Professional Development Report: Skills and Development Plan

This report presents a comprehensive personal and professional development plan (PDP). It begins with an introduction to self-managed learning, exploring approaches like attending seminars, utilizing social networks, and leveraging the internet for skill enhancement. The report then discusses the benefits of self-managed learning for both individuals and organizations, highlighting the importance of skills audits and the development of key competencies such as leadership and communication. The core of the report focuses on the creation and implementation of a PDP, identifying areas for improvement like written communication, presentation skills, time management, and conflict management. The student outlines specific objectives, activities, and timelines for each area. The report further details the steps taken to execute the PDP, followed by an assessment of the learning achieved and a revised version of the plan incorporating feedback from superiors, college tutors, and self-appraisal. The report also addresses problem-solving techniques in the workplace, verbal communication skills, and time management strategies, concluding with a summary of the learning outcomes and a list of references.

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Personal and Professional
Development

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
a) Approaches to self managed learning......................................................................................3
b) Benefits of self managed learning for yourself and for organization......................................5
c) Suggest how these activities might be encouraged for the long term benefit of individuals
and organizations.........................................................................................................................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
2.1 Management skills.................................................................................................................7
2.2 SWOT analysis......................................................................................................................8
2.3 Future development needs and effective way........................................................................8
2.4 Personal development plan....................................................................................................9
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................11
a) Creating a personal developmental plan (PDP).....................................................................11
Planning is referred to be a principle concern of almost each and every individual where they
are together aware about its developmental measures. It is where such planning is evident to
upgrade both personal and professional skills and abilities of an individual to a greater extent.
It is together referred to be a fundamental tool for the exclusion of any weakens qualities in an
individual (Vetere and Stratton, 2016). It is thereby in context to my own analytical situation
where I have identified some major weakening features in me. These are referred to my time
management skills, conflict management and presentation skills. It is along with yet another
weakens skills of mine where I am also lacking in written communication due to poor
remembrance of grammar. Thus, to get rid of these weakening abilities of mine, I have
referred to create a PDP as depicted below-..............................................................................11
Skills needed to be improved....................................................................................................11
Targeted objectives for improvement.......................................................................................11

Activities required to be done...................................................................................................11
Time taken.................................................................................................................................11
Nature of Objectives..................................................................................................................11
Written communication skills....................................................................................................11
I am required to improve my grammar skills as a way of enhancing my presentation skills with
improved sentence formation. Also, to avoid any sort of syntax error, I am together required to
improve my written skills of communication............................................................................11
Attending regular classes of English will help me to do that....................................................11
3 months.....................................................................................................................................11
Short term..................................................................................................................................11
Presentation skills......................................................................................................................12
It is in context to my above weakening skills of grammar, I am lacking confidence in making
presentations in seminars and conferences in office (Driessen and van Tartwijk, 2013). As a
result to which, I intentionally tend to miss these sessions quite often.....................................12
Along with regular English classes, I will together refer to practise it in the official sessions by
participating in presentations.....................................................................................................12
2 and a half month.....................................................................................................................12
Short term..................................................................................................................................12
Time management skills.............................................................................................................12
I am often dealing with late work submissions due to an improper management of time. Due to
which, I frequently miss the stipulated deadlines of work that badly impacts upon my
professional impression.............................................................................................................12
I will use different planning tools such as notebook and diary, etc., to note down things as a
way of avoiding any repetitive work. Beside this, I will also avoid doing multiple works at
same time...................................................................................................................................12
6 months.....................................................................................................................................12
Long term objective...................................................................................................................12

Conflict management skills........................................................................................................12
Being into a managerial position and an operative leader, I am required to handle a big team of
individuals. However, I am duly unable to resolve any disputed concern among them and
resultantly fail to settle down their matter.................................................................................12
An active participation in official meeting will help me to experience such conflicted
situations when people often disagrees from one other’s perception (Swain, 2016). This tactic
will in turn help me to learn the way in which our administrative bodies resolve such
situations....................................................................................................................................12
4 weeks......................................................................................................................................12
Short term objective...................................................................................................................12
b) Undertaking a range of planned development activities by providing evidence to show the
progress made by mainly focussing upon the short term objectives.........................................13
This is to discourse upon the undertaken steps to create a PDP where I have hereby referred to
certain effective steps for the same. These considerate stages are as referred below-..............13
c) Assessing the learning that I have achieved since starting this unit against the targets set out
in my original development plan...............................................................................................14
d) Resetting objectives in the light of my own evaluation by together referring to the
feedback’s I have received from family or friends and my college tutors with a new version of
PDP............................................................................................................................................15
Skills needed to be improved....................................................................................................15
Targeted objectives for improvement.......................................................................................15
Activities required to be done...................................................................................................15
Time taken.................................................................................................................................15
Feedback...................................................................................................................................15
Written communication skills....................................................................................................15
I am required to improve my grammar skills as a way of enhancing my presentation skills with
improved sentence formation (Coventry, Maslin‐Prothero and Smith, 2015). Also, to avoid

any sort of syntax error, I am together required to improve my written skills of
communication..........................................................................................................................15
Attending regular classes of English will help me to do that....................................................15
6 months.....................................................................................................................................15
From superiors...........................................................................................................................15
Presentation skills......................................................................................................................15
It is in context to my above weakening skills of grammar, I am lacking confidence in making
presentations in seminars and conferences in office. As a result to which, I intentionally tend
to miss these sessions quite often..............................................................................................15
Along with regular English classes, I will together refer to practise it in the official sessions by
participating in presentations.....................................................................................................15
4 months.....................................................................................................................................15
College tutors.............................................................................................................................15
Conflict management skills........................................................................................................16
Being into a managerial position and an operative leader, I am required to handle a big team of
individuals. However, I am duly unable to resolve any disputed concern among them and
resultantly fail to settle down their matter.................................................................................16
An active participation in official meeting will help me to experience such conflicted
situations when people often disagrees from one other’s perception (Moon, 2013). This tactic
will in turn help me to learn the way in which our administrative bodies resolve such
situations....................................................................................................................................16
2 months.....................................................................................................................................16
Self-appraisal.............................................................................................................................16
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................16
a) Choosing two problems that have been encountered by me at work by identifying
appropriate solutions for it by using formal problem solving techniques.................................16

b) Developing skills of verbal communication by providing evidence of participation in a
variety of communication-based class activities as developed by tutor....................................17
c) Identifying a range of effective time management strategies by using them to create a time
plan for setting out strategy.......................................................................................................17
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................18
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................19
INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development helps in developing professionalism within
individual so that they are able to attain organizational goals. Through preparing a personal
development plan it helps in identifying the objectives and desired time frame to attain the same
(Frost and Wallingford, 2013). While, SWOT analysis is also being prepared which results in
assessing the strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities so that best targets could be
attained. PDP plan aids in identifying different skills and abilities that assists in improving self
awareness and thus develop skills among each other. Further, through reviewing current skills
and proficiencies it results in achieving desired goals.
In the present report, individual is required to develop both personal and professional
skills so that set targets could be attained. I also possess different skills and abilities so that my
leadership, communication and time management skills could be enhanced. I also possess the
ability to work as administrative assistance in any of the large MNC such as Tesco. Present
report discussed upon different approaches to self managed learning as well as the benefits of
lifelong learning to individual and organization. Also, skills audit is being carried out which
results in developing personal and professional skills. Later, there are different ways that has
been identified in terms of overcoming weakness so that set objectives could be attained.
TASK 1
a) Approaches to self managed learning
Self managed learning helps in carrying out best way of learning so that individuals could
develop their own learning and thus attain desired results. I also need to identify my own

strengths and weaknesses so that best outcomes could be attained. While working within
organization I need to develop my own self managed learning so that desired task could be
accomplished in an effective way. It involves various types of learning program and attends
different training sessions so that own skills and capabilities could be enhance. There are
different learning styles such as Honey and Mumford (1992) and Kolb’s learning style (1984)
which are as follows- -
Honey and Mumford learning style
 Activist- These individuals are practical learners and thus learn things by doing it
practically. However, such individuals are open minded and also learn new experiences
so that they can overcome different situations arise within firm (Harvey, Reiche and
Moeller, 2011).
 Theorist- Further, such learning style helps in understanding the actions of individuals
and thus carries out desired results.
 Pragmatist- It is another type of learner which helps in analyzing the learning practices
carried out within real world. Also, they carry out different ideas and experiences and
apply the same so that desired outcomes could be achieved. .
 Reflector- Further, such learning style helps in learning different things so that they can
observe the task and carry out targets so that previous experiences could be identified and
draw upon best conclusion (Higgins and Aspinall, 2011).

Illustration 1: Honey and Mumford learning style
(Source: Elfer and Dearnley, 2007)
-
Following are the different approaches to self managed learning that are discussed
underneath-
 Attending seminars and conferences- It is one of the main approach to self managed
learning and thus helps in improving learning capacity of individual. Leaders are required
to attend different seminars and conferences which help in improving personal and
professional skills so that confidence level could be improved to attain desired results.
 Social network- Further, another self managed learning approach is developing social
network and thus obtain crucial ideas and thoughts in regard to carry out effective
interpersonal communication among each other (Gomez-Mejia, Balkin and Cardy, 2004).
Further, it also involves different social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter
and Youtube etc. so that learners could develop their self managed learning and thus
enhance their skills and capabilities towards attaining success.
 Using internet- Such method of self managed learning helps in using internet in order to
enhance their skills and capabilities. Using different websites results in reading articles

and thus enhancing the knowledge and skills (Jones, 2016). However, it aids in
improving personal and professional development of individual within Tesco.
b) Benefits of self managed learning for yourself and for organization
Self managed learning helps in carrying out learning for individuals in regard to improve
their own current skills and abilities so that success can be attained. However, main benefits of
self managed learning are both for individual as well as for firm in regard to direct themselves
towards achieving goals (Frost and Wallingford, 2013). With the help of self managed learning it
aids in improving own requirements so that individual aims to improve their own current skills
and capabilities could be enhanced. It is essential for me to analyze my own strengths and
weaknesses and thus overcome them in regard to carry out self managed learning. I need to carry
out own skills audit in relation to my learning and thus develop strengths and weaknesses in
order to attain best outcomes. It has been identified that I lack in leadership skill therefore, I need
to develop such skill so that best actions could be taken. Following are the different benefits of
self managed learning which are described underneath-
 It is essential for me to carry out conferences and meetings so that I can enhance my
skills and thus perform the set objectives within Tesco. It also assesses that I need to
develop my team performance towards achieving success.
 Further, carrying out self managed learning aids in improving my own communication
skills which assists me to build my confidence level in regard to carry out effective
communication among each other (Harvey, Reiche and Moeller, 2011). However, I need
to conduct different skills and abilities so that I can develop my interpersonal skills so
that it helps in benefiting both individuals and organization.
 Another benefit of self managed learning is that both individual and organization could
raise its performance and thus achieve successful targets. Therefore, it helps me to collect
varied information and thus carry out regular practices so that I can deliver best
presentation and thus enhances communication skills in order to improve individual and
business performance.
c) Suggest how these activities might be encouraged for the long term benefit of individuals and
organizations
Lifelong learning can be termed as the ongoing process that helps in motivating
individual and business to develop their knowledge and skills at personal and professional level.

Moreover, it helps in providing learners a chance to develop their skills and abilities in regard to
attain success. It is also essential for me to enhance my lifelong learning through reading
different articles on internet, books and magazines written by various authors and thus helps me
to improve my knowledge (Higgins and Aspinall, 2011). Thus, through enhancing such type of
skills it aids me to direct my efforts in terms of improving my knowledge and capabilities so that
I can effectively work within Tesco. It also encourages workers to improve their motivational
level and thus work hard towards achieving success. Also, lifelong learning helps in enhancing
individual and organization targets so that my own current skill has been developed in regard to
attend training sessions and achieve success.
Following ate the different ways through which lifelong learning could be developed in
regard to carry out personal and professional development such as-
 Self encouragement- It is one of the crucial ways of developing lifelong learning so that
learners could encourage themselves in regard to achieve lifelong learning. Also, it helps
individuals to get self encouraged and thus improve skills and abilities of individual.
However, if learners are not interested in improving their skills then there is probability
that they are not able to perform the assigned task appropriately (Elfer and Dearnley,
2007).
 Improving communication- It is another lifelong learning that helps learners to enhance
their communication and interrelationship among each other and thus carry out effective
communication within Tesco. Thus, developing communication aids in attaining
organizational goals.
 Regular learning- It also helps learners to develop their skills and abilities and thus carry
out continuous learning through attending different training sessions and coaching so that
own experience could be enhanced (Gomez-Mejia, Balkin and Cardy, 2004). Thus, all
such skills help in carrying out lifelong learning of individuals while working within
firm.
TASK 2
2.1 Management skills
Effective management skills are aid to achieving successful objectives. Management skills
are helpful to create a healthy and cooperative workforce environment. In an any organization

individual skills are create a render impact on the whole organization. Effective management
skills are help to whole organization. Management skill is way to providing effective
organization management. Whereas, this skill is most essential for the firm. In this company set
their management practices to do working effective. This skill is helpful to managed
organizational activities. In an organisation there are so many management skills which are help
to making effective organization (Driessen and van Tartwijk, 2013).
Communication skill: In this skill whole organization is depend on that skill. Whereas, in an
organization proper communication flow is most important. Communication is way to spread
information to in whole organization. Effective information flows is based on whole organization
information channel.
Decision making skill: In this management is totally rendered on decision making process. In
which firm can set effective strategy making for their achieving organizational goal. Most of the
time strategic decisions are taken by the top level of the management. So this skill is effective to
generating competitive advantage over the other companies. (Hicks.and et.al., 2014.)
Time management skill: This is very effective management skill, in this skill proper time
management is based on organization performance. In an every organization time is very
precious. So manager keep focus on time management. They distribute all tasks and duties
according to their time scale. That is very effective to easily accomplish all tasks in minimum
time. So this skill is also most important skill for the organization.
According to me I have a good communication skill where I generate and spread all
information through the process of any task and activities. I also have a good decision making
skill where I took best decisions for my concerning team.
2.2 SWOT analysis
Strength Weakness
I am a good decision making skill, where I take
best decision for the company. This is my one
of the best strength where top management will
concern with me. (von Kodolitsch and et.al.,
2015)
I have good communication skill where I
openly communicate with each of them.
One of the my biggest weakness is time
management and stress. I never set work
distribution according to time scale. This thing
will create a render impact on my working
practices. In that situation I never did work on
time. On the other hand I am feeling stressed
due to some work load. This thing will distract