The Importance of Personal Development

This assignment delves into the significance of personal development, particularly within a professional context. It examines various aspects of personal growth, including leadership skills, self-directed learning, and the influence of motivation on career advancement. Drawing upon academic research and online resources, the document explores the benefits of continuous learning and its impact on individual and organizational success.

PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT OF
STRATEGIC MANAGER

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Evaluation of personal skills required to achieve strategic goals.........................................1
1.2 Techniques to access professional skills required to support strategic direction of the
organization.................................................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Current level of strategic managerial skills required for achieving strategic goals and
leadership development using an appropriate models and/or tools............................................4
2.2 Identifying own preferred learning style and researching learning styles concept...............6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Construction of personal development plan for leadership development.............................7
3.2 Suitable methods to assess the outcomes of a personal development plan against personal
work objectives...........................................................................................................................9
3.3 Impact of own learning against the achievement of strategic goals....................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Global expansion of business units has developed employment opportunities highly in the
economy. Companies are growing their business prospects towards new spectrum. It demands
efficient and trained team of employees to manage organizational activities and tasks (Berghman
and Vloeberghs, 2003). The roles and responsibilities of managers demand wide integration of
impressive skills and development. A manager in the present era plays an active role in
representing the firm and enhancing growth prospects for it. High competition in the market
demands strategic management skills by companies. It results in balancing organizational goals,
employee needs and consumer demands (Hotho and Dowling, 2010). The outcome of this
integration is sales enhancement and high profitability within the market by creating effective
brand image of the company.
Hilton Worldwide is a large business group operating globally in different business
ventures. Hilton hotels is successful venture of the organization. It is an international chain of
full service hotels operating successfully worldwide. The organization was established in the
year 1919 and has been successfully operating the business operations thereon. The organization
is presently running more than 540 hotels across the globe. The strategic manager of the
organization needs to have a clear understanding about the strategic objectives, goals, vision and
mission of the company (Jetmore, 2005). In order to attain organizational goals the managers is
demanded to develop his personal and professional competencies. As a HR manager in Hilton
Hotel UK, I used variety of tools and techniques to enhance my current skills and evaluate
approaches for my future development as well.
TASK 1
1.1 Evaluation of personal skills required to achieve strategic goals
Personal skills are critical for the manager to attain and adopt personality for carrying out
the business operations efficiently within the competitive era. This helps him/her in enhancing
their competitiveness for facing huge market competition. These skills are significant for
understating employee requirements, handling daily functions and also to handle contingent
situations at work (Samaras, 2010). The skills required by the HR manager of Hilton Hotel is to
attain strategic goals of the business that are discussed henceforth.
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 Interpersonal skills: Managing an effective employee relationship is one of the crucial
requirement for the manager. The business units are technically advancing yet human
resource is one of the most significant asset of the organization. The interpersonal skills
help in building strong communication, understanding and positive relations with the
employee (Tams, 2008). Hilton Hotel is service sector units thus to enhance quality
services positive employee relationship is utmost needed. Hence, HR manager of the
organisation is required to manage strong interpersonal relationship with the employees
to ensure quality performance and high productivity (Andrews and Russell, 2012). Communication skills: HR manager is a representative for the entire employee team of
the company. Hence, strong and clear communication helps in minimizing the risk of
confusions and maintain healthy working environment within the firm. HR manager
focuses on communicating organisational goals effectively to the staff for attaining their
support (Boaden, 2006). Moreover, it helps in developing positive organizational culture
as well. Well defined communication helps in delivering correct information on timely
basis which helps in making quick and better decisions for the business. Learning skills: learning is an ongoing process for every individual. Present business
environment is highly volatile thus demands regular development to attain high growth
measures within the competitive world (Keller, 2009). The HR manager of Hilton hotel
need to develop effective learning skills to regularly improve his/her current proficiency
and competence. Moreover, it results in remaining updated with all possible changes and
advancement within the economy. These skills help the individual in developing self to
stand aside from the crowd and enhance effective management measures for
organisational growth. Stress management skills: Complex working schedules changing needs of people creates
a challenging environment for the HR manager to effectively understand and attain
strategic goals of the company. The major role of the designation is to ensure employee
efficiency and needs for attaining high productivity and quality of services (Saiyadain.
2009). HR manager of the business create and develop stress management actions and
roles to ensure favourable working environment within the company. Effective strategies
related to work life balance, relaxation techniques and planning are ensured as per the
stated skills.
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 Time management skills: These are the crucial skills which are focused upon to manage
daily operations for the business unit. Serving guests and adhering to their need are to be
effectively attained and managed within the limited time frame. Time management skills
is important to enhance efficiency and productivity of the employees. It helps in reducing
wastage of time and attaining high productivity (Armstrong, 2012). HR manager of
Hilton Hotel highly demand these skills to for accomplishing functional objectives of the
business unit.
1.2 Techniques to access professional skills required to support strategic direction of the
organization
The manager of the business must be well acquainted with different methods of assessing
professional skills according to strategic objectives of the business. This will help the company
to attain high measures of growth and development within the economy (Emmerik and et.al.,
2012). Variety of measures could be implemented within a business unit to assess and develop
professional skills of an individual to support the strategic direction of business. Hilton Hotel
implement different techniques and methods to assess and determine the same. Coaching and mentoring: Hilton hotel is operating its global chain of hotels to attain the
needs and requirements of the consumers efficiently and provide a leisure experience to
them. In order to attain the stated strategic goal of the organization coaching and
mentoring widely helps the manager (Lopper, 2007). I use this method to assess and
analyse the individual capability and adopt the same for the growth of the business.
Moreover, I use this method to enhance my own skills and attributes as well. Coaching
and mentoring from a well trained individual will help me in analysing the gap in my
professional growth measures. Moreover, this method not only helps in analysing the
skill gaps but also provide effective measures to overcome the same. Thus coaching and
mentoring is one of the most efficient measure to assess and develop the individual skills
of the person (Marques, 2012). However, in order to attain high success of the selected
techniques one must assure that the mentor is capable enough with high industry
experience to mentor a person towards professional growth. Counselling: This is yet another effective measure for the proposed issue. Counselling is
technique which focuses on transition of an individual through psychological and
emotional change of the persons. In order to assess the professional skills this measure
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will help in creating a significant impact of the knowledge and understanding of a person.
The industry expert or professional individual may carry out the same in order to develop
high growth prospects for an individual (McGurk, 2010). Hilton hotel faces small and
considerable issues within the firm on the regular basis. Counselling helps the manger in
understanding the issues and develop effective solutions for the same. Moreover, these
skills critical for the manager to inculcate loyalty and understanding within the staff
through well developed interpersonal skills. Leadership measures: A leader is a persona who has the skills to persuade and motivate
people towards set organisational goals of the company. HR manager needs effective
leadership skills in order to train and develop the subordinates for attaining business
objectives and analysing different measures to analyse individual skills and attributes as
well (Wakefield and et. al., 2007). The working culture of Hilton Hotel focuses on
injecting well planned leadership to ensure effective work management and develop high
growth prospects. Leadership in Hilton Hotel helps the company in taking right decisions
and developing effective strategies for the same.
 Training and development: These techniques is most widely used to develop employees
into professionals. Hilton hotel has developed a measure of time work and quality
assessment of individuals. On the basis of the results, planning about training programs is
done. This helps the employees in gaining high and effective growth prospects within the
company. Moreover, this measure also helps the company in creating effective success
prospects for the business.
TASK 2
2.1 Current level of strategic managerial skills required for achieving strategic goals and
leadership development using an appropriate models and/or tools
It is undeniable that various occupations require different skills, competencies and
abilities. It is also the case that individuals differ with regard to their mental capabilities and the
degree at which they relate them at work. In a manner to generate the skills audit of myself, I
have conduct my swot analysis to know my skills and knowledge for managerial field (Cox and
et. al., 2007). Analysis will cover my personal factors like my strength and weakness. It will also
depict the areas of opportunities and threats in myself.
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Strength
 I have good communication skills with
my clients and team members.
 I am able to work under pressure.
 I believe in positive thinking and
working accordingly. I have a confident attitude.
Weakness
 I avoid task which are beyond my
knowledge level.
 I have bad time management skills.
 I do not plan and work.
 I become aggressive during the work
crisis.
Opportunities
 I'm attending higher level managing
training. This will improve my strategic
networking and will enrich my
confidence level. I have the opportunity to cover up my
certification course after my working
hours.
Threats
 I have a threat from person with better
skills and knowledge than me, has
better execution than me.
 Changing technology affects my
working style.
 I do not have any certification course in
Management field.
Further, an evaluation has been conduct to acknowledge the skills required in order to
achieve the strategic goals and leadership development for Human Resource Manager in Hilton
hotel. According to my opinion, the communications skills are essential to achieve the goals of
the organization as per the HR manager in the company. I have strong abilities to communicate
persuasively to the surrounding people. Within a management team, I have to fight or to argue
with the staff in order to convince them that the specified strategy is optimal in achieving the
desired goals. My role is to make the management work according to the strategy, for which I
must have a participating attitude, in manner to take part with them at all levels of the strategy
(Heaney, 2004). Sometimes, I have to make changes which is generally not supported by the
employees. Thus, I have to help them to understand the necessity for the change for this I must
have the ability to express myself and impress the audiences/staff members. Being as a HR
manager, I have the responsibilities to control the team of staff under my guidance. I'm
responsible to manage their working and services in the hotel premises. I have to enhance the
working skills of the staff by training and developing them. For achieving this task, I have to
improve my skills and knowledge of controlling and managing through training and
development. I have to innovative methods and technologies to get things done. By using
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collaborative approaches, I will enhance my ability increase creativity and innovation
techniques, which helps in solving problems during critical situation. However, these are the
main skills, which I believe, to be improved in myself in order to achieve the desired strategic
goals by HR manager in Hilton Hotel.
2.2 Identifying own preferred learning style and researching learning styles concept
The main function of developing the managers through learning style concept is to
enhancing their skills and knowledge. By which the managers have the key to access the
relationship networks that can aid them in becoming life-long learners and cope with issues on
their continually dynamic agendas. The learning style preferred by me, as the HR manager of
Hilton hotel, would be VARK (Visual, Auditory, Reading/writing, Kinesthetic) learning style
model. The Vark Learning Styles Model was developed by psychologists in the 1920s to classify
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Illustration 1: VARK learning style method
(Source : Lifelong learning. 2013)

the most common ways that people learn. According to the model, most of us prefer to learn in
one of three ways: visual, auditory or kinesthetic (although, in practice, we generally "mix and
match" these three styles). Some learners prefer to learn from visual information, others prefer to
read and write notes in order to learn. I prefer this style of learning because I know my skills of
learning, processing and retaining information can be most effectively and improved by seeing,
listening, reading /writing or through movement /touch. Further I would join coaching classes or
training institutions in order to enrich my skills (Leadership Now, 2016). Through attending such
classes of training, I would cover up my lacking abilities, skills and knowledge required for a HR
manager.
The training classes will also encourage my willpower to take the certification classes in
human resource management. I will get a boost in my performance and working tactics over the
workplace. Training and developing through attending classes will overcome my weaknesses &
threats and will become my strength and power to achieve the desired goals and objectives
(Personal Skills, 2015). However, as a HR in Hilton hotel has high responsibilities during its
duties which require advance knowledge and innovative skills for making decisions.
TASK 3
3.1 Construction of personal development plan for leadership development
Personal development planning is crucial to ensure growth of the individual in this highly
competitive environment. It helps in creating high success and development measures for the
person. The above performed skill audit through SWOT analysis helped me in analysing my
current weaknesses and threats for attaining success. In order to overcome my weaknesses and
ensure high growth measures within the economy SMART objectives have been planned and
developed.
The SMART objectives to attain high growth measures are:
 To enhance my professional growth in 1 year time frame
 To develop my weaknesses into strengths in 9 months
 Practice and expertise the skills to enhance my professional performance
 To indulge in regular improvement, self-learning and time-management activities
Personal and professional development plan for 9 months
Skills Current level Target level Development Judging Evidence
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opportunity criteria
Time
management
Low grip over
time
management
Be efficient in
managing time
and work for
the business
Regular
practice and
effective
management
of work.
Daily small
targets will
help in
developing
grip over time
management
Maintain a
journal of
current
efficiency and
regular
develop and
mark target to
reach. Manage
self
management
plans as well.
Target goals
attainment.
Better
utilization of
time.
Planning Inefficient
with planning
and doing
work
Be well
equipped with
planning skills
to efficiently
manage and
make future
plans for
growth and
development
Take expert
advise and
learn special
tactics for
effective
planning and
management.
Development
of proper
formats for
planning will
help in
developing
ability to think
differently and
manage goals
and objectives
Well
acquainted
with effective
and functional
planning
Planned
schedules and
formats for
daily and
monthly
operations.
Self control Low self Develop calm Regular Employee Employee
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control high
aggression
and stress free
attitude
exercise and
meditation
feedback and
work
performance
productivity
and
performance
Technical
skills
Proficient with
current
technology
Well versed
with latest and
upcoming
technologies
Self learning,
books and
internet.
Learning
online
Zeal to learn
and train staff
for better
performance.
Taking
initiative and
developing
new ways of
working
through new
and enhanced
technologies.
Self Learning
skills
General
awareness,
general
knowledge,
regular study
skills
Expert with
changing
technologies
and trends.
Developing
zeal to learn
and read
Regular
reading and
learning, e-
learning
opportunities,
attaining
academic
degree
Effective
learning and
development
measures.
Academic
diploma or
certificate
The PDP will help me in developing my skills and will ensure in creating high growth
prospects for my future success. It will also help in creating an effective impact on the
organizational development of the organization as I will focus of better planning and
performance of actions.
3.2 Suitable methods to assess the outcomes of a personal development plan against personal
work objectives
Managerial position demand wide rage of roles and responsibilities for the growth of the
business and for the individual growth as well. It helps the business unit in creating an effective
measure for success and development. I am working as a HR manager in Hilton Hotel UK. My
roles and responsibilities within the company was to manage and maintain the HR activities
regarding recruitment, selection, employee motivations, training need assessment, counselling
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and learning, remuneration planning and performance assessment as well. The stated role
demanded wide integration of skills, attributes and leaning for the organization. By performing
effective skills audit I analysed my current level of proficiency for my professional success. This
helped me in planning and developing effective measures to overcome my weaknesses and
threats. I developed a personal development plan for developing an effective plan for
organizational success. This plan was an effective measure to calculate and plan the success
criteria for me.
The personal development plan developed an effective road map for my growth and
success within the company. It helped to be focused on my personal goals for attaining high
professional success. Moreover, I used different techniques and tools to regularly assess my
plans and growth prospects within the market. The methods which helped me in attaining high
success prospects are: Check lists: This was a simple and most effective method which helped me in attaining
wide success measures for growth and development. It helped me in keeping regular
check on my progress and development on the regular basis. I made a check list of tasks
and skills I wanted to develop and improve on the timely basis. The checklist was made
on daily, weekly and monthly basis which helped to develop a regular assessment of my
plan. The list kept me motivated to move ahead and guided me about what and how to do
the task. This however used to be raw means of performance thus was effective for
ascertaining my time table but was not a full guidance. Benchmarks: This was yet another useful measure which I used to ensure that my
performance is going in the right direction. I used benchmarks to analyse the industry
standards. This method was used to find the gap between standard performance and my
actual performance. I then planned and developed strategies to fill the stated gap and
attain high measures for growth. Feedback: This method of self assessment helped me to attain and collective views about
my performance and development within the organization. The PDP developed by me
was to enhance my performance as a HR manager in Hilton hotel and develop my future
growth prospects as well. In order to attain the stated objective I took timely feedbacks
from my superiors and subordinates about the issues they are facing while working and
how can I help them to develop. These feedbacks were the indirect indicators of what I
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must do in order to develop high growth measures within the company. Feedback were
effective yet they were not 100% dependable due to social perception factors. Hence, I
considered the feedback with similar results repeatedly.
 Self evaluation: this was the last and most effective technique for developing high and
effective growth prospects for me. I used to develop different measures and strategies to
analyse my own skills and growth within the economy. I developed my personal growth
plan for the same and evaluated the same on the regular basis. Self evaluation used to
motivate me for self learning of new skills and created effective measures for growth as
well. This was well defined measure to attain wide success for me.
Hence, with the helps on the above stated measures in developed an effective well planned
measure to develop and grow my skills to become a strategic manager. It also helped me in
creating valuable impact on my career planning and self learning skills. My time management
and planning skills has been highly developed which helps me both personal and professional
development.
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3.3 Impact of own learning against the achievement of strategic goals
Professional development is a challenging task for an individual. Increasing market
competition and high usage of different technologies tools make the planning and learning wide
and confusing as well. While working as a HR manager in Hilton Hotel UK I realised my
weaknesses and threats which could restrict me from growing within the industry. I was planning
to make a highly successful career in HR department in service industry. In order to attain the
same, I had to improve my current skills and overcome my weaknesses as well. For this I
developed a personal development plan which focused on all my weaknesses and threats and
developed effective measures to improve the same.
Initially I was afraid to see the vast ocean of tasks and objectives I had to attain for
developing high success measures. However, I distributed my tasks and objectives into small and
attainable goals. This helped me in developing focus and making the development process fun. I
regularly worked upon the improvement strategies and develop different strategies to work.
Moreover, the usage of strategic tools and models helped in developing my understanding about
the goals. I implemented SWOT analysis regularly to evaluate my strengths and weaknesses.
This method was effective in developing an outlook. It helped in reflecting my current positions
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however I was unable to develop comparative analysis from the same. Gradual and regular
development helped me in gaining confidence and curiosity to work better.
The overall development plan was a very nice and effective experience for me. It helped
me in gaining academic knowledge and reflected the application of the same in my professional
life. Moreover, I learnt how to regularly practice and work to attain vast and unattainable goal.
The overall process of development helped me in improving my planning and management skills
highly. I created an effective impact on the growth and development of the business as well.
Through self learning process I learnt the significance of interpersonal technical skills for role of
HR manager.
The learning and development for the report can be expressed as an effective and
valuable experience for me. I could have developed success much earlier by focusing on
managing my strengths as well. I implemented the methods of skills reviews and development
regularly. However effective and well developed SMART objectives would have helped me in
developing high growth prospects. In conclusion to the above report I can say that the current
process was highly effective for attaining high success for me. If similar situations will arise in
future I will implement effective and well planned leaning and planning measures to overcome
the same. Moreover, expert counselling and mentoring will be effectively implemented by me in
order to attain proper and timely guidance.
CONCLUSION
A manager is person who plays an active role of balancing internal and external
organizational needs to develop high growth prospects for business units. In the modern era,
manager need to integrate the strategic needs of the company with changing demands and
requirements in order to attain huge success. The present report focuses on analysing
professional skills and attributes required by a strategic manager and measures to enhance the
same. The study will carry out the skill audit and analyse strategies to shape those skills and
attributes as per the present demand of the economy. The report carries an in-depth analysis of
managerial skills through academic theories and models and evaluates different methods to
develop an individual to become a successful manager in the present competitive world.
From the above study its has been analysed that the development of strategic manager is
significant for the growth of business. It helps in enhancing high success measures for the
business. On the basis of the given report professional development demands high integration of
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personal and professional skills of the individuals towards organizational goals. This is because,
different skills lead person towards the right path and due to which, strategic goal of enterprise
can be met. Hence, from the study it can be clearly understood that HR manager of Hilton Hotel
needs to balance skills and attributes cleverly towards the strategic business objectives and
develop them for ensuring high success measures for business.
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REFERENCES
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Boaden, J. R., 2006. Leadership development: does it make a difference?. Leadership &
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Cox, D. B. and et. al., 2007. A study of managerial derailment characteristics and personality
preferences. Journal of Management Development. 26(9). pp.857 – 873.
Emmerik, V. H. and et.al., 2012. The route to employability: Examining resources and the
mediating role of motivation. Career Development International. 17(2). pp.104-119.
Heaney, L., 2004. Leading professional development: a case study. International Journal of
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Hotho, S. and Dowling, M., 2010. Revisiting leadership development: the participant
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Jetmore, L. F., 2005. The Path of the Warrior: An Ethical Guide to Personal & Professional
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Keller, J. M., 2009. Motivational Design for Learning and Performance: The ARCS Model
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Lopper, J., 2007. Personal Development: 40 Best Articles. Lopper.
Marques, J., 2012. Survival in good, bad, and ugly times: attaining personal and professional
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McGurk, P., 2010. Outcomes of management and leadership development. Journal of
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Saiyadain. 2009. Human Resources Management. 4th ed. Tata McGraw-Hill Education.
Samaras, P. A., 2010. Self-Study Teacher Research: Improving Your Practice Through
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Tams, S., 2008. Self-directed social learning: the role of individual differences. Journal of
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Online
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<http://www.learningforlife.org/exploring-resources/99-720/x10.pdf>. [Accessed On 8th
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