Professional Development of Strategic Managers : Assignment

Professional development for strategic
managers

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
1.1Personal 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..............................................................................................................12
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................15
3.1 Personal development plan that meets leadership development requirements identified in
skills audit..................................................................................................................................15
3.2 Methods to assess the outcomes of personal development plan against personal work
objectives...................................................................................................................................18
3.3 Evaluation of impact of own learning against the achievement of strategic goals..............20
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................21
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................22

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.
n this in LO 2.2 the calculation is not done so it is not clear which type of learning style? also
in 3.2 on table on column date of completion was not mention
2.2 please write below table tota
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 well as personal work. It helps me managing my work effectively and in taking better decisions as well.
It also impacts the productivity of my company by meeting all deadlines and improves the brand image also. This
skill assists me in achieving time based targets and achieving long term goals. 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.
SMART Objectives: I use to set my targets on the basis of my work which I have 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
in 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 the 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 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 the 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 am not able to resolve the
problems appropriately. I am not very confident while using any type of basic problem solving approach.
Effective Communication Skill: As per the given table of check list, I found that I am having very good
communication skills 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 determined 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 can easily avoid all types of
confusion and misunderstanding.
With the help of having all the above skills, 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.
1.2 Various techniques to assess the personal skills required for achieving strategic direction of Iceland
supermarket
As a position of strategic it is quite essential for me to assess my personal skills so that I can easily achieve
strategic direction of my company. In order to identify these capabilities, there are various techniques which is
very helpful such as:
Leadership skill: strategic manager should have appropriate professional leadership skill so that he/she can
easily lead all the team as well as team members (Prasad and Patnaik, 2013). In order to better lead the team it is
necessary for the manager to influence the behaviour of all their co-workers and provide them better strategic
direction. Through this, he can motivate all the employees to work with full zeal.
Coaching Skill: A leader must have appropriate coaching skill through which he/she can provide
appropriate training to all their team members. A strategic manager is the leader of company which is also known
as coach who can easily enhance the knowledge of all the workers in an appropriate way.
Consulting: It is considered as a most effective technique through which strategic manager can identify all
his personal skills required by him to achieve the strategic direction. With the help of appropriate consultation
with their senior management people he is able to possess all the places where he needs improvement. In this
regard, he can consult with the expertise in the particular area of field and go through the appropriate changes
required by them (Burkšaitiene and et.al, 2011). It is another most effective way through which strategic manager
can identify the personal skills and improvement required by him.
Professional skills – PROBLEM SOLVING and TASK MANAGEMENT
Rating sheet – Very confident = 4; Confident = 3; Quite confident = 2 Not very confident = 1;
Not confident at all/Don’t know = 0
I am confident in Rating
1. Using basic approaches to problem solving 2
2. Knowing what is meant by elaborating a problem 3
3. Apply similarity approach to problem solving 3
4. Applying a strategy to problem solving 2
5. Applying a multiple solution approach to problem solving 2
6. Evaluating multiple solutions 2
7. Setting criteria to evaluate a solution 3
8. Identifying priorities 4
9. Setting targets 4
10.Drawing up an action plan 4
11.Organising project time 3
12.My ability to get down to work on a task 4
13.My ability to be a good self-starter 4