Professional Practice Report: Leadership, Training, and Sainsbury

This report delves into the professional practices within Sainsbury's, a major UK supermarket chain, focusing on leadership, training, and team dynamics. It begins by examining various communication styles, including passive, aggressive, and assertive approaches, and their application in designing effective training events. The report then explores time management skills essential for planning successful training programs, emphasizing goal setting, prioritization, and effective communication. Problem-solving techniques are also analyzed, with a focus on defining problems, determining causes, generating solutions, selecting the best approach, and taking action. Furthermore, the report highlights the importance of team dynamics, explaining how effective teamwork contributes to achieving organizational goals. The significance of continuous professional development (CPD) and its contribution to individual learning is also discussed, along with the development of a comprehensive development plan that outlines responsibilities, performance objectives, and required skills. The report concludes by synthesizing these elements to provide a holistic view of leadership and training practices within the context of Sainsbury's.

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 State how different communication style can design a training event...................................1
P2 Effective time management skills in planning a training event.............................................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
P3 Different problem solving techniques....................................................................................6
P4 Demonstrate critical reasoning practical to given situation...................................................7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
P5 Importance of team dynamics................................................................................................8
P6 Explain how working in a team help in achieving goal.......................................................10
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................11
P7 Importance of CPD and Its Contribution to own learning...................................................11
P8 Development plan that outlines responsibilities, performance objectives and required skills
...................................................................................................................................................14
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17

INTRODUCTION
Training can be defined as an organized activity that usually takes place with a purpose
of improving the overall skills and efficiency of workers. It is mainly related with increasing the
potential and knowledge of employees which help them both personally and professionally. The
success and growth of every organization depend upon how effectively its personnel are
contributing towards achieving pre-defined goals and objectives (Barker and Branson., 2014).By
arranging significant training and development session for employees, company can motivate
them to work incredibly hard. The chosen organisation for this report is Sainsbury which is the
largest supermarket chain of United Kingdom. The main purpose of this report is exhibit
leadership skills through the dynamics of team working, contribution of time-management skill
and problem solving techniques. Along with this, others things which are covered in report are
development of communication skill, importance of continuous professional development and its
importance.
TASK 1
P1 State how different communication style can design a training event
Different communication styles :
Different types of communication styles that Sainsbury can use to design a training event
includes:
Passive communication style: Individuals with passive communication style are often act
indifferently and generally fails to express their feelings and allow other individual to express
themselves. Use of this style by manager of Sainsbury can be safer to speak with during conflicts
arise.
Aggressive communication style: This style is emphasized by demanding voice and
speaking in loud, dominating others by blaming, threatening, criticizing, intimidating or
attacking them and maintaining intense eye contacts. This style can also be considered
considered leaders of Sainsbury and command respect from those around them.
Passive aggressive style: In this communication style, individuals appear passive on
surface, but from within, they feel stuck or powerless. People with this style are actually acting
out their anger behind the scenes or indirect ways.
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Assertive communication: It is one of the most effective communication style that
includes sharing opinions and advocating for individual's own rights. This style enables manager
of Sainsbury to balance a respect for themselves with others.
Different formats of communication:
Multiple communication formats are commonly used by businesses to reach more people
when communicating messages. Each format provides some advantage or disadvantage rely on
message being delivered. So, manager of Sainsbury requires to consider this and choose
appropriate format. Some of the format are defined below:
Meetings: It provides the way to firm to communicate information by using personal
format. Customers, managers or employees may include in meetings. These are used by
Sainsbury to ensure that no confusion exist in communicating message.
Email: It is an electronic form of communication which is written. In organisations, this
format has become more popular as the utilization of personal computers is increase in business
operations. Ssainsbury use this format of communication for conveying information regarding
training event.
Social media: This is also an another way that assists firm to communicate with others
and conveying messages effectively. Social media networks and websites have presented a new
communication format. It allows Sainsbury to create websites and develop customers following.
This format enables firm to convey information regarding training event effectively.
Professionally schedule two day training event:
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P2 Effective time management skills in planning a training event
One of the main element of an enjoyable training program deals with how well it is
organized or managed. For delivering a successful training event, range of activities are
conducted by training program organizer of Sainsbury whose outcome rely upon how effectively
time management skills are utilized by them. For seeking never ending improvements it is
always better to become productive with time. Thankfully, there are various time management
skills that help in attaining favourable or desired outcomes (Delport, and De Vos, 2011).
Recently, Sainsbury has designed an educational training event in which it has organized many
activities including workshops, seminars, team-building etc. with a purpose of enhancing overall
performance and efficiency of its employees. Discussed below are some time management skills
that plays key role in identifying company's productivity level: -
1. Goal Setting: Time Management isn't a stand-alone skill i.e. one should have an ability to
utilize time in such manner that mainly serves or fulfil defined goals. At the time of
decision making, it is essential to be cognisant about goals and the way in which each
activity aimed at bringing it nearest to accomplish those goals. For instance: By arranging
training session, Sainsbury aims at improving the work rate of its manpower.
2. Prioritization: One of the main issue that every company experience with prioritisation is
that they start too late in the process. According to Johann Wolfgang, “Things which are
really important needs to be taken into account on priority basis instead of activities
which matters least. It does not focus on doing more work rather it laid stress on
eliminating unnecessary task which are not related with defined activity. For example:-
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Sainsbury's needs to determine training needs of employees and suitable training
techniques as per their skills and knowledge.
Communication Skill: Strong communication skill help in building supportive
relationship between employee and employer (Denicolo, and Pope, 2011). It is chiefly necessary
that all information must be communicated in proper and effective manner which ultimately
saves time. As clearly transferred information helps in completing all the activities and tasks on
specified time frame.
This time management has been achieved by Sainsbury by using the above time
management skills. By setting the goals in right way, firm can attain its time management.
Utilization of SMART goal setting method assists manager of Sainsbury to see the things
through. Apart from this, scheduling time to see and respond to emails and eliminating the habit
of wasting time is also an another way by which firm has been achieved time management. For
instance: At the time of designing training event, it is required by manager of Sainsbury to
schedule each activity and prioritize it as per its significance. By this, all the activities is done on
time and proper time management is achieved.
TASK 2
P3 Different problem solving techniques
There are some problems which are small and can be solved within short span of time
whereas other problems that are relatively large may require adequate effort and time to resolve.
Whether the concerning issue is small or large, it is better to use systematic approach that help in
achieving all pre-determined task in an effective manner without causing any error. Discussed
below are five key problem-solving techniques:-
Define the Problem: The most common way to deal with any issue or problem is to define it
correctly and accurately. For example: The main problem defined by HR manager of Sainsbury
is poor performance by its man-power. On the basis of this, company needs to develop various
solution that results in improving the overall performance of employees (Felver, Doerner, Jones,
Kaye and Merrell, 2013). In order to develop an effective solution of problem, it is very
important for manager to first identify the main cause of the problem as this helps in develop
better solution. Reason behind lower performance of employees can be negative work
environment, low motivation level, inappropriate company’s policies and can be anything. So
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before develop a solution, it is very important to first determine the main cause as this helps in
formulate better strategies to deal with that issue and at the same time hel in assure that the same
issues will not arise in future.
 Determine the Cause: After determining the problem, it is important to find out what is
actually causing it. For this, manager can use Fish-bone Diagram that help in executing a
cause and effect investigation. If problems are consider as a gap that arise between where
current and future situation of a firm, then the cause to given problem can be consider as
key hindrance that prevent company from concluding that gap immediately. The main
root of above mentioned problem is lack of providing adequate training, poor skills and
capacity etc. directly affect overall performance of employees as well as company's.
Generate Ideas: Once the manager of Sainsbury is done with defining main issue and its root
causes, next step is to generate best possible idea or solution for the given problem. Two
common problem solving technique include mind mapping and brain storming (Flodgren,
Grimshaw, and Eccles, 2011).
 Select the Best Solution: There are several ideas to solve one problem, but among them
only few are practically possible. So here, the role of manager is to choose most suitable
idea that serve out as a best solution to the given problem. For example: At Sainsbury, the
most appropriate solution can be arranging adequate training and development session for
its employees (Flottorp and et.al., 2013).
 Take Action: Once the company is done with selecting best possible solution, the next
step is take action i.e. finally executing it within the workplace. For this, manager needs
to be 100% sure about the solution that is formulated by them.
P4 Demonstrate critical reasoning practical to given situation
On the basis above discussed problem-solving techniques it can be figure out that
Sainsbury is dealing with major issue in the form of poor performance of workers which can be
overcome through determining what the actual cause of problem is. Knowing the fact these can
resolved by providing adequate training and development to employees which ultimately
improves their productivity and performance. In the above question, HR manager of Sainsbury
has initially laid stress on determining what is the actual problem and the reason behind it. No
matter how many reasons are there all needs to sorted out in a systematic and thorough manner
that does not cause any hindrance in future activities of the company. With the help of cause and
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effect relationship root cause of prevailing problem can be identified and best possible solution
for the same can also be generated (Ivers, Jamtvedt, Flottorp, 2011).For example: Main issue
faced by Sainsbury is poor performance of its employees which adversely affect its overall sales
and profits. As a result, HR manager of Sainsbury has decided to overcome this issue by
arranging adequate training and development session such as seminars, workshops, team
building skills that help in improving performance and productivity of employees completely.
Cause and effect relationship is a kind of visualization tool that basically help in analysing and
understanding what causing problems and identify the relationship exist between factors causing
problem and to what extent such factors are affecting overall performance and profitability of
respective firm. The main purpose of this technique is to determine best possible cause of a given
problem and developing most appropriate and suitable idea for the given problem.
Training is identifying as a main project for the Sainsbury to train their workers. By
determine the gaps between actual and standard performance of employees at workplace.
manager can plan a training program for employees in order to develop the skills which must be
these so they can perform their job role easily. With help of training employees can learn about
the new ways of perform their job roles at workplace and identified gap can be fulfil by
company.
TASK 3
P5 Importance of team dynamics
Each team or group has some mental power that profoundly impact the execution of
group. They can affect the conduct of colleagues. The progression of group might be great or
terrible and it is the obligation of administrator of Sainsbury to keep up positive vitality in group
so individuals from gathering can play out their work in powerful way. It is important to
guarantee that all people are perform well and put forth a strong effort. Great relations among
workers van get good changes group. It is required by colleagues to take after pioneer's
directions so odds of emerging clashes can be decreased between groups (Kram, Wasserman,
and Yip., 2012). There are 4 periods of building groups, that is, shaping, raging, norming,
performing. Last stage is thought to be the best. In the event that workers are fulfilled, they can
perform in better way.
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