Consultancy Report: Self-Reflection and Personal Development Plan

This report presents a self-reflection on a consultancy project undertaken as part of a team, focusing on the problem-solving process for a client's business issues. The author details the experience gained, highlighting the development of critical thinking, time management, and team-building skills. The report analyzes the importance of customer relationships and effective communication within a team environment. It identifies skills gaps, particularly in written and verbal communication, critical thinking, and team building, and proposes a personal development plan to address these areas. The plan outlines specific actions and timelines to improve communication skills, enhance team participation, and strengthen critical decision-making abilities. The report concludes by emphasizing the value of self-reflection in identifying skills and abilities for professional growth.

Consultancy In Practice

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Task1................................................................................................................................................1
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................3
Personal Development Plan (PDP).........................................................................................4
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5
References:.......................................................................................................................................6
Books and Journals.................................................................................................................6

Introduction
Self-reflection can be defined as the ability of an individual to deliberately pay attention to the
one’s thoughts, decision, actions, behaviour and emotions. It is basically analysing and revising
the events of past to understand what had happened, what actions were taken place and what was
the outcomes of the actions. It is closely interrelated with the learning from the experience on the
basis of evaluation and make decisions to do something differently to better deal with the
situation or repeat the same actions (Nurdiani and et. al., 2019). The Report is the self-reflection
on the basis of the problem solving process of client’s business problem as a member of team.
The objective of the report is to highlight the learning from experience and the skills gap that
need to be developed in future as career.
Task1
Customers are a key part of any business as business exists in order to serve the needs,
desires and wants of the customer. There are several issue and challenges that a business face
whether it is from internal management or outside world. Being a part of customer services
department I have been dealing with several unhappy and dissatisfied customer that might bring
only negative consequence for the company in which I work. Recently, I was a part of the team
who was working on providing the solution to customers who are having bad experience with the
products we have launched recently. Customer relationship is very much essential for the
company to manage the issue and problems customer face with the products or services offered
by the company.
The project was to improve the experience of the customers with regards to the products and
services they used and somehow this could be due to improper planning of product development,
poor research or not having a clear understanding of the needs, wants and desires of the customer
and what value they are looking for (Wadsworth, 2019). Working on the project I have
understand the role of research and development in catering to the needs of the customer in a
better and effective way. Out team actively took the problem into consideration and start
working on finding the sources of problem, from where the customer started feeling undervalued
and dissatisfied. Getting deep into the sources of problem I have developed ability to critically
think over the problem and provide the optimum solutions for the problem currently client is
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facing. Critical thinking and problem solving skills have empowered me to use numerous
facts, figures, data and knowledge to effectively solve the problems and this have helped me to
analyse the information, formulate well-reasoned claims and implement the strategies for
problem solving.
Another skill that I have developed during the course of this project was Time management, as
any sort of delay in addressing the customer’s issue may lead to the bad word of mouth or losing
a customer for ever (Stewart, 2019). Additionally, all the team members were punctual and
committed to their work as the problem was related to the bad experience customer was having
with the product developed and poor customer relationship made us to work more closely with
this aspect.
In order to work in a team it is essential to effectively communicate with the other team
members so that there is work executed would go in right direction and is cohesive in nature.
Manager, supervisors and all the other personnel in our team would communicate so effectively
that everyone understand the message the way it is delivered. Good communication skills
brings clarity in terms of delivering clear objectives and expectation for the team members along
with that it provides clear direction to be followed during the entire project. I have learned to be
good listener before a good communicator as it helps in developing a good communication skills
in which i felt that I was not possessing these skills. While developing communication skills I
have built trust and confidence among peer and supervisors.
With the clear guidance and proper support of my team member I was very much
confident and productive. My Confidence level while working a part of problem solving team
have rose to the significate level as compared to earlier. Before this project I could not interact
with any person while having eye to eye contact which would reveal my low self-esteem and
morale (Rodríguez-Lago and et. al., 2019). My mentors and manager encouraged me for to share
my views and opinion on the solutions discussed along with that they also asked me out my view
with regards to the problem. This have increased my confidence level and I am more productive,
satisfied and engage in a work than before.
Woking together on a common project brings unity and harmony among the members of the
team due to which I have managed to developed strong Team building skills. While working in
a group there was no hierarchy level among the members, we all worked as part of a team with
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common mission and vision. When everyone is regarded equally then there is free flow of ideas,
creativity and collaboration among the team members.
When we start working on a project I was lacking in a knowledge that how products and services
deliver value to the customer and how it is necessary to produce goods and services that are as
per the demands of the customer (Setiawan and Mardapi, 2020). Low quality, high price and
unmatched expectation can give rise to the issue such as bad reputation of company,
dissatisfaction among customer and bad word of mouth publicity.
Having learned these skills and knowledge can contribute towards my further career and
professional development. For instance, communication skills are imperative to work in an
organisation and as a member of team as it helps in building trust, confidence and good relations
at workplace. Another example, having team building skills can help in getting work done easily
with a collaboration and support with the team members. Good leadership qualities and wide
array of knowledge is acquired and developed while managing a team as there are diverse range
of people with different belief, attitude, lifestyle and behaviour. Working with a diversified
workforce will help me to have a broader perspective and better understanding of people.
Task 2
On the basis of above self- reflection conducted by myself I have analysed that all the above
mentioned skills are essential for my further career and professional development.
Communication skills, Critical analytical thinking, decision making, and team building skills are
few skills that few organisations are seeking in working professionals (Furler and et. al., 2020).
While being a part of the project I have realised that my Communication skills are moderate in
nature both written and verbal, on the other hand I was the one with good and well time
management skills which helped me to meet the deadlines in the project on time and display my
positive and committed behaviour towards work.
Critical and decision making skills was one of the biggest weak point due to which I was
unable to weigh the numerous fact and figures to deliver optimum solutions to the problem.
Another skills gap that I revealed while conducting self-reflection was Team building skills, due
to my attitude and behaviour I was unable to work in a team which is becoming a core part of
each and every organisation (Gillett-Swan and Sargeant, 2019). In order to improve the skills gap
I am taking an action plan to improve these skills which will highlight the time frame to meet
these skills and programmes that will help me to remove the skills gap.
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Personal Development Plan (PDP)
Areas of
development
Time
duration
Actions to
achieve
Current
situation
How will I
know I have
been
successful
Progress
Communication
Skills (Written
and Verbal)
In 3
months
In order to
improve my
communication
skills, both
verbal and non-
verbal I need to
read articles on
newspaper,
journals, and
other related
business articles
that will help
me understand
the formal
structure and
right use of
vocabulary with
right level of
tone, pitch and
pace.
As per the self
– refection I
have analysed
that while
working in a
team I was
unable to
speak clearly
and express
my views in
front of sub-
ordinates and
superiors
(Nurdiani and
et. al., 2019).
Additionally,
there were lots
of
grammatical
error in my
reports,
presentation
and e-mail
sent to the
internal
management.
I will conduct
self-
assessment
programme on
a regular basis
and will ask
for a feedback
and
suggestion
from seniors,
superiors and
subordinates.
When I will
be able to
deliver clear
and concise
message
through e-
mail, reports
and
presentation.
Along with
that my
interaction
with the team
member will
determine my
success
(Wadsworth,
2019).
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Team building
Skills
In two
months
Working in
teams, actively
participate in
collaborative
sessions and
projects will
help me in
improving these
skills.
While
working in
team I realised
that I was not
able to
cooperate
with the team
members and
there were
difference in
our view and
opinions.
My
collaboration
and support to
the team
members.
Respect to the
opinion and
beliefs of
other people.
Regular
feedback
from the team
members on
my leadership
skill (Stewart,
2019).
Conclusion
From the above stated report it has been realised that self-reflection is the best approach to
find out the skills and abilities of an individual as self-reflection is the activity based on
learning from the past experience. This is one of the most common methods used in finding
the skills gap and fill those gaps through means of proper action and personal development
programmes.
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References:
Books and Journals
Furler, J., and et. al., 2020. Use of professional-mode flash glucose monitoring, at 3-month
intervals, in adults with type 2 diabetes in general practice (GP-OSMOTIC): a
pragmatic, open-label, 12-month, randomised controlled trial. The lancet Diabetes &
endocrinology. 8(1). pp.17-26.
Gillett-Swan, J.K. and Sargeant, J., 2019. Perils of perspective: Identifying adult confidence in
the child’s capacity, autonomy, power and agency (CAPA) in readiness for voice-
inclusive practice. Journal of Educational Change. 20(3). pp.399-421.
Nurdiani, I., and et. al., 2019. Understanding the order of agile practice introduction: Comparing
agile maturity models and practitioners’ experience. Journal of Systems and
Software. 156. pp.1-20.
Rodríguez-Lago, I., and et. al., 2019. Management of acute severe ulcerative colitis in Spain: a
nationwide clinical practice survey. Gastroenterología y Hepatología (English
Edition). 42(2). pp.90-101.
Setiawan, R. and Mardapi, D., 2020. Multiple Intelligences-Based Creative Curriculum: The
Best Practice. European Journal of Educational Research. 9(2). pp.611-627.
Stewart, P.M., 2019. Modified-release hydrocortisone: is it time to change clinical
practice?. Journal of the Endocrine Society. 3(6). pp.1150-1153.
Wadsworth, N., 2019. Pressure to provide a solution: One-to-one support with an elite junior
gymnast. Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology. 3(1). pp.41-49.
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