Personal and Professional Development: Short, Medium, and Long Goals

This report delves into the concepts of personal and professional development, emphasizing the continuous process of enhancing skills and abilities to achieve individual and organizational goals. It explores the significance of personal development plans in assessing current skills, identifying areas for improvement, and building confidence. The report outlines short, medium, and long-term goals, providing examples and strategies for effective implementation. It highlights the importance of both personal and professional development in improving communication, collaboration, and time management skills. Furthermore, the report provides a detailed personal development plan, outlining specific goals, required actions, and resource allocation for skill enhancement. The report concludes by emphasizing the role of self-learning and lifelong learning in facilitating individual and organizational growth.

Assignment / Essay
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INTRODUCTION
Personal development is the continuous process which helps in enhancing the skills and
abilities of individuals (Akrivou, Scalzo and Orón, 2020). It is the process of accessing the skills
and abilities of individuals with the motive to help them in accomplishing the goals and
maximising the level of potential. Personal development help the individuals in evaluating their
present set of skills and the skills which need to be learned and improved for better growth
opportunities in future. Furthermore it helps in building confidence and help in gaining
knowledge. In order to carry the task in personal and professional life one need to focus on its
personality development. It is one of the most effective self actualization process where person
come to know its strengths and weaknesses. This report is based on concept of personal and
professional development, explanation of short term, medium term and long term goals and
objectives. The personal development plan for effective development of skills and abilities.
MAIN BODY
Concept of personal and professional development
Personal development is define as the process of carrying the activities in most effective
manner with the aim to improve and enhance the individual capabilities to perform activities
more effectively. Furthermore it helps in solving the issues which are taking place in the proper
manner. It helps in learning the new concept and to enhance the present skills as individuals
would be able to carry the business task in correct manner wit due attention. It is a most effective
way in which individual can help themselves and also able to participate in various role which
may be formal or informal in nature. It is the development of a person which in doing work in
better way and also make them different from other people (Chigwedere and et.al., 2020). The
example of personal development is confidence that is if person is confident he or she would be
able to do the task or activities in much better way. Another example would be the listening
skills that is if one would able to listen properly then he/she will understand the task in proper
manner and the changes of mistake would be less. Furthermore it also helps in improving the
communication skills. Personal development also helps in improving the body language and
individual become more confident in its personal and professional life decisions.
Professional development is the process are used by many business organisation in the
process training with the motive to develop and enhance the skills and abilities of individuals and
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providing knowledge about professional work culture environment. It refers to the tool, resources
and training process to improve the teaching quality and effectiveness of an individual (Evers
and et.al., 2019). Methods of professional development includes the reviewing case studies,
technical and mentoring assistance and coaching and consultation. These methods allows the
person in enhancing their knowledge and allow learning new techniques. Person who take part in
works or leadership programmed then they enhance their qualitative, technique and analytical
skills. With the help of effective professional skills one would be able to carry the business
operations and task in the most effective manner and help the company in achieving its goals and
objectives.
Short term goal:- A short term goal is a something which an organisation want to achieve
in short period of time or in near future, it can be today, next day, next week or next month etc.
these goals are for the 12 months or less then it. They can easily obtained then the long term
goals because they focus on the near future. Short term goals help to achieve career goals by
defining someone's objective to accomplish them in definite period of time. Setting short term
goal in most important for an organisation because when these are fulfilled then medium and
long term goals can be set or it can say that these short term goals are part of the long term goals.
Short term goals are small objectives which are set by an organisation for itself with having an
objective to achieve long term goals as well. A critical task is divided into smaller ones so they
can be achieve easily. These goals keep all the organisation motivated for the long term success.
When a short term goal is fulfilled an organisations can focus on the other one. There are four
type of short term goals which direct and indirectly impacting career objectives (Hildebrand,
2018). These are career short term goal which are related to the professional life and have direct
impact on it. Financial short term goals are related to finance work such as reducing cost of
production and debt, control over income. Third one is Academic short term which are for the
education objectives that in hence many personal as well professional skill. These academic
achievements leads provides various opportunities which are helpful to achieve long term goals
also. Last one is health related short term goals that is very essential for the accomplishment of
professional success. These goals can be avoiding unhealthy food, taking proper food and sleep.
Some short term goals are like improving communication skills, earn new certificates in some
specific field and making balance in work life.
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Medium term goals:- A medium term goal takes more time to accomplished then short
term goals it could be said that medium goals are the extension of the short term goals. This is
the permanent solution of short term problems. It should be clear and specific. These solutions
are creating a bridge between two extended extend of personal and professional development
plan, these ends are normal routine activities and long term activities (Ragan, 2018). In normal
cases, an individual classify tasks mainly in two categories and these categories are long term or
short term. Thus, it becomes difficult to identify and plan for medium term activities. They can
be achieved in next 2 weeks or months or 4 years goals. They are said to be medium term goals
because they are not so short and not so long goals which needs to be achieved. Medium term
goals are made after individual have done graduation, secured a job and started his career. These
goals should be accomplished in between three to five years. Its is founded that the best type of
goals are considered as mid term goals. Medium term goals is much tricky as compared to the
short term goals. To formulate medium term goals, it is important that part trends and future
expectations, so that efficient goals can be made. In the present case, following are some
examples of medium term goals:
 taking feedbacks from customers on quality in every time span of two months.
 Planning a dream trip
 buy a property in real estate.
 Reinforcing my contact list by making contacts with my colleagues in office and explore
new things in next 12 months.
Long term goals:- Long term goals take too much tine to achieve. These goals would not
be achieve within the month or even in the year. There is requirement of symmetrical actions to
complete the specific task. These goals are to be accomplish in the future and pays important role
to make career successful. Goals need planning and time to complete task. Most of time it takes
various steps to compete particular work which can be termed as short term goals. Self
betterment is the important factor of setting long term goal, this will be helpful for the
organisation to keep focus on the ultimate goal of what it want to achieve. There are some ways
to set long term goals such as make goals, not wishes, be specific that what exactly the
organisation want to achieve, goals are in written form so there is no confusion among the
employees regarding actions of work, these are properly clear to all that what exactly goals are
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and what actions should be taken to complete them. Whole long term goal should be divide into
the smaller goals because these one are easily achieved and it gives motivation to them also.
These goals should be remember regularly and do not give up because there are various obstacles
in path to achieve them; properly analyse these obstacles and try to change them into chances.
Example:
Having a goal of becoming manager or director of reputed organisation
Get a university degree
Value of the personal development plan
Personal development is define as the process in which an action plan has been
formulated by conditioning the goals and objectives which need to be accomplished. It helps the
individuals in carry the operations in effective manner by improving the skills and abilities and
with the motive to become more capable (Salter and Rhodes, 2018). The one with the design to
improve its performance and to gain more in life will able to work hard in the systemic manner.
They focus on there weakness and take steps to improve them by developing the personal plan.
Personal goals
and skills
Course of actions Resources
required
Current
proficiency( out
of 5)
Time duration
Time
management
The focus is on
improving and
enhancing the
time management
skills so that I
would able to
complete my
work on time.
Many time the
work need to
perform
according to the
situation within
I need to
formulate the
effective time
management time
table with
activities which
need to be
performed so that
I would be able to
complete it on
time with due
attention.
3.5 Within the time
duration of 2
moths.
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less duration of
time which I need
to improve and
develop.
Communication
skills
With the help of
effective
communication I
would be able to
understand the
things in proper
manner and able
to do task in
correct manner. I
would be able to
speak well and
also able to put
my viewpoints in
effective manner.
By
communicating
with the other
directly
employees on
daily bases and
by understanding
their view points.
Also focusing on
my written skills
by
communicating in
effective manner
in indirect way tat
is through
messages, email,
etc. to improve
this skill set, I
will be
concentrating on
improving my
reading skills, so
that my language
and vocabulary is
improved. More
concentration
should be on
4 Need to improve
and enhance skills
within time
duration of 1
month.
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simplifying the
meaning of
message and this
will further
improve the
effectiveness of
communication.
Communication
should be made in
such a manner
that listener or
reader is engaged
in the
communication,
this will improve
the effectiveness
of interaction
process.
Collaborative
working skills
The main focus is
to improve the
behaviour so that
I would be able to
work in
collaboration and
team in
organization. This
will help me to
portray myself
better in an
organization.
Thus, to make my
To improve this
skill set, I will be
focusing on first
improving my
listening skills,
through this I will
be in clear headed
situation as which
task I will have to
perform.
Furthermore, I
will be
performing on
2.5 45 days
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work and
performance
better, this skill is
important.
projects which are
outside my
comfort zone. I
will find my
mentor in the
workplace, so that
I am getting clear
direction and only
moving in the
right direction. In
addition to this, I
will be keen to
participate in
team building
activities.
CONCLUSION
This report elucidate personal development is the continuous evaluation of skills and
competencies of an individual. This is an important process as it will help to formulate short,
medium and long term goals and through this, development process will be eased. This is
necessary so as to determine the milestones in the career path, so that personal development plan
can be made efficient and effective too. As per this report, it can be inferred that self learning
ability and lifelong learning will help an organization and an individual to grow at must faster
speed and pace as well. The report was able to communicate the self evaluation techniques and
the different methods such as SWOT analysis deeply. The personal and the professional
development and the development plan in an organization and its uses are properly
communicated in the report. The interpersonal skills and the transferable skills are also
discussed. The report brings us to conclusion that the different strategies to manage time are also
needed.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Akrivou, K., Scalzo, G. and Orón, J.V., 2020. How differing conceptions of integrity and self-
integration influence relationships: Implications for management, personal and
professional development. Archives of Psychology. 4(1).
Chigwedere, C. and et.al., 2020. Personal practice in counselling and CBT trainees: the self-
perceived impact of personal therapy and self-practice/self-reflection on personal and
professional development. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, pp.1-17.
Evers, O. and et.al., 2019. How do personal and professional characteristics influence the
development of psychotherapists in training: Results from a longitudinal study. Research
in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome. 22(3).
Hildebrand, J., 2018. Bridging the gap: A training module in personal and professional
development. Routledge.
Ragan, D.D., 2018. A Structured Course for Personal and Professional Development. Honors in
Practice. 14. pp.43-57.
Salter, M. and Rhodes, P., 2018. On becoming a therapist: A narrative inquiry of personal–
professional development and the training of clinical psychologists. Australian
Psychologist. 53(6). pp.486-492.
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