Personal and Professional Development: Importance of Short, Medium and Long Term Goals

This report discusses the concept of personal and professional development, the value of short, medium, and long-term goals, and the importance of a personal development plan. It also provides examples of each type of goal and steps to improve skills.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Concept of personal and professional development....................................................................3
Value of short-term goals and three personal examples..............................................................4
Value of medium-term goals and three personal examples.........................................................5
Value of long- term goals and three personal examples .............................................................6
Value of personal development plan and action plan..................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Personal development refers to set of action or key activities that are undertaken by an
individual in order to develop its existing skills, knowledge and capabilities for bright future
ahead. In current scenario, an individual in order to get a better employment opportunity need to
have several skills, knowledge such as communication, interpersonal, decision making and
information technology skills to get a better option ahead in future career. This report has
depicted key information related to personal and professional development, importance of short,
medium and long term goals. Finally, a personal development plan is made that helps in
understanding and planning set of strategies that could be used by individuals to improve its
existing skills and capabilities for bright future.
MAIN BODY
Concept of personal and professional development
Personal and professional development consists of key activities, set of procedure that are
undertaken by an individual in order to improve its knowledge, skills for achieving the set goals
in desired manner. It helps person in entirely understanding about what are the roles and
responsibilities that need to be performed in organisation and the manner in which they can be
improved for better outcome. The process of professional development consists of numerous
activities ranging from enhancing the quality of life, realising the dream, building personal
capabilities and potential and many more. Furthermore, the process of personal and professional
development continues throughout the life of person in order to stay ahead in competition in
crowded workforce (Dunn and Doolittle, 2020). Individuals through personal and professional
development can easily identified its existing skills and knowledge thereby find alternative
method that could be used to improve the same. Metal, social, physical and emotional are four
key main areas that need to be developed by person in order to get a best opportunity in reputable
organisation. As in recent scenario, employers want to recruit only individuals that have number
of set skills, capabilities so that it can easily complete its respective task and company can earn
huge profit margin. Therefore, it can be stated that the personal and professional development is
significant for each and every individual to effectively achieve its set goals in limited time frame.

Value of short-term goals and three personal examples
Short terms goals are objective that are set by individuals for time frame of 2-6 month in
order to achieve higher growth and development in future circumstances. In another words, it is
something that an individuals want to have in near future only likewise, within this week, month
or every this year. So, these are all goals that need to be accomplished as earlier as possible
through undertaking crucial steps. The short-term goals are significant for individuals as they act
as milestone in journey of individual to reach the long-term goals of life. Setting the short-term
goals contribute in motivating the individuals to focus on acquiring more knowledge, key skills
and effectively organised its time and resources to achieve the most of life (Shibankova and
et.al., 2019). In addition to this, the short term goals are even more important as compared to
long term goals as it helps in setting the immediate action that an individual can undertake to
achieve the desired outcome.
Example of short terms goals
1. My short-term goals are to work on my communication and decision-making skills to
effectively share my point of view to other people using appropriate vocabulary, sentence
and grammar. So that the individuals or receiver clearly understand what I want to
communicate or share to it (Saric and Steh, 2017). At the same time, it will help in
enhancing my listening and understanding skills and reason for development of decision-
making skills is that I want to take best decision in limited time possible. So, the
objective is “ to improve my communication and decision making skills within two
or three months.”
2. “Learn to manage stress and completion of task on time by the end of December
2021” is another short-term goal that I want to achieve in near future. As in current
scenario, there are number of stress that an individual faces while completing its
respective task so, I want to manage my stress and all task as per desired (Barnová,
Krásna and Čepelová, 2020). Along with it, I have decided to improve my time
management skills so that I can able to complete the allotted task in minimum time
frame.
3. “Developing a better morning routine such as spending time to have exercise,
meditation for good health and well-being till the end of this year”. This is most

important short-term goals that I have planned to achieve as there are many people that
does not have enough time for exercise that has resulted in increasing number of diseases.
So I have planned to spend some time in exercise and meditation with proper nutritional
food in order to adapt healthy lifestyles and good mental and physical health condition.
Value of medium-term goals and three personal examples
Medium term goals are longer than short terms goals that required at least six or more than
six months to complete. Simply, medium term goals can be defined as period of time that last
few months but less than one year time frame. After achieving the short-term goals, individuals
lay emphasis on creating the medium-term goals to achieve greater height in personal as well as
professional career. So, they are valuable or significant in individuals’ life as they are long
enough to make significant process. People generally set medium terms goals to decide set of
strategies or action that they can undertake to accomplish the long-term goals (Sergeeva, 2019).
It acts as motivating individuals to improve their existing performance, capabilities and key areas
so that they can get best opportunities in future career. Therefore, without medium terms goals,
the individuals have no motivation to work or improve its skills for getting good options or
accomplish its desired objectives. My medium-term goals related to personal and professional
can be illustrated in detailed as follows:
1. First and foremost medium term goals is “ I want to achieve my MBA degree from the
reputable university till March 2022.” As it will help me in apply to an big enterprise
that are searching for individuals that have qualification in MBA as marketing manager,
along with necessary skills to influence customers behaviour. So I want to get degree for
better employment and good salary to live better lifestyles.
2. “Learn foreign language within the time frame of around 6-8 month through joining
online course” to enhance my vocabulary and understanding. Furthermore, I want to
learn foreign language as it will helps me in communicate with range of people that are
residing in different parts of the world. Therefore, helps in increasing my existing
knowledge and the way to share information with other.
3. The third medium term objective that I want to achieve is “ To create as well as commit
to fitness routine in order to have good physical personality”. Moreover, to have
control over emotional and more patience level to deal with tough situation and healthy

life. This goals is also importance because it will helps me in enhancing my capabilities
to face challenges and stay positive in every situation (Dali, Bell and Valdes, 2021).
Value of long- term goals and three personal examples
Long term goals are something that an individuals want to achieve in future therefore lot of
time and planning is required to accomplish the long-term goals. Individuals devote their
maximum efforts and energy in order to plan long term objective, key activities that need to be
undertaken to achieve the same. These are important goals as it is what a person wants to achieve
in its personal and professional career or the reason for which it is performing all the task in its
daily life (Trorey and Cullingford, 2017). Moreover, the long-term goals are valuable because
they helped an individual to know or identified where it wants to go in near future or year such
as within time frame of 4-5 years. There are maximum number of people that have long term
goals and for that they put all their energy, key capabilities and knowledge so that it can be
achieved at any cost. Similarly, I also have long term goals for my personal and professional
career that can be illustrated in detailed as follows:
1. My long term goals is “ to get promotion or senior position in the organisation as
working as marketing manager head in any of the reputable organisation”. It is the
objective because I want to have a good package so that I can enjoy luxury life, have all
necessary things to remain happy and satisfied. These goals will help me in having
sufficient money to buy all resources that I require in order to satisfied my wants.
2. “To go to world trip or different parts of the world after completion of my
graduation i.,,e after 3 years to have some fun and enjoyment”. I want to visit
different place in order to have knowledge about their culture, tradition, values and ethics
and abide the same. So, it is my one of the personal long-term objectives.
3. Last but not the least, “I want to start my own business after 5 years of experience as
marketing manager in reputable organization”. As it will help me in living my choice
of live, enjoying more sources of income and creating my name and fame in mind and
hearts of people. Thereby, to be successful entrepreneur is the main goal of my life.

Value of personal development plan and action plan
Personal development plan can be defined as official record of key skills, knowledge and
existing capabilities of individuals that it needs to be developed to have a particular job.
Likewise, it is framework that help in reflecting what they have actually accomplished till now
and more skills that they need to be developed in future scenario. A good personal development
plan is one that clearly represent that what an individuals want to achieve in its life (Joshi,
2018). So, through personal development plan the individuals is able to get direction related to
the way skills, capabilities can be developed for achievement of short, long and medium terms
goals. Therefore, the personal development plan of myself can be explained in detailed as
follows:
SKILLS THAT
NEED TO BE
IMPROVED
STEP TAKEN TO
IMPROVE THE
SAME
MEASURE TIME FRAME
Communication skills In order to improve
my communication
skills, I have decided
to learn new words in
order to enhance my
existing vocabulary.
Along with it
communicate with
more and more
individuals, read
books, make use of
internet and join
classes (Markova, and
et.al., 2019).
It will be measure
through analysing my
communication
method or through
taking feedback from
other whether it has
understand or not.
2-4 month will be
required to developed
communication skills

I will also pay
attention to improve
my listening
capabilities to
understand whether
the receiver has
actually understand or
not.
Decision making
skills
To improve my
decision making skills
I will read more
books, articles and
make use of internet.
In order to know the
manner in which
leader or successful
individuals take
decision.
Furthermore, give
time to find out
alternative option,
then select the best
decision that can be
taken to achieve the
set goals.
Decision making
skills can be evaluated
through checking
whether I have taken
correct decision in
limited time frame or
not (Biasutti and
et.al., 2021).
As per my perspective
it will require around
5-6 month in order to
improve my decision
making skills.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that personal and professional development is
important for individuals as it help in enhancing its existing skills, knowledge and capabilities.

At the same time all short, medium and long term goals contribute in motivating employees to
take step to work on their existing capabilities for better future ahead. At last, it can be
summarized that through making use of personal and professional development plan, an
individual can easily improve its current skills and gain competitive advantages from others.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Barnová, S., Krásna, S. and Čepelová, S., 2020. Digital technologies as a means of teachers’
professional development. R&E-SOURCE.
Biasutti, M and et.al., 2021. Teacher professional development: experiences in an international
project on intercultural education. Sustainability, 13(8). p.4171.
Dali, K., Bell, N. and Valdes, Z., 2021. Learning and change through diversity, equity, and
inclusion professional development: Academic librarians' perspectives. The Journal of
Academic Librarianship, 47(6). p.102448.
Dunn, R. J. and Doolittle, S. A., 2020. Professional development for teaching personal and social
responsibility: Past, present, and future. Journal of Teaching in Physical
Education, 39(3). pp.347-356.
Joshi, K. R., 2018. Critical incidents for teachers’ professional development. Journal of NELTA
Surkhet, 5. pp.82-88.
Markova, S. M and et.al., 2019, May. Forecasting the development of professional education.
In Institute of Scientific Communications Conference (pp. 452-459). Springer, Cham.
Saric, M. and Steh, B., 2017. Critical reflection in the professional development of teachers:
Challenges and possibilities. CEPS journal, 7(3). pp.67-85.
Sergeeva, M.G., 2019. Formation of economic competence of the head of the educational
organization in terms of professional development. Revista San Gregorio, 1(30).
Shibankova, L.A and et.al., 2019. Institutional mechanisms of university teacher professional
development. Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews, 7(4). pp.1061-1068.
Trorey, G. and Cullingford, C., 2017. Professional development and institutional needs. Taylor
& Francis.
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