Personal Development Portfolio: Management and Leadership Skills

This portfolio presents a comprehensive exploration of personal development, leadership, and management skills within the context of starting a new business, specifically a beauty salon. The assignment begins with an introduction to personal development planning and its impact on career and self-improvement. It then delves into the application of Gibb's reflective cycle, providing a detailed account of the student's experiences, feelings, evaluations, analyses, and action plans related to establishing and managing the new salon. The portfolio includes a skills audit and SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Furthermore, it explores Kolb's learning models to understand different learning styles and their application in managing the business. The assignment also covers the importance of staff motivation, empowerment, and conflict management, emphasizing the role of effective leadership in achieving business goals. The student reflects on challenges faced, such as time management and interpersonal relationships, and outlines strategies for improvement and future business expansion.

Portfolio of Personal Development
Tasks

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Own Management and leadership skills using theories and models......................................1
Use of learning models in managing new business................................................................3
Skill audit and SWOT analysis...............................................................................................4
Skills and relevant theory.......................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Personal development planning can be considered as a process of creating an action plan
based on awareness, values, reflection, goal setting and planning for personal development. Such
actions lead to the development within the context of career and education which result in self
improvement. This study will present the reflective writing in order to manage newly developed
business. The report will investigate reflective writing using a range of theories and models.
In addition to this, the report will also help in making the clear understanding about skills
audit plan of this newly developed saloon which allows in identifying the potential skills. Also, it
will provide the SWOT analysis and personal development plan which helps in identifying
opportunities and weaknesses. Moreover, the document will also describe various skills in
managing new business such as motivation of the staff members, empowerment and conflict
management within the organization. Development of these skills will allow in strengthening the
performance of the business.
Own Management and leadership skills using theories and models
Effective Management of the business is one of the important aspect which helps in
achieving growth and sustainable development of the organization. Application of leadership
skills within the business motivates employees in accomplishing the targets effectively and
efficiently. So in this respect Gibb's reflective cycle encourages the people to think
systematically about own experiences. This reflective cycle allows manager in managing
business activities with respect to different situations, events or activities (Blanco, Francisco and
Luana, 2015). Gibb's Graham has developed the reflective writing based on the various different
stages. This reflection consists of description, feelings, evaluation, analysis and end with action
plan. As the person is going to run start a new business so this reflective model help in
developing a perfect action plan for newly developed beauty saloon. Being a new entrepreneur of
the new venture, I wanted to manage the business activities effectively which helps in
developing a successful beauty saloon business. Various are the steps that help me in identifying
business situation and also assist me in developing a correct action plan for the same. I had done
Step-1: Description
I want to establish a new business that is beauty saloon so in order to develop a
sustainable business, I want to learn various management skills. I possess a great interest in
beauty products and different types of makeups. I have also done a proper course regarding
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makeup and hair styling and also done six months of internship from VLCC. Since then I
thought of establishing a new saloon which helps me in furnishing my skills more out of my
talent. Since I had completed my training, I decided to use my knowledge and skills on others
who likes to change their makeover. My husband is supporting me in opening a new venture so
we have created a team of five professionals who will going to handle individual tasks. My
husband will manage hair cutting and makeup of boys department. I am going to handle the
makeup and hair styling for girls and this work requires two supporting members. So two of the
member from my team will support me in my work. Despite of this, I found that I have no
experience in managing all the tasks together and I am also bad at managing team members. All
such actions will help me in managing all my diversified work. Also, this will help in developing
a management as well as leadership skills.
Step-2: Feeling
This is one of my own official business so this event will help me in developing a
confidence and it will also help me in disclosing my own identity to others which will develop a
sense of attitude and faith among myself (Chen And et.al., 2017). Establishment of a new saloon
and my good work has created an ultimate image and reputation in minds of others. After this
event, people remember me with the name of my saloon and therefore my clients are increasing
regularly, I have started taking appointments and this has increased the profitability of this
business. I even feel improvement in my attitude which leads towards personal development.
When I look at myself three years back, I see lack of confidence and attitude among myself. But
now I feel I have acquired various personality development skills. In starting, I feel there was a
mis-management in assigning the tasks and handling the customers at the same time. But then I
have expanded my team and also appointed three more members to my team. I feel all the tasks
are now managed after the expansion of the team.
Step:3 Evaluation
During the establishment of a saloon, one thing went well was the support of all my staff
members. All of them supported me so well in all the situation from handling all the clients at the
same time to managing all the tasks. My all the staff members were so motivated and passionate
about their tasks. I always set them free in trying different innovation such as different makeover
and hair styling. I also provide them free WiFi facility and various fashion magazines which
encourages their interest in saloon. I described them all the tasks and duties manually and correct
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their mistakes which makes my team members feel happy. I was a good leader as well as a
manager but without the support of my husband and all the staff members, I couldn't have
achieved such a wonderful experience.
Step:4 Analysis
I analyzed that every team member has their own strengths and weakness. So admiring
their strengths and improving their weak points makes them feel motivated towards the good
work. Also, It has been learned that clients are the main key to the success of the business so
their satisfaction is the responsibility of a business. Once, a customer step up in our saloon and
she wants to have a good party makeup and a descent hairstyle (Learning styles, 2018).
So she was unsatisfied with her hairstyle and badly scolded one of my team member.
Then I had handled the situation in doing concession in her overall payment and also modified
her hairstyle accordingly. She becomes very happy and now she is one of my loyal customer
since then.
Step:5 Conclusion
This has been concluded that in order to deliver the effective results and throughput, there
is a major role of team members. So team need to be highly motivated and satisfied. Initially two
team members in my staff are so arrogant that they both even do not interact with other team
members. Then motivation and friendly attitude influence them and they started interacting with
other team members. Also, it has been concluded that failure is the step to the wonderful journey.
As earlier I was poor in managing the staff members. Also, I have a great opportunity to open a
new saloon rather than expanding team members in same venture.
Step:6 Action Plan
I have decided to expand my business in new city. I have also trained my loyal
employees in such a way that they can manage all the operations of the business. I also decided
for the professional development of the staff members within next month. So this allows them in
developing a sense of responsibility and it will also allow them to operate a new business venture
in efficient way.
Use of learning models in managing new business
Learning is the process of developing the skills and knowledge regarding the specific
field. Kolb's experimental theory helps in accessing the skills and job requirement of the person.
It is a well known theory which argues with the experiences that people generally got form own
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life. This is a four stage cycle of developing four separate learning styles (Quinn, 2016). This is
generally concerned with the learner's internal cognitive process. Kolb's states that learning
involves the acquisition of abstract concept which may be flexibly applied to the wide range of
situations. Four stages of the Kolb's learning cycle can be described as below:
Diverging: This type of learning style helps in
developing different perspectives of a specific
problem. Such learners are called as Reflectors
who observes the situation and see it from
various perspectives.
Assimilating:People of this kind of learning
style generally prefer good and clear
information. These are called as theorists and
such type of learners generally engage in
learning by using concepts, theories and facts.
Converging:People engaged in this type of
learning style generally solve their problems
by applying practical knowledge (Smith,
2016). These are called as Pragmatics who
like to seek and try out new things.
Accommodating:This type of learning styles
allows people in doing the things practical and
having own experiences. They are the Activist
who likes challenges and such people learn by
doing things.
Skill audit and SWOT analysis
Skill Audit
Skills Description Skill Level
(1-5)
Comments
Organization and
Time Management
Organizing all the work and
managing the time accordingly is one
of the important skill that help in
developing a sense of punctuality
within individual behavior.
2 I need to manage the
time and organize the
tasks to all the team
members efficiently.
This delays all my
work and result in
mismanagement of
activities.
Decision-making
and problem
solving
Decision making and problem
solving attitude helps in leading the
path of the team (Barker, Lencucha
4 Decision making and
problem solving skill
is quite good in me
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and Anderson, 2016). Problem
solving may sometimes leads to
conflict management of the team
members.
which allows me in
managing the team.
Motivation Motivation of the employees is the
key to the successful operations of
the business. So employees need to
be highly encouraged and motivated
in whatever they are doing.
5 Development of this
skill contributes
towards the
achievement of main
objectives of the
fiorm.
Inter personal
relationship of staff
Communication and interpersonal
relationship helps in developing the
effective team and it also avoids the
problem of conflicts and
misunderstanding between staff
members.
2 This skill will develop
the sense of belonging
and encourages staff in
making the effective
team efforts. So this
need to be developed
in order to bring best
out of their talent.
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
 Strong communication power
 Team development and decision
making Motivation of staff members
Weaknesses
 Time management
 Developing relationship among staff
members.
 Variety of products.
Opportunities
 Expansion of the business Innovation and development of new
ideas.
Threats
 Online business
 Competitive firms
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 Home services and new startups.
Personal Development Plan
Development
objectives
Skills for
achieving the
objectives
Resources and
support to
accomplish the
task
Target date Actual date
Starting of the
new venture in
different city
Well trained staff
to manage new
venture
All my team
members and my
husband
22/07/19 02/08//2019
Training and
professional
development of
staff
New technology
professional tools,
common uniform
and training
equipment.
New technology
and some fund.
10/04/19 10/04/19
Innovative
makeup and hair
styles.
Updated
knowledge
according to new
trend of the
society.
New idea and
innovative
thoughts.
21/04/19 23/04/19
Availability of
variety of
cosmetics
Online research
about different
effective and
tested products.
International
contact s with
sellers of different
brands.
11/10/19 11/10/19
Skills and relevant theory
Supportive communication- This refers to both verbal and non verbal communication
held between two or more than two persons for effective sharing of information. This is essential
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aid to know about current and future trends that help organisation to have more productivity and
more market share. It has both direct and indirect approaches of communicating. Supportive
communication results In integrative, comprehensive treatment for directing in right path. Dual
process theory explains the concepts of supportive communication (Pederson, 2017). This
theory refers to supportive messages that work on a function of joint venture that changes
attitude and behaviour which lead to make the messages supportive. In celebrity hair extension
salon, employees communication skills are more focussed and managers explain the importance
of effective communication . This bring effective customers for salon and increases the
popularity among public. Dual process theory helps celebrity hair extension salon to provide
support to employees for improvement in their behaviour and attitude which results in effective
supportive communication. This theory makes limitation for employees that extensive and
enhanced thinking is effortless and depends on customer demands. Supportive communication is
based on quality provided by employees to customers.
Motivation- It refers to the process of people towards their goals. The actions which
were taken in achieving goal based on motivation. Motivation is mental requirement of people
for encouraging themselves. Motivation simply means inspiration. It is combination of both
unconscious and conscious factors. Maslow hierarchy of need is the best motivational theory
(Miner, 2015). This theory motivates employee in hair extension salon for improving their
performance. This theory consists of five levels or need that every individual wants. These needs
are physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging needs, self-esteem needs, self-
actualization needs. Hair extension salon full fill first four deficiency needs. When these needs
are met, motivation in employees decreases. There is need of self- actualization where employee
wants respect at a position. Respect is gained from past work. Employee desire increases to have
more promotion or appraisal. Behavior in organization like Celebrity hair extension salon is a
key factor to multi-motivation. Each employee has its different perceptions and uniqueness in
work, so self-actualization results in different paths or ways for employees and motivates them
accordingly. Views of employee in celebrity hair extension salon must coincide with customers
otherwise it makes negative impact on organization. A person or employee is motivated by
fulfillment of needs at same time and at same level based on higher growth.
Empowerment – it refers to the process of becoming more confident and more strong. It
increases self determination and makes them responsible to work and act on their own. It is a
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mechanism through which employees, organization or communities achieve mastery in their area
of interest to do work. It provides opportunities for average people to develop and encourage
skills. It controls the situations that occurred and influenced performance of employee in
organization. Randolph's empowerment model is used to describe empowerment in
organization (Barton, 2017). It helps people to understand the celebrity hair extensions salon and
its process. It also encourages women to join and work effectively according to their potential. It
is responsibility of organization to make women comfortable and to motivate them to work and
to be considered below than men. Women and men are both equal. This model encourages
women empowerment. It creates too many possibilities for self monitoring. More number of
options available for employees in their career path. Empowerment also includes sharing of
information in organization like about customer details, account and finance details, information
related to current and future trends. It builds trust among employees and helps to understand the
process and procedure of making customers satisfied.
Conflict management – it refers to the process of decreasing negative conflicts and to
increase positive conflicts. It is mechanism for enhancing effectiveness in performance of
employee for achieving the business objectives. It is for managing conflicts not for resolving
conflicts. It improves the learning process of employees by managing conflicts. Fewer conflicts
in organisation engaged employees and makes employee relation good and effective. Blake and
mouton's conflict management model is used by celebrity hair extension salon to manage
conflicts within employees (Canary, 2015). This model consist of five different leadership
styles. Competing, accommodating, avoiding, compromising, collaborating styles helps to
manage conflicts in efficient manner and in less time. No specific answers are there for conflicts.
So, its better to avoid uncertain conflicts and focus or accommodate on those conflicts which
influence decision making process. It also helps to enhance personality skills by having conflict
management because conflicts require appropriate attitude and behavior which is not in hand if
everyone. Reduction of occurrence of conflict is essential for managers of organization so that
productivity and popularity increases and benefits organization.
Team effectiveness – It refers to an effective together working process in team for
achieving goals or targets on time. Individuals who work in a team has so much responsibility to
do their specified work by taking guidance from their team leaders. Individuals in a team depend
on each other for completing the task on time. Celebrity hair extension salon uses tuck man
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team effectiveness model (Alsharo, 2017). This model refers to development in leadership
skills, individual ability and capability, maturity, relationship. Freedom given by leader to
individual in a team increases the chances of achieving objectives. “Control of leader is not
important, effective team work is important”. This mode uses four stages; forming, storming,
norming, performing. These four stages make strategies for leaders to take their team members in
right way for achieving objectives. This helps celebrity hair extension salon too much for making
team effective. This helps to increase the productivity and profitability of organization. Decision
making process is highly important for a team and sometimes it becomes a challenging task for
leaders. Development of team form immaturity to maturity needs directions for winning task
within specified time. Tuck man model helps celebrity hair extension salon to develop team by
storming performance through each individual.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been concluded that effective management and leadership
helps in building the effective team who contributes towards the successful development of the
business. This study has provided personal reflection in Gibbs reflective model in order to
develop a new venture. It has also provided various SWOT analysis which helps in identifying
the strengths and future opportunities in order to expand various business functions. Personal
development plan and skills audit has been prepared in order to analyse the skills and plan about
the future innovations.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Miner, J.B., 2015. Organizational behavior 1: Essential theories of motivation and leadership.
Routledge.
Alsharo, M., Gregg, D. and Ramirez, R., 2017. Virtual team effectiveness: The role of
knowledge sharing and trust. Information & Management. 54(4). pp.479-490.
Canary, D.J. and Weger Jr, H., 2015. Competence in conflict management. The international
encyclopedia of interpersonal communication. pp.1-10.
Barton, L., 2017. Disability, empowerment and physical education. In Equality, education, and
physical education(pp. 43-54). Routledge.
Pederson, J.R. and Mclaren, R.M., 2017. Indirect effects of supportive communication during
conversations about coping with relational transgressions. Personal Relationships. 24(4). pp.804-
819.
Blanco, M.A., Francisco, E. and Luana, V., 2015. GIBBS: isothermal-isobaric thermodynamics
of solids from energy curves using a quasi-harmonic Debye model. Computer Physics
Communications. 158(1). pp.57-72.
Chen, C.C. And et.al., 2017. Local composition model for excess Gibbs energy of electrolyte
systems. Part I: Single solvent, single completely dissociated electrolyte systems. AIChE
Journal. 28(4). pp.588-596.
Quinn, F.M.,2016. Reflection and reflective practice. Continuing professional development in
nursing: A guide for practitioners and educators. pp.121-145.
Smith, A., 2016. Experiential learning. Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
Barker, D.J., Lencucha, J. and Anderson, R., 2016. Kolb’s learning cycle as a framework for
early fieldwork learning. World Federation of Occupational Therapists Bulletin. 72(1). pp.28-34.
Online
Learning styles. 2018. [online]. Available
through:<http://www.managingforimpact.org/tool/kolbs-learning-cycle-and-learning-styles>
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