Personal and Professional Development: Self-Assessment Report and Plan

This article discusses Personal and Professional Development through a Self-Assessment Report and Plan. It covers topics such as advantages and disadvantages of CPD methods, ways to encourage CPD, benefits of CPD for individuals and employers, and more.

Running head: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Topic 1: Personal and Professional Development
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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Table of Contents
Task 1: Self-Assessment Report and Personal Development Plan..................................................3
Personal Skills Audit:..................................................................................................................3
Self-Assessment Report:..............................................................................................................4
a. Introduction..............................................................................................................................4
b. Evaluation of advantages and disadvantages of three CPD methods..................................4
c. Suggesting ways to encourage CPD....................................................................................5
d. Evaluation of the benefits of CPD for both individuals and their employers......................5
e. Methodology section examining the validity of the tool being used for self-assessment. . .6
f. Evaluation of what is being learnt from self-assessment.....................................................6
The self-assessment test did help me to be aware of my strengths and weaknesses.
Moreover, it informed me on how threatening my weaknesses could be, if not treated
appropriately. The assessment did make me aware with opportunities that could be availed
if I pay attention to areas of improvement and ways to attain those.......................................6
g. Conclusion...........................................................................................................................6
h. Four to six learning and development goals........................................................................6
i. Activities to implement the personal development..............................................................6
j. Identify resources and support needed for the goals............................................................7
k. Identify inner and outer obstacles to achieving each goal in the plan.................................7
l. Specify clear success criteria................................................................................................7
m. Appropriate and realistic target dates for each goal...........................................................8
Task 2: Personal Development Activities, Log Sheets, Evaluation Report and Oral Presentation.8
Personal Development Activities:...............................................................................................8
n. Activities to reach to short-term goals.................................................................................8
o. Solutions to a range of work-based problems......................................................................9

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p. Communication in a range of suitable styles and manners at various levels in different
situations, preferably at work..................................................................................................9
q. Range of strategies for an effective time-management.......................................................9
Log Sheets:................................................................................................................................10
A report to evaluate the achievements against the personal development plan:.......................10
r. Methodology section discussing the ways followed in implementation............................10
s. Critical reflection of the progress.......................................................................................10
t. An updated version of your personal development plan....................................................10
u. Conclusion.........................................................................................................................11
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................12
A 5 minute oral presentation:....................................................................................................13

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Task 1: Self-Assessment Report and Personal Development Plan
Personal Skills Audit:
i. One computer-based self-assessment test
I did appear for two computer based tests for assessing my problem-solving, and communication
skills. These were the online tests. In a communication skills test, I scored 47. The score suggests
that I am a capable communicator but sometimes I fall into problems. I scored 48 in my problem-
solving skills. The score says that my problem solving skills is a bit “hit-and-miss”.
ii. A personal SWOT analysis
Strengths
 A pretty good reading, and
understanding capabilities of different
languages
 Ability to stay calm and composed in
tough situation
Weaknesses
 My communication skills are at par
with average level
 I am not very confident with problem-
solving skills
Opportunities
 An increased communication with
colleagues, and managers can be
benefitting
 I need to have consistency, and
commitment with the problem-solving
process
Threats
 Communication failure if taken on a
negative note can be fatalistic for my
progress
 If I am not able to hold my nerves in
challenging situations, this will affect
my improvement as a problem-solver
Table 1: A Personal SWOT Analysis
(Source: created by author)
iii. A learning styles inventory to identify the preferred learning style or styles
There are mainly three learning style inventories that are as follows (Arguelles and Bay 2014):
 Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory (LSI)
 Jackson’s Learning Styles Profiler (LSP)
 Fleming’s VARK Learning Style Questionnaire

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Out of the above-mentioned learning styles, I will go with the Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory
(LSI).
Self-Assessment Report:
a. Introduction
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a process to be engaged in a life-long
learning experience. In the hospitality and tourism industry, I want to serve my career as a
“customer service manager”.
b. Evaluation of advantages and disadvantages of three CPD methods
There are ample number of CPD methods that can be used to pursue a lifelong learning program.
In context to the study, only three methods will be discussed. These are (Cottrell 2015):
i. Coaching
ii. Getting involved into new works
iii. Reflective practice
Advantages Disadvantages
Coaching  Facilitates an
exchange of
experience and
knowledge
 A fast way to learn
things depending on
the terms and
conditions attached
with the coaching
 Low on practicality
 Limited or no
exposure to range of
dissimilar situations
Reflective practice  Helps to analyze the
areas of improvement
 The first thing to do
towards setting a
 It is time consuming
 Biasness towards
disclosing the
perspective

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personal and
professional
development plan
 Lack of experience
may affect the
outcome
Getting involved into new job
responsibilities
 Provides an
exploration to diverse
skills
 Opportunity to learn
new thing and identify
areas of improvement
 Failure may
discourage to innovate
with new job
responsibilities
 Failure may also
affect the morale
Table 2: CPD Methods
(Source: created by author)
c. Suggesting ways to encourage CPD
There are various ways that can be followed to encourage the implementation of CPD. These are
(Cottrell 2015):
 Experts consultation
 Online communities
 Individual reading
 Reading groups
 Individual and programmed action research
 Doing a formal course
 Membership of professional bodies
d. Evaluation of the benefits of CPD for both individuals and their employers
CPD can help individuals in keeping their skills and knowledge up-to-date. Moreover,
areas of improvement can also be attained (Cottrell 2015).
For employers, CPD will ensure that standard practices are spread equally across the
company. Moreover, the rate of existence will be both high and consistent (Cottrell 2015).
e. Methodology section examining the validity of the tool being used for self-assessment

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An online tool was being used to assess my capabilities in communication and problem-
solving. The tool helped me to understand my weaknesses concerning those two areas of
expertise. However, the tool did not provide a one-time opportunity to assess my capabilities in
different set of skills.
f. Evaluation of what is being learnt from self-assessment
The self-assessment test did help me to be aware of my strengths and weaknesses.
Moreover, it informed me on how threatening my weaknesses could be, if not treated
appropriately. The assessment did make me aware with opportunities that could be availed if I
pay attention to areas of improvement and ways to attain those.
g. Conclusion
To conclude, I need to work on improving my capabilities in communication and
problem-solving. If I am able to design and implement the personal development plan addressing
these and many other issues, these efforts will definitely create better job opportunities for me.
h. Four to six learning and development goals
Short-term goals: Communication skills, active listening, and engaging in more and more
communication
Long-term goals: Problem-solving skills, handling complex projects, and working with teams
i. Activities to implement the personal development
Following activities will be used to implement each goal:
Short-term goals:-
Communication skills: By learning the basics of grammar and vocabulary, seeking feedbacks of
trainers, engaging in discussion with the audience, and others.
Active listening: By paying attention to the speakers, providing the feedback, deferring the
judgment and others.
Engaging in more and more communication: Interacting with managers and colleagues, taking
part in seminars and various business functions, and etc.
Long-term goals:-

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Problem-solving skills: Working with reputed organizations, taking part in various projects,
addressing to challenges, working collaboratively with employees, and others.
Handling complex projects: Successfully completing each of projects as this will affirm my
capabilities to managers and hence, I may get the chance to do complex tasks.
Working with teams: Earlier days in jobs will be the learning period, which I will utilize to be
able to mix up with teams.
j. Identify resources and support needed for the goals
To achieve both short and long-term goals, I must get a job. This will provide me the
platform and learning opportunities that I can use to improve as a professional. Once, I get a job,
there will be a lot of guidance to me in the form of my colleagues, the seniors, supervisors,
managers, and of course the CEO. Each person will teach me different things, which is the
reflection of his or her personality and uniqueness. Apart from this, I would also refer to online
resources to know how to effectively remove the areas of improvement.
k. Identify inner and outer obstacles to achieving each goal in the plan
The inner obstacle is related to me and the outer one is related to external resources.
Hence, the inner obstacles could be as follows:
 My inability to gran things faster
 Lack of eagerness to learn and look for removing the areas of weaknesses
External obstacles could be as mentioned:
 Supervisors are either unsupportive or they are not much qualified
 My colleagues are not keen in helping me
 The company where I would work has the CEO that lacks the leadership qualities I have
heard about in books and other resources
l. Specify clear success criteria
The clear success criteria would be as follows:
 After a few months, I would improve as a communicator

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 After a few years being employed in organizations, I would grow in experience in
problem-solving capabilities
m. Appropriate and realistic target dates for each goal
Communication skills: This should be developed within a year from now on.
Problem solving skills: This would require a 4-5years of career in organization to become
equipped with skills required to solve problems of diverse nature.
Task 2: Personal Development Activities, Log Sheets, Evaluation Report and Oral
Presentation
Personal Development Activities:
n. Activities to reach to short-term goals
There are numerous activities that can be followed to attain the short-term goals. These are
(Dowling 2014):
 Redefine accountability
 Think as if these are integral part of one’s life
 To remain solid strong in circumstances, which are not in control and rather try to control
the circumstances
 To have desire and passion to achieve the goals
 Not to allow any negative thought come across the mind and create the negativity
 To remain ready to deliver a bold stroke
 Seeking for feedback
 To ask some questions like whether one is the owner or the renter
 To be prepared to remove a lot of errors from one’s life
 To make things to happen
o. Solutions to a range of work-based problems
Work-based problems can be solved by following the below-mentioned steps (Gee, Schulte and
Matsumoto 2018):

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 It is important to identify the issues
 The next step would be to understand everyone’s interests
 It is followed by listing the possible solutions
 Then, evaluate the range of options
 This will be followed by selecting an option or options
 The agreement after which should be documented
 Setting up contingency plan
 Finally, monitoring and evaluating the implementation
p. Communication in a range of suitable styles and manners at various levels in different
situations, preferably at work
There are ample number of ways that can be followed to communicate at the workplace.
One of those is open meeting. This could be arranged to have discussions between managers, or
managers and supervisors, or also managers and employees. Emails can be used to communicate
professionally discussing the official’s related talks. One-on-one is another method preferably
used for two persons desiring for a detailed talk. Managers can adopt this while communicating
with one particular employee or the supervisor. Training is also a medium to communicate. It is
an occasional but routinely maintained communication. Feedback from managers given to
employees is also a way to establish a two-way communication ay workplace (Gould 2017).
q. Range of strategies for an effective time-management
An effective time management can be attained through following steps (Kolb 2014):
 Starting the day with a clear focus and intention
 To have a task list containing each activities to be performed in that particular day
 To have more focus on high-value activities
 It is also important to minimize interruptions
 Multi-tasking should be limited
 At the end, it is important to review the day and identify the possible areas of
improvement. This will help to achieve a better time management ability in coming few
days.
Log Sheets:

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i. Activities being done
ii. Evaluation of what is being learnt from doing these activities
iii. Assessment of needs for future improvement
A report to evaluate the achievements against the personal development plan:
r. Methodology section discussing the ways followed in implementation
The methodology followed to implement the personal development plan is the same,
which is universally followed. Once, I identified a few weaknesses in me, I set both short-term
and long-term goals. This was necessary as well as there cannot be a systematic process without
set goals. After that I allotted separate timeline to each of goals. It is followed by setting the
contingency plan for my personal development plan. I opted to design a contingency plan
because this would enable me measure my progress towards the goal.
s. Critical reflection of the progress
The process that I followed so far is good and widely used as well. However, a good plan
can never be a success unless being accompanied by required resources and supports. It is
important that individual is fully committed to development plan. A half-measured approach
could lead to danger. Additionally, external resources in the form of online resources, colleagues,
supervisors and manager in organizations if are not cooperative, the plan would certainly
collapse. I am fortune to have supports rom each of the resources. This has helped me so far and
I am looking for the best.
t. An updated version of your personal development plan
Skills Earlier Status Current Status Goal
Communication
Skills
It was miss-or-hit
case
Now, the little I
speak I do it with full
confidence to deliver
To become a fluent
communicator
Problem-solving
Skills
I had no idea of how
to solve a problem
Now, I know a bit of
it
The goal is to become
the leading person in
problem solving

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u. Conclusion
To conclude, this can be said that personal development plan is a helpful guide for
mitigating the weaknesses. However, it needs to plan in several steps as being shown in this
report. Additionally, the plan would be a success if individuals are committed to it. Moreover,
external assistance from colleagues, and managers is utterly required for it to happen.

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Bibliography
Arguelles, S.W.G. and Bay, A.B., 2014. Career Related Profile of Freshman Students for
Academic Year 2013–2014: Basis for a Career Development Plan. International Journal of
Academic Research in Psychology, 1(2), pp.136-146.
Cottrell, S., 2015. Skills for success: Personal development and employability. Macmillan
International Higher Education.
Dowling, M., 2014. Young children's personal, social and emotional development. Sage.
Gee, D., Schulte, M. and Matsumoto, R.R., 2018. Use of the Individual Development Plan (IDP)
as a Career Planning Tool to Track Accreditation Standards in a Doctor of Pharmacy
Program. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, p.ajpe6825.
Gould, J., 2017. Career development: A plan for action. Nature, 548(7668), pp.489-490.
Kolb, D.A., 2014. Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development.
FT press.

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A 5 minute oral presentation:

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