Hilton Hotels: A Report on Personal and Professional Development

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of personal and professional development within the context of Hilton Hotels, focusing on self-managed learning approaches and their benefits. It includes a personal skills audit with justifications, a SWOT analysis of the individual's skills and competencies, and a gap analysis with strategies for improvement. The report identifies development needs, outlines activities to meet them, and devises a Personal and Professional Development (PPD) plan. It discusses the processes and activities required for implementing the PPD plan, documents the undertaken activities, and reflects on the learning achieved against the initial aims and objectives. The PPD plan is updated based on feedback, and solutions to work-based problems are explored, including communication strategies and time management techniques. The report concludes with a discussion on the importance of communication and provides a sample CV.

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - HILTON

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................2
TASK 1 ESSAY.........................................................................................................................................3
1.1 APPROACHES TO SELF MANAGED LEARNING..............................................................................3
1.2 LIFELONG LEARNING IN PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONTEXT............................................5
1.3 BENEFITS OF APPROACHES TO SELF MANAGED LEARNING.........................................................6
TASK 2....................................................................................................................................................7
2.1 PERSONAL SKILLS AUDIT AND RATING WITH JUSTIFICATIONS....................................................7
2.3 SWOT ANALYSIS OF OWN SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES...............................................................8
M1 GAP ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIES FOR APPROPRIATE SOLUTIONS FOR THE SWOT ANALYSIS......8
TASK 3....................................................................................................................................................9
2.2 IDENTIFYING OWN DEVELOPMENT NEEDS AND ACTIVITIES REQUIRED TO MEET THEM............9
2.4 DEVISING A PPD PLAN AS PER THE IDENTIFIED NEEDS..............................................................10
3.1 DISCUSSING THE PROCESSES AND ACTIVITIES REQUIRED FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PPD PLAN12
3.2 DOCUMENTING AND UNDERTAKING THE ACTIVITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN..............13
3.3 REFLECTION OF OWN LEARNING AGAINST THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES...................................14
3.4 UPDATING THE PPD PLAN BASED ON FEEDBACK.......................................................................15
TASK 4..................................................................................................................................................17
4.1 SOLUTION TO WORK BASED PROBLEMS....................................................................................17
4.2 COMMUNICATION, STYLE, TYPES AND IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION...........................18
4.3 COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES.............................................18
M3 CV..............................................................................................................................................20
CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................................................22
REFERENCES........................................................................................................................................23
1

INTRODUCTION
Self-managed learning is a method by which individuals can manage their own learning. In
the current world of globalization organizations, institutions and colleges are relying on the
concept of self-managed learning for making businessmen, employees and students to
become independent and take the responsibility for taking own decisions as to how they
learn, where they learn and by what means they learn. The Self-managed learning program
is intended to allow individuals to manage their learning without having to depend on
someone else.
The main purpose of this assignment is to make readers understand the importance of self-
managed learning for enhancing their lifelong development. Working as a manager in the
Hilton Organization the main aim is to remain competitive and improve the skills for gaining
a higher position in the organization. Hilton is one of the biggest American multinational
hotel company founded in the year 1919. This assignment will help readers to understand
how they can become independent for managing their own work for archiving their personal
as well as professional career goals. Various ranges of methods and techniques will be used
for summarizing the principles of personal and professional development using relevant
examples.
2

TASK 1 ESSAY
1.1 APPROACHES TO SELF MANAGED LEARNING
Self-managed learning helps employees, individuals and especially students in finding an
alternative way to adopt a different approach to learning than traditional schooling. Apart
from learning from school, there are many different approaches for self-managed learning
as described below (Stenfors, et al. 2010).
 Learning through Research
There are many ways of researching like participating in surveys, questionnaires, interviews,
case studies, observing etc., and students can also take help of the internet for research and
then discussing the results obtained with the teachers, professors etc. Through research,
students can develop their intellectual skills and can critically analyse a particular situation,
problem and ideas (Dana and Yendol, 2014).
 Learning from others
There are two methods of learning through others one is the direct way of learning in which
a person asks people as to how they do something and the other is the indirect way in which
a person observe other persons as to how they do things and then then learn from their
actions (Andrews and Sayers, 2011).
 Mentoring
Mentoring is a kind of relationship between an experienced person called the mentor and
with an individual. The mentor advises assists and train individuals through their experience
and knowledge (Andrews and Sayers, 2011).
 Coaching
Coaching is considered as a development process in which a person called the coach helps
an individual or the client in meeting their personal as well as professional goals.
 Seminars and Conferences
3

A seminar is a form of an academic instruction in which the academic institution or the
organization bring together small groups of people for a variety of purposes like meeting,
group discussions, class sessions etc. On the other hand, conference refers to a formal
meeting of people with shared interest or meeting for discussing a topic. Students can take
part in meeting and conferences for gaining knowledge either through participation or by
being a member of the audience.
 Internet, Newspapers and bulletin boards
Students can also learn through the internet as it is an exceptional tool for distance learning
education. Some additional form of learning approaches includes the newspapers, novels
etc. (Mesch and Talmud, 2010).
Advantages of self-managed learning
Individuals who develop the habit of SML are able to adapt to the changing situation. They
start enjoying learning new skills and techniques within and outside the organization
(Cunningham, 2017).
Disadvantages of Self-managed learning
When individuals start learning by themselves then there is no one to judge as to whether
the knowledge acquired by the individual is correct or not. For example, if a person is
learning bad habits knowing that it is good then it may harm the personality and character
of a person. Moreover, self-leering requires a great deal of motivation for continuous
learning.
4

1.2 LIFELONG LEARNING IN PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL
CONTEXT
Lifelong learning is a self-directed continuous attempt to attain formal or informal education
for developing personal skills. There are many advantages of being a lifelong learner in both
personal as well as professional context (Robertson, 2016). Some of the advantages are
discussed below.
Encouraging Self-directing learning
Lifelong learning helps an individual to become self-independent for attaining knowledge
through his/her life (Robertson, 2016).
Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
Lifelong learning is an approach directed towards continuous professional development as
the person develops the ability to document and experience their own skills acquired
through both formal and informal means (Herman, 2012).
Linking higher education with industry
Lifelong learning helps professional to use their acquired knowledge in the business and thus
help boost their professional career. Knowledge acquired through academic studies is
utilized in taking business decisions.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Lifelong learning helps an individual in assessing his formal, informal and non-formal
learning and thus determines the net outcome of their continuous efforts (Herman, 2012).
5

1.3 BENEFITS OF APPROACHES TO SELF MANAGED LEARNING
SELF BENEFITS
Greater Clarity of development goals
If an individual or a student manages their time for learning and acquiring knowledge
independently then there are high chances that the student will be clear about his
development goals in his/her career (Herman, 2012).
Increased Self Confidence from feedbacks
When an individual does not depend on someone else for getting educated then their self-
confidence gets increased as they feel a sense of accomplishment of having acquired
knowledge by their own willpower and dedication.
BENEFITS TO THE ORGANIZATION
Helps personal and professional development
Self-managed learning help employees to get promotion in the organization that helps in
their professional career. As they are able to achieve a senior position in the organization it
helps in developing their personal well-being in the society and in the family (Bjork, et al.
2013).
Development of staff members for senior roles
When all the employees in the organization are motivated for self-managed learning then an
organization gets employees having competent skills for taking higher positions in the
organizations.
6

TASK 2
2.1 PERSONAL SKILLS AUDIT AND RATING WITH
JUSTIFICATIONS
Forgetting any kind of job in a reputed organization it is essential that a person as the
required skills and abilities to manage the work as per its requirements. Similarly being an
assistant manager of Hilton Hotel it is my duty to plan, select, recruit, train and monitor the
employees of my department for maintaining the standard of the services. For that purpose,
it is important that I evacuate my own professional skills and identify the key areas for
improvement (Cottrell, 2015). I have successfully accessed my skills and have identified that I
need to improve my communication skills, leadership and management skills in order to gain
a higher position in the organization. Therefore in order to remain competitive in the
business, it is essential that I attain the required skills and competencies for achieving my
personal as well as professional goals.
REFLECTION
As per the feedback collected from the staff members I have come to know some of my
strengths and weaknesses. They believe that I have good planning, monitoring and
controlling skills. I also follow the guidelines set by the management and work as per the
standard operating procedures (Cottrell, 2015). The staff members suggested that I lack
effective communication skills and do not have knowledge about other languages. As per
their suggestions, I believe that I need to work on some key areas of communication, HRM
practices and leadership and management skills.
7

2.3 SWOT ANALYSIS OF OWN SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
Strength Weakness
 Good English Communication skills
 Decision making skills
 Effective monitoring and controlling
skills
 Resource planning
 Leadership and Management skills
 Time management skills
 Conflict resolution
 Command over other languages
Opportunities Threats
 Attaining a senior position in the
organization
 Meeting own personal as well as
professional needs
 Continuous professional
development
 Self-learning and boosting the
confidence
 Increased competition in the
business
 Threat of getting expelled from the
organization
 Change in organisational process
 Criticism from colleagues, co-
workers and staff members
M1 GAP ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIES FOR APPROPRIATE
SOLUTIONS FOR THE SWOT ANALYSIS
My current performance in the organization is satisfactory but it is essential that I improve
my performance as the competition is getting fierce in the hospitality industry. Therefore I
need to the gap analysis of my actual performance with desired performance. As mentioned
in SWOT analysis that I lack leadership and management skills the best way to overcome this
weakness is to read various leadership and management theories in order to develop these
qualities in the business (Neck and Manz, 2010). For enhancing the communication skills I
will join weekly classes, moreover, I will use the time management strategies like prioritizing
the work, setting goals, etc. for enhancing my skills and competency level.
8

TASK 3
2.2 IDENTIFYING OWN DEVELOPMENT NEEDS AND ACTIVITIES
REQUIRED TO MEET THEM
Aims
The aim is to achieve a higher position in Hilton Hotel.
Objectives
 To analyse various approaches to Self-managed learning for improving own skills and
performance.
 To implement the self-managed managed to learn approaches in order to improve
the skills and thus gain a higher position in the organization.
After identifying the gaps in my SWOT analysis it is essential that I identify the key areas for
improving and developing my skills so that I can perform much better in my day to day
activities in the business (Vermeeren, et al. 2010). As per the analysis done my development
needs include the time management skills, leadership and management skills and conflict
resolution skills. I do have these skills but I need to improve these skills for gaining
operational excellence and better control over my business activities. In order to develop
and improve the communication skills, I will join classes so that I can learn some additional
languages required within the business functions. I will also take help of technological
sources like the internet for finding ways for enhancing and improving my skills. I will also
take part in seminars, group discussions and meeting for improving my skills (Vermeeren, et
al. 2010).
I will also observe senior members and colleagues of my department as too high they
manage and handle their team members with greater ease and competence. I will also take
guidance from my colleagues, elders and mentors for assisting me in improving my skills so
that I am able to craft improvement in the process of managing resources and handling day
to day operational functions.
9

2.4 DEVISING A PPD PLAN AS PER THE IDENTIFIED NEEDS
Skills Improvement
areas
Action for
development
Timescale Evidence
Communication
Skills
Lack of
command in
other languages
Joining
communication
classes on
weekends and
interacting with
the
international
customers,
clients and
stakeholders
from a
diversified
background
(Zepeda, 2013).
1 month Started
communicating
in other
languages with
clients and
customers of
Hilton hotel
Time
Management
skills
Not able to
complete work
on deadlines
Using proper
planning,
prioritizing the
work and
setting goals
(Cemaloglu and
Filiz, 2010).
2 month Recently
organised a
meeting in a
planned
manner with
timely delivery
of the products
and services.
Leadership and
Management
Skills
Inability to
manage team
members and
lack of
management
skills.
Understanding
the leadership
theories and
observing the
other members
of the team
3 month Performance of
my team is
considerably
increased
10

Conflict
resolution skills
Not able to
resolve conflicts
arising in the
workplace
environment
Generalising
problems,
listening to
both parties
involved in the
conflict and
making ethical
decisions
(Deutsch, et al.
2011).
1 month Team members
have started
working in
collaboration
and there is
sharing of ideas
and views
among each
other
11