MD4057 Professional Development: Reflective Analysis and Skills

This report provides a reflective analysis of professional development, focusing on experiences related to applying for work placements and the development of communication skills. Using Rolfe's reflective model, the author shares their experiences, both positive and negative, in the context of an MBA program. The report explores the challenges and learnings from applying for placements, including the decision not to apply for certain opportunities due to misalignment with career goals. It also details the improvement of communication skills through participation in debates and presentations, highlighting the impact on confidence and interpersonal relationships. The conclusion summarizes the key takeaways, emphasizing the importance of reflective practice in identifying areas for improvement and enhancing professional growth.

MD4057 Professional Development

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2
Applying for work placement......................................................................................................2
Not applied for placements..........................................................................................................3
Communication skills..................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Professional development is a set of tools, resources and training sessions that assist to
improve the teaching quality as well as effectiveness (Osman and Warner, 2020). Also, it is
refers to an instructors who assist to improve skills in order to meet the need of students. The
present study also shed a light upon useful skills that is required in order to meet the defined aim.
Also, the present study will reflect by using Rolfe’s reflective model in which experience will be
shared by applying for work placement. Along with this, the report will also reflect upon what
have not applied for placements. Moreover, study will also reflect upon communication skills in
which different types of communication skills reflected and shared the experience regarding the
same. Further, it will also describe about personal development plan that supports future plans
and assists to identify the key improvement areas which needs actions because it affected career
goals.
Applying for work placement
With the help of Rolfe’s reflective framework, I analysed that by using all the key stages
in order to share experience will be helpful (Rolfe and Freshwater, 2020). These are as
mentioned below:
During my first year of MBA, applying for a work placement is considered one of the
best experience I ever faced. It is so because it was completely new phase, as I have never
prepared myself for work placements. It does not mean that, I only face positive experience,
there were different challenges but with proper understanding I am able to improve the issue. At
the initial stage, I feel nervous because it was my first time to apply for placement though I
possesses strong abilities which support me to crack the interview in front of panel (Bass and
et.al., 2020). So, I can say that there were both high and lows at different situations.
While applying for placement, I realized that m experience was quite entertaining
because I had applied for different companies which are suitable according to my profession.
Also, I face challenge while selecting companies for placement because I do not have enough
knowledge pertaining to select a company, but with the help of my seniors, I am able to choose
the best companies. On the other side, the highs regarding the entire situation is such that I had
completed the stud over top 10 companies which are going to provide placement in my

University. So it helps me to select the company with proper support from other. In addition to
this, another advantage thing I realized during the situation is such that I am able to build
confidence and realize my key area that is actually needed by company’s manager. It is so
because I have a knowledge about how organization work and bring job within company that
assist me to select best out of many. This in turn bring confidence and developing transferrable
skills as well (Manning and Parrott, 2018). On the critically note, it has been also realized that I
face a strong competition from my colleagues and I realized that all other students also make
their best efforts in order to generate better outcome which create threat into me. Thus, to
improve such situation, I start focused upon my research skill and present CV and other
documents in an innovative manner so that chances of my selected during placement will be
increases. This was possible with the help of my seniors and teacher, that is why, I am able to
successfully apply for a work placement.
Through the above experience, I learn that being alert for the situation is necessary so that
it provide effective results. In the future, when the same situation will be occurred, I ensure to
prepare myself so that there will be no negative impact over my performance. Also, I make sure
to have an effective research on the company’s profile so that it does not cause adverse impact
over my performance (Noble and et.al., 2019). Along with this, I should also have focused upon
my interpersonal skills in which critical thinking abilities needs to be improved so that it helps
me to apply the work placement in an effective manner.
Not applied for placements
The overall experience of not applying for a company during placement was good
because here I realized my key areas of improvement that affect my placement. The main
rationale for not applying for a placement is such that the company do not offer the position for
which I am dreaming for. Also, the assigned job position does not satisfy the salary package and
that is why, I think I should not apply for this placement (Claro and et.al., 2018).
On the other side, one of my colleague said that if I would not have applied for this
placement, my career will negatively affect. It is so because not applying during placement might
create negative impression in front of panel and my further placements will be also affected. In
order to solve such challenges, I consult with my teacher and with his proper guidance, I am able
to overcome the same and applying for further work placements as well. In addition to this, I

realized different key areas which needs to be improved like, critical thinking abilities, IT skill
that might affect the results in negative manner. However, I learnt from the entire situation that
before applying for any workplace, there is a need to review the company profile and understand
the key criteria which include whether the company is best suited for me or not. The same I did
by considering my tutor and teacher’s guidance, that is why I had not applied for the company.
As per my defined goal, I will start applying for other companies so that it will not
affected my career. However, during my first year of MBA, I examined my strength and
weaknesses, so to improve the weakness, I should make actions so that it will not affect the
placement. That is why, I can say that with for moving forward, I should work upon weakness
and through effective resources, I can convert the same into strength. Hence, I can say that not
applying for a company during placement assist to examine my interpersonal skills and the
impact over my career (Khan and et.al., 2017). Though I face different challenges but with
proper support, I am able to improve the same so that it do not cause any negative impact over
my career.
Communication skills
By referring to Rolfe’s model of reflection, the importance of communication skills is
described along with sharing experience. This is as mentioned below:
In the first year of my MBA course, I analysed that I improve my communication skills
because there are different areas where I have applied the same. The overall experience
regarding this skill is wonderful because earlier I feel shy to present my thoughts in front of
others, but now the situation is different. It is so because my tutor supports me to improve the
same. Though there are many problems which I faced during the first year but with proper
support from teachers, I am able to improve the skill and minimize the negative impact over my
career goals (Bass and et.al., 2020). Also, the skill assists me to be confident to share the views
to others so that effective decision can be taken.
Through the whole year, I reflected that communication skills assist me to improve the
overall performance. My experience in first year of MBA was amazing because I learn many
skills, though I identified my weaknesses which will be further improved. I improved my
communication skill by participating in debate where I have to speak on a topic in against. This
was the first time where I realized that if I do not share my views perfectly, might be I fail in

debate. It does not mean that I do not face any difficulties regarding sharing my perception
which include, not able to pronounce some difficult term. This was improved with the help of
colleague and my regular practice supports to improve the communication skill that help me to
win debate (Kelly, Tarshis and Meringolo, 2019). On the other side, in my first year we have all
have to submit presentation and this also aid me to focus upon my writing as well as verbal
communication skill. Earlier, I feel hesitate to share my views in front of others but entering into
first year will help me to improve the communication skills. During a presentation, I work on the
slides where I improve my written skill and in front of my colleagues, I am able to explain the
key points that covered into Slide. This in turn reflected that I am able to improve the
communication skill which further help to gain confidence as well.
By improving communication skill, I analysed that there will be less misunderstanding
for which i will rarely face issue due to poor communication. This in turn also help me to interact
with others easily and share a good bond with each other for longer term (Biglu and et.al., 2017).
In addition to this, there are many key areas where I identified that my written communication
helps to express my thoughts more easily. Such that, I a teacher asked a questions during
classroom, I am able to answer the question and this in turn reflect that, no I am able to improve
the skill that assist to transmit a message directly to my teacher. While completing my first year,
I analyse that though I face many issues, but with proper support from my tutor and colleagues, I
am able to minimize negative impact. In addition to this, initially in my first 10 days of first year
MBA, I feel shy to talk with others and due to my hesitation, there are some adverse situation
occurred. This in turn affected my performance negatively so I overcome the negative impact
from issue arise from a situation, I start focusing upon ways to minimize the same. That is why, I
can state that the overall experience to raise communication skill is good and I must focus upon
more ways through which communication skill can improved.
In future, when the same situation occurred, I ensure not to stuck the things and with
proper support from teachers, I can improve the situation so that it do not affect the results
negatively. In addition to this, by participating in different debates and other key activities, I will
improve my communication skill. This in turn causes positive impact over my career goals as
well because sharing my thoughts and expression to other will help to minimize the negative
challenges (Burt and et.al., 2018). Through this action, I become more confident and listen

towards other so that proper message can be shared. Also, it assists to improve the performance
and listening skills as well because as per my dream goal, I must possesses effective
communication skill so that the chances of misunderstanding can be improved. Overall, I can
share that in the workplace through effective communication skill, there will be smooth and
efficient working in an organization and increase the personal as well as professional bonding
with colleagues for longer term.
CONCLUSION
By summing up above report, it has been concluded that the overall experience regarding
to applying or work placement is good and entertaining because there are many challenges faced
by me that might cause negative impact over professional. Also, by using Rolfe’s reflective
model, it has been summarized that there are many reasons of not applying in the particular
companies because of not having any future opportunity goals. That is why, opting for another
companies regarding placement will be more beneficial to improve the results. Apart from this,
through reflective cycle, it has been concluded that communication skills help me to raise
confident and able to share the thoughts to others easily. However, earlier I feel hesitate to
express my views to others, thus in my first year I am able to express my views and this in turn
cause positive impact over my professional career.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bass, J. and et.al., 2020. Exploring the needs and experiences of educators in facilitating use of
the Bass Model of Holistic Reflection. Nurse education in practice. 46. p.102805.
Biglu, M. H. and et.al., 2017. Communication skills of physicians and patients’
satisfaction. Materia socio-medica. 29(3). p.192.
Burt, J. and et.al., 2018. The evaluation of physicians’ communication skills from multiple
perspectives. The Annals of Family Medicine. 16(4). pp.330-337.
Claro, M. and et.al., 2018. Teaching in a Digital Environment (TIDE): Defining and measuring
teachers' capacity to develop students' digital information and communication
skills. Computers & Education. 121. pp.162-174.
Kelly, A., Tarshis, N. and Meringolo, D., 2019. Talkabout: A social communication skills
package. Routledge.
Khan, A. and et.al., 2017. Communication Skills of a Teacher and Its Role in the Development
of the Students' Academic Success. Journal of Education and Practice. 8(1). pp.18-21.
Manning, L. and Parrott, P., 2018. The impact of workplace placement on students’
entrepreneurial attitude. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning.
Noble, C. and et.al., 2019. Enhancing feedback literacy in the workplace: A learner-centred
approach. In Augmenting health and social care students’ clinical learning
experiences (pp. 283-306). Springer, Cham.
Osman, D. J. and Warner, J. R., 2020. Measuring teacher motivation: The missing link between
professional development and practice. Teaching and Teacher Education. 92. p.103064.
Rolfe, G. and Freshwater, D., 2020. Critical reflection in practice: generating knowledge for
care. Bloomsbury Publishing.