Self-Managed Learning: Personal and Professional Growth at LSST

This essay delves into personal and professional development through self-managed learning approaches, skills audits, and strategic development. It evaluates six different approaches to self-managed learning, including coaching, seminars, and interviews, discussing their advantages and disadvantages in both personal and professional contexts. The study proposes ways to encourage lifelong learning, such as continuous learning, self-directed learning, and linking higher education with industry. A personal skills audit is conducted with ratings and justifications, followed by a SWOT analysis to identify areas for development and opportunities to meet current and future needs. The essay outlines short-term and long-term SMART objectives for personal development and critically reflects on the learning process. Finally, it addresses work-based solutions to situational problems, effective communication styles, and time management strategies. The document is available on Desklib, which provides various study tools for students.

Personal and Professional Development
1

Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 3
Task 1 – Essay............................................................................................................................ 4
AC 1.1: From the above scenario evaluate six different approaches to self-managed learning
that you have undertaken or you intend to take as part of lifelong learning either from your
workplace or during your time of learning at LSST...................................................................4
AC 1.2 Propose ways in which lifelong learning in your personal and professional contexts
could be encouraged................................................................................................................ 7
AC 1.3 Evaluate the benefits of approaches to self-managed learning.............................8
Task 2........................................................................................................................................ 10
a). Personal Skills Audit and ratings with justifications for the rating.....................................10
b). SWOT Analysis to evaluate own current skills and competencies against professional
standards and organizational objectives. Identify areas for development and opportunities to
meet the current and future defined needs.............................................................................12
Task 3 Personal Development...................................................................................................14
3.1, 3.2 Identify 3 short-term and 3 long-term SMART objectives for own development needs
and the activities needed to carry out to achieve the identified objectives. [2.2, 2.4]..............14
3.3 Critically reflect on own learning throughout this unit against the original aims and
objectives set in the PDP. [M2]..............................................................................................16
4.1 Select work based solution on various situational Problems............................................18
4.2 One of the ways to demonstrate acquired skills that you have developed during your work
or studies is to communicate in a variety of styles and appropriate manner at various times.
[M3]........................................................................................................................................ 20
4.3 Evaluate effective time management strategies that can help you manage your time
effectively. [D3]....................................................................................................................... 23
Conclusion................................................................................................................................. 24
References................................................................................................................................ 25
2

Introduction
This study of personal and professional development generally focuses on improving
the skills of learners which can help in making them or their business successful. Six
different approaches to self-managed learning have been taken place in this unit to
understand well which basically includes coaching, interviews, seminars and etc.
3

Task 1 – Essay
AC 1.1: From the above scenario evaluate six different approaches to self-
managed learning that you have undertaken or you intend to take as part of
lifelong learning either from your workplace or during your time of learning at
LSST.
There are various approaches which can get used in the self-managing and learning.
Some of those approaches are well discussed below-
Different Approaches Advantages Disadvantages
1. Monitoring/Coaching It greatly helps the
association in various
manners. The experts
share their own knowledge
and experience with the
workers or employees of
the association.
Sometimes providing
coaching to the people who
are already knowledgeable
enough becomes the
wastage of time. It also
includes some advantages
as to create self-awareness
& behaviors as well manner
(Panganiban, et. al., 2017).
2.Seminars Many of the seminars get
arranged for improving the
various skills of the
employees such as
presentation skills,
communication skills and
etc. Some of these skills
also help others in
motivating to speak in the
Sometimes wrong
knowledge gets shared by
the speakers which lead to
the disadvantage of taking
part in the seminar. Some
of the advantages are their
of seminar that people who
are less likely to read can
take part in the seminar to
4

public places without any
kind of fear. They get
confidence by attending
these kinds of seminars
which makes their personal
and professional life better
(Donnelly, 2017).
gain knowledge.
Sometimes people expects
too much to gain from the
seminar, not meeting that
becomes the disadvantage
of it.
3. Interviews It includes the advantage of
developing the relationship
between employee and
employer.It mostly gets
used in the professional life
as because before getting
hired by any of the
association, the managers
of the concern departments
checks the capability or
reliability of the candidate.
They also focus on the
skills of the person by
taking care of the needs
and requirements of the
person (Smith, et. al.,
2017).
At the other hand less
attention of both interviewer
and interviewee becomes
the disadvantage of this
process and leads to
dissatisfaction.
4. Conferences It includes the advantage of
including various ways to
increase the efficiency of
skills. Conferences also
Lacking behind with this
efficiency or perfect
workshops proper manner
becomes the disadvantage
5

help in increasing the
knowledge about self-
managed learning in
various manners. It
includes some research or
workshops to increase the
skills and knowledge of
people (SKOVHOLT, et. al.,
2017).
of it.
5. Use of internet Using the internet in various
ways also helps in
increasing the skills of
learning and motivation. It
includes some advantages
by adding some more
qualities to increase the
efficiency of the person
related to their work.
Taking the use of internet in
bad manner becomes the
disadvantage of it.
6. Social Networks It gets consider as one of
the best way which helps in
self-managing & learning
the various things which are
importantly required in
personal & professional
development.
Many of the times people
takes the use of social sites
in some negative use which
hampers their development
in most negative manner
and leads to the
disadvantage of it.
6

AC 1.2 Propose ways in which lifelong learning in your personal and professional
contexts could be encouraged.
Some of the important ways in which lifelong learning in the professional and personal
context can get encouraged in an attractive manner are well discussed below-
 Continuous Learning- According toBryant-Jefferies (2017), the continuous or self-
managed learning are the most useful techniques which provide a regular learning to all
the individuals and as same it also helps in improving the capacity of a person in the
lifelong learning.
 Encouraging self-directed learning- It is very well known that encouraging own self
for learning more and more can be the best way of personal development. It is very
important to encourage for learning anything new on each and every day, It will greatly
help in enhancing the knowledge about many of the areas and as same it will be
contributing in the various ways of personal & professional development (Bryant-
Jefferies, 2017).
 Linking higher education with industry- Linking the association with the higher
education or industries can also help in increasing the knowledge and various ways of
improvement. It will help in adding some more ways for the professional & personal
development.
 Credit Accumulation and Transfer Schemes(CATS)- It mostly gets used by the
topmost universities in the United Kingdom. It helps in monitoring the rewards,
records and etc by a modular degree of courses for facilitating the various
movements between institutions and courses as well.
7

AC 1.3 E valuatethe benefitsof approaches to self-managed learning.
It has been observed that the self-managed learning contributes to improving all the
skills of a person which are quite related to personal or business skills. As same it also
helps in adding some more important skills which can greatly contribute to meeting the
needs and requirements of personal and professional development.
1. Coaching or monitoring
It includes some attractive ways through which a person gets more motivated or
encouraged towards himself or his professional career. Coaching and monitoring also
include the various ways from which the personal and professional development can get
improved in an attractive manner.
Benefits to Self
It will help me in improving my skills to perform better.
Benefit to Organisation
Improved performance by monitoring or coaching will help in increasing the productivity
of the business in an efficient manner.
2. Seminars
According toAmar, et. al., (2017), a seminar also contributes in getting some more ideas
and thoughts which can make the business much more successful and efficient in
various manners.
Benefits to Self
It will increase my level of thinking for making the performance better.
Benefit to Organisation
It will also help in the development of the staff for achieving the senior roles.
8

3. Interview
Interviews help in finding out the things from which a person is lacking behind with. The
feedbacks greatly help in increasing the self-confidence of an individual. In the process
of interview overall quality of a person gets observed in behalf of which sometimes the
interviewer suggests a person to improve on some various ways (Amar, et. al., 2017).
Benefits to Self
I will get a chance to improve myself in all those areas which are required. It will help in
the personal development of mine. As same my self –confidence will get increased.
Benefit to Organisation
By the process of interview association will get help in selecting those candidates who
are meeting the expectations of the business.
9

Task 2
a). Personal Skills Audit and ratings with justifications for the rating.
Some of the personal skills and their ratings with the justifications are described well
below. It basically includes all those top skills, the employer looks for.
Rating Skills Description
1. 1. Communication
Skills
It is the topmost requirements of any of the
employer to have in the employees, as same in
H&M. The communication is the only way to attract
people towards the business. The communication
skills of mine will helps in reducing the various risk
factors of the business in an attractive manner. As
same it is the most perfect way of increasing the
level of the customers in the target market. At the
other hand, it will also help me in increasing the
goodwill of the business in the target market which
greatly contributes to meeting the objectives of the
business in a successful.
2. Presenting Skills The presentation skills are also importantly
required in meeting the desires of the business in
an efficient manner. Good presentation skills of
mine will help in attracting the people towards the
business. I will lead to build a successful empire
with a positive image in the target market.
3. Learning Skills Having leaning skills in an employee greatly
contributes to adopting the required changes and
10

information. This skill of mine will attractively help
in meeting the challenges which are getting faced
by the association. As same the learning skills of
mine will also contribute in meeting the actual
requirements of the business in the perfect time
frame. As because a person with the learning skills
brings some continuous changes in the products
and services so that customers can get satisfied
fully. Including some innovative and creative
changes I will lead to take the business on top in
an attractive manner.
4. Writing Skills It is also one of the most important requirements of
an employer in an employee which helps a person
to be more professional. Good writing skills of
mine will help in the various procedures such as e-
mails and etc.
5. Leadership skills .The leadership skills of mine will greatly help in
motivating and encouraging the other people in
meeting the objectives and goals of the business
in an appropriate manner. By this I will be able to
add some more ways which can attractively help in
taking the business on top with goodwill by making
the customers satisfied in each and every manner.
11

b). SWOT Analysis to evaluate own current skills and competencies against
professional standards and organizational objectives. Identify areas for
development and opportunities to meet the current and future defined needs.
Strengths Weaknesses
As per my understanding, the
communication skills of mine are so
effective and help me so greatly in
communicating with my friends or
colleagues at my workplace.
As I am a goal oriented personality, it also
helps me in achieving my targets in set
time frame without facing any negative
experience. Because of this skill, I became
able to meet my target in an efficient
manner.
By being optimistic I always try to not to
get indulge in any negative things. My
leaders are my inspiration which greatly
helps me in achieving my objectives which
also helps the business in various
manners.
Being a good learner it becomes so easy
for me to adopt all the required changes in
an easy manner.
Sometimes because of my shyness, I get
fail to showcase my opinions, thoughts,
and views on various matters which make
me regret later on.
I am having a phobia of performing on
stage because of which many of the times
I feels so restless & unable to put all my
efforts for expressing my ideas and
thoughts.
Various times I fail in controlling my
feelings and become unable to stable
emotionally. It adds so many demerits in
my performances.
I over think and over analyse on some
matters which creates the various issues
in implementation and presents many of
the problems in my performances.
Opportunities Threats
All the weaknesses of mine such as fear of I have the limited time for developing all
12