Analysis of Personal and Professional Development at Marks & Spencer

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of personal and professional development, focusing on an individual's skills and qualities within the context of Marks & Spencer (M&S). It begins with an introduction defining personal and professional development, followed by a skills audit that evaluates the individual's capabilities in areas like research, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. The report then delves into key interpersonal skills such as teamwork, leadership, motivation, and flexibility, highlighting their importance for individual and organizational growth. Transferable skills, including time management and problem-solving, are also discussed. A personal SWOT analysis identifies strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, providing a framework for self-assessment and future development. The report also includes an individual appraisal format and concludes with a personal reflection on the benefits of personal development.

Personal and Professional
Development

Table of Contents
Personal and Professional Development......................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................................12
REFRENCES............................................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Personal development is basically the process through which an individual assess their
skill as well as qualities and thus improves them with the use of various activities like building
wealth, enhancing consciousness etc. Professional development on the other hand is the approach
of providing continuous training as well as the education to the individual to increase the work
performance and thus enhancing their growth. The major aim of personal as well as professional
development is to help the personnel to manage their learning along with the growth throughout
their career.
Marks & Spencer is basically the multinational retailer being established by Michael
Marks in 1884 and situated in London, UK. It mainly deals in beauty as well as skin care
products like perfume, haircare, make-up, bath and body etc. M & S has around 959 stores across
the entire world among which major number of about 615 deals in selling the food products.
This report addresses the skills audit of personal role as well as responsibilities, Interpersonal
skills along with transferable skills, Personal SWOT analysis along with future opportunities, individual
appraisal and personal and professional development plan. The report ends with the personal reflection
on the improvement bought from the process of personal development.
Main Body
Skill audit carried out for mark and Spencer:
Skills Good Average In need of training
Research ✓ ✓
Communicati
on skills
✓
Working
Independently
✓
Working in a
Team
✓ ✓
Presenting My
work
✓
Speaking in
front of group
✓

Organization
Skills
✓ ✓
Planning and
time
Management
✓ ✓
Problem
solving
✓
This skill audit reflects the skills and capabilities of the manager which reflect the work which
must be done in order to achieve the tasks better and with ease. This reflects the capabilities and
the sectors which needs to work on within the context of development as an individual. This
Audit reflects the working capabilities which can be implemented to increase the performance at
M&S. increased efficiency will develop the organization structure and will help the organization
in profit generation.
B) Key interpersonal skills-
Some of the key interpersonal skills which aims for the development of the individual which
aims for the development of the personal skills. Some of the interpersonal skills which needs for
the development of the individual and for the development are discussed below-
Team work-
Team work needs to be developed for the development of the personal skills which will
work for the betterment of the team at M&S. Team work helps in the strategic development of
the work and help in the development of strategic formulation, it will help to develop
interpersonal skills of the workers as a good leader team work will help the workers to motivate
by providing the right strategic tools which will help for the development of the workers as a
team and for the betterment of the firm. Team work in a leader must be built which can handle a
team by providing right strategic tools for the workers and for the betterment of M&S. team
work aims for the development of the organization and to provide a strategic tool for the leaders.
Leadership-
Leadership quality always help individual to stand out of the box. A good leader always
motivates his workers with the best quality of the work, suggests the workers in right direction
and aims for the development of M&S. Leadership quality in an individual always help them
with the personal skills and aims for the development of the firm. Leadership qualities within
individual must be developed to build which can help workers to work for the betterment of
M&S as a leader motivation and guidance must be developed which can improve the working
conditions of the workers and aims for the development of M&S.

Motivation-
Motivation is a skill which needs to be developed as a manager of customer service
which aims for the development of the organization motivation can help to motivate workers
which can be used for the development of the M&S. if a good manager motivates in a right
direction it will help the workers in achieving heights motivational skills always helps the
workers to achieve goals. There are many personal issues related to workers which workers aims
to guide in a right way to make them aware about the things and keep their vision clear. As a
manager motivation can be done by personal lessons about life providing examples of own work
and motivation. Motivation will guide and develop personality of workers and helps in achieving
the targets of M&S.
Flexibility-
As a manager of M&S we need to be flexible with the working strategy. Manager must
be more flexible in assisting various jobs within the operation of business activities. Sometime a
manger had to work beyond their knowledge and skills and thus this enhance the standard of
working in the manager and helps them to work extraordinarily. Flexibility is the skill which is
develop to become an specific work performer that can be help an individual shown their
dedication towards their job and task and for which they can work beyond all fields. Flexibility is
helpful in raising the enthusiasm and boost up the employees and helps the individual to raise
their career growth. In Marks & Spencer the manager must be attentive and should work beyond
their job limitation to attract more consumers and thus manage all departments of the company
effectively which can further an productive for the company.
b) Transferable Skills –
Time management –
Assistant manager should be well organized so that you can maintain a clear picture of what you
need to complete and when. There should proper knowledge of relative importance of work or
urgency of things. Power of decision making should be very strong so that goal can be achieved
in a efficient way with perfect utilisation of time. Proper communication has a very important role
in management of time. Planning is also an essential aspect which leads the company to its
growth by which time consumption can decrease in a good ratio. All the activity of company
should be delegated by the superior to subordinate, delegation of work play an important
role ,so that to choose the proper candidate who is expertise of that particular field. Success is
achieved only by effective execution under an particular time period, management body should
be so strong so there cannot be a single chance of misconduct of the activity.
Problem solving –
Assistant manager should be a great problem solver by his creative thoughts the hurdles which
a company faces can be minimized . he should know how to intuit the problem ,what can be the
systematic way to seek the objective of company. If in case company is facing so many numbers of
issues on that time the skills of researching help a manager to neutralize the situation. Every thing a

company need is a proper execution and proper team work, because behind every successful company
there is leader and his team. Intelligence of a manager always gives a positive impact under hard
situations. Identifying, monitoring and managing potential risks in order of minimizing the
negative impact they may have on an organization. Every leader prefers a different way to
contemplate a decision. Accession of alternative plan by leader on any moment covers the
probability of any misconduct of activity.
Individual SWOT analysis –
SWOT analysis is the evaluation tool which is helpful for users to identify strengths and
weaknesses to aid in growth and identifying various opportunities and threats related to that. The
individual SWOT is the most difficult as to analysis our self is very difficult. It should be needed
a high level of intelligence for such, especially when it comes up with improving he skills and
enhancement in career for further growth. The individual SWOT is described below –
Strengths –
The main strengths is I can idenpendelty perform the task which is assigned to me. I
never let my work to be done by other pursue to complete the work effectively by myself. I have
good researching skills with internet. As I had work with other companies before and thus
trained with the organizational skills which will be helpful for the company’s further growth. I’m
good at problem solving and easily access through problems which are faced by the employees
and company at any stage and effectively rendered with the solution which can be helpful for
both in solving the problem. I’m an active listener which is strength of me. I always works with
the positive attitude and motivate the employees and co-workers for the good work and motivate
them for accessing the task with positive attitude.
Weaknesses –
I’m weak at communication skills which somehow lacks me behind to interact with the
other individuals. I need to enhance my communication skills. I doesn’t have such leadership
skills which are to be needed for becoming a better leaders. I couldn’t be able to assist and lead
the team effectively thus the task and work assigned to me couldn’t be completed on time and
thus the god result is not attained by that. Lackness of time management which somehow bounds
me to not perform the task and job on time. I doesn’t work for the extra time beyond my working
times. And I’m not flexible with performing the other task beyond my job task.
Opportunities –
I could manage and organize the company’s key management operations and skills
effectively. This could be helpful for an organization for the growth and gaining a huge profit
margin and competiting with other competitive rivals. I any problem arises in the company that
can be easily solved by me as I can effectively manage up with effective measures for solving
the problems. Always empahsing on giving my work effectively and perfectly and accountable to
my work.

Threats –
I’m very afraid of speaking in front of group of peoples. Not involved in the company
activities other then my task bounds me to work as an extraordinary leader and manager. The
work assigned or given to be must be perfectly done which somehow delays my task and this
could have an adverse effect on my performance and delay lead to the loss of company also. For
this effective time management is required to manage the time with quality services and
products. I’m short tempered and couldn’t control my anger thus this could lead to have an
adverse effect on my team and leaders.
Individual and appraisal format -
Individual and appraisal format is helpful in going through the appraisal process. It is the
helpful tool in accessing through the performance evaluation of individual and its skills. The
format for such is described below –
Quality of work –
The quality of work which is rendered by the employee. It can be depended on how much
of the quality product and service are given by the individual during the financial year. It
is not necessary to complete the task it is needful that how much of the quality of work is
rendered thus then can only the performance of employee can be identified.
Productivity –
Along with productive work it is necessary for the individual to be productive in working
on quality the productivity of work is also included. With quality of work productivity is also to
be good for availing for the appraisal it is very needful and necessary elements for the
recognition of the individual performance.
Knowledge of job –
The individual or employee must have a full knowledge of their job and task so that they
can effectively perform their task and rendered up their best for that job and task. If employees
are not availing through complete information about the job then it can be perform the job well
and thus the individual will not avail through the appraisal.
Adaptability –

The adaptability of workers and individuals are also been noticed that how soon things
are adopted by the individual. If individual easily adopt the things this could helpful for the
individual to perform the ask effectively as compare to others and thus make employee
extraordinary as compare to others and eligible for the appraisal for the job well done which will
further motivate individual.
Initiative and resource fullness –
Use of initiatives and resources effectively and completing the task probably. The
utilization of effective resources and managing the task with the use of resource and giving an
extreme output from that. It helps an individual to be an extra from others.
Judgment –
After this judgment is done according to the above appraisal requirements which can be
helpful for the manager and leader to avail the appropriate appraisal to the deserving employee
and this will motivate the employees for keeping the good work.
Attendance and punctuality –
Attendance and punctuality if the employees and individuals is also been noted for the
performance appraisal as it is the basic thing which is to be noticed while availing through
appraisal. The punctuality of employee had an positive impact on the performance of employee.
Personal Development Plan –
Personal development plan is the plan where the weakness of an individuals are to
notified and thus various activities and resources are allocated to overcome such weakness and
then various measures are to be taken for implementing such resources and activities effectively
within the minimum time period. It is helpful for individual to go through the chart and improve
their skills and further develop these skills as the personal strengths. It is helpful in raising the
individual performance also and effectively measures the performance of individual also. Above
the personal development plan of assistant manager for customer service of Marks & Spencer is
to be made-
Aim : To improve my performance and skills as assistant manager customer service and HR
department.
Objective :

 To improve my communication.
 To improve leadership skills.
 Time management
 Enhance flexibility of working.
Area of
improvement
Resources /activities Measures Time Period
To improve
communication skills
For improving my
communication skills
i will work more on
my body language.
Asking questions for
effective
communication.
Communication
origami for the clear
communication with
my workers.
Taking classes for
enhancing body
language so that a
confidence is
developed in me.
All the task and
information are to be
actively listened by
me.
4 months
For improving
leadership
skills
For improving
leadership skills
positive climate is set
at Marks & Spencer.
I will inspire my team
members.
Involved more in
team building activity
thus employees will
be engaged to work
with their co-worker.
Getting reflection
from employees
around personal
Different leadership
skills development
activity which are
helpful in effective
leadership.
Team building will be
done by effective
measures.
Leadership trainings
are to be taken for
effective team
management.
Allowing employees
to work in team.
3 months

values.
Avoid tough
communication.
Honest and
constructive
feedbacks to the
employees.
For effective time
management
Effective time
management is done
by maintaining the
scheduled notes for
the task.
Term planner is
maintained by me for
time and activity
management so that
task could be
performed on time.
Weekly schedule from
Monday to Saturday
is being maintained so
that every things are
kept in schedule.
Time tracking tool
will be used so that
effectively manage
the time.
Time management
app is to be used –
Scoro, Asana and
Trello etc.,
Computer based time
planner system can
also be used.
8 months
Enhancing flexibility
of working
Flexibility of working
is to done by me.
By availing to work at
any situation,
Accessing through
the task which are not
up to my skills and
knowledge and better
perform such task and
Working with the
complex work
schedule.
Availing through
various working and
across compatibility.
Working for the
different jobs and task
also beyond other
1 year

job. tasks.
Personal reflection
Yes, I have learnt new concept during the personal development process which has
helped me to excel in my work as well as in my growth. I have learned the concept of
communicating effectively with others and hence this has enhanced my communication skills.
While working in a team, I was unable to meet my target and work efficiently thus I decided to
interact with my senior regarding this and this eventually enhanced my confidence level and
hence communication skills. I came to know about the areas where I was lacking behind
therefore this short communication helped me in my growth. At the end, I learned how to
communicate effectively along at right time and at right place. Another concept which I learned
during the process of personal development is problem solving. I was able to figure out when to
ask for help and what tactics to apply in a particular situation to solve the issues. I learned to
embrace my mistakes and find out various alternatives to solve the problems along with
understanding the various aspects. For example Due to the declining sales of new product,
revenue and profitability ratio of the company reduced to a great extent. This posed a heavy
problem for the whole organization. Analyzing the situation, I first found out the rationale behind
the declining sales and hence through brainstorming process searched for various alternatives to
solve this problem. At the end I was able to handle this situation and thus came out with new
strategy to advertise the product. This eventually increased the sale of new product in market and
hence the revenue.
One more concept which helped me in my growth and development is honesty and
integrity. During the personal development process, I knew the importance of maintaining
transparency in each and every aspect and hence the significance of being honest to others. When
my team was assigned with a tight deadline to deliver the project, due to some issues I missed
my deadline because of which the whole team suffered and project was not completed. At that
time, I took the whole responsibility for my mistake and thus told the management about my
fault making sure to not repeat it again.
Yes I have adopted many changes in the approaches of my work which has ultimately
assisted me in my personal development and achieve individual as well as organizational goals
and objectives. I have started managing my work through the creation of schedules and plans and
thus have started to work smartly. For the effective time management, I now prioritize my work
and allocate the required resources and time accordingly. I have changed the schedule of my
work and have started developing well structured series of my tasks. Apart from this, the major
change which I have adopted in my work is collaboratively working with others. Instead of
working in isolation, I have started to communicate effectively with my peers and seniors
regarding my assigned task and thus seek their advice for improving the various areas. In short, I
have shifted my focus towards more team work and thus appreciate feedback from all over to
increase my performance. Besides this, one more change that has dominated my work is more

focus towards technology. I have started to be more technology driven which has ultimately lead
to change in my work approach. Using the technology at each and every step has helped me to
manage my work more effectively. I have begun to take more advantage of the online platform
for satisfying the customers as well as for excelling in my work.
Yes, all the concepts as well as changes which I have adopted in my work has bought a
huge improvement in my work and has thus impacted me in a positive way. Effective
communication has increased self-awareness as well as self-knowledge inside me due to which I
am now able to work with more enthusiasm as I know in which area I need improvement. Not
only does the self-knowledge, but a sense of continuous learning have also been incorporated
within me due to better problem solving skills. As I have started to seek various alternatives for a
solution and apply brainstorming, this has ultimately increased my learning capability. This
learning has improved my work and the overall performance. Apart from this, due to the change
which I have adopted in my work like seeking the positive use of technology has eventually
made my work more efficient. For example due to the use of technology, I am able t make my
schedules and prioritize my work due which at the end I save a lot of time. I have started to
utilize this time in other more important work which needs more efforts. Due to this, my
performance at workplace has increased and have benefitted in me in a great way.
Besides this, the concept of honesty as well as integrity has somewhere helped me in my
growth and development. Like I am now able take my work more seriously as I know my
mistake would have to bared by me only. Due to this honesty, I have now started to adhere to the
company’s policies and practices strictly that has helped me to work according to the company’s
interest. On the other hand, the change which I have adopted in my work that is team work has
also improved my work as well as my performance. Due to working in collaboration with each
other, I am able to understand the views and opinions of my team members. This has ultimately
assisted in my work as I am able to communicate with my team members regarding any problem
and bring out various alternatives along with my team members. Working in the team has
enabled me to take on more challenging task and come out with various brainstorming ideas that
will not only benefit my entire team but will also increase my work performance.
CONCLUSION
It has been summarized that the skill audit is basically the plan for measuring the skills as well as
qualities within an individual. The main skills which are being measured are communication skills,
problem solving skills which help the employee to know the areas where they lack behind and where
the improvements are required. With the help of this skill audit, an individual is able to assess their skills
and rate them accordingly. Besides this, there are some interpersonal as well as transferable skills like
teamwork, leadership, time management etc whose analysis by the employee becomes essential to
identify their strength and weakness. Apart from this, the employee undergoes the SWOT analysis which
helps them to recognize their strength and weakness through which they are able to know the areas
where they need improvement along with the areas where they will come across the various
opportunities. Moreover, designing a personal development helps the employee to know the skills
which they need to improve along with the resources that will go on implementing this plan. This plan
also defines the tome framework within which these skills would be achieved. At the end, personal

reflection helps the individual to asses that degree of improvement which has been introduced within
them due to the process of personal development.
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