Journal: Personal and Professional Development and Skill Enhancement

This reflective journal explores personal and professional development, focusing on the enhancement of skills such as communication (verbal and written), research, ICT usage, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving. The author reflects on experiences, feelings, and learning processes throughout a module, using Kolb's reflective cycle to analyze experiential learning. The journal examines the leadership style of Jeff Bezos and its impact on Amazon's success, highlighting the importance of effective communication and teamwork. The author outlines an action plan to improve communication, research, and teamwork skills, aiming for better personal and professional growth, and the development of strong and viable relationships. The journal emphasizes the practical application of learned skills and the importance of adapting to team-based environments.

PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..............................................................................................................................................3
Communication Skills: Verbal And Written..............................................................................................4
Research Skills.........................................................................................................................................4
Usage of Information and Communication Technology..........................................................................4
Teamwork................................................................................................................................................5
Time and Self – Management..................................................................................................................5
Problem Solving Skills..............................................................................................................................5
Kolb’s Reflective Cycle.............................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development is a process wherein an individual assesses skill
set, devises strategies and hones oneself to achieve outcomes as desired. These aspets are to be
observed during training and the learning gets added at each step with increase in experience. By
adopting the stance to learn, one paves way for better opportunities.
This exercise of journal writing is to reflect upon my learning process in relation to the relevant
skills I have been taught as well as practised. The journal would look at the processes and my
learning through them and would throw light as to how I assess my current status, my experience
and feelings as well as a possible action plan. Kolb’s reflective model is used to assess and
analyse my experiential learning during the whole module (Akella, 2010).
MAIN BODY
Reflective journal is an ideal place to vent out one’s feelings and emotions about day – to
– day happenings, learning and issues. Such a reflection helps one delineate one’s thoughts and
allows for a clear analysis. It suits well, to delve deeper in personal assessment and thus fosters
personal development by honest introspection. The idea opens the dimension for professional
growth by establishing a clear thought, strong will and plans devised by logical deduction based
on analysis of on – the – job training.
Having been assigned a task delving into “leadership style and skills” of Mr. Bezos and how his
different style has added over the past years to Amazon’s profitability (Burke & Mangalindan,
2012), I undertook a study of communication, research and problem – solving skills; enhancing
and honing them. The process was a highly fruitful learning experience and allowed me to
understand the possible issues which led me to enhance my personal and professional skills. This
addition would definitely add up to my whole life and come in handy to improve my persona
both in and outside the professional domain. The reflection has been adjudged through the lens
of Kolb’s reflective model (Walker, 2006)
Communication Skills: Verbal And Written
The most crucial skill, I believe, in this fast moving world is to read, analyse and
synthesise information from different sources and that information shall be in a presentable,

communicable format. If the communication part gets harmed due to any barriers to
communication (Kilmova & Semradova, 2012) whether verbal or written; it makes the whole
process redundant.
To understand and to make the job convenient in a team based setup it is very important to
understand the value of communication skills (Kilmova & Semradova, 2012). The study
undertaken by me helped in understanding that Jeff Bezos’ communication style is quite unique
and caters pretty well to the idea of an effective team leader. I shall undertake the goal to
improve upon my oral and written communication in all sorts of documents office presentations
as well as informal colleague – communication.
Research Skills
Research skills as mentioned earlier form a form a key part: from reading to analysis by
keen examination. of the material read. I particularly enjoy it and would further like to enhance
my analytical skills to better understand the entrepreneurial set up of a body corporate. Effective
research coupled with improved communication enhances trust between the team members
adding up to an overall progress (Kilner & Sheppard, 2010).
Usage of Information and Communication Technology
The use of ICT is a significant part in today’s world. These technologies help us in
evaluating overall effectiveness of strategy and simultaneous development of problem solving
agenda. The process of communication these days is highly digitised through usage of
spreadsheets search engines and presentations (Lipiainen, 2014).
The learning from this particular section of the module helped me understand my activity in a
better way. I was capable to use, think, and apply my theoretical knowledge during the activity
and could successfully make up my personal work schedule, and a possible strategy as a
professional by way of evaluating the issues at hand derived after due research.
Teamwork
The essentials of a well – gelled unit and the chances of success of such a unit cannot be
more exemplified by the example of Amazon. Amazon in a very small period of time through the
leadership of Jeff Bezos has been successful in strengthening its market space.

I learnt through effective communication with my teachers and colleagues that a happy team
producing the desired output reduces stress and also leads to better emotional bonds on the
personal front (Kilner & Sheppard, 2010). This experience was quite healthy and cheerful. It
involved both usage of ICTs and the challenges associated with communicating effectively
through them. Effective research coupled with improved communication enhances trust between
the team members adding up to an overall progress (Kilner & Sheppard, 2010) (Kilmova &
Semradova, 2012).
Time and Self – Management
With an effective time and work schedule by usage of ICT one can enhance the problem
solving skills on both professional and personal levels. An effective understanding of the
previous employability skills all put in the right mix evolves a person into a perfect professional
who is not only effective but also efficient. A time based approach creates a stress free life, with
enough space for blooming in both the gardens: personal and professional.
Problem Solving Skills
With an effective time and work schedule by use age of ICT one can enhance the
problem solving skills on both professional and personal levels. It not only helps in reviewing the
achievement of objectives along with efficacy but also jots down the possible learning garnered
on the way along with mistakes that are easy to gauge. Jeff Bezos has been very critically to
Amazon's growth due to a calm – headed approach and creative outlet he has (Burke &
Mangalindan, 2012). Along with my team one has to be able to not only influence the
corporate/enterprise/person, and the market but also several academicians, students and
professionals.
Jeff and Amazon influence so many; I am one of them now.
Kolb’s Reflective Cycle
This was given by David Kolb in 1984 from which the aim was to understand a learning style
that is based on experience of feelings and actions. It is very helpful to understand and evaluate
not only my feelings but reflective aspect based on them helps me engage into active
experimentation and learn more (Akella, 2010)

Concrete experience – This head is devised to understand the whole aspect of any
activity undertaken and explain about the experiences in the journey. The activity that we
undertook, not only helped me in creating new experiences pertaining to group discussions,
presentations to a larger audience, but also revisiting and building up on my previous
experiences of communication, research and teamwork. I learnt several practical intricacies with
complete support from my teammates, teachers and also the environment.
Reflective observation – This head is to understand and reflect upon the experiences so
had. It helps us to express our feelings about our experiences whether good, bad or just neutral. I
had mixed feelings in the very beginning.
As and when I took upon a task, I got more accustomed to not only the task but also the team.
There was a constant building, breaking and re – building of trust, emotional bonds and also the
tangible outcome. The feelings that started with anxiety had become happier in nature by the
end. It was a journey well traversed.
Abstract conceptualization – This head helps us to understand how we can actually
build upon the reflective observations and conceptualise our experiences; to be later put to an
experiment for better and enhanced results.
I was not sure of teamwork but constant interaction helped. Thus, I conceptualize that being
anxious is good but not about the outcome but the process. This anxiety about the process shall
not be more about distrust or judgements but only and only about the task. A free flow approach
of interpersonal sharing of opinions, ideas and most importantly emotions allows adjusting and
optimising strengths and minimising weaknesses.
Active experimentation – The plan under this head is to use the hypothesis so made and
to put it to test. Having conceptualized the idea and having gained somewhat through the
experiences from my recent ventures I would put this brief concept of: ‘a positive anxiety about
the process: dealt by increased interpersonal communication alongside the work’ to test in my
future ventures to learn more about myself, professional abilities of people, requirements of the
industry and for a better growth and development prospects.
Action Plan
An action plan is very clear and precise. It is as follows:
1. Use the communication skills for interpersonal conversation
2. Enhance ideas that help in analysis and improving research

3. Trust needs to be built alongside the work for better teamwork
4. Never shun away opinions and try to be inclusive of all view-points
CONCLUSION
These aspects are primarily practical in nature and thus shall be developed on the theory
and learning from on – the – job training. These align very well with my idea under the head of
experimentation so as to reduce my negative anxiety and build better, strong and viable
relationships on both personal and professional front.
I learnt various skills in the module in a practical way too, reflected upon by usage of Kolb’s
reflective model along with an action plan. I realised that an effective communication structure
is essential in a team based setup to create ventures like Amazon.

REFERENCES
Journals and Dissertation
Akella, D., 2010. Learning Together: Kolb's experentia theory and its application. Journal of
Management and Organization, 16(1), pp. 100-112.
Burke, D. & Mangalindan, J., 2012. Amazon's Jeff Bezos: The Ultimate Disrupter. FORTUNE, 3
December, pp. 11-16.
Kilmova, B. F. & Semradova, I., 2012. Barriers to Communication. Procedia - Social and
Behavourial Sciences, Volume 31, pp. 207-211.
Kilner, E. & Sheppard, L. A., 2010. The Role of Teamwork and Communication in the
emergency department: A Systematic Review. International Emergency Nursing , 18(3),
pp. 127-137.
Lipiainen, H., 2014. Digitisation of the Communication and its Implications for Marketing.
Jyvaskyla: Jyvaskyla Studies in Business and Economics.
Walker, S. E., 2006. Journal writing as a Teachin Technique to promote Reflection. Journal of
Athletic Training, 41(2), pp. 216-221.
.