Assessing Personal and Professional Development Needs and Plans

This report delves into the realm of personal and professional development, examining various facets crucial for individual and organizational growth. The report begins by comparing different sources of information on professional development trends and assessing their validity, followed by an analysis of the trends and developments influencing the need for professional development. It then identifies current and future personal and professional development needs related to role, team, and the broader organization. Task 2 focuses on the benefits of personal and professional development, the basis for selecting development actions, and the creation of a comprehensive development plan, including budget and timescale. The report also explores the benefits of professional bodies. Finally, Task 3 emphasizes the importance of SMART objectives, obtaining feedback on performance from valid sources, reviewing progress towards objectives, and amending development plans based on feedback. The report concludes with a synthesis of the findings, highlighting key takeaways and recommendations for effective personal and professional growth.

Manage Personal And
Professional Development

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Compare sources of information on professional development trends and their validity.....1
1.2 Trends and development that influence the need for professional development..................2
1.3 Own current and future personal and professional development needs related with role,
team and organisation.................................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Benefits of personal and professional development..............................................................4
2.2 Basis on which types of development actions are selected...................................................4
2.3 Current and future likely needs.............................................................................................5
2.4 Development plan................................................................................................................6
2.5 Budget and timescale............................................................................................................8
2.6 Benefits of development opportunities available by professional bodies.............................9
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................10
3.1 SMART objectives..............................................................................................................10
3.2 Obtain feedback on performance from valid sources........................................................10
3.3 Review progress toward personal and professional objectives...........................................11
3.4 Amendment of development plan in the light of feedback.................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development is defined as the set of procedure for improving
the capabilities of people through education, learning and training etc. It is necessary for every
individual that to continue learn and develop for the purpose of keeping skills or knowledge up
to date by ensuring to work in safe and legal manner. It is essential for an individual to build and
maintain morale so that they can perform in better manner (Hildebrand, 2018). In every
organisation, there are requirement for proper personal and professional development of each
staff member by providing adequate trainings and learning that facilitates in attaining
predetermined goals or objectives. This report is based on personal and professionals
development through source of information and trends. It will consider various types of
development action and identification of skills, knowledges and experience that use for gap
analysis. In this undertake personal and professional development plan with budget and
timescales.
TASK 1
1.1 Compare sources of information on professional development trends and their validity
Professional development is all about enhancement of individual learnings and overall
personality so that he/she can easily manage the assigned job role. Basically, number of tools and
techniques are used by the firms to build the potentiality of various professionals. Some of them
are discussed as follows-
Training programmes- As per this element, an association needs to plan or conduct
some events which are beneficial for supervisors and several professionals. For example;
improvement sessions conducted for teaching professional members numerous of things such as;
how to manage assigned job role, method of acting at workplace henceforth (Olsen, 2015). All
these activities are requisite to explain in training sessions for enhancing the knowledge of
various senior members. Thus, it shows that this events is totally valid for the enhancement of
professional bodies at workplace.
Seminars and conferences- This components shows that, by attending various
conferences which are held by successful leaders for sharing their experiences with other
members. Basically, their main objective is to encourage other individuals whomsoever are
attending the conferences towards certain goals and objectives. For instance; speeches and
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debate by leading entrepreneurs like; Mark Zuckerberg is most prominent example which
develop professional bodies.
Seminars and conferences Training programmes
As per this element, leaders thoughts and their
past life and experiences are used as a source
of development because seminars are
conducted by successful performers.
On the other hand, in this element professional
bodies acquire knowledge by attending classes
conducted by company. For example;
multinational organization designing proper
events for teaching their newly hired members
no matter how much they are experienced.
1.2 Trends and development that influence the need for professional development
In the modern era, it is important for every employees that to develop their skills and gain
knowledges for enhancing their personal qualities in future career (Dixon and et. al., 2014). It
support to individuals in attaining new skills and knowledges which are related to the their role
that support in completing particular task with adequate manner. There are defined various trends
and development that directly influence the professional development such as:
Technological change: This is most important aspect which help in enhancing personal
and professional skills of employees within an organisation. Technological changes are biggest
factor for individual in developing their technical skills with more efficient manner. Company
have to conduct such kinds of training and development programmes for employees while
adopting new technology.
Marketing changes: It is another important factor which affects on the individual's skills
and abilities because market is flexible that change according to environment, trends and
situations. Therefore, company focus on marketing activities and try to increase sales volume
with the help of better performances. Company undertake such changes and organise special
training program to enhance skills, knowledge as well as capabilities for performing marketing
activities.
Regulation and legislation: As per the changes of rules, regulation and legal legislation,
company have to changes its business procedures for the purpose of attaining set targets or goals.
2

Employees must be aware about the term and conditions as well as policies while performing
particular task. It is also another aspect which influence the personal and professional skills of an
individual so that better outcomes can be achieved.
1.3 Own current and future personal and professional development needs related with role, team
and organisation
Every individuals have required to evaluate their personal and professional skills and
abilities that beneficial in making bright future and career with an efficient way. There are some
evaluation of current and future personal and professional development which are required for
organisation success (Moss, Gibson and Dollarhide, 2014). these are as following:
Current needs Future needs
 I need to enhance my presentation
skills because in coming week I need to
take part in professional presentation.
Thus, it is essential to work on my
recent requirement by learning how to
express facts or figures in front of the
public. Along with this, it helps me as
well as my team member while
accomplishing business objectives.
 I need to focus on my communication
skills that necessary to interact the
different people as personally and
professionally as well. I will work
within sales team within organisation
where I have to communicate with each
members regarding work so that
particular tasks can be obtained.
Communication skills must be required
in the firm for sharing ideas, knowledge
and opinion to build good relationship
 The future needs of mine is that
improvement in knowledge,
information and get up to date so that I
can handle any situations. I need to
acquire more knowledge and upgrade
my skills that will support in making
future career more promising.
 There are required some technical,
managerial and other professional skills
for performing various tasks in well
manner. So this is my future need
which I have to enhance for attainment
of better outcomes. It will be beneficial
for my personal and professional
development. With the help of these
skills, I can manage teamwork with
particular tasks or work within
organisation.
 I need to improve my decision making
skills that facilitates in taking corrective
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with staff members actions when required as in future I will
be provided with more responsibility
and authority.
TASK 2
2.1 Benefits of personal and professional development
Benefits of Personal development:
Self awareness: In this defined that personal development generally begins with self
awareness where, individual have to understand about their values, beliefs as well as purpose for
achieving success. It is beneficial for developing personal and professional life so that individual
can perform any task and attain predetermined goals.
Confidence: This is important for better personal development as individual can be get
succeed by having good confidence. It is helpful in personal and professional life where
individual can manage and perform various activities regarding business that result better
achievements.
Motivations: It play crucial role in making decisions and performing tasks with the help
of getting appropriate motivations. If individual feel motivated then they can do any work with
putting their efforts to attain set targets. Motivation play significant role in business organisation
as it is essential in performing different critical tasks with an appropriate way.
Benefits of Professional development :
Intensify Knowledge : It is necessary to enhance knowledges and skills for the purpose
of making bright future and career so that individual can be get succeed. Professional
development is essential in sharpen person's knowledges, skills as well as abilities that facilitate
in overall development.
Enhance business reputations : In this consider the professional development that
support in enhancement as well as increase reputation of business organisation. Individuals are
responsible in performing tasks and achieve predetermined goals of the company.
2.2 Basis on which types of development actions are selected
For organisation success, there is necessary to perform entire tasks and activities to
accomplish goals. Therefore, they focus on increasing level of productivity and working
4

environment so that employees can perform better. For example, I have participated in a
workshop where I presented a particular topic regarding business. At that time, I have realised
that my presentation skill is poor because I was not able to explain entire thing in correct manner.
Therefore, I have decided to make a development action for improving presentation skills. I will
take part in various activities and workshops for presenting different topics that facilitates in
better improvement.
On the other side, I also analysed that I have lack of communication skills while
interacting with my team members and communicating with them while performing particular
task. Therefore, I need to develop my communication skills by conducting meetings with
colleagues, and team members. I will focus on my vocabulary skills that can be improve through
reading or learning new words. There is necessary to have better communication skills so that
effective relationship can be build among employees within organisation. Therefore, organisation
have to conduct such training and learning session for enhancing skills and increasing work
productivity in an appropriate manner.
2.3 Current and future likely needs
In this considered the skills gap analysis in which define about the skills, knowledge and
capabilities that required for performing any particular role with adequate manner (Megginson
and Whitaker, 2017). With the help of gap analysis, organisation compare individual's skills and
knowledges with requirements so that particular task can be accomplished with well manner. As
per the gap of skills and knowledge, a plan is to be formulated which will be support in filling
such gaps in an effective manner. There are some stages involved in this such as:
 Step 1. Identification of business goals: This is the first phase where business goals and
objectives are to be set for better achievements. There is necessary to assess various skills
and abilities that required for accomplishing particular goals within an organisation.
 Step 2. Create skills: In this necessary to identify required skills and knowledges for the
purpose of getting best possible outcomes within organisation. In this create a skill matrix
to list the required skills as well as knowledges which are required for performing the
specific role. In this analyse the skills which are required to perform particular task. For
example, company has better technical and managerial skills for completion of work by
which they perform such task within time frame (Diale, Pillay and Fritz, 2014).
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(Source: Skill Gap Analysis Model, 2018)
 Step 3. Identify the missing skills: This is necessary to undertake while competing
particular tasks or work within organisation. It support in identifying the missing skills,
competencies and knowledges which must be required to complete the work with
effective and efficient manner. For example, company identified some missing skills to
accomplish goal which are communication skills, leadership skills and decision making.
 Step 4. Prepare training and development plan: It is the last phase in which company
decide to conduct learning or training sessions for enhancing skills of employees.
Therefore, company has required to organise such kinds of training and development
programs for their employees. They can consider on the job and off the job training
programmes which will support in improving leadership and decision making skills. They
also conducts workshops, seminars and conferences for enhancing communication skills
of employees with an effective way.
2.4 Development plan
My
personal
developme
Short or
long term
targets?
How will I achieve my
targets? What activities do
I need to undertaken to
Date
of
review
Progress
made
towards
Further
action
required
Actual
date or
achieving
6
Illustration 1: Skill Gap Analysis Model

nt targets? achieve my objectives?
what support do I need?
target target
Presentati
on skill
This is my
long term
target where
I need some
time to
improve
such skills.
I require to
use
techniques
and
methods
while
giving
presentation
.
By attending seminars and
conferences and observing
others.
10/09/
18
I can do
regular
practice
for
making
appropria
te
presentati
on
Using
simple
content
which
easily
interpret
ed
25/03/19
Communic
ation skill
It is my
short term
objective
that I must
achieve
within time
frame. I
need to
improve my
grammar
and
vocabulary
Participate in debates and
attending sessions
30/09/
18
I have
joined
English
classes
Regular
practice
on
English
25/12/18
7

skills
Decision
making
skill
Judgement
skill is also
my short
term goal
because I
need to
involve in
various
decisional
programmes
with my
seniors. I
require to
participate
in company
decision
making
procedure.
It can take
appropriate
time for
better
developmen
t.
By review senior and
managers decisions
27/10/
18
I have to
write
down
pros and
cons of
each
decision
Need
discuss
ideas and
thoughts
with
peers
and
colleagu
es
28/03/19
2.5 Budget and timescale
Budget: There are needed around 500 GBP to enhance various skills so that I can
overcome my weaknesses and improve required skills. I have to make a better plan for
scheduling adequate time.
Skills Action which Activities and Amount Time period
8

have been taken programmes
conducted for
development
incurred
Presentation skill Needs to getting
involved in
various
presentation
events and
sessions.
Attend seminars,
conferences,
involved in
organizational
presentation.
200 GBP 2 Months
Communication
skills
There is required
regular practice
for improvement
in communication
skills.
Try to interact
with different
people and take
part in seminars,
conferences and
other sessions to
acquire
knowledges.
150 GBP 1 Months
Decision making
skills
I have to take part
in group
discussion and
discuss the ideas,
thoughts and
opinion with staff
members.
I have to consider
the decisions
making process
for reviewing the
decision of
seniors and other
managers.
120 GBP 2 Months
Timescales:
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2.6 Benefits of development opportunities available by professional bodies
Professional network can be considered as types of social network services which focus
on building good relationship and interacting with other people. In this include the personal,
professional as well as non-business interactions. It generally used by business person for the
purpose of establishing and maintaining professional contacts with well manner. On the other
side, the professional networks in which defined various groups that meet face to face, on
internet and other sources so that they have opportunities to share knowledges, ideas, views
points, issues and many more with an efficient way.
There are various professional bodies who organise the development opportunities such
as British Occupational Hygiene Society, British standard intuition and British computer society
etc. They conduct a workshop regarding subject by ensuring trends in professions as well (Kelly
and Cherkowski, 2015). It is more effective and efficient for learning and acquiring adequate
knowledges so that every individual can be developed within organisation. This is the best way
to enhance skills, ability and knowledges by getting latest thinking on relevant subject.
TASK 3
3.1 SMART objectives
Individual required to set a particular goals or objectives by undertaking SMART model
so better they can achieve that particular objectives in appropriate time frame.
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