Personal and Professional Development Plan for Travelodge Staff

This report delves into the personal and professional development of staff, specifically focusing on an assistant manager, at the Travelodge hotel in Ilford. It begins by defining personal and professional development as a continuous learning process and then explores various approaches to self-managed learning, including research, learning from others, and attending seminars, referencing Kolb's learning cycle. The report then highlights ways to encourage lifelong learning, such as continuous professional development, higher education, mentorship programs, and experimentation. It evaluates the benefits of self-managed learning, including enhanced adaptability, empathy, self-confidence, and competence. The report also includes a self-assessment of skills and competencies, identifying strengths like writing and teamwork, as well as weaknesses such as customer handling and conflict resolution, along with opportunities and threats. Finally, the report proposes a development plan and discusses solutions to work-based problems, communication styles, and time management strategies within the Travelodge context.

Personal and Professional
Development

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1 ...........................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Evaluation of approaches to self-managed learnings............................................................1
1.2 Ways of encouraging lifelong personal and professional learning ......................................3
1.3 Evaluation of the benefits of self-managed learning ............................................................4
TASK 2 ...........................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Evaluation of own skills and competencies against the standards of the manger and against
the organisational objectives.......................................................................................................5
2.2 Identifying own development needs and activities for improving those needs...................8
2.3 Identifying development opportunities for meeting current and future needs .....................9
2.4 Proposing a personal and professional development plan ...................................................9
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................13
3.1 Discussing the process and activities of implementing the development plan ..................13
3.2 Undertaking and documenting development activities.......................................................13
3.3 Critical reflection of own learning against aims and objectives set in development plan . 14
3.4 Updating the development plan based on feedback and evaluation....................................15
TASK 4 .........................................................................................................................................18
4.1 Solutions to work-based problems in Travelodge...............................................................18
4.2 Communication styles at various levels in an organisation................................................18
4.3 Evaluation and use of time management strategies............................................................18
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20

INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development is a concept of continuous learning and managing
self-learnings and growth for building a bright future. This is all about attaining new skills, more
knowledge and gaining experience. This learning and development are concerned with preparing
oneself for higher position in an organisation or for performing tasks with more effectiveness at
the current position (Sangster, 2017). The present project report is going to discuss the personal
and professional development of manager and staff of Travelodge hotel in Ilford.
The assignment will cover different approaches of self-learnings, benefits of self-
managed learning to employer and to an individual. Further, evaluation of current skills,
competencies and identification of development needs will be done. A personal and professional
development plan will also be devised in this project report. Process of implementing the
proposed plan, updating plan on the basis of feedback and reviews will be discussed. Last
segment of the report will highlight solutions to work-based problems, communication styles and
evaluation of different time management strategies.
TASK 1
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO
By assistant manager
Travelodge hotel
1.1 Evaluation of approaches to self-managed learnings
Self-learning in very general terms which means gaining knowledge, experience and
updating skills without the help of others. Self-managed learning programs can help managers
and staff in the Travelodge hotel to develop and grow in a particular direction which is desired by
the company and is personally advantageous to the employees as well (Cunningham, 2017).
Being an Assistant manager in Travelodge hotel my self-initiated learning process starts
with identification of learning goals or my key areas where I need development. For instance, I
want to develop my conflict resolution skill as I am not very good at it. Then forming out the
strategies for the development of this skill within myself such as being calm and patient in
conflicting situations, listening to other parties, being emphatic etc. Allotting myself period of 2
months for the development and lastly self-evaluation of my skill.
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Approaches to self-managed learning
Travelodge encourages its employees to in indulge in self-learning by suggesting them various
approaches such as:
Learning through research: Employees can gain more knowledge by conducting primary
and secondary research on the subject matter. Online tutorials, guide materials etc. helps in
developing my skills. For example, for getting deep knowledge about human behaviour and their
perceptions, online materials and books related to it could be studied.
Learning from others: Taking guidance from seniors, mentors or coaching from them
can improve an individual's skills and knowledge. For example, improving my communication
skills, I take help from my seniors and for getting better at public speaking, I can attend courses
which helps people in gaining confidence while dressing some issue in public.
Seminars, Conferences: This is another approach of self-managed learning Attending
seminars and conferences helps in self-learning for an individual. Employees in Travelodge,
needs to focus on attending almost every seminars and conferences that can improve them for
fulfilling their future aim of becoming a senior manager in the hotel.
This could be achieved by applying Kolb's learning model where an individual experience a
situation, makes self-evaluation by setting goals and objectives regarding what it needs to
achieve. It then makes strategies for attaining those strategies and execute those strategies. There
are different learning styles such as Kolb's learning cycle, reflexive modernisation theory that
helps an individual in their personal and professional development. The learning theory was
proposed by Kolb in 1984, where the scholar proposed the process of learning in which four
stages were involved. These were:
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Illustration 1: Kolb's learning cycle
(Source: Models for structuring reflection, 2015)
Experience: This stage is concerned with experiencing the different situations that has the
opportunities of providing learnings. For example, I need to improve my technical knowledge
regarding computers which I realised after comforting difficulties in operating several
applications of computer system like advance excel.
Reflection: This stage involves the evaluation of the experience an individual had with some
situation. I evaluated my learning by observation that whether I could now use excel application
effectively or not.
Conceptualisation: Here, ideas for the improvements are generated. Analysis is done of the
experience had which results into the formation of new concepts.
Active Experimentation: This stage involves applying of new ideas in the future when an
individual confronts similar situation. Like applying knowledge learned about excel in the tasks
requiring this knowledge.
1.2 Ways of encouraging lifelong personal and professional learning
The following ways of encouraging the self-learning is mentioned below
Continuous professional development: It is a way of learning skills and enhancing capabilities
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by individuals for their personal and professional growth. It is the documented process of gaining
experiences, knowledge and skills while working for the company (Megginson and Whitaker,
2017). This concept will help my employees in Travelodge in developing their personality both
formally and informally for achieving personal and professional goals.
Higher education: This is an effective way of encouraging people for lifelong learning where
people employed in company are encouraged to gain more knowledge by involving in higher
studies and they should be supported by the firm for becoming more skilled person. This will
make employees more skilled and competent in performing the job duties effectively. This is
beneficial for both the employer and the employees, as employees' higher education, more
knowledge would help them in their career in the future while Travelodge would the benefits of
highly skilled professionals in the company. This will increase the overall productivity of
employees and the employer.
Aligning with mentors: I will create an environment in the Travelodge where my staff will be
mentored by the experienced personnel, providing them the useful insights which would help
them in progressing in their lifelong learning.
Apprenticeships: Company will encourage its staff to attend apprentice ships programs which
will be beneficial for them from the point of view of development of their professional life. The
learnings from such training programs will result in lifelong learning, helping people in achieving
the growth in their career.
Experimentation: As an assistant manager, I will ask my employees to try out new things, apply
different and creative methods in their workings. Being creative leads to the thrust of learning
more about different things which boost learning for entire life of person.
1.3 Evaluation of the benefits of self-managed learning
Self-managed learning is beneficial not only to my staff but it is crucial for the
development of the organisation as well.
Benefits of self-managed learning
Enhancement of adaptability skills: Self-managed learning has enhanced capability of adapting
to new challenges or situations. For instance, possessing knowledge about various fields have
helped in adapting to new environment and my tendency of resisting the change has reduced.
Being emphatic: It has helped me in enhancing my existing skills such as ability of
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understanding others, thinking from others point of view etc. This in a way has developed a
leadership quality which would help me professionally in becoming an efficient manager in
future and also in my personal life.
Increases self-confidence: Self-learning is the natural booster for the development of self-
confidence and life satisfaction (Ruddy, Thomas-Hemak and Meade, 2016). I have observed that
self-learning has increased my self-knowledge and has provided me in satisfaction in my
personal life. The concept of self-learning enhances the ability of taking more rational decisions.
Competent: Self-managed leaning habit has made me more sound, intelligent and competent
which has increased my performances in different fields.
Self-motivation: Self-managed learning builds a positive feeling of doing work with the help of
inner motivation. This creation of self-motivation capability has helped me to perform better my
duties in my professional life as well as in dealing my personal situations more effectively
(Benefits of Self-Managed Learning, 2019).
TASK 2
2.1 Evaluation of own skills and competencies against the standards of the manger and against
the organisational objectives
Strength
 Good writing and critical thinking skills
and efficient for managing one to one
communication skill.
 Efficient in developing cordial and
healthy relationships with my
colleagues, seniors, peers etc.
 I can influence people and drive them
towards particular direction.
 Good team work skills.
 Commitment and passion.
Weakness
 Poor customer handling skills.
 Conflict resolution skills
 Decision making skills
Opportunities
 Enhancing public speaking skills will
be an add on the list.
Threats
 Lack of conflict resolution skills will be
a threat in my career and professional
5

 Developing decision making skills will
provide a cutting edge over my peers.
growth.
 Competition from peers and colleagues
is a major threat in my professional life.
6
My Current
Skills
Professional Standards Travelodge and Job Role
Objectives
Leadership skills Being an able to influence and inspire
people for driving them towards a
particular direction is the most desired
quality, every organisation wants in an
individual for acting as a manager.
Leadership qualities such as
motivating and inspiring people
in autocratic style is crucial
requirement of job role.
Interpersonal
skills
Being effective while communicating
with others inside and outside the
organisation and developing personal
and interpersonal relationships is a pre-
requisite skill that every employers’
values and desires.
Ability of developing and
maintaining interpersonal
relationships effectively with
subordinates and with different
members is a crucial need for
this job role.

Communication skills: From the experiences, I have identified that I possess good
communication skills. Communication skills involves verbal and nonverbal communications. My
writing skills are efficient for carrying out the managerial work in the organisation. My oral
communication skills with person to person are also good which can contribute to the company
in achieving its goals and objectives. However, I face some difficulties when it comes to
addressing large people in seminars, conferences.
Influencer/ motivator: During my tenure in Travelodge as an assistant manager, I have
identified that I am capable of influencing people to work in a desired direction for achieving a
common objective.
Team work skills: Team work skill is a pre-requisite skill for any manager as a manger
have to work in a team and direct team in a right direction. I work quite efficiently with my team
members and have been appreciated for the same by my manger quite a few times. This will help
me in becoming a desired candidate for the Travelodge to consider me for the role of manager.
Customer handling skills: So far, I have analysed that I face problems in handling
dissatisfied customers. I need to improve this because Travelodge managers keeps customers
above everything. Making customers happy and providing the satisfaction is the ultimate aim of
hotel as this is the reason of company's long-term profitability and success.
Commitment and passion: Hotel need a person who leads by example. I perform my
duties with utmost dedication and commitment. I lead my juniors by setting an example of my
standard and consistent performances.
Interpersonal skills: These skills states how a person interacts with others in its
surroundings. A manger interacts with everyone in the company as has to build effective
interpersonal skills for creating friendly environment in his team and for easily getting his work
one through his subordinates (Van Gelderen, Kautonen, and Fink, 2015). I am capable of
forming of good interpersonal relationships with colleagues in the office, in social networks.
2.2 Identifying own development needs and activities for improving those needs
I have seen that I need development of some skills and improvement in my existing skill.
The different developmental needs are discussed below:
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Skills needs to be
developed
Methods of development
Conflict resolution
skills
 By being calm and patient.
 Listening and observing everyone very keenly.
 Involving in negotiation process and learning.
Customer handling
skills
 Seeking guidance and mentoring from seniors.
 Learning from observing peers and colleagues
Decision making skills  Tutorials is one of developing this skill. Different decision-
making models could be learned by this method for being a
rationale decision maker.
 Talking to seniors and friends in and outside the organisation.
 Decision making skills: I have realised that I am not very good at making quick and
rational decisions. My confidence gets shakes up in unorthodox situations. I need to
develop this core skill for becoming an efficient manger in Travelodge hotel. I can apply
some strategies for overcoming my challenge.
 Conflict resolution skills: I need to improve my conflict resolving skills so that I can
meet the criteria of becoming a manger in Travelodge. Teams are to handle by a manager
in a company that involve conflicting perceptions of different members. These
perceptions have to be coordinated for reaching the set objectives of the team
(Wallensteen, 2018). I can improve this skill by being calm, keen observant of the
situation, listening and understanding everyone's say so that disputes can be settled
quickly. This development will help me in both my personal and professional life.
 Customer handling skills: My customer handling skills are not poor, but it needs to be
improved for maintaining effective customer relationships by supporting them with
instant solution to their query. Efficient customer handling skills requires critical thinking
which is my strength but I need to focus on guiding and listening to provide them
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support. This skill can be improved by seeking guidance from my seniors, by observing
colleagues and peers to learn Patience, Attentiveness, etc.
2.3 Identifying development opportunities for meeting current and future needs
There are different opportunities that could be developed for meeting my current and
future needs. They are given below:
 I can learn about business dynamics by observing my seniors, colleagues, peers.
This is the internal source of learning within the Travelodge.
 Attending training sessions, conferences, seminars that are held in the Travelodge
hotel for increasing my knowledge. These conferences, training sessions makes
the employees updated as per the industry standards. This increases the
competencies of the managers of middle and junior levels.
 For exploring different fields, gaining knowledge of different areas, I can seek a
mentor who would guide me in my learning process within the hotel.
 Learning through online tutorials is a development opportunity that is available
outside the Travelodge which can meet my current and future needs of becoming
a manager in the organisation.
 Reading out different case studies relating to travel and tourism sector, hospitality
sector. For instances, gaining knowledge about different managerial policies that
could be applied by me in achieving Travelodge targets, knowing about
legislations that affects the hotel industry. Knowing these things will have
positive impact on my performance in Travelodge. This will be an aid to my
professional development process.
2.4 Proposing a personal and professional development plan
The development plan will include my key areas where the development is required, how
these needs will be overcome and what time will be taken for improving those needs.
Personal and Professional Development plan
Develop
ment
Priority Activities Resources for
skills
Time require
for
Target Criteria for
measuring
9

areas development development
of skill
ending date success
Conflict
resolving
skill
moderat
e
Self-
managed
learnings,
understandin
g situations.
I need to
develop this
skill because of
its
effectiveness in
personal and
professional
lives. This skill
could be
developed by
being calm, by
being a keen
observer of the
situation, by
listening
everyone who
are involved in
the disputes.
Career develop
ment workshop
s, Work/Life
Program,
Books and
Journals,
Conferences
are the
resources
which will
support me in
10/12/2018 25/1/2019 Taking
feedbacks
from peers
and friends,
colleagues.
Self-
assessment
by
comparing
performance
with the set
target.
10