Reflective Diary: Personal Skills Development for Marketing Manager

This reflective diary analyzes the author's skills as a marketing manager at Sainsbury PLC, focusing on self-evaluation and improvement through reflective learning. The author identifies areas needing development, including communication, writing, listening, and time management skills. The diary utilizes Stephen Covey's 7 Habits Model for personal and professional development, outlining specific strategies for improvement in each area. The author reflects on challenges faced and proposes actionable steps, such as participating in seminars and setting deadlines to enhance these essential skills. The conclusion highlights the importance of the Covey model for improving abilities and achieving goals within the context of the marketing manager role. References include journals and books related to reflective learning and management practices.

Reflective Diary
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INTRODUCTION
Reflective learning is a procedure in which an individual examine and discover the issues by
his/her own past experiences. This helps in self evaluating and trying to solve the issues by the changed
conceptual perspective (Ryan and Ryan, 2013). Present report focuses on reflective learning of my own
practices that further support me in accomplishing activities by working as a Marketing manager at
Sainsbury PLC of the UK. This diary is an attempt to show the analysis of reflective model that further
uses model or theory which will reflect my Personal and Development Plan (PDP) with description of
specific areas.
MAIN BODY
Reflective learning helps in developing the skills and abilities of an individual by assessing
his/her issues. This is in order to provide them meaningful solution for effective rectifications. The
person should dedicate his time in reflecting one's professional and personal life on regular basis. This
is because it will give positive impact on his individual performance (Chagnon, 2014). It is also helpful
in learning the experiences which clears the goals for future time. Reflective practise assists in dealing
with real and complex situations. This practice can be done through various habits such as reading,
asking, watching, feeling, talking etc. Reflective practice can be regarded as a shared activity which
should not to be achieved alone. According to Koong and et.al (2014), learning only occurs when
thought is put into language, either written or spoken. It is difficult to handle the opportunities in this
busy schedule where an individual is bounded with ample of activities at personal and professional
platform (Koong and et.al., 2014). But, this can be done through appraisal interviews and particular
events. On the other hand, there are activities which help one to develop his skills through various
practises.
There are various models on reflection in which one includes Stephen Covey: 7 Habits Model.
According to this model, the benefits of the lessons have influence on the personal transformation.
Covey presented a model which is effective in achieving the goals and objectives of an individual in
self grooming and development. This can be done through the principle which is known as ‘character
ethic’. It is known as universal and timeless aspect. The author asserted the idea of abundance
mentality or abundance mindset which helps the person in believing that there are different resources
that can be shared with each other (Krogstie, Prilla and Pammer, 2013). On the other hand, Covey also
stated that there is scarcity of mindset which can results in losing oneself in the situation. The author
also asserted that some of the individuals get happy in other’s success however; some gets jealous to
know the same regarding others. The author also argues that the ethic character is observed in the
principle but may not be necessary to be judged by others. On its contrary, author refuses to mix the
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principles and values (Fullana and et.al., 2014). This is because; he believed principles as external
natural laws whereas he thought values as internal and subjective aspect. Covey acclaimed that value
helps to dominate people's behaviour. In contrast to this, principles determine the consequences of the
situation. The author had shown his teachings in a row of habits, evidencing as a progression through
becoming interdependence from dependence and independence. The seven habits are divided into two
parts that is Private victory which helps in personal change whereas other is public victory which
improves the interaction with others.
There are different issues which I faced by positioned as a marketing manager at the Sainsbury.
It has made me identified my loopholes and developed in me the requirement of improvising my skills
and capabilities. This is because; effective manager should have effective skills to communicate and
helps the organisation to accomplish goals and objectives. The skills which I have to develop are
communication skills, writing skills, listening skills and time management skills to give a better
performance in the company. The skills helps one to delegate work effectively, set some goals to
achieve objects and to recognise the achievements (Gotoda and et.al., 2013). Furthermore, it helps to
know the long lasting solutions for the problems. A good manager should make his firm like a fun
place and should not try to give stress to his employees. Contrasting with the Covey model, the
following skills will be improved through its seven stages. The skills in which I have faced the issues
and intended to improve are as follows:
Communication Skills
This is the one of the most important skills which should be essentially required in the
organisation. The manager needs good communication skills so that he can be able to interact with his
subordinates. Communication can be done for assigning tasks to the workforce or dissolving the issues
in the company (Communication Skills, 2016). For example, if any existing employee is looking for the
promotion then, it is necessary to have good communication abilities. Because of poor communication
skills, I was not able to make proper decision. There are at times when miscommunication at the
workplace generates certain problems with my subordinates. The communication skills will be
developed by me through the practice of eye contract, presentation skills etc. which will boost my
confidence to communicate with others effectively. In this, I will follow the “synergize” habit of Covey
Model which will help me to communicate better with my subordinates. I will also develop my
requirements by taking part in seminars and conferences and will follow my superiors to learn more
tactics pertaining to improve communication skills. I will also try to attend meetings with my
employees on weekly basis through which I will improve my abilities. For improving my
communication skills, I will create deadline of 2 weeks in which I will try to improvise my skills.
Writing Skills
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This is also the one of the skills which is needed in the marketing manager to supervise and
make the records accordingly of the organisation. To send any data to my colleagues or others such as
shareholders, partners, etc. information need to be effectively and accurately disseminated (Moon,
2013). The issues which I was facing in the writing skill is that one of my email related to a meeting
was not able communicate with my subordinates properly. The reason behind was that I forgot to
mention the key details that was chief information to be mentioned in it. The writing skills can be
developed through making the habit of keeping diary and note down them on the regular basis. The
writing skill should be in proper format and aligned so that in case of emergency, I can see it quickly.
For this skill, I will follow the model and take some habits which will help me in upgrading my writing
skills. The habit that I will implement in my plan is to create chart in which important things will be
written down first and then the other things. This will help me to write the important information and
thus I will not be able to forget the crucial information. For amending this task, I will make deadline of
3 weeks in which I will try to improvise my writing skills.
Listening Skills
To communicate the information or sharing any professional information or to run the business
successfully, this skill is important for the marketing manager. To know the customer preferences and
requirements, the manager need this skill to listen them and try fulfilling their needs and should
provide satisfaction (Colomer and et.al., 2013). The problem which I was facing in grooming skill is
that I am not able listen my subordinates and their ideas. This leads to conflicts or disputes between the
employees. The effective listening can be developed through listening carefully to the employees and
try to know their ideas and opinions about the tasks and projects. The listening skills can be improved
through analysis of the information conveyed by the superiors. I will keep myself calm and try to
maintain eye contact so that employees can give their ideas and opinions. The habit which I will chose
from Covey model is “to seek first to understand, then to be understood”. In that, I will able to hear the
people and then will make the decisions for the promotions at the Sainsbury. For developing my
listening skills, I will create deadline of 3 weeks in which I will try to improvise my skills.
Time Management Skills
This skill helps in managing the time as-well-as helps in the management of the company
(Lloyd and Hill, 2013). As a marketing manager, I have to prioritise my tasks and make sure that it will
be done on time. I am lacking in time management skills which are most needed skill of the manager.
Through this, many problems and mismanagement issues were occurring in the organisation. I will do
certain activities to develop this skill such as making list of the tasks in the schedule. I will develop
time management through delegating the tasks as well as making checklists. In this, Covey's last habit
that is “sharpen the saw” will be used. For amending my time-management task, I will assign deadline
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of 2 weeks in which I will try to improvise my time management skills.
CONCLUSION
In this diary, Covey model has been chosen to know the reflection of my skills and plan has
been developed in context to the Covey model. This is because through this model; I will try to
develop my skills and abilities.
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REFERENCES
Journals and Books
Chagnon, R. J., 2014. Anne Brockbank and Ian McGill. Facilitating Reflective Learning: Coaching,
Mentoring & Supervision . Personnel Psychology. 67(3). pp.750-753.
Colomer, J. and et.al., 2013. Reflective learning in higher education: A comparative analysis. Procedia-
Social and Behavioral Sciences. 93. pp.364-370.
Fullana, J. and et.al., 2014. Reflective learning in higher education: a qualitative study on students’
perceptions. Studies in Higher Education. pp.1-15.
Gotoda, N. and et.al., 2013. A Server-Based System Supporting Motor Learning through Real-Time
and Reflective Learning Activities. In Human-Computer Interaction. Springer Berlin
Heidelberg.
Kolb, D. A., 2014. Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. FT
press.
Koong, C. S. and et.al., 2014. An investigation into effectiveness of different reflective learning
strategies for learning operational software. Computers & Education. 72. pp.167-186.
Krogstie, B. R., Prilla, M. and Pammer, V., 2013. Understanding and supporting reflective learning
processes in the workplace: The csrl model. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
Lloyd, C. and Hill, G., 2013. Human Sculpture, a creative and reflective learning tool for groups and
organisations. International Journal of Professional Management. 8(5). pp.67-75.
Moon, J. A., 2013. Reflection in learning and professional development: Theory and practice.
Routledge.
Ryan, M. and Ryan, M., 2013. Theorising a model for teaching and assessing reflective learning in
higher education. Higher Education Research & Development. 32(2). pp.244-257.
Online
Communication Skills. 2016. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.skillsyouneed.com/general/communication-skills.html>. [Accessed on 9th April
2016].
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