Developing Personal Leadership and Management Skills: A Report

This report delves into the critical aspects of personal leadership and management, focusing on the application within the context of the Arcadia Group, a prominent UK-based retail company. The report examines the influence of organizational objectives, culture, and values on leadership and management roles, highlighting their interconnectedness. It also explores the required skills for effective management and leadership, such as decision-making, communication, and team building. Furthermore, the report assesses personal development potential, identifying opportunities for skill enhancement through reflective learning, mentoring, and training. A personal development plan is developed to manage personal improvement, and the report evaluates its effectiveness against business goals, identifying areas for further refinement. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of continuous development in achieving sustainable growth and competitive advantage within the retail industry.

Personal Leadership
and Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Influence of objective, culture, value over management and leadership role. ...........................1
Required skills for management and leadership role .................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
Examine personal development potentiality ..............................................................................4
Determine the opportunities for leadership or management skill ..............................................5
Develop a personal development plan .......................................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
Manage personal improvement ..................................................................................................7
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................8
Assessment of personal development plan against business goals ............................................8
Assess the effectualness of personalized enrichment ................................................................9
Examine areas need for further improvement .........................................................................10
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................12
REFERNCES.................................................................................................................................13
.......................................................................................................................................................14
.......................................................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
For surviving within today's competitive marketplace, an individual is required to posses
effective or productive leadership and management skill. However, these ability lead personnel
to acquire novel or innovative ideas as well as empower them to make best strategic decision in
order to gain competitive advantage in an effective or expeditious manner. However these two
aspects are inseparable in nature as each of them contains its own role sand responsibilities.
Leaders are concern with motivating, inspiring, encouraging followers on the other hand
manager are relates with managing, coordinating, organising, directing employees for an
accomplishment of organisational goal or objective in a better way (Pamfilie, Petcu and
Draghici, 2012). For this report, Arcadia Group has been considered which is one of the well
known retail company in UK that is commenced in the year of 2002. It offers varieties of
products like clothing, accessories, shoes and serves across the globe. However, the core
discussion in this study is related to how to develop personal management quality required for
successful accomplishment of competitive advantage. Hence, to achieve all these aspects, effect
of firm skill, values, culture on leadership and management role. In addition to this, further, it
also focus on managing improvement of own skills by devising personal development plan is
also mentioned here.
TASK 1
Influence of objective, culture, value over management and leadership role.
Each and every organisation frames mission, objective, goals, purpose for obtaining
profit maximisation with an optimal utilisation of resources in an affective style within
prescribed time limit without and hindrances. Generally, managers or leaders work not only for
generating profit but also they are obliged to ensure particular objective fulfilment, value
creation and maintenance of organizational culture (Allio, 2013). However, for accomplishing
the same a proper coordination or cooperation as well as transparency in communication are
considered as integral component which lead leaders to pursue their pre determined goal in an
innovative and creative style. Hence, it has been viewed that business working culture or norms
contains a great influence over attitude or behaviour of leaders or superior for acquiring
sustainable profitability ratio. In relation to Arcadia Group, based on culture, objective and
values role of its leader and mangers varies which is explained below:

Influence of Objective: In an establishments, it plays a vital role as it signifies basic
tools which underline all planning and strategic activities for an achievement of business goals in
a desired time period. Moreover, if the objective of an enterprise is unclear to its personnel, there
is possibility of arising conflicts or hindrance within working culture as well as it directly reflect
on productivity. In regard of Arcadia Group, its foremost objective is to deliver its product or
service in best quality in lower price which enable them to attain increased level of proficiency.
For attaining the same, they identifies current or emerging trends of marketplace and based on
that they implement corrective course of action for acquiring high productivity and profit margin.
Moreover, provide all information clearly and participate its personnel towards an
accomplishment of business intent which help them to reduce disputes or ambiguity among team
members and add value to Arcadia brand image in a better way.
Effect of values: This aspect is one among the crucial determinant which has major
influence on an individuals behaviour and attitude and encourage them to serve as broad
guidelines in all situations. Hence, in context of Arcadia Group it also follows specific forms of
values or norms which leads them to maintain a healthy working condition which improves each
personnel morale. Furthermore, with the help of ethical values Arcadia's leader enables to
integrate fair wage or reward structure, health and safety act within company's premises that lead
them to gain increased level of employee motivation and satisfaction towards firm's vision.
Impact of culture: In this, it signifies that it is a way of a life of group of people which
involves beliefs, values and symbols which continues from generation to generation as it is
regarded as symbolic way of communication (Workman and Cleveland-Innes, 2012). However,
the culture plays a vital role in creating healthy surroundings within company which supports
manpower and staff to render best service. Thus, the adaptive culture of Arcadia Group assist its
leaders in accepting external changes in the structure as well as it inspire them to make their
subordinates flexible enough to adopt any environment or modification that occurs in an
industry. Due to which, it assist Arcadia Group to enrich its profit margin and productivity in an
impressive way.
Hence, it has evaluated that accomplishing an organisation goal within prescribed time
limit maintaining a better working condition is an essential element for which it requires a
impressive objective, culture, values in an attainment of high profitability and volume of sales.

Required skills for management and leadership role
For leadership to be effective or productive, it must be built on a solid foundation
consisting of clear mission, vision, strategy, culture that leads them to attain increased level of
success and growth among an industry. In addition to cultivating a conductive environment that
is established on a solid ground, effective leaders must exhibits specific skills and attributes in
order to obtain pre redetermine goal of an organisation. However, in case of Arcadia it is
recognised as one of the famed company among retail industry for which it is require several set
of features or abilities in manager or leader which act as a guidance for them to pursue their
mission in an innovative or creative style (Conger, 2015). Thus, for achieving Arcadia Group
possess different attributes or skills that support them in successfully accomplishing an
objectives of retail organisation which is discussed below:
Decision making skill: For achieving mission or vision of Arcadia Group, manager has
possess best determination making skills that will support them in overcoming various solutions
and alternatives as well as assist to select appropriate decision for an enlargement of an
organisation. However, this feature primarily concentrates on taking suitable conclusion for
assuring success of company inn competitive retail industry.
Communication: This aspect is regarded as one of the integral and powerful
determinant in an establishment as it benefit in providing proper working culture as well as to
build each personnel morale in order to gain competitive advantage. In context of Arcadia
Group, its manager imply an effective conversation between its manpower which motivates each
individuals to put their full contribution towards an obtaining organisational objective in an
impressive or productive way. Along with this, it help them to make best decision without
harming anyone morale that lead Arcadia Group's leader to acquire sustainable profitability in a
desired time period in an innovative and creative manner.
Team building: This approach in the workplace enables better communication, healthy
relationship, enhances productivity, proper coordination and combination of all these elements
assist firm to achieve business goals in an trenchant way. Hence, in relation to Arcadia Group's
leader it aid them to maintain high degree of emotional intelligence as well as courage them ton
make right decision for an organisation.
Therefore, it has stated that the above mentioned attributes or skills are considered as main
component which enable them to attain a increased level of productivity as well as to maintain a

fair or best relationship with each personnel inj order to obtain increased profit maximisation by
making use of available resources.
TASK 2
Examine personal development potentiality
Each and every leaders have unique set of characteristics, traits, skill which help them to
manage or handle business complex situation in order to add value among the mindset of
community and manpower. However, there are various ways through organisation can measure
and asses personal skill and also determine development which are required for an achieving
firm's goal in an appropriate way. Thus, for Arcadia Group there are various techniques from
which company's manager can identify or evaluate their potentiality or capability in a better
manner (Waite and et. al., 2014). IN addition to this, Personal Development Plan, is regraded as
one of the most effective tool which help manager to examine their capability and assist them to
make best decision in order for acquiring better position within competitive industry. Hence, it
refers that it is the process or procedure of creating an action plan based on awareness, values,
reflection, goal setting and planning for personal enrichment within the context of career,
education, relationship or for self improvement. However, with the help of this element, it enable
to examine own strength or potentiality as well as evaluate weakness and based on that
encourage them to improve their hidden talents and shortcomings in order to provide best
contribution towards an accomplishment of increased level of profit margin and productivity in a
better way. IN regard of Arcadia Group, for the role of manager there are certain skill which is
required for this post in order to obtain profit maximisation in an efficacious manner. However,
some of the skill are decision making skill, communication, planning, conflict resolution, team
building, leadership and many more. However, after examining management skill which is need
for applying in Arcadia Group for the post of manager, it has been viewed that an individual are
good in interpersonal skill, punctual in keeping time, adjustable in every kind of complex
environment . But on the other hand, personnel is lacking in communication skill, team building,
decision making ability for which an organisation should provide proper training platforms and
guidance in order to overcome those shortcomings and put best contribution for an
accomplishment of profitability in an impressive way. Thus, managing personal development
plan aid Arcadia manager to behave ethically and organised way at the time of conflict or dispute

within its business premises and also enable them to make corrective course of action for
obtaining sustainable growth and enhancement in an retail industry.
Determine the opportunities for leadership or management skill
It is essential to enhance and develop Arcadia's manager skill as well as help them to
tackle over all shortcomings and provide their whole effort towards enhancing company's brand
image. However, for surviving in the competitive market, impressive or productive leadership
and management skill are vital for attaining success of an enterprise. Moreover, the above
mentioned attribute which is essential for manager profile help specific individual to inspire,
authorize and alleviate performance of staff and deliver high or best quality of services to their
customers (Ross, 2014). Therefore, there are several opportunities which help Arcadia manager
to enrich their leadership and management abilities are discussed below:
Reflective learning: It is concern with those procedure that results in promotion deeper
learnings. However, it also support them in developing skills and abilities from past experience
in order to render effective service in the future for satisfying customers. Moreover, it help
Arcadia's manager to avoid in engaging in false activities as well as assist them to satisfy
targeted customer in a better manner.
Mentoring: Another possibility for developing leadership and management skill is
through the mentoring as under this, expertise or highly qualified professional guides Arcadia's
manager to perform firm activities in a productive style which assist in enhancing skills and
knowledge. However, mentor act as the role model who shares resources, knowledge, provide
proper guidance or direction in developing Arcadia's manager attributes or abilities.
Training: In addition to this, this component assist in performing each and every
business activities in a very effective manner which reflect in the growth of firm's volume of
sales as well as in profit maximization within prescribed time limit.
Henceforth, the above explained opportunities provide an enormous platforms for
Arcadia's manager to enrich existing skill as well as to adopt novel ideas or thought in order to
gain sustainable proficiency in an innovative and creative style.
Develop a personal development plan
Particulars Activities required for
developing skills
Time period

Communication skill  Daily meeting with
staff.
 Encouraging personnel
to share their views or
opinion.
 Participation in group
discussion (Zulch,
2014).
2.5 months
Decision making skill  Inspiring manpower to
take active part in
business activities like
problem solving
process and decision
making.
 Support staff
participation
 Conducting casual and
formal group meetings.
2 months
Team building skill  Forming team within
the workplace.
 Delegating roles or
responsibilities to each
and every individuals
or team members.
 Consulting group
members before taking
or implementing final
decisions .
4-6 weeks
Developing skill for attending
customers
 Listening attentively to
all consumers.
3 months

 Providing products
according to the need
or demand of
customers (Zhang, Lin
and Fong Foo, 2012)
TASK 3
Manage personal improvement
After devising or examining personal development plan with the clear objectives, it has
been analysed that there is a need for implementing the plan as it will help in improving all
shortcomings and gain more enhancement in existing strength or potentiality. However, there are
various ways through which Arcadia Group manager will be able to manage personal
enhancement and it is explained below:
Recording the action: For successful implementation of personal development plan in
the company, Arcadia's manager should mainly focus on recording and storing all learnings.
However, transcription of all the achievements and learnings help them to take impressive
decisions in the future as well as enable them to cope with all uncertainties in better manner
(Spicker, 2012).
Assessing own skills in the regular time period: Another way to manage the plan is
through performing periodic or regular assessment of own abilities to evaluate skills and
competencies are gained as per the future requirement or not. Moreover, with the help of this,
Arcadia's manager can easily manage or handle all complex situation or difficulties in order to
generate strong working culture.
Proper review: While executing personal development plan, Arcadia's manager can
manage the program by ensuring proper reassessment of personal enhancement to avoid negative
consequences. Moreover, they can regular review and measuring own abilities to determine any
deviation occurs while implementing the decisions or plan of action. However, constant review
and examining personal development plan help in enhancing firm's leadership and management
skill in an impressive or productive style.

However, with the application of personal development plan Arcadia's manager can
improve their hidden talents or skills as well as encourage them to achieve short term or long
term goals in an appropriate way. Moreover, it allows an individuals to identify strength,
weakness or potentiality and based on that adopt best action in order to gain competitive
advantage as well as add value to organisation brand image (Bush, 2015).
TASK 4
Assessment of personal development plan against business goals
By reviewing the personal development plan , the leader of the Arcadia group can easily
raise their ability and knowledge (SNorthouse, 2018). However after the implementation of the
personal development plan The leader of the Arcadia group has come up with the conclusion that
skills are not gained by attaining or accomplishing the plans successfully it requires a longer
duration of time to do so.
Objectives Reviewing progress Activities which have
been executed to
accomplish objectives
Time period
Team building It has been observe
that the management
of the team in the
business of Arcadia is
done in the best
possible manner. For
the involvement of all
the members of the
team they have also
given emphasis on the
performing of the
activities in teams so
that the collaboration
and coordination can
Allotment of the work
to each and every
individual in the
department.
Formulation of the
team in the workplace
for better execution of
the tasks.
Before the formulation
of the decision the
view point of the
group member must be
taken into the
consideration.
3 weeks

be established in the
workplace.
Stress management After the execution of
the personal
development plan it
has been noticed that
the leader of the
Arcadia group have
also focus on the
reduction and
management of stress
by various relaxation
activities. The leaders
is required to develop
the skills so that the
stress from the
workplace can be
minimised.
To manage the time
by the allotment of the
tasks in the most
appropriate manner.
Performing some
activities to relax so
that the goals can be
achieved in the best
possible manner.
Engagement of the
individual in some
physical activities.
Some brainstorming
sessions (Sutherland,
2013).
5-6 weeks
Assess the effectualness of personalized enrichment
For improving and developing the management as well as the leadership skills the leader
of the Arcadia group can focus on the various measures which will assist them to enhance these
skills. Several ways which will support the leader to measure the effectiveness of personal
development plans are as mentioned beneath :
Reduction of the conflicts arising at the workplace : To improve the effectiveness of the
personal development plans of the leadership and management skills the leaders of the Arcadia
group must focus on identifying and reassessment of the proportion of the conflicts (Sutton and
Rudd, 2014). By the help of these development plans the leader of the respective company can
also improve their skills of management, conflicts managements, time managements, problem
solving skills and decision makings skills. Improvement in these skills will automatically leads to

the reduction of the conflicts in the work place. Reduce rate of conflicts will also help the
business to established coordination among the members so that the better decision can be taken
by mutual understanding.
Customers satisfaction : The effectiveness of own personal development plans can also be
determined through the level of the customer satisfaction. To satisfy the customers the leader
must focus on their communication skills, presentation skills , so that they can easily attract the
customers towards their products and services. The business of Arcadia will also foster some
advantage as they provide their customer with the quality of the products which the customers
demand in order to satisfy their needs. Moreover this satisfaction level of the customer will also
increase the revenue margin of the business (Analoui, Doloriert and Sambrook, 2013).
Examine areas need for further improvement
Whenever there is the requirement to review any of the personal development plans and
how effective is that, it can be clearly understood by the manager of Arcadia Group, that still
there are some of the points which can be further amended and that can directly enhance the
skills and performance of a company. Here, manager is required to focus on some of the
technical and electronic technologies as almost each and every work are being managed with the
help of computer system. As changes are required, it will be better for the manager that he must
focus more on technologies so that it can become easy to adjust in new changes. If all of this
things can be focused that it will have a direct impact on the performance of a company and
chances of achieving the goals will be high (Tohidi and Jabbari, 2012).
Constant learning do enhances the overall performance and also helps to gain some of
the knowledge that is helpful in future period of time. Here, manager of Arcadia Group should
focus more on visual, videos, images learning as it is helpful for keeping the data safe for longer
period of time in mind. The updated personal development plan do increases the leadership and
management skill which has a direct connection within the workplace. The manager of Arcadia
Group can focus more on training and development work as it helps to gain the knowledge and
that is beneficial for the organisation. In addition, if proper training and development plan can be
prepared well in a systematic manner then it will be easy for manager to guide their subordinates
and even various techniques can be tough too. Also, it will be helpful to lead the subordinates in
best possible manner. Below, Personal Development Plan has been prepared that will be helpful