A Personal Development Plan for an Assistant Manager at Travelodge

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PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................2
1.1 Evaluate approaches to self-managed learning......................................................................2
1.2 Propose ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional context could be
encouraged...................................................................................................................................3
1.3 Evaluate the benefits of self managed learning to individual and organisation....................5
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Evaluate own current skills and competencies against professional standards and
organisational objectives.............................................................................................................6
2.2 Identify own development needs and activities to required to meet them............................7
2.3 Identify development opportunities to meet current and future defined needs.....................8
2.4 Devise a personal and professional development plan based on identified needs.................9
Task 3.............................................................................................................................................11
3.1 Discuss the processes and activities required to implement the development plan.............11
3.2 Undertake and document development activities as planned..............................................12
3.3 Reflect critically on own learning against original aims and objectives set in development
plan............................................................................................................................................13
3.4 Update the development plan based on feedback and evaluation.......................................14
Task 4.............................................................................................................................................15
4.1 Select solutions to work-based problems............................................................................15
4.2 Communicate in variety of styles and appropriate manner at various levels......................16
4.3 Evaluate and use effective time-management strategies.....................................................17
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................18
References......................................................................................................................................19

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Features of lifelong learning............................................................................................3

LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Skills of manager role in Travelodge................................................................................6
Table 2: Development activities required to improve.....................................................................7
Table 3: Professional Development Plan.........................................................................................9
Table 4: Documentation of development plan...............................................................................12
Table 5: Updated professional development plan.........................................................................14

Introduction
Developing of personal and professional attribute is determined as skills set utilized to improve
individual for gaining corporate position and strengthening business relations. The current study
will aim at evaluating self managed learning with its benefits in context to Travelodge Hotel that
is located in Ilford. The study will focus on defining current competencies and skills of person by
identifying development needs that will devise development plan according to individual needs
for growth. Further, it will describe the process of development plan through several documents
and updating plan according to evaluation and feedbacks. At last, the report will provide solution
for work-based problems in Travelodge by channelizing communication methods and focuses on
evaluating time management strategies.
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Task 1
1.1 Evaluate approaches to self-managed learning
Self managed learning refers to own learning management skills based on individual needs for
gaining expected position by skills improvement in organisation. It aims specific goals of an
individual by learning and practising various techniques to deal with corporate world. It aids in
personal development of individual through personal preferences taken as priority for learning
regarding specific field. As assistant manager of Travelodge hotel, different improvement areas
have been determined from method of self managed learning (Cunningham, 2017). It is essential
for hotel staff to acquire self managed learning styles for increasing their value within
professional terms. There are various approaches for self managed learning which are described
below:
Research Learning – The self learning can be developed by researching the field through
internet and online sources. For example – the staff under housekeeping must use internet and
channels for watching the videos about how to treat customers at hotel premises.
Learning from Seminars and Conferences – Being an employee of hotel industry must develop
personality by attending different seminars conducted by organisations for developing skills of
an individual for learning job roles and duties effectively. Conferences in organisation is best
method for increasing self learning as it helps in increasing skills by constantly focusing on
methods and ways for dealing with customers at hotel.
Bulletin Boards and Social Networks – The information source is now easy to access through
online social sites such as Facebook that increases knowledge of learner (Cunningham and
Bennett, 2017). The learner can also prepare bulletin boards that determine its personal goals and
aims to achieve.
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1.2 Propose ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional context could be
encouraged
Lifelong learning is conceptualized that enhances consistent development of individual for
gaining personal and professional growth. As manager in Travelodge, it is necessary to develop
lifelong learning practises in organisation for staff members for developing their strength at deal
professional matters. Developing individual is requirement for Travelodge staff for satisfying
customers reaching from business class and tourist travellers (Goh, 2018). As manager certain
objectives will be practised in organisation for developing skills of employees through lifelong
learning which are as follows:
Figure 1: Features of lifelong learning
(Source: Joel Gardner, 2013)
Continuing Professional Development – It is important to develop the skills of staff members by
conducting continue development plan for increasing professional attributes. It is very beneficial
as weekly development classes for staff will groom personalities and attitudes that will increase
organisational sales and customer satisfactions.
Enhancing Self-Directed Learning – This strategy of learning will prepare employees and staff
of hotel to assess their own skills and abilities through their performances that will help in
determining their position. Focusing on development needs will identify calibre by knowing their
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own learning abilities (Lai, et.al, 2016). The objective is to flourish staff member personalities by
conducting SWOT analysis that will list their strength and weakness from improvement.
Conducting Apprenticeships Programs – It refers to training system for employees that are
practising profession or trade by being on the job. It helps in providing license for employees
that practises profession in regulated manner. Conducting and arranging such learning programs
in Travelodge will enhance employee skills based on their education quantifications by
developing industrial services through training.
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1.3 Evaluate the benefits of self managed learning to individual and organisation
Self managed and lifelong learning practises in Travelodge aids in providing skills and ability
development of individual that will provide professional as well as personal grooming of staff for
attaining higher profits by boosting sales. Establishing individual provides several benefits to an
organisation and individual which are described below.
Organisational Benefits
 Developing staff will satisfy customers in reference to services that include product
delivery, housekeeping, communicating with customers and accommodation (Smith and
Dodds, 2017). It will aid in retaining customers for lifelong profits. For example – free
breakfast and staying for children below 16 years in Travelodge.
 Training and development through self learning will directly impact on product and
service standards as employees will provide services in classy manner that will attract
customers with updated knowledge and higher productivity in Travelodge.
Individual Benefits
 The employees of organisation will able to achieve and compete with colleagues for
obtaining higher position in Travelodge. The competitive personality will be developed
through self managed learning and arranging opportunities for hotel staff. For example –
becoming manager or senior head of various departments.
 Self learning will improve skills of employees by dealing with customers effectively such
as communicating, resource planning, delegating and assigning job roles etc. It aids in
developing the individual at professional and personal level. For example – Travelodge
provides king sized beds to customers by maintaining it regularly (Cowan, 2017).
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Task 2
2.1 Evaluate own current skills and competencies against professional standards and
organisational objectives
As assistant manager in Travelodge, it is important to achieve higher position in organisation by
developing professional skills. Focusing on that purpose, various skill set have been identified
that is being lacking in assistant manager role that requires further development that will provide
opportunities to accomplishing desired goals in future (Ottesen and Møller, 2016). I have
conducted self evaluation of skills required for manager job role by comparing with Travelodge
job roles for managers which are discussed below:
Table 1: Skills of manager role in Travelodge
My Present Skills Professional Standards Objectives and Job Role by
Travelodge
Conflict and Problem Solving
Skills – As manager I am
capable of finding several
solutions but de-motivation
when I have doubt with my
solutions as it creates the
confusion feeling that changes
decisions.
The future of manger will get
bright by managing and solving
problems in organisation by
maintaining quality standards.
Customers are major priorities of
Travelodge that requires
retaining by boosting employee
morale and confidence to focus
on their primary goals.
Communication Skills – I have
capabilities of listening other
people with that I am able to
discuss within groups for my
idea contribution effectively.
Oral communication is important
for managers to deal with
employees as well as customers
that is major job role and duty of
manager to retain (Block, 2016).
Essential for being passionate for
serving customers that will
present memorable stay with
quality services that plays
important part in manager job
role. Needs focusing on
performance indicators,
feedbacks and budgets for
driving successful results.
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2.2 Identify own development needs and activities to required to meet them
The above assessing of personal skills has determined various deficiencies that require serious
ability for tackling the Travelodge functioning by indulging in training and development session.
The following table determined my skills that require improvement by development methods that
are discussed below:
Table 2: Development activities required to improve
Skills Requires
Improvement
Improvement Methods
Problem and Conflict
Solving Skills
It is essential for becoming speedy thinker for determining problem and
their respective solutions (Bolden, 2016). As manager, I will deal with
small problems occurring in organisation by providing suitable solution for
identifying practical and successful results. Similarly, focusing on
employees and management conflicts by trying to solve will make
experienced by dealing with different circumstances.
Leadership Skills Looking at my senior manager, I must practise the way he influences and
motivates team members to accomplish their specific goals. Guiding people
and providing direction by focusing employee performance standards will
be practised from seniors and self learning through internet will prepare me
and develop my leadership skills.
Personal Skills In hospitality industry, I must improve my personal skills by dealing with
consumers in sensitive and cordial manner. It will beneficial for manager
job role by changing attitude in front of young employees because different
exercises and assessments will be conducted under manager assistance that
will be needed politeness and patience while explaining to employees.
The above mentioned skills as manager are required for improvement by several methods that
will aid in providing professional personality and boost my personal growth for getting higher
post (Trorey and Cullingford, 2017).
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