Professional Identity and Practice

This document discusses professional identity and practice in the workplace, focusing on the key benefits of ongoing professional development and the skills and competencies expected by employers. It also explores different learning theories and approaches for personal and professional development. The document includes an assessment and evaluation of own abilities, skills, and competencies, as well as a critical evaluation of these skills. The subject is Professional Identity and Practice, and the course code is not mentioned. The document type is an assignment.

Professional Identity and
Practice

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2
Assignment 1 ..................................................................................................................................3
1) Introduction to report.........................................................................................................3
2) Key benefits of on going professional development..........................................................3
3) Investigation and evaluation of professional employer expectations of skills and
competencies .........................................................................................................................4
4) Assessment and evaluation of own abilities, skills and competences ...............................6
5) Range of learning theories and approaches for personal and professional development. .8
6) Critical evaluation of skills and competencies...................................................................9
7) Conclusion..........................................................................................................................9
Assignment 2 ..................................................................................................................................9
1) Format of Professional development plan..........................................................................9
2) Comprehensive development plan...................................................................................10
3) Job Interview for a managerial position...........................................................................12
4) Reflection of interview process........................................................................................14
5) Conclusion........................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Professional identity is a term used by individuals to describe how they perceive and
comprehended themselves in a professional context. As competition is increasing in employment
and careers sector it become necessary for all individuals to appreciate the worth of proper of
skills and competences that are expected or required by employers (Cruess, Cruess and Steinert,
2019). Self assessment of skills provide an ability to examine personal sills and also provide
information about scope of progress in ones skill. For this assignment chosen organisation is
Four season London which is a luxury 5 star hotel located in London, UK. This assignment
includes on going professional development and self directed learning to enhance professional
identity and career opportunities. An assessment of own skills, competences and different
learning and development approaches are also included. This assignment also consists a
professional development plan and range of service industry and transferable skills.
Assignment 1
1) Introduction to report
With the increasing competition in professional sector it become necessary for all job
seeker to improve their skills and career prospects. Self assessment of skills and competences
helps individuals to monitor and check their own work or abilities so that they can find out their
weaknesses and strengths and can have a self diagnoses of their performance and future scope
(Ro, 2019). This report is going to provide a description on professional skill that a person
require for working in a large hospitality organisation like Four season, London at a managerial
position. This assignment aim at assessing own skills, competences and different learning and
development program which will enhance professional identity and career opportunities for an
individual.
2) Key benefits of on going professional development
On going professional development is a process of learning and tracking skills,
knowledge and experience which an individual gain from both formal and informal way as they

work beyond any initial training (Moorhead, 2019). Basically on going professional development
is a continuous development process which includes recording of experience, learning them and
finally applying them for better performance. On going professional development plan plays an
important role in a hospitality sector as it provide a more practical and better way of developing
skills and competencies of employees and individuals. In Four season London, on going
professional development plays an important role in maintaining adequate amount of skills and
knowledge in employees. For an individual it provide a better way for continuous professional
development which maintain and develop new skills and knowledge for future opportunities.
The key benefits of ongoing professional development for different stakeholders of Four season
London:
Benefits for Employees (or individuals)
On going professional development allows an individual or employees to fill gaps in
knowledge and skills and makes them more productive and efficient for garbing future
opportunity. Its never good for an individual or employee to become complacent about their
professional development or skills (Smith, 2019). On going professional development provides
them a strive to continue their learning process and keeps up dating their skills as per current
scenario. On going Professional development builds confidence and credibility in an individual
or employee which makes them different from crowd and provide a boost to their carrier
opportunities and helps in achieving highest career goals.
Benefits for Employer
On going professional development increase competency of employees which result in
greater efficiency at workplace and also boost the morale and motivation in workforce. On going
professional development ensures standard across Four season London and keeps performance
high and consistent. It also promotes greater work engagement and maintain skills and
knowledge in organisation (Richardson, 2019). For Four season London it has contributed in
maximising staff potential, improves staff moral and maintain standards and benchmark of
performance. On going professional development also helps Four season London to keep up with
trends and also provide competitive advantage.
Benefits for customers
on going professional development enhance customer confidence and loyalty as it
ensures better quality services and product. On going professional development improves the

knowledge and skills of employees thus, their performance and attitude toward customers
become better. In Four season London, employees getting better skills through ongoing
professional development which has improved their selling techniques and makes them more
commitment to excellence which provides better services and satisfaction to customers.
3) Investigation and evaluation of professional employer expectations of skills and competencies
Some specified skills and competencies are needed to perform any task or job effectively.
Four season London is also having a list of expected skills and competencies that it search in
individuals for employing them at managerial position. Some of the expected professional skills
need in an individual for position of manager in Four season London are described below:
Good communication- It is an essential skill for all mangers as they need to
communicate with their supervisor, team members, suppliers, customers, financiers, employees,
etc (Longan, Floyd and Floyd, 2019). Effective communication skill allow a manger to perform
their role more effectively. It make individuals capable to communicate their opinion, views and
knowledge to others which ensures right message is send to all people which is necessary for
creating coordination and providing direction to employees for timely achievement of goals of
Four season hotel.
Good organisation- A manger should have skills and competencies to organise and
coordinate all the activities of an organisation so that efforts of all employees can be properly
coordinate towards one direction. Four season require a manger who is having capability to come
up with a plan and should have the skill to properly schedule, organise and follow that plan.
Team Building- A good manger is one who knows how to keep its team motivated and
intact. Four season London wants an individual who is having capability to notice irregularities
in a team or organization and have the appropriate skills to correct the situations trough proper
discussions and other corrective action (Ye and Zhao, 2019). A manger should have
competencies and skill to build trust between members so that employees feel committed
towards each other. Team building practices helps in reducing conflicts thus, improve the overall
performance and productivity of an organisation.
Leadership- A manger should have an art of motivating people so that they can be direct
employees toward achieving a common goal. Four season London wants a manger who can
easily define goals among employees and can properly assign responsibility and roles among

teams so that goals can be achieved on time. Leadership skills are required in a manger to
provide guidance and motivation to employees to enhance their performance.
Adaptable and flexible- Mangers should have an ability to deal with changes
effectively so that they become familiar with all kind situation. Four season London is expecting
for its mangers that they should be adaptable and flexible according to the dynamic environment
so that they can face obstacles and can react quickly to handle those adverse situation.
Decision making- Manager should have ability to take tough decisions for betterment of
organisation in the time of adverse situation. Four season London wants an individual who can
handle stress and make right decisions for team and organisation which will be beneficial for
them in achieving goals and objective (Othman and Senom, 2019).
Time management- This skill of mangers makes them capable to timely complete a task
ans also useful in maintaining discipline in organisation for better achievement of goals. Four
season London wants a manger who is good at planning and exercising conscious control on
time spent for a specific activities to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of work.
4) Assessment and evaluation of own abilities, skills and competences
Four season London is expecting a lot of skills in an individual for position of mangers
which include, good communication, organisation, team building, leadership, adaptable, flexible,
decision making and time management skills. Use of SWOT analysis is made to assess and
evaluate my abilities, skills and competences in relation to managerial position in Four season
hotel.
SWOT analysis
This provide a deep analysis of internal strength and weakness of an individual and also
provide information about existing opportunity and threat.
Strength Weakness
 My communication skills are my
biggest strength which makes me able
to properly interact with other people.
 My team building and leadership are
also satisfactory which provides me
capability to effectively coordinate
 I am not so good at time management
which is my weakness that creates
barriers in achievement of my career
goals.
 I also find little difficulty in organising
and set up of things.

efforts of others.
 I am also quite flexible and adaptable
who become friendly with all situation
and can easily face the challenge of
dynamic environment.
 I am also a keen learners which
increases my efficiency and make me
able to understand and learn thing
easily.
Opportunity Threat
 Increase and growth in hospitality
sector is creating an opportunity for me.
 By improving my time management
and organising skills I can get better
opportunity to achieve my goal of
becoming a manager at top hospitality
organisation like Four season London.
 Increasing competition and more
number of skilled and talented job
seekers in field of hospitality is creating
a threat for my career.
 Large number of diversified skills
required by organisations for
managerial position is also a threat.
Belbin team role
This method provide information about 9 important role which are required for
formation of effective team and better atmosphere at workplace (Belbin Team Role Model
Management, 2019). All these role are important for an manger to perform its task and work
effectively. A assessment and evaluation of these role is made below to analysis which role and
capability are present in me and where I lack. These 9 role are further classified in 3 categories
which are as follows:
Action Oriented role
 Sharper- This person is responsible for timely completion of project and is regarded as
the main driver of activity. This role is quite challenging for me as I am a little weak in
tome management skill.

 Implementer- This individual is having responsibility for timely implementation and
execution of strategy. I am having skill to form plan and strategies but I may lack in their
timely implementation.
 Complete Finisher- This person is having responsibility of scrutinising, polishing and
improving skills of other employees in an organisation to improve the overall quality of
work done. I am suitable for this job role as my leadership skill allows me to influences
and polish performance of other people.
People Oriented Role
 Co-ordinator- This member or individual is having responsibility of coordinating efforts
and work of all team member. I having this skill and I can ensure proper alignment of
efforts of all employees for achievement of targets.
 Team worker- This person is having the responsibility of building team spirit and
boosting morale of employees. My leadership skill sallow me develop team bonding and
better infarction among employees.
 Resource Investigator- This individual is responsible for proper allocation of resources
to ensure effective utilisation of assets. I can perform this task but I will be little
challenging as I am not so good at organising things.
Cerebral roles
 Planet- This team member is plays an important role in developing long lasting and
healthy relationship between organisation and customers. I can perform this task
effectively as my communication skill are good and allows me to properly interact with
customers. Monitor evaluator- This team member is responsible for developing unbiased and
equitable atmosphere at organisation which improves efficiency and performance of
employees. I can play the role of monitor evaluator as I am not biased towards any
particular culture or person.
 Specialist- It is one of the most important role which provide all the relevant and required
information to employees regarding a project or task. I am having a significant amount of
Knowledge about different aspects of hospitality sector and its operation thus, this role
can also be played by me.

5) Range of learning theories and approaches for personal and professional development
A range of learning theories is provided below which can be used for personal and
professional development:
Behavioural Learning theories- This theory provides new behaviours or change in
behaviour through providing an associations between stimuli and responses. Behavioural
learning theory only focuses on objectively observable behaviours and provide acquisition of
new behaviour based on environmental conditions. Use of this theory can be made to enhance
behaviour and reinforced pattern of new information for better performance (Poom-Valickis and
Löfström, 2019).
Cognitive Learning theories- This theory stress on acquisition of knowledge and skills
which facilitates better formation of mental structure and processing of information and beliefs.
Use of this theory can be made to enhance time management and other skills of an individuals.
Cognitive learning theories believes that learning occurs through internal processing of
information and focuses on mental processes rather than observable behaviour.
6) Critical evaluation of skills and competencies
The required skills for post of manger in Four season London includes, good
organisation, communication, time management, decision making, leadership, adaptable, flexible
and team building skills. All these skills are essential for performing task and activates of
manager more effectively. From all these skills I am having a lot skills like communication,
adaptable, flexible and leadership skills which provides an opportunity to me to become a part of
an elite hospitality industry but still my time management and organisation skills are lacking
which is cresting a hinder or barrier in my growth and career.
7) Conclusion
From this part of assignment it can be concluded that, on going professional development
is for continuous improvement of an individual's skills and knowledge. A lot of skills are
required for managerial position which includes time management, decision making, leadership,
communication skills, etc. Time management skills ensure timely completion of work and ensure
efficient achievement of goals. Use of SWOT analysis is made to analysis and evaluate internal
strengths and weakness. Use of leadership theories and approaches are made to enhance the
professional development of an individual.

Assignment 2
1) Format of Professional development plan
Professional development plan provides a roadmap that contain the skills, strategy,
education and knowledge that are needed by an individual in career and life to achieve
professional goals (Britton and Di Napoli, 2019). Professional development plan is valuable
document as it establishes career develop met goals and strategy for effectively reassessing
future development through outline strengths, areas of need and available resources. Below a
sample format of professional development plan is provided :
Professional development plan
Skill Current
ability
Target
ability
Objectives Developme
nt
opportunity
Time frame
1st
Priority
2nd
Priority
3rd
priority
A proper professional development plan include the current ability which shows the
present level of skills that an individual have. Target ability provide knowledge about the desired
level of skill that an individual want to acquire. Objectives shows the reason or main target
behind improving that skill. Development opportunity provides information about possible
strategies and learning and training opportunity that can be used by an individual to improve or
enhance its skill for achievement of target ability (Best and Williams, 2019). Time frames
provide the time period which is required to meet current objectives and targets.

2) Comprehensive development plan
A comprehensive development plan provides information about skills and knowledge in
which betterment is needed. Below a comprehensive plan is provided in which different skills
are provided and desired improvements and objectives are also provided.
Professional development plan
Skill Current
ability
Target
ability
Objectives Development
opportunity
Time
frame
1st
Priori
ty
Communication
skill
Good at
written
communicatio
n skill.
Get fluency
in oral
communicati
on.
To have
better
interaction
and
impression
on people.
With reading
books and
interacting with
people.
2
month
s
2nd
Priori
ty
Time
management
skill
Currently I
lack in this
skill and not
able to mange
my work on
time
To become
more
discipline and
efficient for
timely
accomplishin
g work.
To get
better
managerial
skill to
improve
opportunity
for future
career.
For gaining this
skill proper
training will be
acquired by me
which will
include the
information about
Gantt chart and
work break down
structure proper
and better
allocation of time
in several
activities.
3
month
s
3rd
priori
ty
Decision
making skill
I am having a
satisfactory
level of
To enhance
my decision
making skills
To handle
or cope with
the negative
For achieving this
target I can take
help of some top
2
month
s

decision
making skill
but at time of
adverse
situation I
find it
difficult to
take effective
decision.
so that
effective
decisions can
be made by
me in adverse
situation.
situation
betterment
of
organisation
.
managers to learn
the skill of
effective decision
making and I also
get a proper
guidance and
knowledge for
handling adverse
situation.
4th
priori
ty
Leadership skill I am having
an inbuilt skill
of leadership
an can
influence
attitude of a
person but
does not
having any
theoretical
knowledge
about
leadership
style and
ways.
To gain
theoretical
knowledge
about
leadership
styles and
ways.
To enhance
my
leadership
skill for
properly
guiding and
motivating
employees
and other
individuals.
I can join some
education institute
or training centre
to enhance my
knowledge about
different
leadership style
like autocratic
and democratic
leadership style.
2.5
month
s
For achievement of theses targets and objectives use of learning and development
theories is also made. Use of Behavioural Learning theories is made to develop new behaviour as
per current environmental situation. Decision making skill and leadership skill are depend on the
behaviour of an individuals so these skills can be enhanced by behavioural learning theories. Use
of Cognitive learning theories are made for acquisition of better knowledge and skill thus, it can
be used for improvement in time management and communicative skill.

3) Job Interview for a managerial position
Job interview: This is a conversation between a job applicant and a representative for the
purpose of hiring best employees within organisation. Job interview is method of hiring people
through various round of interview that helps to get information about particular person, interest,
hobbies, work experience, stability others. This method is used by all organisation to fill their
vacant position and get work done from people. This is effective method which is used by
company to recruit people and improve the work performance. For example, Four Seasons
London is a multinational hotel where number of employees are working in order to attain
business goals and making profits. Whenever organisation needs people in any department then
conduct the interview programme in order to select best candidates. In this organisation the
vacant position is for Managerial position such as Human resource for which job interview is
conducted as:
Interviewer: Tell me about yourself?
Interviewee: My self Sofia jospeh from London.
Interviewer: What is your major strength?
Interviewee: I m able to manage all work within organisation and get work done from
employees by motivating them. I also have knowledge about employees legislation that will help
to retain employees for long period.
Interviewer: Why have you left your previous job?
Interviewee: I was working with good organisation where I learnt so many thing and
enhanced my skills as well. Now I wants to change my career direction by learning more and
growth so, I decided to left the organisation and join new one.
Interviewer: How will you motivate employees and achieve business goals?
Interviewee: Employees are the integral part of organisation who helps to achieve the
business objectives. I will motivate employees by understanding their problems and suggesting
optimum solution for organisation and their wellness. Moreover, performance awards will help
to motivate employees in order to give better performance.
Interviewer: How will you manage all business activities?
Interviewee: Management is the art that helps to manage all business activities by
dividing the work among all employees. I will manage all business functions by dividing

between employees as per their specialisation that will help to perform good and increases
productivity of business organisation.
Interviewer:What is your weakness?
Interviewee: This is most dreaded question for me. Time management is my weakness
due to work may be late. But I have improved my time management skills that will helps to work
properly.
Interviewer: Explain your work experience?
Interviewee: I have worked with Hilton Hotel as an HR manager till 3 years where I
managed all business functions effectively and get earned organisational profitability.
Interviewer: How will you manage conflicts among employees?
Interviewer: Communication is the better way to solve any problems that will help me to
talk with each employees and resolve their issues. Moreover, I will formulate different policies
for employees welfare that will helps to remove the conflicts among employees.
4) Reflection of interview process
The interview taken by the HR head of Four season London was very good for evaluation
and assessment of my skill. Various questions were asked about my skills and strengths and
weakness and I tried to provide better answers for these questions. All the answers are provided
with me to the best of my capability and I was also confident while answering them. My skills
are meeting the maximum criteria and I am sure that I will also cope up with my weakness and
overcome them very soon.
5) Conclusion
From this assignment it can be summarised that professional development plan provide a
effective away for improving current skills. It provide information about various objectives and
Timeframes for enhancing skill and capabilities for better career opportunity and growth.
Interview is conducted by origination to evaluate the knowledge and skills of an candidate so
that most suitable applicant can be selected.

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Online
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