Report: Manage Personal Work Priorities and Professional Development

This report reflects on the skills and knowledge gained from a course focused on managing personal work performance and professional development. It emphasizes the importance of setting and meeting priorities, analyzing information, and utilizing various strategies to enhance competence. The report delves into key areas such as identifying role models in the workplace, measuring and maintaining personal performance through KPIs, and the significance of effective time management and prioritization techniques. It also explores the use of technology for managing and organizing work, the importance of feedback, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. The report provides recommendations for improving work effectiveness and concludes with a reflection on the practical application of the learned concepts in both professional and personal life. The author highlights the significance of effective prioritization and scheduling to accomplish the most important tasks first, and references various tools and strategies to boost workplace efficiency. The report also emphasizes the importance of aligning personal and professional goals and provides a comprehensive overview of the course's key takeaways.

Running head: MANAGE PERSONAL WORK PRIORITIES AND PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
Manage personal work priorities and professional development
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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Executive Summary
This report is my reflection on the course from which I have learnt about the skills
and knowledge that a person will require in order to manage his own work performance and
professional development. The primary focus is on the setting and meeting the priorities,
analyzing the information and using them in a range of strategies in order to develop further
competence. This report will also shed light on the performance outcomes as well.
Furthermore, throughout the report I have discussed how I shall implement these lessons in
my near future. Few recommendations are also made in order to improve the work
effectiveness.

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Table of Contents
Introduction-...............................................................................................................................2
Role models in the workplace-...................................................................................................2
Measuring and maintaining personal performance-...................................................................3
Setting and meeting own work priorities...................................................................................3
Technology used to manage, prioritize and organize work.......................................................4
Importance of feedback about personal performance and competence-....................................5
Maintaining appropriate work-life balance................................................................................5
Recommendation-......................................................................................................................6
Conclusion-................................................................................................................................7
References-.................................................................................................................................8

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Introduction-
This report will my reflection on the performance outcomes, knowledge, and skills
that are required in order to manage one’s own professional and performance development,
and, it will mainly focus on setting and meeting the priorities and analyzing information as
well as using an array of strategies for developing further competence.
Managing an organization is one of the most challenging tasks. From this course, I
have learnt how to manage others effectively and what I need to be efficient enough to
organize myself, and my employees or teammates and emphasis their work on those tasks
that are important for the business. It includes developing knowledge and skills to fill the
gaps that may exist and to improve your performance in your workplace. This essay will
further elaborate on various designs that are basic yet fundamental skills in personal
development and self-organization. It involves- identifying role models in the workplace,
measuring and maintaining personal performance, managing change, maintaining
professional competence, meeting your job responsibilities, seeking feedback and identifying
the development opportunities.
Role models in the workplace-
Throughout the course, I have learnt that managers serves as role models in the workplace
(Bottomley, Burgess and Fox 2014). They have a significant effect on the work culture and
the patterns of behavior. Human beings are social animals and we copy many of our behavior
prompts from the people who are in positions of authority. This means that as a manager, I
have a great influence on my team, I am a role model and it is my behavior, which will be
highly observed and copied by the other team members. I have also learnt few simple ways of
being an efficient role model and they are:

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a) A good role model listens more than he speaks.
b) A good role model guides by example (Fransen et al. 2016).
c) He follows the rules and regulations that he has implemented on others.
Furthermore, I have learnt that a good role model or leader not only presents a cheerful
greeting to all his customers but also to his teammates as well. However, it is also important
that he must have a few greetings that are quite different in order to demonstrate it to his
valuable customers. The course has also provided me with valuable tips on role modeling
which I can implement in my near future. Some of them are- Being a manager (role model), I
should never judge people and I must manage every individual separately. I should give
constructive feedback, not, destructive. I should always encourage the employees and the
teammates and never de-motivate them by giving them negative feedback every now and
then. As a good manager, I must always keep a track of the events that are designed in order
to improve the employee’s performance and not to punish or ridicule them. With the same, I
have also learnt the importance of managing potential in the staffs.
Measuring and maintaining personal performance-
I have learnt that there is several key performance indicators (KPIs) that are used in
order to measure the performance and work progress towards achieving the goals and
business objectives and it must be reviewed on a regular basis. The performance reviews may
include working relationships, work performance and basic job skills.
Setting and meeting own work priorities
Furthermore, I have learnt that the skill of managing personal time is an essential skill
for the effective people. I have learnt about the importance of prioritization. Each one of us
has our own priorities and it is an important skill. I should need to make the best use of my

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efforts and of my team. Prioritization is mostly essential at those times when time is limited
but the demands are comparatively unlimited. With good prioritization, I could bring an order
to the chaos and move on towards a successful ending. Without prioritization, I shall have too
many challenging demands. It will assist me allocate my time where it is the most needed.
The people who make sure to use these techniques on a daily basis are the highest achievers
in all the field of success. The course have taught me the various tools and strategies in order
to improve my time management skills, for example, making a list and setting deadline are
the primary things that are to be done. The next are concentrating on one thing at a time,
delegation, making use of the opportunities and rewarding. What I learnt from the overview
of the course is that the time management skills are like a pair of jeans. You have to try
several pairs before finding the one that fits right.
Technology used to manage, prioritize and organize work
Workplaces are becoming more and more dynamic with the increase in demands
(Ozcelik 2015). Hence, the businesses today are depending more on technology in order to
process the information. From the course, I have gained much knowledge than I actually
explain. I have learnt that there are many technological tools, which I can use to improve my
performance in order to meet the organizational objectives. I must make sure that I use
appropriate technology for managing my work and meet my commitments. Like, for more
efficiency in my computer system, I must create directories or folders for the electronic
documents and for the emails and faxes. I should also file all the electronic documents in a
correct folder and put the most used directories on my desktop. Other applications like
database, word processor, online services, project management, electronic diaries and mobile
technology must be used correctly. This shall further improve my effectiveness and
efficiency.

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I will use the electronic diaries or mobile technology in order to accommodate in the
efficient and effective running of my business. This shall also help me keep a record of the
appointments, phone calls, meetings and contacts.
The main advantages that I would get from the technology are- I could search, find
and edit the information easily, I could set reminders for the appointments as well, I could
view the data as I need.
I have also learnt about the importance of managing the project management tools. I
can develop the tools for project management by the programs such as Visio and Microsoft
Project. The visual diagrams are appropriate for decision-making process. During this course,
I have gained the concept of Visio and Microsoft as well. I understood that the Visio
produces diagrams, concept and mind maps and flow charts.
Importance of feedback about personal performance and competence-
Throughout the course, I have learnt that feedback is a crucial element in the
professional development. It provides an opportunity to adjust the goal difficulty, illuminate
expectations and gain recognition as well. Providing benchmark opportunities and targets are
very important for individual to diagnose how they are doing in the workplace.
Maintaining appropriate work-life balance
I have learnt that effectiveness and efficiency will be improved when I tend to
maintain an appropriate work and life balance. I have learnt that reducing stress will allow me
to manage my energy and efficiency as well. Less stressed workforce and increased
concentration increases productivity. The work-life balance policies is to be supported by the
respective workplace culture that reflects the values, beliefs and the norms of the entire
organization, right from the CEO to the staff members. I have also learnt about the other

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important factors that are equally responsible for success in the work/life balance policies.
They include raising awareness the policies, proper communication about the policies to
present as well as future employees and training of the managers on how to execute those
policies.
I have learnt that applying these policies and practices can facilitate the entire person
who is responsible for taking care of their elderly parents, the person who has several study
commitments, the old employees who want to palliate themselves into the retirement or those
with other different personal commitments.
It is very important to schedule the process of the time available to me and hence,
plan on how I shall use it to achieve my goals that are identified earlier. By doing this, I
would understand what I could realistically achieve with that time and minimize the stress by
avoiding over-commitment to others. Hence, it will allow me to manage my commitments,
while leaving me with some time to do other important things as well.
Recommendation-
1. To ensure that your work goals are sufficient enough, compare them with company’s
plans, with your personal plans that are planned for the future and with all the
responsibilities that you face.
2. Ensure that you measure your personal performance on a daily basis.
3. Ensure that everything you do is a step closer to achieving your goals.
4. Be sure that you take time in every three months in order to review your goal lists.
5. Your personal goals and your work goals must be aligned in some manner.
6. Make sure that the goals that you have set are positive one.
7. Make sure that your goals are written down.
8. Make your goals small.

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9. Make your goals performance oriented and your goals realistic.
Conclusion-
Finally, I realized that effective prioritizing and scheduling is all about getting the
most important work done first. The course is fascinating and I have learned lot. I have
acquired much knowledge about the various traits of an effective leader and the various tools
that are required to boost the efficiency in the workplace. I also learned about how to meet
job responsibilities and how I can manage and measure my performance in the workplace. I
am sure that this course have provided me with ample of knowledge about the business
culture and I will make an effective use of these knowledge in my near future. In fact, I have
already started to implement the lessons that I have learned from the course in my
professional and personal life as well.

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References-
Bottomley, K., Burgess, S. and Fox III, M., 2014. Are the behaviors of transformational
leaders impacting organizations? A study of transformational leadership. International
Management Review, 10(1), p.5.
Fransen, K., Vanbeselaere, N., De Cuyper, B., Vande Broek, G. and Boen, F., 2016. When is
a leader considered as a good leader? Perceived impact on teammates’ confidence and social
acceptance as key ingredients. Athletic Insight: Online Journal of Sport Psychology, pp.In-
press.
Ozcelik, G., 2015. Engagement and retention of the millennial generation in the workplace
through internal branding. International Journal of Business and Management, 10(3), p.99.