Understanding Self and Others: A Personal Development Plan

This report presents a personal development plan focused on four key skills: negotiation, time management, teamwork, and public speaking. It analyzes the author's current competence in each skill through self-assessment, peer feedback, and tutor input. The report identifies strengths and weaknesses, and outlines an action plan to address areas for improvement. This plan aims to enhance the author's personal and professional development by fostering self-awareness, improving communication, and building stronger interpersonal skills.

Understanding Self and Others

Table of contents
Executive summary.....................................................................................................................................3
SKILL 1: NEGOTIATION.................................................................................................................................4
SKILL 2: TIME MANAGEMENT......................................................................................................................5
SKILL 3: TEAM WORKING.............................................................................................................................8
SKILL 4: PUBLIC SPEAKING...........................................................................................................................9
Summary and Action Plan..........................................................................................................................11
References.................................................................................................................................................13
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Executive summary
Personal development allows in understanding the skills of an individual and the maker in which that
individual uses it. This developmental plan even allows an individual in understanding the areas of the
skills that still need improvement. Understanding this development plan, the individual can improve
their skills and even can manage the skills, which further helps in executing their abilities more
effectively. Personal Development Plan is the action plan that helps in assessing the self-ability and even
helps in understanding the areas of skill that still need improvement. The action plan is based on the
personal development in relation to the relationship, career, self-improvement and education. In this
report, I will be discussing my own abilities and the skills that I still need to improve in order to build up
my career and personality. The four chosen skill that I have focused on for this study are, negotiation,
time management, team working and public speaking. The goal of this study is to understand the areas
of these skills that still need improvement and the areas of the skills, which I have excelled.
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SKILL 1: NEGOTIATION
What is the core skill?
Negotiation is the process with the help of which the differences between two different parties are
solved. Negotiation is understanding the demands of others and settling the disputed in order to
make profit to both the stakeholders of the argument. This skill of an individual helps in making
mutual understanding among the parties in order to benefit both. In the professional life of an
individual like me, a strong negotiating power is very important for dealing with different situations.
In the professional life, we many times face difficulties or problematic situations, which are required
to be handled in a better way. At those times, the skills of negotiation are very important.
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant theories and
concepts to support your answer)
As stated above the skill of negotiation is very important for dealing with different negative situations
in our professional life. However, in this context, it is important to know the key concept behind
negotiation. The key concept behind negotiation is to understand the demand or requirements of the
other party and making argument based on that only. Participating in the process of negotiation does
not mean that I need to establish my points only. There must be a mutual understanding between
the two parties. There must be some results after the process of negotiation. To work in an
organization, this skill is essential because it helps in understanding the problems of others and
solving them in skilful manner. I am reflecting on this skill because this skill helps in understanding
the profit of the organization and even the issue of the party that is related to the organization. In
order to benefit the organization, this skill is needed because it helps in mutual understanding, which
helps in maintaining the relationship among the organization and the stakeholders related to it.
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill. How did you assess your competence? (use
your self-assessment findings, feedback from peers and your tutor, plus your own reflections on
your thoughts, feelings and behaviours to answer this question)
My competency over this skill was analysed with the help of Johari window and Feedbacks from
peers. This skill of mine was analysed by me and from myself analysis it was understood that I can
perform this skill efficiently. The feedback that I received from the members of my group states that I
was able to resolve issues between the members and this is because I can understand situations
easily. According to me, this skill of mine has helped the organization in settling various disputes with
its stake holders, which resulted in financial benefit.
Can you identify any contradictions from your analysis above? For example, is there a match
between how you see yourself and how others see you, or not?
Negotiation skill was there in me from the beginning, was the statement that was made by my tutors.
The peer contradicted this, according to my team members, at certain situations I am too much
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confident which limits me in understanding the situations clearly and this drives me in taking
improper decisions. Again this statement was contradicted by some of the stakeholders of the
organization, as per their words, the decisions that were taken by me has benefited them.
How will this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
Negotiation is adjustment and this skill is not only required for growing in professional career but
even in personal life. Developing this skill more will help me in excelling this skill, which will further
help me in taking proper decisions both in my workplace and in my personal life (Kerzner and
Kerzner, 2017). This skill is very much essential in order to understand the perception of other and to
pitch accordingly, which will even help me in developing other skills like listening and pitching. This
will again benefit me in sustaining my life in the society
SKILL 2: TIME MANAGEMENT
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What is the core skill?
Time management is the ability to understand the importance of time and to manage the activities
as per the time requirement. Time management is the skill that every individual should possess in
order to accomplish their tasks within the given time line. Time management is the capability to
understand and segment time for each work and to accomplish them in the proper manner in order
to meet the target.
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant theories and
concepts to support your answer)
This is the most essential skill that an individual must possess while working in an organization
because it is important for an organization to utilize every single second. I have selected this skill
because I thought that understanding this skill of mine will help me in becoming more punctual. The
lean theory of (), specifies that time is valuable like money and it is essential for an individual to
understand the production capability within a certain timeframe, because by understanding this, an
organization can benefit itself to its maximum.
Time management is an essential skill because it reflects the personality of an individual and his or
her capability of performing the given task within a specified time frame. Any work that is performing
its activities are enveloped by time and this is an essential reason why an individual must possess this
skill
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill. How did you assess your competence? (use
your self-assessment findings, feedback from peers and your tutor, plus your own reflections on
your thoughts, feelings and behaviours to answer this question)
Time management skill of mine was understood by receiving feedbacks from my peers and tutors. As
per my viewpoint, I am always punctual and I even try to complete the given task within the given
deadline. I am very much specific about managing time because even believe that time is money and
apart from that, it becomes easier to execute any task if time management is done properly. This skill
of managing time has even allowed me in fetching better grades in my academic courses, because I
used to complete my syllabus prior to my exam.
Can you identify any contradictions from your analysis above? For example, is there a match
between how you see yourself and how others see you, or not?
The feedbacks that were received from my tutors were not contradictory because my tutor used to
know that I was very much punctual in my academic activities. On the other hand, my team members
contradicted this comment of my tutor. As per their viewpoint, sometimes I used to make sudden
absent when I was working with them and this has restricted the flow of work. I completely deny to
their statement because I think that I use to make work in advance and this was never revealed to
them, which made them feel like this. Looking at the daily activity list this was made understood to
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them that I was never behind time.
How will this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
This is an essential skill that will help me in accomplishing every work of mine within the given time
frame, which will not only allow me in creating a good will but it will even allow me in accomplishing
various tasks within a smaller time frame (Chapman et al., 2017). Developing this skill, I can easily put
equal effort to various activities, which will help me in maintaining proper work and life balance in
the future. Time management will even allow me in saving various resources of the organization that
I work for especially money and time, which can bring the organization more profit and having this
skill will even help me in my personal career.
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SKILL 3: TEAM WORKING
What is the core skill?
Team working is the core skill, which means that there should be communication with every member
of a group or of an organization in order to achieve the targets that are already set by the group. It is
the willingness to work together and to achieve the goals.
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant theories and
concepts to support your answer)
I have selected this skill because I think that it is essential to achieve the goals and target of the
organization that I will be working for. Apart from this, this skill is even needed to understand the
value of others and even helps in understanding the capabilities of others towards accomplishing a
specific task. Teamwork is considered to be one of the core skill because I think this skill is essential
for an individual to maintain the relationship among the members and with the workplace.
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill. How did you assess your competence? (use
your self-assessment findings, feedback from peers and your tutor, plus your own reflections on
your thoughts, feelings and behaviours to answer this question)
In order to understand this skill of mine, I have used Johari Window and Feedbacks from my peers,
which allowed me in understanding the extent to which I was able to perform this skill. I think that I
am confident and adjustable and this personality of mine will allow others to work more comfortable
with me. Because of some of my characteristic traits like lack of focus and dominating nature has
restricted me in performing this skills effectively.
Can you identify any contradictions from your analysis above? For example, is there a match
between how you see yourself and how others see you, or not?
I used to think that I was compatible to the members that were there in the team, which was agreed
by my peers but to some extent. Some of the member of the team though that I was arrogant and
sometimes stubborn. However, majority of the members find me out to be cheerful and adjustable,
which even allowed them in working more with me. Another contradiction was made by the
authority that I was working for, as per their words I am too casual and do not understand the
importance of other’s efforts, which restricted me in performing teamwork in better manner.
How will this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
Teamwork is essential in every field. This includes both the professional and personal career ( Crick,
2017). In order to grow in both personal and professional career it is essential to work together. And
this skill of mine even allows me in understanding the skills of others, which I can develop in future in
order to perform the assigned tasks in a better way.
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SKILL 4: PUBLIC SPEAKING
What is the core skill?
Public speaking is the skill or art to deliver a message or an idea to a larger mass within an
organization or in a work place. In order personal and professional life we sometimes need to use the
public speaking skills. Especially in the professional field, in order to get the position of a leader, an
individual must have the power or strength of public speaking. With the help of public speaking an
individual, make other people understand about a topic or an area of study. Proper public speaking
not only helps others in understanding but also motivates them to put their efforts in the right
direction.
Why is this core skill important? Why did I select this skill to reflect on? (use relevant theories and
concepts to support your answer)
Public speaking has been chosen as a skill because while working for an organization, I understood
that this skill is essential to deliver the message of the authority to the subordinate in an appropriate
manner. This skill is even essential in order to make the employees and other member of the team
understand a particular topic in brief.
Public speaking is an art of motivating others and increasing self-confidence of speaking to a large
number of people. Public speaking even reflects the skill of representing an organization to the public
that are related to the organization.
Reflect on your current competent regarding this skill. How did you assess your competence? (use
your self-assessment findings, feedback from peers and your tutor, plus your own reflections on
your thoughts, feelings and behaviours to answer this question)
In order to understand my competency level of this public speaking skill I have used Johari window
and by receiving Feedbacks from my peers/team members. The feedbacks that I have received from
my tutor was positive because while performing my academic activities I use to participate in various
debates and even used to recite in school programs. Even, I think that this skill has allowed me in
understanding perception of others and have even allowed me in understanding what to speak when
and how.
Can you identify any contradictions from your analysis above? For example, is there a match
between how you see yourself and how others see you, or not?
There were no such contradictions against this skill of mine. The few contradictions that were made
by my team members reflect that I am nervous at some times, which limited me in performing this
skill at its best. Other than this, the perception that was received from my peer states that I was very
must influencing in delivering speech to the employees of the organization and other members of
the team even agreed to that. According to them, I do understand the mental condition of others
and deliver my pitch accordingly, which helped me in driving others in doing the assigned tasks.
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How will this skill help me in the future? (use references to support your argument)
Public speaking is such a skill that will not only help me in my personal skill but also in my
professional career (German et al., 2017). With the help of this skill, I will be able to drive others in
accomplishing a task. Public speaking skill is even essential for me in developing other skills that are
related to it like, confidence level of mine and giving feedbacks. Developing my public speaking skill
will even allow me representing an organization in a better manner to the outside world and can
even help me in becoming a better spokesperson in the future.
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Summary and Action Plan
While analyzing my skills in the above tables, I have found out that there are several areas where I am
strong enough and these areas will help me developing my professional and personal life. On the other
hand, there are also some areas where I am not good enough, which are my weaknesses and these will
create barriers in the development of professional and personal life. Theses strength and weaknesses
are stated below:
Strengths
Some of the strength that I understood while assessing myself were:
 Punctual
 Confident
 Good speaking power in public
The above points are the key strengths of me. During the analysis through Johari Window, I have found
out that I am able to manage my time efficiently and my tutor and peers have also agreed with the
same. On the other hand, I never face any hesitation while speaking in public, which is the result of my
good communication or speaking power. On the other hand, I have also found out that I can negotiate
with the people in a better way, which indicates that I am confident about myself, which will help me in
my personal and especially in professional life in future.
Weaknesses
 Over confident in some point of time
 Lack of focus
 Dominating nature
The above mentioned areas are my weak points. During self analysis, I have noted that some points of
time I become over confident regarding some matters. This creates limitations for my personal and
professional growth. At the same time, I have also noted that sometimes I cannot focus on the required
activities, which creates problems at the time when I work within a group. On the other hand, I am
sometimes much dominating in nature, which is not acceptable in many situations and so it is one of my
major weaknesses.
Action Plan
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Area Action Activity Timescale Expectation
Self control In order to bring
self-control, I
need to practice
how to be calm
and maintain
patience
Meditation
Working within
team at most of
the time
6 months I will be able to
enhance self
control and will
be able to control
my dominating
nature.
Self confidence I must not be
over confident
while dealing
with any matter
I need to practice
gathering
information to
support my
thoughts. I need
to avoid showing
confidence
without proper
evidence for
support.
3 months This will help me
controlling my
self-confidence. I
will not show over
confidence in any
matter.
Better dealing I need to hear the
other people
when
participating in
any negotiation
process/
I need to practice
discussion with a
group of people,
so that I can
understand the
views of the other
people, which is
very important
for negotiation
and better
dealing
3 months I will be able to
make better deals
with the people in
the future times
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References
Chapman, E., Miles, E.W. and Maurer, T., 2017. A proposed model for effective negotiation skill
development. Journal of Management Development, 36(7), pp.940-958.
Crick, N., 2017. Rhetorical public speaking. Routledge.
German, K.M., Gronbeck, B.E., Ehninger, D. and Monroe, A.H., 2017. Principles of public speaking.
Routledge.
Kerzner, H. and Kerzner, H.R., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling,
and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
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