Travelodge: Personal and Professional Development Report

This report examines personal and professional development within the context of Travelodge, a UK-based hotel chain. It explores self-managed learning approaches like seminars, social networks, and the internet, emphasizing their benefits to both individuals and the organization. The report delves into lifelong learning methods such as SWOT analysis and self-reflective learning, highlighting their role in enhancing skills and decision-making. It evaluates the assistant manager's skills against professional standards, identifying development needs in areas like communication and organizational skills. Furthermore, the report outlines a personal and professional development plan, detailing implementation processes, activities, and evaluation methods to address identified gaps and achieve organizational objectives. It also covers solutions to work-based problems, communication types, and time-management strategies relevant to the hotel industry.

Personal and Professional
Development

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Approaches to self managed learning...................................................................................1
1.2 Ways for lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts........................................2
1.3 Benefits of self managed learning to the individual and organisation..................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Evaluation of current skills and competencies against professional standards and
organisational objectives.............................................................................................................4
2.2 Own development needs and the activities...........................................................................4
2.3 Development opportunities to meet current and future defined needs.................................5
2.4 Personal and professional development plan based on identified needs...............................6
TASK 3 ...........................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Processes and activities required to implement the development plan.................................7
3.2 Undertake and document development activities.................................................................8
3.3 Learning against original aims and objectives set in the development plan.........................8
3.4 Development plan based on feedback and evaluation..........................................................9
TASK 4 .........................................................................................................................................11
4.1 Solutions to work-based problems......................................................................................11
4.2 Types and levels of communication....................................................................................12
4.3 Effective time-management strategies................................................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERNCES.................................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development is a process by which the company and the
individual that are engaged in the process of learning to meet the challenges and desire goal.
Personal development is related to gain knowledge and improve individuals own skills such as
interpersonal and communication skills (Brody and Hadar, 2015). Professional development is
related to growth in career by using peroneal skills and other reasons, it include IT training,
accountancy and budgeting and legal knowledge an expertise which help in company's growth.
This assignment is written in context of Travelodge which is a UK based renowned hotel,
headquartered in Thame, England. It was founded in 1985 and it is second largest hotel in UK in
terms of budget. In this assignment,explained about various approaches to self managed learning
that are help full for Travelodge staff. Purpose and benefits of self managed learning to the
individual in the organisation are defined in the report. Evaluation of assistant manager's own
current skills and competencies against professional standards and organisational objectives are
defined. Development needs, activities, opportunities and personal or professional development
plan are described. The processes and activities that are required to implement the development
plan are discussed or critically evaluate the learning against original aims and objectives. Work
based problems and their solutions are defined and types and levels of communication are
explained. Time management strategies and their use are described in the assignment.
TASK 1
1.1 Approaches to self managed learning
Self managed learning is process where learning is encouraged and knowledge is gained
by one's own efforts. These learning help me as a manager of Travelodge to control the content,
procedure and pace of personal learning. There are some approaches which can be suitable for
the growth of the company, they are as following:
Seminars and conferences- The individual can learn form seminars and conferences
because it is an effective tool. In Travelodge, the employee of the company can get knowledge
and learning from seminars and conferences when the company organise these activities. It is
beneficial because these activates help people to become confident and develop the quality of
speaking or presentation skills. These actives are a source of gaining knowledge because several
people share their views and ideas (Busse, Aboneh and Tefera, 2014).

Social networks- Now these days, there are various social networks such as Facebook,
Twitter, My Space and others which are helpful for increase he level of their learning. This a
place where people can learn new things and new ideas and use them for the growth of
Travelodge. With the help of social network, the management department of the company can do
the promotion of its products and services by using online promotional channels (Dixon and et.
al., 2014).
Internet- It is a source or place from where people can gain and share information and
knowledge. It is a place where people share motivational and academic journals or articles. In
Travelodge the employees can also use this mode to learn and develop their skills an knowledge.
The company use this approach to provide online training, achieving and other learning activities
so that it can improve and enhance the skills of their employees and they can help in the growth
of the company.
1.2 Ways for lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts
Lifelong learnings are beneficial for the employees and their growth within the
organisation in which they use their skills for the company's growth. There are several ways by
which the employees of Travelodge can use them in context of professional and personal
knowledge enhancement, they are as following:
SWOT analysis- It is vary easy and appropriate way for me as a manager of Travelodge
to evaluate my own strength, weakness, thereat and opportunities. I have good communication
skills, good learning ability, motivation skills which help me in my work and affect me
positively. With the help of them I do my work properly and contribute in the growth of
Travelodge. I have good oral communication skills but I face problem in written communication
which some times create issues for me when I transfer or share any information to my staff. I
also do not have training and development skills and lack of this skill the company organise
online training or other training program and in which it invest extra cost which is a extra burden
for it. The threats for me that if will not improve my skills, may be I would be fired or do not get
promotion or not rewarded for my good work. There are opportunity for me that I can improve
my skills by training and other motivational program. This analysis will help me to link my
professional development for solving practical issues (Fechter, 2012).
Self reflective learning- It is an another tool to enhance the learning skills of the
individuals. These learning enables me as a manger in Travelodge, to learn new skills at the

workplace by developing personal skills by perform tasks, work and responsibilities assigned.
When I do my self reflection, I have strategic learning and motivational learning which
help me in achieving my gaols. In Travelodge, I use this learning to help the employees so that
they can learn quickly from the work and the activities which are performed in they company
(Forte and Flores, 2014). This learning is a way which help me in making decision about the
company's policies and employees work and their benefits that are provided by the company for
their good performance. If the manger of the company have the learning of strategic decision
they can take decision in favour of the organisation or its growth and can make strategic polices
and techniques which can be beneficial for the enhance company's productivity and increase
profit.
With the help of motivational learning, the manger will not only motivate employees but
also gain learning from the work and enhance knowledge or adopt learning at workplace. By
using this approach i can get self motivation when i feel demotivate and develop my skills by
getting learning or knowledge. With the use of this style, the manger of Travelkodge identifying
suitable and appropriate resources which are helpful or beneficial for the company.
1.3 Benefits of self managed learning to the individual and organisation
Benefits to the individual
Self managed learning help an individual at all level such as personal and professional
level. If the individual have good communication skills, with the help of it, they can
communicate with everyone and share their own ideas and thoughts with them which help them
to grape knowledge of various field and due to self managed learning they can improved this
skill. The team working behaviour is also beneficial for them, by being a part of the team they
can improve their academic learning and improve the skill of team work. In Travelodge, they can
learn the effective use of a projector, power point presentation and gain knowledge of other
technical things. All these self managed learning beneficial for the individuals for their personal
or professional growth because if they have all these skills they can achieve growth in their
career.
Benefits to the Organisation
Travelodge can be benefited by its employees when they use their personal and
professional skills for the company's growth (Healey and Hays, 2012). Communication and
decision making skills are most important for the company's growth. If the manger of the

company have good communication skills, he will communicate with its customers and
employees properly and provide correct and appropriate information to them. With the help of
these skills they can attract customers and increase productivity of the company. With the help of
good communication skill, they can take right decision and make or designed right policies that
are beneficial for increase the sales of the organisations which help in increasing profit. If the
company have motivated employees, Travelodge can achieve its goals, aims and objective in
given period of time and earn profit (Hildebrand, 2018).
TASK 2
2.1 Evaluation of current skills and competencies against professional standards and
organisational objectives
As a manger of Travelodge, it requires management of getting people together to achieve
required gaols and objectives. As an assistant manger of Travelodge motivating the employees
and improving their performance there are some skills which can be required for a manger in
order to maximising the efficiency of the performance of the team and increasing profitability of
the company. They are as following:
Leadership skill- It is very important and necessary skill in a manger. In Travelodge, it
can be use in managing a team when the employees of the company do a team work or work for
achieving a common or shared goal. I used my leadership skill leading and managing team or
increasing the performance of the team.
Time management skill- In hotel industry it is an important skill and with the use of this
skill the management department of the company can maintain and mange workforce within the
given the given period of time and desired time framework. I use this skill in Travelodge when I
lead and mange a team for a common goal and manage the task by managing time framework.
Problem solving skill- Travelodge, a group of hotels and dealing in service industry and
deal with different customers. The management department of the hotel face various problems
related to customer satisfaction, employees issues and others. As a manager of Travelodge and
having problem solving skill, I help company to solve conflicts and increase customer
satisfaction. I solve the issues related to team work, employees relations, customer satisfaction
and others by providing them proper or clear information and suggestions (Hudson, 2013).

2.2 Own development needs and the activities
As a manager of Travelodge, there are certain skills of mine which are needed to provide
better performances. Development in needs are important to improve the current skills and
achieving professional standards which are required by the company (King, 2014). There are
development needs that are needed as a assistant manger of Travelodge:
Communication skill- I have good communication skill as a manager and working in
hotel industry it is important for me. I use this skill to clarify the objectives of team members
when providing any task or group work so that there should not be any misunderstanding in
understanding of them. By group discussion and taking a course of communication, I improve
this skill. I use this skill in customers face to face interaction and solve their quarries so that they
show their loyalty for the company by removing problems or issues.
Organisational skill- This skill is related to organise and mange the company properly.
As a manager I have managerial skill which help me in managing the team and divided the duties
of the employees so that the organisation can run properly with out facing any issues or
problems. With the help of this skill I help in achieving organisational goals because if the
company is well managed then it can achieve its goals in given period of time. I improve my this
skill by team work .
Leadership skill- I have leadership skill and use this ability to lead the team and with
more efficient manner and increase the profitability of the team performance. By taking
feedbacks from my seniors and by analysing the performance of my team I analyse this skill and
if need to improve. I make improvement in it by joining a course on the leadership skills and add
required criteria within the existing skills. For the improve of this skill, I attend training and
development program wu8ihch help me to improving this skill and make easy my work that is
management or leadership of the team.
2.3 Development opportunities to meet current and future defined needs
As a HR manager, identifying the development needs in myself is very hard and difficult.
According to me, goal setting an be one of the major development opportunities. After setting
the goal I have built up my skills and frame it such as achievable, measurable, specific, realistic
and time targeted. I have various skills which help me in my work but there are lack of some
skills and lack of improvement in some (Leggo, 2013). I need improvement in my presentation
skill because whenever I presented my work through presentation I face some problems or

issues. To improve my presentation skill through outside, I attend various meeting program and
conferences where I can learn the way to present views and work. In inside of hotel, I attend
those presentation which are provide by the members of the company on daily or weekly basis
that help me to increase my knowledge and improve my this skill (Moon, 2013). To improve my
communication skill through outside of the hotel, I participate in seminars and conferences for
enhancing my communication skill. With the help of seminars and conferences, I develop my
views and gain efficient knowledge from various professionals. Through inside of the hotel for
improvement of this skill, I attend train g and development program and online courses.
To improve my writing skill, I take advantages of all courses which are organise by the
company such as learning and development program. Through online courses I improve this skill
because as a HR manger improvement in this skill is most important to transfer and share
information with the organisation and customer. Improvement in all skills is needed because all
of these help me in my present and future needs and growth or help in expand the business of the
company or increase profit.
2.4 Personal and professional development plan based on identified needs
What are needed personal &
professional skills
How to develop needed skills When to develop needed
skill
Communication skill To make improvement in this skill
by attending various seminars and
conferences or by participate in
group discussion.
Within 4 months, this
skill are needed to
improve.
Writing skill For making improvement in this
skill I attend training &
development programs and
through online courses.
Within 3 months.
Presentation skill To make improvement in this skill
by attending various meeting
program and conferences and
participating in presentations
Within 2 months
(Moorley and Chinn,
2015).

which are provided by members
of the company within the
organisation on monthly or
weekly basis.
Organisational skill For improving this skill, in
participate in tasks and set goals
and designed framework for them.
To keep tack of meetings,
appointments, tasks and deadlines.
By prioritizing the work and
organising employees and
observing the skill of seniors and
experts (Mwalongo, 2012).
Within 2 months.
Problem solving skill To make improvement in this skill
through getting feedbacks from
different customers and
employees. By solving various
case study this skill can be
improve.
With in 3 months.
TASK 3
3.1 Processes and activities required to implement the development plan
Process and activities to implement the development plan
There are some steps that are needed to follow to implement development plan. They are
as following:
 In first step, I setting target where I need to consider my required skills. Setting target is
one of the most important objective to develop my required skills such as for improving
my communication skill I will consider 4 months for tracking the progress.
 In second step I will plan and setting priority towards my target such as improvement in
communication skill is most important so I firstly I will give priority of improvement in

this skill rather other leadership, organising and presentation skill (Papatraianou and Le
Cornu, 2014).
 In next step, I will implement the action plan which is required to develop the needed
skills. For this, I attending seminars or conferences, learning & training program and
management workshop fro getting knowledge so that I can make improvement in my
required skills (Patton, Parker and Tannehill, 2015).
 In last step, I will get reviews and feedbacks from my seniors and experts which will help
me in knowing about my improvement.
By following this process I can know about my improvement inn my required skills and
evaluate the time period which I set to achieve my target that are setting by me towards
improvement.
3.2 Undertake and document development activities
Activities to implement the development plan
There are some activities that are required to implement the development plan , they are
as following make improvement in my presentation skill, I attend various meeting and
conferences and participate in presentations which are provided by the members of Tavelodge on
monthly and weekly basis.
 By solving different case study and getting feedbacks from different customers, I will
improve my problem solving skill.
For improving my writing skill I attend training and development program which are organised
by the company and by joining online courses. ng:
 For improving my communication skill, I will take required time as maintained in
development plan and attend various seminars and conferences or by participate in group
discussion.
 To make improvement in my presentation skill, I attend various meeting and conferences
and participate in presentations which are provided by the members of Tavelodge on
monthly and weekly basis.
 By solving different case study and getting feedbacks from different customers, I will
improve my problem solving skill.

 For improving my writing skill I attend training and development program which are
organised by the company and by joining online courses (Schoeman and Mabunda,
2012).
3.3 Learning against original aims and objectives set in the development plan
My aims and objective was that I want to make improvement in my some skills such as
communication, leadership, presentation, organisational skills etc. I have all these required and
needed skills that are important for me and career growth but there are lack of improvement. To
identify my improvement I set criteria of 100% in which I already have some percent of these
skills (St‐Jean, 2012).
 I need improvement in my communication skill as I maintained my development plan
and improve this skill by attending or participating in conferences and sessions or
seminars. For example, if I had 70% of this skill then now I have make 20%
improvement in this skill in setting 4 months period of time. I improved my oral
communication but there are lack of improvement in writing skills.
 I improved my presentation skill by participating in presentations and conferences which
is organised outside of the company and also participating in them which is organised by
the employees or members of company inside on monthly or weekly basis. If I had 75%
of this skill now I improved this skill 15%. but I could not improve my technical skills
which is important to prepares an effective presentation.
 In my problem solving skill, I made improvement of 20% and I did it by solving different
case studies and getting feedback from different customers and communicate with them
about their problems that they face in hotel sector or in Travelodge. But I m unable to
improve my observation skill and analytical thinking ability.
 To improve my organisational skill, I participate in tasks and set goals and designed
framework for them. To keep track of meetings, appointments, tasks and deadlines, I
improve this skill. By prioritizing the work and organising employees and observing the
skill of seniors and experts. If had 70% of this skill, now I improved it 15%. I could not
improve my interpersonal skill and decision making skill (Trede, Macklin and Bridges,
2012).
3.4 Development plan based on feedback and evaluation

Needed personal
and professional
skills
Lack skills Ways of
improvement
Judgement
criteria
Time period
Communication
skill
I make
improvement in
oral
communication
but not improve
my written skill.
As a manger I
have various
responsibilities so
I can not attend
training and
development
program or online
training. There
are lack of time
that's why I was
unable to improve
my skill.
For improving my
those skills that I
can not improve
in given period
off time, I
improved them by
participating in
training and
learning sessions
or joining online
courses.
For knowing and
getting
information about
my improvement
I prefer feedbacks
of my superior or
seniors and
experts (Zepeda,
2013).
I will improved
my lack skills
within 50-70
days.
Presentation
skill
Lack of
knowledge and
information about
technical
knowledge about
excel and power
point.
Improved it by
joining online
course such as
advance excel and
PPT etc. and
participating in
seminars or
conferences.
Getting feedback
from seniors and
experts.
Within 40-60
days.
Problem solving Lack of Improved these By getting Within 30-50