regard to these theories would be taken into focus.
REFLECT ON OWN MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS
SWOT ANALYSIS OF OWNS PERFORMANCE AS A MANAGER-
STRENGTHS
 Having good skills of managing team
members.
 Understanding about role is also
efficient.
 Knowledge of Management profession
is satisfactory.
 Good at managing work force.
 Better understanding of business
environment (Tsai, Vanderford and
Muindi, 2018)
WEAKNESSES
 Poor at time management.
 Poor communication.
 Low confidence.
 In hectic situation poor decision-
making.
 Low adaptivity.
 Outsourcing challenges.
OPPORTUNITY
 Poor performance by the competitors
may open up new ways.
 Can take advantage of management
THREATS
 Making decisions in such a complicated
market is a severe task in itself.
 New work force in the organization is

skills at managing supply chain related
issues.
 Can also enhance controllability over
the retail market challenges.
not directly deployable.
 Management of personnels from
different backgrounds may place
challenges.
 Market crisis and failure of
management policy.
Strengths- Working for the global giant as a store manager is not an easy task. Since on the day
to day basis there are so many tasks are supposed to be performed. Which is very difficult after
specially pandemics where market is becoming more fluctuate, the strengths I found in my
practice are as-
I am having good skills of managing team members, they are from different backgrounds
yet my skills of understanding human behaviour is enabling to do so.
My role as a manager or a leader is very much clear to my which is my prominent skill
since it paves the way to work with utter potential. Along with it the professional competence is
the strength which makes me fit in the frame of the organization.
In modern time being a manager is not an easy task here I am supposed to manage the
area comes under my jurisdiction, where daily faces such complications which can not be
resolved without these professional skills.
Weaknesses- I have observed a few poor areas as well where my performance is not as much
efficient as much it should be. Being a manager playing role of a leader is very complicated and
with such weaknesses the apex level of performance can not be notched up.
My poor time management is one of such issue which is hindering my way of doing the
things on right time it is vastly due to multiple roles I play as a leader in the company, Also my
poor communication at some point place a big challenge before me (Keevy, 2020)

Other weaknesses like low level of confidence and making wrong decisions at time of
hectic situation is also weakening my performance. Low adaptivity and poor confidence are the
additional demons in reducing my level.
Opportunities- As a manager the circumstances are offering good range of opportunities too.
Like the poor performance of the core competitors of our company open a window of
opportunity for me.
With smart and forward decision-making the advantage of their poor performance can be
taken up. Being a manager my duty is to go for betterment of my organization which is only
possible by hiking the productivity and brining some more to the entity.
In recent supply chain crisis is impacting the retail industry but by using my managerial
capacity can take advantage and eradicate this issue for my organization. In the phase of
recovery the demand is getting higher here with appropriate introduction of policy can enhance
our control in the market.
Threats- the biggest threat as a manager is to make decision in this complicated and hugely
unpredictable market in which so many dimensions are impacting in different ways. After hit of
pandemics the labour market has shown a good surge but the majority of the labours are not
directly deployable it places challenge before my as a manger to work efficiently with such
novice workers.
New workforce in the organization is coming from different areas with different
backgrounds in such predicaments tussle or conflicts among them may take place further making
them all work as a team unit would be a severe threat before me as a manager. Since the labour
market is getting more flexible so people are coming from a range of diversity which place
severe challenge of managing human beings in the organization.

The global market is not even stabilized facing so many variations so if it gets instability
then directly create threats on my managerial performance and capacity to handle the crisis and
hiking the performance at the same time. The market crisis may place new challenges before me
as a manager I am supposed to cope up the all devastating factors to enshrine the growth of the
organization (Buxarina, 2018)
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN-
As a manager in the above the skills audit by using SWOT analysis has been carried out
on the basis of that here for enhancement of capabilities and wiping out the weaknesses the
personal development plan is drafted as-
My goals Strategies for achieving the
goals
Resources required Assessment of
progress
Target date
Improvement
of time
management
of mine so can
carry out the
tasks on time.
For Improving my time
management related
problems will be following
daily evaluation practise so
can timely see my progress
with this regard.
I will use a diary and
sticky notes to trace the
works I had planned to
complete in the day
(Jefferies, 2018)
Nothing too much
but just a diary and
can also use online
materiel for
instance such
specific apps which
traces your
allocation of time.
By using the
app this
strategy will be
followed so the
app will be
assessing entire
progress by
itself of my
performance.
1 month
Improving
communicatio
n skills in
difficult times
when I loose
Poor communication
reflects at some points like
in hectic situations so will
be using different methods
or skills to improve it.
For workshop just
fee of 500 euros
will be spent. And
own PC or Tablet is
needed.
After the
workshop of
three days they
people will be
assessing our
3 days.

it. For this purpose will
attend a workshop of three
days in which how to
handle pressure and in
pressure situation how to
do smooth communication
will be taught.
improvement.
And after two
months I will
be asked again
there to get my
progress
observed.
Strengthening
my decision-
making
capacity in the
time when fast
decision-
making is
needed.
For improvement, I will
take an online course on
the issue from the
authoritative university of
the nation.
Along with it will also try
to make better decision
with calmness in drastic
situations by my self.
For the online
course the
admission fee is
1000 euros.
And on the actual
situations will be
performing the task
will need nothing.
The progress of
the online
classes will be
evaluated by
the tutors who
will be
assessing our
performance on
weekly and
monthly basis.
3 months for
the online
course.
Self practice
will be
replicated
firstly for 1
month.
Outsourcing
issues.
Being a manager
sometimes the problem of
outsourcing of my task
sometimes looks
unavoidable. So for this
lacuna will be outsourcing
as per the requirement of
time and circumstances.
The strategy of delegation
of authority will be
practised.
For delegation of
authority no
resources is needed.
The results of
this act will be
observed by my
self and my
peers as well.
Like after
delegation the
results are good
or as expected
or not (Nierra,
2019)
This practise
will be
practised
firstly for 2
months then
will decide
to keep it
continues or
eliminates.

The above personal development plan as a manager for me will be fructified the
performance of mine as a profession holder. Since the weaknesses above seen in skills audit are
somehow reducing my core competency as a professional and also impacting my capabilities to
enhance my outcomes for the organization, are hindering the way to perform on merit. So this
personal development plan would be enabling me to improve the areas of weakness and attend
higher level of ability as a leader or manager.
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
Transferable skills refer to such set of skills which can be used in every job, irrespective
of the title or the filed of job. Some skills are essential everywhere and their importance can not
be nullified. TESCO Ltd (Ruuskanen, 2018) is one of the most prominent retail giant in UK
which is getting operated in more than fourteen countries along with a huge amount of work
force which is working with it. With the enhancement it is now operating in many countries with
so many stores so managing a huge amount of people who are serving the organization. Pertain
to them there is strong need of such transferable skills so can make them perform better. The
main transferable skills which are required in TESCO due to its mammoth size and wide
operations are as follows-
Supportive communication, Motivation, empowerment, conflict management and team
effectiveness these are the skills which must be their in the people who are holding management
position. Since they are the ones who are regularly interacting their subordinates and also
impacting their capacity and performance so with this regard such qualities or transferable skills
must be in them (Weber, 2018)
1) Supportive communication- For a manager or a leader managing the workforce is the
chief work. Using such supportive communication helps with this regard a leader uses
this skill to support or assist its workforce or subordinates in the time when they are
facing problems like stress, heartbreak, physical and emotional distress or any other
challenge.
For better application TESCO can follow “Linear Communication Theory” (Sevcenko and
Ethiraj, 2018) in which all the people will be following a linear approach in which they will

directly interact to their immediate superior. TESCO is having a huge amount of work force so
giving free access to all is not possible so by using this theory can maintain discipline and can
also sort out issues of personnels.
This helps in making strong and committed team also the manager or leader may get itself more
enriched with this regard. It will be hiking the performance of the organization and TESCO
which is serving lacs of customers will be taking advantage so satisfy them more. Managing such
people would be easier for the management with fewer efforts.
Application of such skills are based on the experience of a manager as it is known TESCO which
is working with the most experienced force so in such cases application of the skill would not be
perilous. In this retail industry for application the company may use different techniques like
team meeting, group meeting and even people with falling performance should be directly
contacted so can apply the skill.
2) Motivation- The success of an organization depends on the motivation level of the
working force. With respect to this the below theory would be most appropriate
considering size and complexities of the organization.
Maslow's hierarchy theory (Keiper, 2019) is the most appropriate one for TESCO. Wide
operations are surging demand of more skilled workers and this is the reason in different stores
or departments there are so many people with different backgrounds. It is not easy for the
management of the company to manage them all or keeping them all motivated with one set of
motivational methods.
For better application the management may go for proper personal data management of all the
workers and also understanding their needs and where they people are actually standing and how
it can be improved so on the basis of it the manager can boost up their morale.
The role of supportive management is very essential with this regard in the company they are the
people holding apex position and their role will be prominent. In retail industry where working in

a complex market environment may reduce the confidence or motivation level of the workers so
here the management can use its skills of understanding human behaviour in order to apply best
practice.
3) Empowerment- This is the prime duty of a manager to empower the people working
under him. In recent market where TESCO is having a huge competition for sustaining
and grabbing growth without empowering the work force it is not possible.
Kanter's theory (Weber, 2018.) is supportive with this regard which says that empowerment of
workers in any organization is only possible by following a range of techniques like giving them
access to information, resources, support, and the opportunity to learn and develop.
The management plays prominent role in empowerment of the working force, As it is known the
global work force is facing the problem of skilled workers so here the company can take
advantage by empowering the working force by applying the above said theory. This supportive
skills will be helping workers building their confidence and going for their personal development
as well. It will also improve the productivity of such individuals and ultimately will be resulting
in overall productivity of TESCO.
For applying the theory in the organization the management can use its skills of ensuring
betterment of its subordinates. The workers must be given proper resources to perform their duty
and it is responsibility of management to make sure. Further manager can analyse when to
provide them education and training, development for this purpose various approaches like
figuring out the need of training and development and then carry out it.
4) Conflict Management- The manager is the first person who resolve the disputes in the
entity. Organizations like TESCO where a huge number of people are working so such
occurrences are so often. Here the role of management or leaders becomes significant to
resolve it before it get its worst form.

Thomas-Kilmann conflict Mode Instrument (Nyerere, 2018.) which is also known as TKI can be
used by TESCO for the reason that the company is having wast number of personnels and with
different backgrounds so their conflicts would be more difficult in nature which needs strong
articulation of management so can eradicate this bottleneck. In this theory there are five major
styles of conflict management suggested collaborating, competing, avoiding, accommodating,
and compromising.
For application this is duty of management to look after it and make it practise in the
organization. In the companies like TESCO where such instances of conflict are so often here the
manager can go for different styles in different cases. Like if the case is not too much serious so
it is better to disrupt it as soon as possible here the manager can use avoiding style in which
needs to analyse the problem properly then postpone it if possible of can make people believe
that the problem is not greater.
It will be good for the organization since the conflicts work force will be able to work with their
full capacity which will also pave the way for collaborative working which is very important at
this point where the industry is having a huge competition.
5) Team Effectiveness- It is the capacity of a group of people which use their efforts
together to accomplish aims set out by their authority or leaders in order to ace the aims
of the team as a whole. This is also a key task which is performed by manager.
In TESCO where so many teams are formed to make their work clear and explicit so can also
eradicate the problems derives due to lack of clarity and also as a team their management is
easier relatively.
Hackman and Oldham's theory (Carter, 2019) is well-articulated that says five dimension must
be covered by the management in order to make the teams effective. This is duty of team leaders
or team management to took after. In TESCO the teams are managed by team leaders and last
line management.

For better application the components- Autonomy, Feedback, Skill variety, Task identity, and
Task significance. These are the areas which must be taken into consideration by the team
leaders. By using their ability of management of team they will be observing members and as per
their need will be granted autonomy or authority.
This is very helpful for the organization. If the team will be performing well then overall
performance of the organization will also get improved. And there would be a fair competition
among teams which is healthy for taking competitive advantage.
CONCLUSION
From the report above it can be concluded that the personal development task is a key
practice for a manager since by going through it a leader or manager can improve its work
competence. The report had presented a fully fledged picture of own management and leadership
skills. For this purpose skills audit has been used and on the basis of that personal development
plan was made where all the shortcomings found in skills audit got resolved. In the report
transferable skills in a manager or leader in order to bring better results to the organization also
analysed. Pertain to these transferable skills relevant theories also applied in context to manager
for the TESCO Ltd. Further the uses and applications of the theories for the company has been
articulated to the fullest length, how manager or leader plays useful role in installation of such
plan in order to practise it for the organization.

REFERENCES
Books and journals-
Buxarina, A. Y., 2018. Individualnye planyrazvitiya v texnologii i praktike nastavnichestva v
organizaciyax [Personal development plan (PDP) in practice and technology of
introducing mentoring in organizations]. Sotsial'naia psikhologiia i obshchestvo,
pp.162-176.
Carter, M. A., 2019. Shifting landscapes in higher education: a case study of transferable skills
and a networked classroom in South-East Asia. Asia Pacific Journal of Education.
39(4). pp.436-450.
Jefferies, K., 2018. A Personal Leadership Development Plan for Black Undergraduate and
Graduate Nursing Students. Nursing Leadership (Toronto, Ont.). 31(4). pp.57-62.
Keevy, M., 2020. Core subjects in accounting academic programmes: Development of pervasive
skills. South African Journal of Accounting Research. 34(2). pp.140-160.
Keiper, M. C., 2019. Employability Skills: A Case Study on a Business-Oriented Sport
Management Program. e-Journal of Business Education and Scholarship of Teaching.
13(1). pp.59-68.
Minhas, J. S., 2020. COVID-19 pandemic personal development plan: A model for maximising
higher specialty training. Future Healthcare Journal. 7(3). p.e80.
Nierra, L. S., 2019. Teachers’ Organizational Satisfaction and Work Engagement: Basis for
Personal and Professional Development Plan. Ascendens Asia Journal of
Multidisciplinary Research Abstracts. 3(2N).
Nyerere, J., 2018. Youth Unemployment in Kenya: Incorporating Entrepreneurial and
Transferable Skills in Education. Youth Entrepreneurship and Africa’s Sustainable
Industrialization. 125.
Ruuskanen, T., 2018. An exploratory study of the learning of transferable skills in a research-
oriented intensive course in atmospheric sciences. Sustainability. 10(5). p.1385.
Sevcenko, V. and Ethiraj, S., 2018. How do firms appropriate value from employees with
transferable skills? A study of the appropriation puzzle in actively managed mutual
funds. Organization Science. 29(5). pp.775-795.
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Tsai, J. W., Vanderford, N. L. and Muindi, F., 2018. Optimizing the utility of the individual
development plan for trainees in the biosciences. Nature Biotechnology. 36(6). pp.552-
553.
Weber, C. T., 2018. Identifying and Documenting Transferable Skills and Competences to
Enhance Early-Career Researchers Employability and Competitiveness.
Weber, C. T., 2018. Identifying transferable skills and competences to enhance early career
researchers employability and competitiveness (Doctoral dissertation, EURODOC).
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