Professional Development For Strategic Managers

Professional development for strategic
managers

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
1.1 Personal skills required to needed in for effective leadership and management..............3
1.2 Various techniques to assess the personal skills required for achieving strategic direction
of Iceland supermarket................................................................................................................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................9
2.1 Skills audit to evaluate strategic skills needed to meet current and future leadership
requirements................................................................................................................................9
2.2 Criteria such as national occupational standard for management and leadership to identify
preferred learning style................................................................................................................2
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................4
3.1 Personal development plan that meets leadership development requirements identified in
skills audit....................................................................................................................................4
3.2 Methods to assess the outcomes of personal development plan against personal work
objectives.....................................................................................................................................7
3.3 Evaluation of impact of own learning against the achievement of strategic goals................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
In today’s highly competitive environment it is the very crucial for the management employees to enhance
their skills and capabilities so that they can survive as well. In this concern, personal development is the most
important aspect which is required by individual’s life. It is all about the grooming of the overall personality of
person which helps him/her in future growth as well as career growth (Khilay, 2010). Further, the present study is
based on the professional development of strategic managers. There are various methods and techniques through
which better strategic direction can be made. With the help of such development a person can easily perform the
particular job with full enthusiasm. Here, the present study gives brief description about the personal and
professional development with reference to strategic manager of Iceland Supermarkets. It includes the overall
assessment of all the skills and capabilities required to achieve goals. For this, personal development plan is
presented in this research with the help of SMART objectives.
1.1 Personal skills required to needed in for effective leadership and management
By using appropriate methods and skill review audit it has been founded that there are several personal
skills which is required. It is highly essential for the appropriate leadership and management as well (Blackmore,
2010). As my position of strategic manager in Iceland supermarkets it is quite essential for me to have several
skills to perform my role in an appropriate manner such as:
Time management: One of the most crucial skills which are required by me is related to the time
management. Being a strategic manager I need to handle all the tasks in a particular time span. I possess this
ability at some extent and try to maintain my work for the same. With the help of this skill I can prioritize my
private as personal work. It helps me managing my work effective and taking better decisions as well. It also
impacts the productivity of my company by meeting all the deadlines and improves the brand image as well. This
skill assists me in achieving time based targets and achieving long term goals as well. As per the given table of
check list I have found that I possess appropriate time management skill due to which I am able to handle all my
projects and lead them in a better way. I am able to finish my tasks on the given time period.
Skills I’m really
confident I can do
this
Not entirely
sure –I could
still improve.
I really need
to work on
this.
I am able to organize my time so that I
comfortably meet all my deadlines for my
tasks

I seek help or support from higher
authorities if I have difficulty completing a
task

I keep a diary or calendar so that I always
know when I have to order stock, manage
staff, meet staff and prioritize tasks

I arrive on time to work, appointments and
meetings

I am aware of the things that cause me to
waste time and am able to avoid them when
I have
work to complete

I have future targets in mind regarding my
career and use these to help me focus on


current tasks
Setting SMART Objectives: I use to set my targets on the basis of my work which I needs to complete.
Through this, I can easily identify whether the set objective is specific, measurable, realistic or attainable or not. It
boosts me to complete the given tasks on a timely manner and attain my specific tasks as well. As per the given
table of check list I have found that I am very confident in drawing up my action plan by setting my own targets as
well as identifying my priorities. This clearly elaborates that I always use to set my SMART objectives on the
basis of given target.
Problem Solving Skill: Being s strategic manager within a retail firm I face lots of difficulties regarding
my work. It also hampers my personal as well as professional life due to the increasing stress. I possess problem
solving skill at some extent but still most of the time I feel pressurized due to the workload and increasing
problems and queries. Although, I use to implement all the techniques such as SWOT as well as PESTLE analysis
so that I can easily resolve all my queries and organizational problems. Further, problem solving is a most
important skill through which I can carry out all the business operations effectively and resolve my personal as
well as personal issues. However, I am quite confident in using basic approaches of problem solving as well as
setting my targets and drawing up an action plan. As per the given table of check list I have found that I do am not
able to resolve problems appropriately. I am not very confident while using any type of basic problem solving
approach.
Skills I’m really
confident I
can do this
Not entirely
sure –I could
still improve.
I really
need to
work on
this.
I am able to use different methods for
discovering a problem.

I am able to consider a range of
alternative solutions to a problem

I am able to work productively with
others to solve problems

I know how to find out what is expected
of me in a particular task

Effective Communication Skill: As per the given table of check list, I founded that I am having a very
good communication skill due to which I can easily interact and communicate with my team members as well
colleagues. It highly motivates my co-workers to complete the work effectively without any queries. Further, it
can be determine that communication is all about active listening, questioning and handling ability. Through
appropriate communication I am able to convey right message to right person and easily avoid all type of
confusion and misunderstanding.
Skills I’m really
confident I
can do this
Not entirely
sure –I could
still improve.
I really
need to
work on
this.
In staff meetings, I listen to others and I
value and respond to their contribution
even if I do not agree


I am confident that I can contribute ideas
and opinions to a group projects

I think of relevant follow-up
questions as people are speaking and
ask them once they have finished

I am confident in explaining new
concepts to other people

I am confident in giving a presentation to
my peers

I am confident in conducting staff
appraisals and staff interviews

I am confident that I can structure reports,
record minutes of meetings, maintain other
relevant

With the help of having all the above skill I can prove myself to be the best manager of Iceland and resolve
all the queries of my co-worker regarding work, time management as well as performance.
Skill Rating (Out of 10) Justification
Time management 8 One of the most crucial
skills which are required by me is
related to the time management.
Being a strategic manager I need to
handle all the tasks in a particular
time span. I possess this ability at
some extent and try to maintain my
work for the same. With the help of
this skill I can prioritize my private
as personal work. It helps me
managing my work effective and
taking better decisions as well. It
also impacts the productivity of my
company by meeting all the
deadlines and improves the brand
image as well. This skill assists me
in achieving time based targets and
achieving long term goals as well.
Setting SMART Objectives 9 I use to set my targets on the basis
of my work which I need to
complete. Through this, I can easily
identify whether the set objective is
specific, measurable, realistic or
attainable or not. It boosts me to
complete the given tasks on a

timely manner and attain my
specific tasks as well.
Problem Solving Skill 6 Being s strategic manager within a
retail firm I face lots of difficulties
regarding my work. It also hampers
my personal as well as professional
life due to the increasing stress. I
possess problem solving skill at
some extent but still most of the
time I feel pressurized due to the
workload and increasing problems
and queries. Although, I use to
implement all the techniques such
as SWOT as well as PESTLE
analysis so that I can easily resolve
all my queries and organizational
problems. Further, problem solving
is a most important skill through
which I can carry out all the
business operations effectively and
resolve my personal as well as
personal issues.
Effective Communication Skill 10 I am having a very good
communication skill due to which I
can easily interact and
communicate with my team
members as well colleagues. It
highly motivates my co-workers to
complete the work effectively
without any queries. Further, it can
be determine that communication is
all about active listening,
questioning and handling ability.
Through appropriate
communication I am able to convey
right message to right person and
easily avoid all type of confusion
and misunderstanding.