Skills Audit, SWOT Analysis, and Development Plan: Harrods

This report presents a comprehensive skills audit, SWOT analysis, and personal and professional development plan. It begins with a skills audit conducted in the context of the individual's role and responsibilities within Harrods, a prominent retail store. The report then identifies key interpersonal and transferable skills, such as communication, empathy, time management, leadership, and problem-solving, and analyzes tools and techniques for their enhancement. A personal SWOT analysis is conducted to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Finally, a detailed personal and professional development plan is prepared, outlining aims, objectives, areas for development, resources, activities, and a timeline, all aligned with both personal and organizational objectives. The report emphasizes the importance of continuous personal and professional growth for individual and organizational success, particularly within the challenging environment of a high-profile company like Harrods.

PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................... 3
TASK 1..........................................................................................................................................3
Conduct your Skills Audit in the context of your personal role and responsibilities and
Performance objectives within your organization......................................................................3
TASK 2..........................................................................................................................................6
1. Identify some key interpersonal and transferable skills and analyze tools and techniques to
enhance these skills....................................................................................................................6
2. Conduct your Personal SWOT Analysis to identify your strengths, weaknesses and learning
and development opportunities.................................................................................................. 8
3. Using appropriate Proforma, carry out your Individual appraisal within your organization...9
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................9
Prepare and implement a Personal and Professional Development Plan with clear aims and
objectives, areas for development, resources and activities, timescale, etc. based on personal
and organizational objectives.....................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................... 12
Books and Journals.................................................................................................................. 13

INTRODUCTION
Personal development and professional development are considered as an asset for an
individual person because if a person is personally developed then they can show his/her
competencies in an effective manner. Also, if the person is well developed professionally then
they will be able to growth in the company in a fast manner and this will be helpful for the
company as well. Here, in this report, the skill set of an individual will be assessed by doing skill
audit. Apart from that, tools and techniques which are used for enhancing interpersonal and
transferable skill will be covered here and a personal SWOT analysis will be there as well. At
last, a personal and professional development plan will be prepared. The organization which will
be referred in this report is Harrods, which is a well known retail store situated in London.
TASK 1
Conduct your Skills Audit in the context of your personal role and responsibilities and
Performance objectives within your organization.
Personal skill audit is described as an effective way as through this an individual person
can identify the skills and abilities that are already present in them and which are required to be
developed. It also depends heavenly on the area of business in which the employee is working.
But, analyzing skills is never wasteful in any way as it helps in enhancing the career only.
It can be said that personal skill is very crucial for every individual as it helps them in
achieving success in their professional life as well. The personal skills of employees play a very
important role in progress of both i.e. an individual and an organization as the company will
develop if the employees will perform in an efficient and effective manner. But, it needs to be
noted that personal development is a continuous process and cannot be stopped in between. For
developing personally, few skills is important like communication skill, presentation skills, time
management skill etc. and if an employee has learnt them then they will be able to move forward
in life without any breakdowns.
In Harrods, the management needs employees who can face the challenges that the
company throws at them at times because of its reputation and standards in the market. They

need people who give long term commitment to the company and are ready to take the
responsibilities as well. They want employees who are having effective skills and abilities and
who have the potential to become future manages of the company as well. So, to work in such a
company, an individual needs to be properly groomed and have required skill so that they can
gather the opportunities that are present inside the company for them.
Personal skill audit of employee is as follows:-
Very Good Good Adequate Little o no
experience
Information Technology
Use Microsoft
office word
✔
Use Excel
Spreadsheet
✔
Use a database ✔
Use the internet ✔
Use Email ✔
Use Powerpoint ✔
Very Good Good Adequate Little or no
experience
Communication skills
Drafting
contracts of
employment
✔
Taking notes of
disciplinary
hearing
✔
Write reports ✔
Produce
materials to
support
presentations
✔
Delivering a
training session
✔
Resolving
disputes
✔
Interviewing ✔
Advising on HR
issues
✔

Very Good Good Adequate Little or no
Experience
Problem solving skills
Make good use
of verbal
reasoning
skills, able to
handle
complex data
and make
selective use of
information
✔
Explore more
than one
solution in
order to solve a
problem
✔
Consider the
ideas of others
to help solve
problems
✔
Evaluation of personal skill audit – As per the above mentioned skill audit, it can be stated that :-
1. My Information technology (IT)skills is good because I know how to use MS word and
MS excel as these are the tools which are majorly used for making reports. Also, as per
the analysis, I can effectively use internet and send mails as well. Having good
knowledge in IT is required in employees now-r-days as the work is digitalized in today’s
business world and thus if the employees will have knowledge about it then they will be
able to deal with the customers in more proper manner.
2. As per my audit of communication skill, it can be known that I am very good at giving
training to employees who is very necessary in a company. This skill is helpful because
through this, an employee can train the new employees about the work which is required
to be done in the organization and communicate with them in an effective manner as
well. This skill can also be used to resolve disputes that normally happen inside the
company.
3. As per the analysis, it can be said that I am average in solving problems of the
organization as sometimes I face issues in handling the complex data and make use of

selective information inside the organization. Also, sometimes I do not take others help in
solving the problems which is going on in the company which I can say that is not a good
practice.
Performance Objectives :- It is necessary to make some performance objectives inside the
organization within a set time frame so as to achieve goals and objectives of the company. But
before setting these objectives, skill audit was required to be done which we have already
conducted above. The performance objectives set by me are as follows:-
Application of different systems through which performances can be raised of
employees:- If there will be individual appraisal system for every employee as it will act in a
beneficial manner for me as well as other employees for enhancing the performance. The main
techniques which can be used here are increase in salary level of employees, giving bonus to
employees etc. Also, the promotions should be given on performance basis.
Time Management – I have set this skill also as my performance objective because this
skills is considered as an effective part of an employees’ skill. As a part of company, I will have
to make sure that I complete my activities on time so that the targets can be completed on time.
TASK 2
1. Identify some key interpersonal and transferable skills and analyze tools and techniques to
enhance these skills.
Some key interpersonal skills and the tools and techniques used to improve them are as follows:
 Communication skills – This is a type of skill in which an individual is able to
communicate effectively with their seniors, colleagues etc. This is considered as a very
important skill in an employee because if they will have this skill then they will be able to
have good rapport with both seniors and juniors. Communication skills include listening
skills, Friendliness, confidence etc.
There are so many tools and techniques to improve this skill like developing the
listening skills, maintain appropriate body language, make eye contact while talking and take

time to respond as well. These techniques will help a person in improving their
communication skills.
 Empathy – This can be defined as a skill in which a person put himself in someone
else’s shoes. It means being aware of feelings and emotions of others. In a business
world, if this skill is there in employees then they will be able to understand the issues of
the fellow employees in better manner and this will help in making good employee
relationships inside the company.
To develop this skill, a person is required to come out of their comfort zone and take
new experiences then only they will be able to understand the issues that others are facing.
They should think from their heart and mind both and does not take decisions in a super
active manner.
Some transferable skills and the tools and techniques used to improve them are as follows:-
 Time Management – This is one of the most important skill that is required to be present
in an employee inside the company because if the employee will do their activities ion
time then there will not be any discrepancies inside the organization and the targets will
be achieved on time as well.
In order to improve this skill in a person, various techniques can be used like they
should prioritize their work. It means they should know that which tasks needs to be
completed first and which can be done later. Along with this, set deadlines, avoid
multitasking, schedule tasks etc. are some more techniques which can be used by an
employee to enhance this skill.
 Leadership skills – This is also a crucial skill which needs to be present in an individual
if they are working in Harrods because then they will be able to lead the work in a better
manner and motivate the other employees as well.
In order to enhance this skill, the person needs to improve their strategic thinking
ability because if they will improve this then they will be able to think out of the box and
guide the employees in correct direction as well. Along with this, they can also improve their

decision making skill, delegation skill as well. If these skills will improve then their
leadership skill will automatically gets enhanced.
 Problem solving skills – This is skills necessary because if the person is having problem
solving skill then they will be able to make the working environment effective by solving
all kinds of issues that are present inside the company.
To improve this, a 7 step effective problem solving technique is going to be used
whose steps are; firstly the issues are required to be identified. Then, they need to understand
the interests of everyone. After that possible solutions are thought about the issue and then
these issues are evaluated. Finally an option is selected and is applied and the issue is solved.
So, if these steps will be followed then problem will be solved effectively.
2. Conduct your Personal SWOT Analysis to identify your strengths, weaknesses and learning
and development opportunities.
While working as an employee in Harrods, it is necessary for me to evacuate my own
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Through this process, I will be able to know my
abilities and skills and will be able to develop it further as well. This will help me developing
myself in a complete manner and achieve growth in further transactions as well. The strength,
weakness, opportunities and threats that are as follows:
Strength:
 Motivating team members- I have an ability to handle my team members at the time of
pressure and motivate them at the same time to work in more effective manner. This will
help them in developing their performance and results and as well as helping the
company in achieving their aims and objectives as well. Good communication skills- My communication skills are also good and thus I can deal
with the customers coming inside the stores in a proper way. This is a very necessary
skill which is required to be present in an employee who needs to deal with thousands of
customers’ everyday like in Harrods. This skill helps me in giving my performance in a
better manner.
Weakness:

 Emotional behavior- I believe that my behavior is my weakness because there are many
times that at stores we need to take decisions by rules and not by emotions but my
emotional behavior comes in between and I take wrong decisions. Dealing with my
emotional attitude might help me in dealing with my customers in more proper manner. Irritation and stressful- I take lots of tensions and stress by loading heavy work. Also I
cannot manage all business operations and functions of store. So this is my weakness that
keeps me eliminated with my productivity towards works and lead towards less
performance.
Opportunities:
 Gaining responsibilities - I believe that if I want to develop my position in the company
then I need to take the responsibilities willingly from my seniors or higher authorizes.
This will help me in getting in their good books and gaining more opportunities for
growth.
Threats: Large competitors- In company, there are so many other employees as well who are
having skills that are better than me and thus it is a kind of threat for me as the growth
opportunities that can come for me can go there as well and this might fail my efforts.
 Changes in environment- There are different new trends that includes political,
economic, social etc. I cannot adopt such changes in fast way and also lead towards lower
the employees’ performance of an organization. This is frame as big threat for my career.
3. Using appropriate Proforma, carry out your Individual appraisal within your organization
The proforma for self appraisal is as follows:
1. Summarize your major accomplishments for this review period (such as proposals,
assignments completed, reports, presentations, significant results, etc.)
Ans – My major accomplishment in this review period is that I have various kinds of new skills
and improved my new skills as well. For doing this, I have made proper plans for developing my
personal as well as professional skills. This has helped me in developing my overall personality.

Hence, I consider this as one of my major accomplishment.
2. List any training programs, conferences, committee memberships or other educational
activities in which you have participated during this period.
Ans – I have participated in various kinds of training and development programs. Be it for
developing my communication skill or leadership skill, I have received proper training for them.
It has helped a lot as well.
a. What problems and constraints influenced your work performance during the
review period, if applicable?
Ans – During my review period, I faced issues while communicating with my senior
employees, which giving presentations, while motivating and encouraging the employees.
b. In your current position, what additional skills would be helpful in preparing
you to do your job more effectively? How do you plan to acquire them?
Ans – For doing my job more effectively, I need to develop my presentation skills as well
as leadership skills. To attain this, I will take proper training.
3. Goals and Objectives. (State specific and achievable goals/objectives you hope to achieve
during the next appraisal period.)
Ans- For the net appraisal time, my goal is to become a perfect employee as my organization
wants and prove my abilities in the organization.
4. What other issues (which may include your working relationship with your supervisor)
would you like to discuss in the appraisal review discussion?
Ans – No other issues
TASK 3
Prepare and implement a Personal and Professional Development Plan with clear aims and
objectives, areas for development, resources and activities, timescale, etc. based on personal and
organizational objectives.
The personal development plan is prepared below:
SKILL CURRENT
PROFICIENC
TARGET
PROFICIENC
DEVELOPMEN
T
CRITERIA
FOR
TIME
SCAL

Y Y OPPORTUNITY JUDGING
SUCCESS
E
1
.
Team
working
skills
I am not able to
trust my team
members all the
time and am
always extra
involved in
project.
Trust my team
members and
become a
competent team
player.
Organize an
event in the
company along
with the team
members
The
success or
failure of
the event
will say
everything.
15 July
2019
2
.
Leadership
Skills
Lack of
confidence and
are not able to
delegate the
work to
subordinated
Become a
confident
leader who can
delegate tasks
properly.
Motivate the
employees at the
time of need and
lead them about
the new tasks that
are assigned to
them.
The
satisfaction
of
employees,
the work
done by
them will
prove the
leadership
abilities.
18 July
2019
3
.
Presentatio
n Skills
Can only
present within
friends with
confidence
To gain
confidence to
give an official
effective
presentation
To make a
presentation for
out CEO and
present in front of
him.
Achieving
a good
grade for
my
presentatio
n from my
seniors.
2
August
2019
The professional development plan is prepared as follows:
Objectives Current level of
development
Success criteria
(TARGET
Actions Completed

DATE) Yes/No
Communication Average 02/06/19 Training sessions
should be
arranged for
developing
effective
communication
channels.
YES
Leadership Average 12/06/19 This skill of mine
needs a little
more efficiency
and development
for which I need
to take feedback
from subordinates
and evaluate them
carefully to
remove any
barriers in
leadership
process.
YES
Time
management
Below Average 15/07/19 This skill can be
improved by
practising
effective time
management and
using effective
communication
strategies.
YES