A Detailed Report on Personal and Professional Development for Success

This report delves into personal and professional development, examining self-managed learning approaches like seminars and online resources, and emphasizing lifelong learning through personal assessment and self-reflection. It includes a SWOT analysis, goal setting, and a personal development plan outlining stages like CV creation and objective setting. The report highlights the benefits of self-managed learning for both individuals and organizations, such as improved decision-making, enhanced skills, and a more competent workforce. Furthermore, it presents a skill audit template assessing planning, motivational, target setting, and coaching skills, providing specific comments for improvement. The report emphasizes the importance of continuous development and the practical application of these strategies for achieving career and life goals.

Personal and professional
development
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................3
PART A ..........................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1 ...........................................................................................................................................3
(I) Two approaches for self managed learning ...........................................................................3
(II) Two ways in which life long learning could be encouraged.................................................4
(III) Opportunities for self managed learning can benefit the employer and the organization ...6
Task 2 ..............................................................................................................................................7
2 (II) Personal development plan ................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................11
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INTRODUCTION
Globalization has paved way for the business organizations to gain success and growth in
the international market (Creswell, 2013). Personal and professional development plan are
created so that improvements in the existing skills and capabilities could be made. Present report
explains about two approaches that could be used for self managed learning. With this two ways
through which lifelong learning can be encouraged has also been mentioned. In addition to that
evaluation about opportunities available for self managed learning.
PART A
TASK 1
(I) Two approaches for self managed learning
Self managed learning is defined as initiatives taken for acquiring skills and capabilities
through involving in various activities (Gardner and Gardner, 2012). It is critical that efforts
should be made for indulging in activities that are associated with improving the existing skills
and capabilities. There are various methods that are available that could be used for acquiring
self managed learning and it aids for providing self managed learning. One significant approach
is to join seminars and conferences and Joining and seminars and conferences. Making use of
this method supports for taking assistance from experts and utilizing the knowledge gained by
them.
Joining seminars and conferences helps for making enhancements in morale and
motivation level of people and through this presentation skills of the individual also gets
improved. It aids in empowering the entire organization and to the individual as well. Seminars
and conferences provide dynamic environment so that better understanding and learning about
the required subject (Wellington, 2015). Knowledge and experience gained by individuals should
be utilized. One more approach that could be used for self managed learning is making use of
social networking sites and internet. Advanced technology has provided a innovative and unique
platform that could be used for gaining knowledge and information that could be used for
learning new knowledge and information (Greytak, Kosciw and Boesen, 2013).
A common platform is provided by these sites through which individuals could learn and
it also aid for enhancing knowledge and learning of the person. Vast amount of data and
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information is present on internet and it aids for rendering required details and knowledge to the
candidates. General searches that are performed on the internet helps for allowing individuals to
accessing information that is written on the websites. Along with this accessing data and
information on the internet will help the users for gaining new insight and meaningful
information and it will support for leading a person towards self managed learning. Experiences
on wide range of topic could be gained and through this positive improvements could be made in
the skills and capabilities. Self managed learning acquired through this method will support for
making development of the person in professional and personal context both (Thoits, 2013).
(II) Two ways in which life long learning could be encouraged.
Lifelong learning is a continuous process and it contributes towards various personal
learning context and supports the individual in performing the work and assigned task in
effective manner (Pedler, Burgoyne and Boydell, 2013). Personal assessment is a way through
which evaluation of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats can be done and it will
support for making effective and better personal development plan for myself. SWOT analysis
for me is as described :-
Strength
I have good learning skills, Being ambitious
and being friendly
Weakness
I sometime get stressed while getting tired.
Threats
I need to develop my skills so that I can
perform against the set standards
Opportunities
I am trying efforts for ensuring that I get
enough sleep and I am also doing physical
exercise so that I can reduce my stress.
Self reflective learning supports for acquiring new skills and capabilities and it also
supports for developing personal skills from having work tasks and other responsibilities
assigned (Hogg and Terry, 2014). Self reflective learning supports for continuous personal
development of the individual. It is required that a person should have leadership skills,
management skills and IT skills so that existing performance could be improved. Moreover,
Through my SWOT analysis I have identified my weaknesses and on the basis of that I have
made efforts for setting goals for myself and improvements can be made in my existing abilities.
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For example I have sometime faced communication problems and for that I have made efforts
for developing this areas by trying to give presentation in the classroom. I have used some
strategies for developing my existing skills and for that I am making efforts for reading books
and various newspapers that includes business pages such as The Telegraph and The The
financial times. I have also undertaken some personal development projects so that better
understanding and learning could be get. It has advanced my learning by researching what kind
of changes are likely to be happened in near future.
It is critical that development opportunities for current and future needs in context of
personal and professional should be identified. My current and future needs are as mentioned :-
Current needs :- I am targeting for completing my assignments till end of June so that transcript
and my result could be used for enrolling for the final year of a Top up degree.
Future needs :- Presently I am having need for continuing with my further education by joining
the university for third year degree top up in business. I am also planning for taking
specialization in strategic management. It will help me for maximizing my future potential and I
will become capable for excelling in my field and giving my best performances.
Personal and professional development plan helps for making improvements in my
existing skills. It provides approaches through which improvements can be made in the weak
performing areas. A plan can be formed for knowing about skills that are required in near future.
Moreover, these plans requires an individual to have proper planning in workplace so that
required outcomes through these plans could be achieved (Haslam and et.al., 2014). Stages
involved in my personal and professional development plan is as mentioned :-
Making my Curriculum Vitae :- In this stage I will become capable for knowing whether I
have reached in terms of my skills and knowledge. It will allow for designing short term
objectives for myself and with this I will focus on what I am presently doing and how it is going
to help me in wider programs of personal development. Similarly long term objectives on the
basis of that can also be set. I have also set objectives for myself in which I shown my action
plan for the next five years. I have also performed SWOT analysis for myself and it has assisted
me for analyzing my strengths and weaknesses against my set standards. I have observed through
SWOT analysis that I already posses strengths for uncovering the additional opportunities.
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I have undertaken wide variety of work and that has supported me for managing my own
self learning. It is vital that realistic goals and efforts will be made for meeting them in future. It
is also required that people should understand their professional development plan so that they
should have clearly defined objectives in their mind and on the basis of that they should make
efforts for achieving that goals and adopting self managed learning.
(III) Opportunities for self managed learning can benefit the employer and the organization
There are large number of positive benefits that are reaped through self managed learning
to the individual and for the organization. It supports a person for gaining long term success in
their career and achieving long term objectives of the life. Self managed learning also help an
individual for taking better decisions for the future and it also improves decision making skills of
the individual. A person can also learn from past experiences and it will prove as an extra
advantage for the business (Jefferson and et.al., 2015).
Self managed learning also supports the organization for gaining a competent and skilled
workforce which supports for accomplishing the goals and objectives of the firm. Capability of
people increases with time and it helps for achieving competitive advantage for the firm. Human
resource is the most important asset for the organization and self managed learning approaches
supports the firm in developing the skills and capabilities of the staff members at regular basis
(Gardner and Gardner, 2012). Potential and capable staff members work effectively towards
achieving goals and objectives of the firm and ensuring long term success for the company.
Morale and motivational level of staff members enhances and it helps for encouraging the staff
members for achieving success for the organization (Gray, 2013).
There are various types of long term benefits that are reaped by a single individual
through self managed learning. Team working skills of the person improves and they becomes
capable for working effectively in groups. Team work is a skills that support a company in
performing all the necessary functional activities in better way. Self managed learning also helps
for making improvements in presentation skills of employees and they become capable for
effectively taking part in the the group discussions, seminars and interview processes. It provide
the employee with a chance to expressing their knowledge and influencing people by giving
them effective presentation (Creswell, 2013).
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Self managed learning also helps for developing the communication skills of the
individual and they become competent for expressing their knowledge and thoughts (Parri and
Peachey, 2013). It aid for developing a good and conductive working atmosphere in the
organization. Employees becomes capable for developing new concepts and ideas and on the
basis of that they share their acquired knowledge with the other people.
TASK 2
Skill audit template for assessing weak performing and strong performing areas is as
mentioned :-
Type of skills Skill
level
Low
High
Description for the skills Specific comments
Planning skills 3 It is associated with leading the group
members and consulting with the
team members. Planning skills are
also required for team members and
task allocation and for objective
setting.
I need to make
improvements in my
planning skills. It will
support me for
prioritizing my work
and on the basis of
which all the essential
activities can be duly
completed by me.
Motivational skills 2 Typical descriptions for the skills
includes applying motivational
techniques and understanding the
individual motives, these skills are
also linked with providing team
support and planning goals and
objectives
I need to enhance my
existing motivational
skills so that I can
encourage creativity
and provide team
support to me fellow
members.
Target setting skills 4 Understanding and making
communication with the
organizational objectives, use of
SMART objectives for achieving the
targets set by management
I require to improve
my target setting skills
so that I can
communicate my
organizational
objective and develop
SMART objectives for
myself
Coaching skills 1 These skills are required for providing
guidance and drawing out important
Acquiring good
coaching skills will
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information. support me for
providing assistance
and guidance to the
subordinates.
Interpersonal skills 3 These skills are essential for building
positive relationship and drawing out
information, these skills are also
required for being sensitive to people
who are in needs.
Interpersonal skills
will help for building
rapport and positive
relationship with the
subordinates and it
will also make me
capable for making
use of influencing and
persuasive skills so
that I can make
improvements in my
performance.
Decision making skills 2 It is ability for making decisions and
selecting suitable solutions for the
problem.
My decision making
skills are good
however I need for
developing my
existing skills so that I
can make
improvement ability to
make decisions.
Problem solving skills 2 Capability for analyzing the problems
faced by business.
I need to enhance my
problem solving skills
selecting non suitable
solutions.
Oral communication
skills
1 Types of oral communication skills
comprise of structural and formal. It
is also require for using the telephone
and meetings.
My communication
skills are good but I
need to develop them
more so that I can
make effective
interaction with the
subordinates.
Written
communication skills
1 Typical descriptors for these skills
includes structural and formats of
letters and memos, E-mails and
reports will be used
I need to learn various
methods that could be
used by me for
Delegation skills 4 These skills are related with the
matching task with the staff members
and providing guidance and advice
I have good delegation
skills and with this I
will become capable
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for maintaining motivation of
employees.
for rendering
assistance and
direction to the staff
members and I will
also become able to
allocating task and
duties to the
employees.
Organization skills 4 Prioritizing the task and duties and
dealing with the paperwork.
My organizing skills
are good and I still
need to make
developments in my
existing organization
skills.
Time management
skills
2 Planning all the necessary activities
that needs to be completed in a Day.
I face difficulties in
properly managing my
time and due to that
my necessary work is
not completed on due
time.
2 (II) Personal development plan
Objectives Success criteria Actions that are
taken
Implementation Monitoring
To acquire
Communication
skills including
written and oral
communication
skills
Success criteria
for this include
improvements in
existing
presentation
skills.
Improvements
made in the
techniques of
writing letters,
memos and
reports and E-
mails will also be
analyzed so that
performance
against the set
standards could
I will make
positive efforts
for learning
effective
communication
skills. I will join
training sessions
so that I can
acquire good
communication
skills. I will also
watch television
programs such as
News so that I
can practically
learn new
methods that
IT is required that
I should take
strategic
approaches so
that action plan
prepared for
developing the
communication
skills should be
improved
successfully.
I will monitor my
progress against
the set standards
and it will help
for identifying
weaknesses
against the set
targets. I will also
try to make a
schedule and on
the basis of that I
will monitor my
progress.
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be measured. could be used for
developing my
communication
skills.
To acquire Time
management
skills
Success criteria
for time
management
skills includes
scheduling all the
activities in
effective manner.
I will positively
make
improvements in
my time
management
skills by reading
good books on
time management
and with this I
will also join
conferences and
seminars so that I
can acquire
effective methods
that could be used
for managing the
time successfully.
I will prepare a
specific schedule
and on the basis
of that I will plan
my entire day
activities. I will
give focus on
completing all the
necessary
activities on due
time and on the
basis of that all
the work and
functional
activities should
be performed
successfully.
It is required that
I should manage
all my time and
on the basis of
that I will monitor
my progress
against the set
standards. Daily I
will check status
of my time
management plan
and on the basis
of that my
progress against
the set standards
will be
monitoring.
To acquire
Decision making
skills
Capability for
taking decisions
in critical and
complex situation
will be a criteria
that will be taken
into consideration
while determining
the success for
implementing the
skills.
I will make
efforts for
learning good
decision making
skills by taking
assistance from
my seniors and it
will aid for
acquiring the
knowledge and
experience for
how to take better
and effective
decisions.
I will daily take
reviews from my
seniors and on the
basis of that I will
learn new
methods for how
to take effective
decisions.
I will monitor my
progress as per
my practical
schedules and it
will help me for
evaluating my
performance
against the set
targets.
Organization
skills
Ability for
organizing
activities will be a
success criteria
that will be
considered for
learning these
skills
I will learn
effective
organization
skills by reading
good books,
magazines,
articles on
internet. It will
I will implement
my prepared
action plan by
reading books and
articles every day.
I will organize
my work
accordingly so
I will monitor my
progress in my
practical way of
learning. It will
also help me in
identifying my
weak performing
areas and on the
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help me in
identifying the
skills that could
be used by me for
organizing.
that I can get
extra time for
completing all the
activities that are
needed to be
fulfilled
basis of that I will
identify whether
my performance
is against the set
standards and
action plan is
there or not.
Delegation skills Success criteria
for these skills
includes
capability for
allocating task
and job duties to
the employees
and it will also
help for
delegating the
work to the
employees.
I will try to learn
this skills by
joining training
sessions and it
will help me for
organizing the
things effectively.
I will prepare
notes during the
training session
and it will help
for delegating all
the required work
to the employees.
My performance
improvement in
the area of
delegating skills
will be an
indicator which
will be used for
assessing my
learning for the
delegating skills.
CONCLUSION
Summing up the report it can be concluded that it is essential that regular improvements
should be made in the skills and existing capabilities so that long term growth and success in the
career could be achieved. Preparing an systematic personal and development plan helps for
making positive improvements in weak performing areas and on the basis of that improvements
can be made in the weak performing areas could be improved. Self managed learning helps for
acquiring new knowledge and learning so that improvements could be made in the competence
and capabilities of the individual employee. With this, efforts can be taken by organization as
well as individuals so that positive improvements could be made in the capabilities and skills
posses by person.
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