Personal and Professional Development: Self-Managed Learning

This report delves into the critical aspects of personal and professional development, emphasizing self-managed learning and its significance in enhancing individual and organizational capabilities. It explores various learning styles, including assimilating, converging, and diverging approaches, and examines how these styles contribute to effective problem-solving and skill development. The report outlines strategies for promoting lifelong learning, such as setting short-term and long-term goals, and highlights the advantages of self-managed learning for both individuals and organizations. It addresses work-based issues, such as team collaboration, and proposes solutions like improved communication and team-building exercises. Furthermore, the report covers skill assessment, development planning, and time management strategies, providing a comprehensive overview of personal and professional growth. The report also details the implementation of a personal and professional development plan, including short-term and long-term objectives, and documentation of planned activities. The report concludes with reflections on the learning process and an evaluation of the plans after receiving feedback.

PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1 ...........................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Formulation to self managed learning and various learning styles..................................1
1.2 Structure to promote learning in personal and professional development......................2
1.3 Advantage of self-managed learning for organisation and individuals............................3
4.1 Select solution to work based issues................................................................................4
4.2 Learning style that assist in resolving issues....................................................................5
4.3 Different time management strategies for organisation and individual...........................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Current skills and competencies against personal standards and objectives of the firm..6
2.2 Own needs of development and activities to meet them..................................................8
2.3 Opportunities of development so as to meet needs of future as well as current times.....9
2.4 Personal and professional development plan based on the requirement..........................9
TASK 3 ........................................................................................................................................10
3.1 Short term and long term objectives needed in implementation of development plan....1
3.2 Documentation of planned activities................................................................................1
3.3 Reflection of my own learning with their aims and objectives.......................................2
3.4 Plans evaluated after feedbacks and evaluation...............................................................2
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development can be considered as the most essential part of
human life. This can be evaluated as the methods of learning that are beneficial of improving
capabilities and knowledge of employees who are contributing their best efforts at work place. It
refers as a plan which is created by an individual in order to set their goals, targets and strategies
for attaining more growth and high position in their career or work place (Brody and Hadar,
2011). Professional development refers to developing their skills, attitude, norms and knowledge
in order to creating a better understanding of their job and duty that are needs to performed by an
individual at work place. It includes enhancing skills and knowledge that are required for a fir to
carry out in a right direction so that task can be achieved in most appropriate manner. Personal
development consist as a persons own development for the purpose of achieving their own goals
and objective that are having a huge value for their career or life. This report contents the study
about various approaches that are used in self management in an business organisation. The self
responsibilities of persons for their personal development and planning for their evaluation and
different transferable and interpersonal skills that are useful in personal and professional process
are also discussed in detailed manner.
TASK 1
1.1 Formulation to self managed learning and various learning styles
Self managed learning plays most effective role in personal as well as professional
development of an individual. It can be described as the wide concept of development and most
essential tool and techniques for accumulating skills, knowledge, experience and ideal for
managing multiple task and duty which are assigned by firm in order to gaining more profit and
revenue at market place. Self learning is the best option to enhancing skills and ability of an
individual through various areas and resources in order to gaining growth in their personal and
professional life. There are so many self learning approaches are available which are widely used
by people to improving their knowledge, in which some are described as under: Seminar and conferences: This is the most essential approach that are related with self
managed learning program (Calderhead, Denicolo and Day, 2012). This is widely applied
by large number of organisations in order to increasing the skills and knowledge of
individual who are working for developing their own skills and ability. In this highly
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experienced and skilled people are act as guest and providing significant knowledge and
idea to employees. This helps in removing hesitation and nervousness of people while
talking with others or explaining their view point in front of public. Social networking: In today's modern era people are very much busy on social sites in
order to creating an effective connection with people. Large number of people including
adults, teenagers and youngsters are spending a huge time on social networking. It helps
in enhancing knowledge and skills of an individual through various implementing
connection with others who are having a vast knowledge on some specific topic.
Various learning styles are described as below:
Various learning styles through the reference of David Kolb are explained as follows: Assimilating learning style: The person who are focused on following such kind of
theory are mainly concern on paying attention on different concepts that are depend on
logics that helps in improving skills and knowledge of individual. Converging learning style: An individual who are focused on performing any kind of
task in their personal as well as professional life are adopting suck kind of styles. These
kind of people are having appropriate knowledge about some specific criteria, through
this they can easily perform various tasks in most effective manner.
 Diverging learning style: This style is helpful in creating person more bright in their
creative and artistic nature as it is useful in improving skills and ability to perform any
task in most appropriate manner. This style is focused on creating some kind of forces on
individual to have attention on activities and observing the changes before implementing
them in any real life situation.
1.2 Structure to promote learning in personal and professional development
The term life long learning is described as the continuous learning , it motivates people to
improve their skills and ability to perform any job or task at work place (Carreira and Kagan,
2011). Various ways of motivating long term learning in personal as well as professional
development are evaluated as under:
Each individual needs to create some short term as well as long term goals and objectives that
are beneficial for increasing their skills and knowledge. Goals and objectives are very much
effective in providing a proper guidance to organisational activities so that results can be attained
in most appropriate manner. Long term plans are effective in providing a clear vision about firms
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activities so than, an individual can implement their activities in most appropriate manner, so that
desired goals can be attained.
In today's competitive world each business organisation is focused on implementing
various changes at work place in order to create some innovation in business activities, so it is
required for each individual to increase their knowledge and skills through various sources in
order to perform more effectively in changing environment.
In this scenario people are busy with their own life and work, they had stress on their
mind due to emergence of work load so each individual needs to focus on life long learning. This
can be considered as the most beneficial factor for an persons as they can easily enhance their
skills and ability to perform and task and duty through evolving new and innovative ideas and
thoughts.
The above mentioned methods are more effective in development of life long learning program
through which people can enhance their skill and knowledge that are applied by them for
performing any task or duty.
1.3 Advantage of self-managed learning for organisation and individuals
Self managed learning is most essential for business organisation or its employees, who
are contributing their best in gaining growth and success for company. With the help of self
learning people can easily accumulate knowledge and idea from various diverse sources and
areas. The basic aim of each organisation is to gain high profit and revenue through applying
appropriate skills and knowledge at work place (Cleary and et. al., 2011). Self managed learning
is very much essential for each individual as well as organisation to improve their performance
and working process. Some benefits are evaluated as under:
Benefits for an individual:
It is more advantageous in setting up long as well as some short term goals and objectives
that are related with personal as well as professional activities. Self managed learning plays most
effective role in creating more easy and comfortable life , so that people can easily use their
skills and knowledge at work place for enhancing productivity of firm. With the help of self
managed learning an individual can easily increasing their skills and knowledge through
evaluating their performance at work place. Employees can be considered as the major assets of
firm who are very much focused on gaining organisational goals and objectives in which are
some benefits are described as under:
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 Self manage learning helps in providing a proper direction in order to reaching at higher
position at market place.
 It helps in rendering an appropriate direction to each individual in respect of moving
forward towards right direction.
 Self managed learning is most significant in increasing knowledge and skills of an
individual which are used by them in the progress of their personal and professional life. The major purpose of self managed learning is to improve attitude, behaviour and norms
of an individual, so that they can easily influence others for contributing their best at
work place.
Benefits to an organisation: The major purpose of each business organisation is to gain high
profit and revenue through providing variety of goods and services to their potential buyers in
order to satisfying their basic needs and wants (Cooke, 2012). Self managed learning is essential
for people who are working in any organisation for their personal as well as professional growth.
Self managed learning helps an organisation to providing support and proper direction in
improving their performance through proper utilisation of resources at work place. Some major
importance are described as under:
 The major responsibility of each business organisation is to providing proper knowledge
and idea to their workers in order to effectively completion of task in desired period of
time.
 With the help of self management approach it is easy for firm to get highly skilled and
educated people in their firm, who are more effective in gaining attention of large number
of customers towards the offered products and services of firm.
 This also helps in reducing the work force from employees so that they can work in more
efficient manner.
 Company is focused on recruiting experienced people so that productivity can be
increased which may cause profit for company.
4.1 Select solution to work based issues.
There are several problems that occurs at the work place in performing different
activities. All they have to be tackled so as to ensure that the organisation grows at faster speed.
Here is one such problem that is present in our firm.
Working as a team:
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In the modern business environment it has become important for the enterprises to take
use of the methods that enhances the approach of working in a team so as to achieve task
effectively. Working as a team not only helps firms in their own development but also assist in
finding the problems that is associated with the issues (Elliott, 2011). In our company there is
certain amount of lack in the feeling that they can work together as a team to achieve better
quality of products. Employee requires to understand the benefits related to working as a team.
There are certain ways in which this problem can be solved:
 Development Of proper communication mechanism: By setting up the communication
channel there will be proper floe of the information that helps to ensure that there is no
confusion among the various levels of employees and other co workers. Flexible channels
always helpful in this regard.
 Reduction in the confusion related to the structure of the firm: It is the role of the top
management to ensure that there is no confusion regarding the structure of the
organisation in the minds of the workers.
 Team building exercises: HR team works in this regard where they arrange some kinds of
activities related to the building up of team (Gamrat and et. al., 2014). This helps in
building the trust among the team mates and assists in understanding each other.
4.2 Learning style that assist in resolving issues.
In any firm there are several styles of learning that is prevalent. Selecting one such style
is dependent on the requirement of the individual. It is the role of the manager to convience
employees that they adapt such kinds of changes.
New styles are developed using three old styles commonly known as Solitary, Logical and
Verbal. Set mechanism related to communication through various levels of firms. For example
managers can take use of the controlling and instructing style so as to handle the sub ordinates.
Some managers takes use of supportive style in the places where they have motivate other
workers so that they can adapt changes (Gibbs, 2011). Manager also takes the use of promoter
and analyser style so as to understand the perception of the staffs.
4.3 Different time management strategies for organisation and individual.
It is grounded fact that managing time is essential in the case f personal and professional
development. There are several time management strategy that is being used in this regard. Some
of them are as follows:
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 Setting objectives: It is essential for the firms to set timely objectives as it clarifies that
path where they have to move. It focuses on particular task and hence achieving it on
time.
 Scheduling: In order to complete any task on time it is important to schedule the stages in
the discrete time frames.
 Organise: Effective usage of the resources can only be possible when it is organised in a
proper way.
 Time bounding: Ever objective and task needs to be bounded in time so as to mange the
task appropriately and hence completing it in the desired time period (Hudson, 2013).
 Focused: Individuals has to be focused on their efforts so that task can be completed on
time.
TASK 2
2.1 Current skills and competencies against personal standards and objectives of the firm.
In any enterprise, there are several set of defined standards that needs to be followed.
Any staffs related to the organisation needs to match their competencies and skills against set
benchmarks of the firm. There are many criteria that defines the standards related to own skills
needs to be created. They are follows:
 Conceptual skills: This is one of the basic skill that needs to be present with the
employees. It assists in determining opportunities, evaluating and forecasting upcoming
warnings and dangers. It helps in boosting the upcoming process of improvement. It is
somehow related to making of presentation as well as presenting them efficiently.
 Effectiveness skill: While working on any task it is essential for the individuals to use
methods that are effective (Beach, 2012). This is achieved if the self efficiency of worker
is increased. It helps in maintaining the standards of the projects assigned to them by
evaluating and implementing procedures. It is helpful in sustaining in the present
competitive environment.
 Interpersonal skills: These skills are not inherited in a day but it is important for the self
growth. It differentiates them from the masses. Various learning tools such as books,
seminars, internet etc. can help in this process. Standards of the functionality of the
employee is boosted by their interpersonal skills.
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 Communication skills: Being fluent in any language does not mean that they have proper
communication skills. This skill helps company in emerging as a leader as they they can
use this tom control and handle other employees.
Evaluation table relative to the set professional standards is illustrated in the table below:
Sl.
No.
Skills and Competencies Score Score from
others
Variances
1 Skills to face problems 8 9 -1
2 Team building and managment 8 9 -1
3 Good listener and advisor 7 8 -2
4 Research associated with innovative concept and
methods
7 5 2
5 Providing motivation to others 8 6 2
6 Self effectiveness and efficiency 8 6 2
7 Quality standards 8 9 -1
8 Effective team member 8 8 0
9 Style of leadership 8 6 2
Positive value illustrated about my strengths and Negative values showcases my
weaknesses. My CV as per the above mentioned evaluation table.
Name:
Address:
Telephone number:
Email:
Carrier Objective: To work in the organisation by using the skills that I have gained in my life
time while taking the experience of the firm to grow in personal and professional manner.
Academic Qualification:
 Graduate
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 Masters in Human resource
Experience: Working in Hundai from past one year
Personal skills:
 Problem facing ability
 Skills of leadership
 Honesty
 Time management skill Working as a team.
Declaration:
I solemnly declare that all information mentioned are correct and up to best of my knowledge.
2.2 Own needs of development and activities to meet them.
While evaluating the personal skills relative to the set standards, there were several flaws
that have been noticed. It helps in marking the needs of the self development and understanding
the core competencies (Busse, Aboneh and Tefera, 2014). It helped me as a person to understand
the need which is to be fulfilled so as to develop new capabilities. Some of them are as follows:
 Increasing the research skills that when there is lot of pressure from external nad internal
environment.
 Instincts related to management has to be enhanced.
 Approach utilisation.
 Taking responsibility.
There are several activities that boosts up the whole process:
 Managers direction: For the development at personal levels managers guidance is
extremely important. It helps in fastening up the whole process. The managers at the
upper levels can provide better guidance.
 Conferences and Seminars: Such type of gathering helps in grabbing the knowledge from
the experts of that field (Desimone, 2011).
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 Simulation training: To up grade person own skills and capabilities, person is put into the
environment that is replica of the original situation. Skills are improved using this when
firms takes training programs.
2.3 Opportunities of development so as to meet needs of future as well as current times.
Opportunities of development comes to every individual from time to time. They must be
ready to grab it on time. Many actions are undertaken so as to achieve the desired goals:
They are as follows:
 Adding more number of individuals in the process of decision making.
 The programs for decision making is helpful in this regard and must be attended on
regular basis.
 Use internet and libraries that can helps in increasing the research skill of the employee.
 Development and implementation the SMART goals.
 Taking use of seminars on any particular topic which can help in this process.
2.4 Personal and professional development plan based on the requirement.
There are several identified needs and PPD plan for fulling this is showcased:
SL.
no.
LEARNING
OBJECTIVE
/GOAL
CURRENT
PROFICIENCY
TARGET
PROFICIENCY
DEVELOPM
ENT
OPPORTUNI
TIES
CRITERIA
FOR
JUDGING
SUCCESS
TIME
SCALE
EVIDENC
E
1 Effectiven
ess and
efficiency
In present
time the
method used
for this
process is not
efficient.
Undertaking
appropriate
resources so as
to achieve the
desired results.
Guidance
by senior
staffs.
Taking use
of
performan
ce report.
4 months
minimum.
Administ
rator
judgeme
nt.
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2 Leadershi
p style
Present style
is autocratic
Requirement
of adopting the
democratic
style.
Simulation
training as
well as
learning
from the
senior can
be
beneficial.
Judgement
report by
higher
managers
2 week Report
by top
managem
ent.
3 Motivatio
nal skills
In order to
grow as an
individuals the
negativity
inside me
needs to be
eliminated.
Theories
related to the
motivation can
be highly
beneficial.
Motivational
speeches
and
seminars
and
conferences
can help in
this regard .
Co-
workers
judgement
could be
used
2 month Report
from
colleague
s and co-
ordinate's
judgeme
nt.
TASK 3
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3.1 Short term and long term objectives needed in implementation of development plan
Personal and Professional development requires to form some objectives. These
objectives may be short term or may be long term.
Short term objectives are essential in order to accomplish long term goals. These are the
necessary steps to move towards the long term objectives. The goals are formulated for a short
time period, i.e., for 3 months, 6 months or 1 year. These objectives are also recognized as
“enabling goals” because achievement of these objectives will enable us to attain even greater
objectives.
Long term objectives are formulated for long time period, i.e., for 5 years, 10 years or 20
years. These goals includes lifestyle, career etc. these goals are form by anticipating what they
need to do at present for what they want to become in future. Short term objectives are used to
get there where they want to be. Strategies are formulated to accomplish long term objectives.
Personal development plans assist in attaining these objectives. These plans helps in
developing the inner qualities, accomplishing the individual and organisational goals as well,
adaptation of changing environment etc. It results in grooming personality, development of
leadership qualities and skills and other attributes.
Implementation of development plan require following activities-
Personal and professional skills are require to accomplish strategic goals. For the implementation
of development plan, one should have to identify his skills. The person should know about the
strengths and weaknesses they possess. After that, conduct a skill audit and then prioritize the
works they want to achieve. After doing this, collect information, formulate strategies and start
working upon it. Identification of goals and targets is necessary for the implementation of plan.
The development plan helps the individuals in developing no. of skills in them and it will also
makes a person creative and innovative.
3.2 Documentation of planned activities
For personal and professional development, objectives are formulated. In order to
enhance the present attributes and skills, some activities needs to be conducted. It is necessary
for the individual to have an idea about his desire. The objective should be SMART, i.e.,
specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound. The individual can take experts advice
about how the person can be able to achieve those objectives in a specific time frame. The one
should be able to identify his strengths and weaknesses or the skills, abilities, weak points etc.

from the personal development plan, the person should be able to learn new things, recording of
information about his accomplishments and learning experiences, evaluating and identifying his
own weaknesses and strengths etc. it also assist in developing action plan which helps in
enhancing the learning and in the modification of plan if it does not work. It will help in
developing the communication , leadership , management and decision making skills etc. Long
term and short term objectives should be formulated and should be accomplished in the specific
time frame. Appropriate strategies should be made in order to achieve the goals. Short term
objectives are the stepping stones to achieve long term targets.
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3.3 Reflection of my own learning with their aims and objectives
As per the personal and professional development plan, I need to work on my
communication skills as I am hesitated while talking with others, so it is more essential for me to
remove my hesitation through developing mu own communication skills (Croft and et.al., 2010).
If the learning style are evaluated more appropriately and it helps in creating various objectives
that are linked with personal and professional development. All the desired objectives needs to
be attained in limited period of time. I have to work on my learning ability, so it is easy for me to
perform any task and duty in most effective and efficient way which helps in enhancing my own
skills and work place (Eros, 2011). The desired goals and objectives are very much motivating
for me and helps in providing a proper direction to carry out all business activities in right
direction in order to attaining high competitive advantage at market place. The objectives are
very much essential in gaining growth and success in an individuals personal as well as
professional life. If an individual is capable for attaining these objectives and goals than it will
beneficial for their own personal as well as professional growth.
3.4 Plans evaluated after feedbacks and evaluation
Development is required for each individual as well as business organisation in respect of
improving their performance and growth as per the change arises at market place. Feedbacks
plays most effective role in describing the actual implement in which it is required for an
individual or business firm to make any kind of development, so that high growth can be take
place in most appropriate manner (Desimone, 2011). If the plan fails to deliver the requirements
that it needs to be reassessed as per the accumulated feedbacks and identifying various changes
that are essential to be made in most effective manner:
SR.
No
LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
CURRENT
PROFICEN
CY
TARGET
PROFICENCY
DEVELOPMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
TIME SCALE
1 Proper efforts
needs to be
made in order to
increasing
Developed
Partially
Activities are
developed in
partial manner
so that work can
This can
attained to
some extent
through
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efficiency of
time.
be completed in
cited period of
time.
managing and
keeping time
records.
2 Steps to
improve
leadership style
in order to
providing
proper
assistance to
subordinates.
Improved
partially
This needs to
take time
because various
aspects such as
attitude,
behaviour, skills
and knowledge
are involved in
this (Ebert-May
and et. al.,
2011).
Different and
effective
opportunities to
enhance them in
future time frames.
changes can be
adopted
according to
feedbacks that
are given by
clients or co-
workers.
CONCLUSION
As per the above report it has been concluded that the basic purpose of each individual or
an organisation is to attaining goals and objectives in order to reaching at higher position at
market place. Various plans and strategies are designed in respect of meet with desired objective
in appropriate manner. Self managed learning is very much effective in humans life as it provide
proper assistance and guidance to each individual for carry out personal as well as professional
activities in a right direction so that growth can be made in efficient manner. It is required for
each individual to know about their own strength and weaknesses so that they can made
significant efforts in order to overcome the weaknesses.
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