Professional Development Plan: A Comprehensive Guide to Employee Growth

This comprehensive guide explores the importance of professional development in the workplace. It delves into the key aspects of designing and delivering effective training events, utilizing critical reasoning and problem-solving techniques, and fostering positive team dynamics. The document also emphasizes the significance of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and its role in personal and professional growth. It concludes with a detailed development plan outlining responsibilities, performance objectives, and required skills for future career advancement.

Professional Practice

Contents
Introduction:...............................................................................................................................4
Part 1:.........................................................................................................................................5
LO1: Demonstrate a range of interpersonal and transferable communication skills to a target
audience......................................................................................................................................5
P1: Demonstrate, using different communication styles and formats, that you can effectively
design and deliver a training event for a given target audience.................................................5
P2: Demonstrate that you have used effective time management skills in planning an event...9
Part 2:.......................................................................................................................................10
LO2: Apply critical reasoning and thinking to a range of problem-solving scenarios............10
P3: Demonstrate the use of different problem-solving techniques in the design and delivery of
an event....................................................................................................................................10
P4: Demonstrate that critical reasoning has been applied to a given solution.........................12
Part 3:.......................................................................................................................................13
LO3: Discuss the importance and dynamics of working within a team and the impact of team
working in different environments...........................................................................................13
P5: Discuss the importance of team dynamics in the success and/or failure of group work.. .13
M4: team dynamics..................................................................................................................18
Part 4:.......................................................................................................................................20
LO4: Examine the need for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and its role within
the workplace and for higher level learning.............................................................................20
P7: Discuss the importance of CPD and contribution to own learning....................................20

P8: Produce a development plan that outlines responsibilities, performance and objectives
and required skills, knowledge and learning for own future goals..........................................22
Conclusion:..............................................................................................................................24
References................................................................................................................................25

Introduction:
Professional development is the framework which enables people to incorporate professional
credentials through various sessions of training, conferences and seminars. Therefore
professional development in constituted of professional analyses and precise understanding of
future needs which could contribute to the personal and professional growth. There are series
of intensive sessions of seminars and training which have been planned properly for
successful completion of the event. The main objective of the professional development is to
incorporate reflective supervision, coaching and consultation which attributed to the
professional growth of an individual. The Continuous Professional Development or CPD
could be defined as the continuous learning process which is significant for effective skill
building in context with professional and personal growth. In the contextual discussion, the
primary focus is to design professional development plan and training event for the
employees in association with the training and development manager of the organisation. The
organisation has 40 employees who would be taking part in the event for two-day long
training and development session. The main focus of the contextual discussion is to develop a
vivid knowledge of professional development planning through the incorporation of proper
workshop and seminars. The following sections elaborate precise methodology for
professional development planning through effective communication and scheduling. The
significance of project management software in context with developing proper professional
development plan would be analysed and importance of team dynamics also would be
analysed for the development of effective knowledge for designing and managing
professional development.

Part 1:
LO1: Demonstrate a range of interpersonal and transferable communication skills to a
target audience.
P1: Demonstrate, using different communication styles and formats, that you can
effectively design and deliver a training event for a given target audience
There are five effective formats that could be incorporated for designing the training and
scheduling process of the professional development event. These styles and formats
effectively contribute to building a framework for the training and workshop session in
context with the professional development program for the employees in an organisation. In
the contextual discussion, the organisation has been planning to incorporate professional
development program through series of workshops and training sessions for the employees.
The main objective of the professional development manager is to design the framework for
the event which would be running through two days long scheduling. Therefore effective
communication has been playing an important role in the scheduling process while designing
the whole professional development program. The five effective communication techniques
are letters and memos, emails, meetings, online chat and social media. In the current
discussion emails and letters would be adapted for the mode of communication within and
outside the organisation. There are two internal and external communication formats have
been elaborated for the effective understanding of the importance of communication while
designing personal development planning (Harris et. al., 2015).
a. External communication: Official letter to the Auditorium management

To
The manager,
The Residential auditorium,
Sir/ Madam,
I am obliged to inform you that my organisation has been planning to arrange a professional
development session for the employees in your prestigious and spacious auditorium which
significantly fits our event specification. As per our previous conversation, as a professional
development manager of the organisation, sending the first official intimation to book the
auditorium facility for two days. The number of employees would be present during the event
per day would be forty along with guest speakers and counsellors and trainers. The precise
time schedule has been mentioned below for your convenience.
10.05.2018-
- coaching session from 10 am 12 afternoon
- Lunch session from 12 pm to 1:00 pm
- Coaching session continued 1:00 pm to 4 pm
- Motivational speech 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
- Tea session 5:00 pm to 5:30 pm
- The motivational speech continued 5:30 pm to 6-30 pm
- End of the 1st day of the event

11.05.2018
- Team building session from 10 am to 12 pm
- Lunch session from 12 pm to 1 pm
- Workshop session from 1 pm to 4 pm
-Tea session from 4:00 pm to 4:00 pm
- Workshop session continued from 4:30 pm to 6 pm
Facility requirements
- Large auditorium
- Seminar room
Kindly acknowledge the letter for further proceedings and hoping for future co-operation.
Thanks and regards
The training and development manager
b. Internal communication: Intimation letter for an upcoming training session
To: procurement_ department @ organisation.com
Bcc: Manager_ department @organsiation.com
It is to notify that, the team management and the professional development department
has been planning to organise a professional development session in the residential
auditorium on 10th and 11th may 2018. There would be two days long workshop; training and
motivational sessions have been arranged for all the employees of the organisation. This is an

intimation email about the event for all the employees and your presence would be
appreciated. Detailed schedules would be published on the display board period to the event.
Thanks and regards
Training and development manager

P2: Demonstrate that you have used effective time management skills in planning an
event.
Effective time management skills are essential while developing a framework for the training
and professional development session for the employee. The usefulness of the project
management software is undeniable in context with the professional development event and
training scheduling and time management. In the contextual discussion, The Genius Project
software has been used to manage the whole planning and secluding for the personal
development session. The main objective of the Genius Project is to effectively develop and
manage the portfolio regarding the project management which enables the managers and
associated stakeholders to participate and perform effectively. The incorporation of the
project management software enables the manager to address the challenges and gaps of the
whole professional development event scheduling and time management methodology
(Schaefer et. al., 2018).
Gantt chart
Day 1 Day 1 Day 1 Day 2 Day 2 Day 2
Formulating a team
meeting
Conducting team
building activity
Organisating workshop
Bearkout session
Creation of publicity plan
Execution of plan

Part 2:
LO2: Apply critical reasoning and thinking to a range of problem-solving scenarios
P3: Demonstrate the use of different problem-solving techniques in the design and
delivery of an event
There is various problem-solving techniques that could be applied to resolve issues in the
event process. While conducting the professional development event, there are various
stakeholders involved with it which need to be organised and controlled effectively to
successfully complete the whole event within time. Therefore implementing proper problem-
solving technique in the event processing, a significant outcome would be achieved. In the
below section, the step by step problem-solving techniques has been elaborated for the vivid
understanding of the topic and proper methodology for maintaining and controlling
stakeholders while conducting professional development event (Shea et. al., 2016).
1. Problem identification: the development of an issue or problem could be observed while
there is the hindrance in the normal functionality or pace of the event and overall
management process. Therefore effective identification and understanding of the problem
enable the management to speedy restoring of the functioning through proper preventive
measure and action.
2. Defining goal: based on the problem identified the management and planning and
development team need to set goals to eliminate or restoring the problem. A proper
scheduling and timeframe need to be developed to address the problem associated with the
event. Therefore proper understanding of the goal and corresponding goal setting would be
working as the major factor for problem-solving approach.

3. Free-associating: the main objective of the process is to identify various methods that
could be applied to resolving the issues or the problem while developing a professional
development plan for the employee. The planning and management team need to analyse all
possible outcomes associated with the problem and effective application process to resolve
the problem within due time.
4. Alternative solutions: The management needs to identify various alternatives of the
processes and functions rendering the personal development event on 10th of May. The
alternative processes enable the management team to work effectively to conduct the event
without hindrance in process.
5. Choice the solution: The team has identified various alternative solutions effective for
addressing the problem or issue associated with the event. Therefore choosing the proper and
effective solution would be a significant approach to resolving the issue during the event.
7. Execution: the proper execution of the solution is the one of the most important aspects of
the while whole problem-solving methodology which needs to be addressed precisely for
successful completion of the problem-solving methodology.
8. Analysis: Post-execution of the solution, there is a need of proper assessment of the factors
which induced the problem into the process for the implementation of a preventive measure
in the future event processes and scheduling methodologies (Rod, et. al., 2015).

P4: Demonstrate that critical reasoning has been applied to a given solution
All business processes have high possibility to induce various issues and problems in the
process which need to be resolved effectively for the successful completion of the
functioning or process. In the contextual discussion, the professional development event has
been encountering problems while executing the methodologies and planning in reality.
There is various problem-solving techniques has been implemented for effective resolving of
the issues and problems evolved during the event. The critical reasoning is the process of
incorporating data and methodologies in the problem-solving process which enables the
management to effectively control and monitor the event proceedings without much
hindrance and problems. Therefore the ability to incorporate and analyse the data, facts and
knowledge regarding the event and scheduling which are associated with the problem-solving
technique could be termed as the critical reasoning process. therefore the planning and
development manager and the associated team need to understand the problem that has been
evolved during the event proceedings and needs to perform an effective analytical process to
identify the facts and factors associated with the problem. Proper brainstorming and analysis
various alternative solution will be evolved which need to be implemented for resolving the
issue from the process. Therefore critical reasoning is successfully attributing the
management process and effectively eliminates the issues and problem evolved during the
event and scheduling process and associated methodologies (Lotter, et. al., 2018).

Part 3:
LO3: Discuss the importance and dynamics of working within a team and the impact of
team working in different environments
P5: Discuss the importance of team dynamics in the success and/or failure of group
work.

M4: team dynamics
The team dynamics could be defined as the driving force that effectively influences the team
behaviour and contributes to the performance of the team in case of organisational
functioning. The team dynamics could be referred to the psychological and unconscious
forces which enable the team member to function effectively which eventually attributed to
the overall team performance. The individual personality of each team member and the nature
of the work define the degree of team dynamics within a team. It effectively controls the
internal relationship between team members and the workplace environment which
successfully incorporates high driving force to perform significantly. There are various
aspects of the team dynamics which need to be considered while understanding the
importance of team dynamics in context with performance and productivity. The positive
team dynamics enhance the overall performance of the team whereas conflicts within the
team could be detrimental to team productivity. The demotivating factors in the team
dynamics could affect the team performance which is the primary hindrance to organisational

objective and vision. The team dynamics could be managed through the proper understanding
of the forces that influence the team dynamics. The primary factor of the team dynamics is
the personality type and effective analytical approach which enables the management to
exclude or include people within the team. The workplace layout and the technological
association with the team influence the effectiveness of the team dynamics. Organisational
culture has been playing an important role in the team dynamics and the positive impact on
the team performance depends upon the cultural adaptation and practices within the
organisation. There is various problem-solving methodologies that could be adapted for
efficient and effective team dynamics which enables the team to perform positively and
efficiently. Therefore proper and scientific analysis of the forces enables the management to
incorporate positive influences in the team to enhance productively and effectively control
the team performance within the workplace environment (Bell et al. 2017).

Part 4:
LO4: Examine the need for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and its role
within the workplace and for higher level learning
P7: Discuss the importance of CPD and contribution to own learning
The tracking and documentation process of the acquired knowledge and skills while
undergoing development program is termed as the Continuing professional development.
The nature of knowledge and skill could be divided into two sections such as formal and
informal knowledge which could be acquired through work experiences and workshops
conducted in various professional development programs. The purpose of the CPD is to
maintain a record of knowledge and skills which have been contributing the professional
development. It is the portfolio of the knowledge and experiences which encompasses the
degree of professional development achieved through various levels of workshops and
training programs. There is a thin line between the training and development which could be
differentiated through various factors effective for career development and professional
development. The nature of the training is linear and formal which primarily focuses on the
subjective development that is unidirectional development plan. Therefore a specific
knowledge could be acquired through the training program. The nature of the development is
multi-dimensional and enhancement of the professional competency which enables the
employee to develop the personal portfolio. There are various features which signify the CPD
process such as systematic documentation process and it is a self-directed process (Seidle, et
al., 2016). the main objective of the CPD is to maintain the record of experience and skills
that have been acquired from various training sessions and workshops. The overall CPD
profile enables the employee to set goals and objective for future development. A CPD

portfolio is significant to take membership of a professional organisation which help an
individual to assess the past development process and update skills and knowledge
accordingly. Therefore The CPD portfolio enables a member to review the development
process and could apply for the future developmental plan (Pollock et al. 2015).

P8: Produce a development plan that outlines responsibilities, performance and
objectives and required skills, knowledge and learning for own future goals.
The development plan could be formulated through various step by step procedures which
enables the organisation to constitute a significant development plan for high-performance
output. Therefore the employee developmental plan could be developed on the basis of the
following framework such as
1. Understanding the objective and goal: The main objective of the development plan is to
create a significant framework to achieve the goal and objective associated with
organisational growth and development. Therefore the development plan could be divided
into two different platforms such as long term and short term plan which is in line with the
long term and short term organisational objective. Analysing the level of skills and
knowledge suitable for long term and short term objectives would be incorporated into the
development plan for successful execution of the process (Ford, 2014).
2. Meeting with employees: Communicating effectively with the employees regarding the
development plan and level of skills and knowledge available in the workforce enables the
organisation to consider the views of the employees and implement it for further
development. The meeting would be helpful to understanding views and approach reading the
development plan and corresponding effectiveness in case of future development and growth
process.
3. Understanding the promptness and potential of employees: It is a significant process where
management needs to understand the potential of an employee regarding participating in a
development plan while comprehending the promptness regarding shifting the role in the
organisation is also important for the sustainable development plan.

4. Training and development: Considering various levels of training and development for the
employees enable the organisation to incorporate organisational objective into the
functionality. Therefore various training sessions and workshops help to assess the degree of
knowledge and skills of the employee and help them to manage it for further professional
development.
5. Creating a plan: Based on the assessment done during various training and workshops and
internal processes, a significant plan needs to be developed for further incorporation of
strategies which contributes effectively to the future development plan (Kirkpatrick et al.,
2015).

Conclusion:
It could be concluded from the above discussion that team development and professional
development is the crucial task for the management and training department. Developing an
effective training and development program for the employee to incorporate the concept of
shared goal and objective would be a challenge for the organisation which needs to be
performed successfully to develop productive and high performing team which could
contribute to the overall organisational development and success. Team dynamic plays an
important role in case of constituting the highly productive and efficient team which
contribute to the overall organisational productivity and growth. Therefore it could be
concluded from the above discussion that effective training and development program
enables the employee to develop shared objective in line with the organisational vision.

References
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