Personal and Professional Development Report: Reflective Analysis

This report delves into personal and professional development, focusing on the application of the Gibbs Reflective Cycle to assess and improve skills. The assignment comprises two key parts: a presentation addressing leadership in business, specifically analyzing Mark Zuckerberg's leadership style; and a reflective journal. The journal meticulously applies the Gibbs Reflective Cycle to evaluate the student's experience with the module, covering description, feelings, evaluation (positive and negative aspects, including challenges with research and teamwork), analysis, conclusion, and an action plan to enhance weaker skills. The action plan outlines strategies to improve research, communication, and teamwork abilities. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of continuous self-assessment and the value of reflective practices for personal and professional growth.

PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Covered in PPT.......................................................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................1
Gibbs Reflective Cycle...........................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development is an effective area of study which is
appropriately associated with activities, analysis and procedures which are used by individuals in
order to ensure academic and professional success as well as continuous improvement in their
skills and competencies (Vangrieken and et. al., 2017). In this context, the assignment below is
divided into two effective parts. The first part is a presentation, which covers aspect such as
leadership in business organisation, along with application of theories and models to analyse the
leadership style of Mark Zuckerberg. Furthermore, the second part of the assignment is a
reflective journal which focuses on a detailed reflection associated with achievement of
employability and study skills using Gibbs Reflective Cycle, which is an effective model used to
reflect past experiences and learning.
TASK 1
Covered in PPT
TASK 2
Gibbs Reflective Cycle
Gibbs Reflective Cycle is an effective model that is associated with appropriate reflection
upon past experiences which helps in determining positive and negative aspects within the same,
along with determining a scope of improvement within the skills and competencies of an
individual. In relation to the above task, below is my personal reflection and application of this
model:
 Description:
This section of the model is associated with appropriate and effective description of the
whole event or experience (Dorociak and et. al., 2017). The module required a detailed insight
onto the concept of leadership and its application within Facebook, which is a multinational
social media company started by Mark Zuckerberg. For that purpose, a presentation was required
to be made in context of addressing the key learning outcomes. In addition to this, the module
required implementation of certain skills, which is related to communication, research, use of
ICT, teamwork, time management, along with problem solving skills. Furthermore, application
1

of all these skills and competencies were needed to accomplish the learning outcomes in a
professional and effective manner.
 Feelings:
This section of the model is associate with elaboration of feelings which were prevalent
throughout the overall module (Grant, 2017). During the start of the module, I was quite nervous
in context of developing and presenting the presentation within the overall class, as my
communication skills and research skills are quite weak. Furthermore, I was also anxious as I
have been following the leadership style of Mark Zuckerberg, which was very much appropriate
for me to study within this module. However, as the term progressed, I started feeling very much
confident due to having adequate information, along with effective time to segregate and
integrate information in a prominent and presentable manner. In addition to this, working with
ICT also was a progressing and happy experience as I experienced quite positive emotions as
such technologies were very well operated by me.
 Evaluation:
This stage appropriately and effectively describes the positive and negative elements of
the overall experiences which provides areas that require improvement. In relation to the module,
there are several positive factors that have been experienced by me appropriately (Tour, 2017).
The very first experience that was favourable for me was working with Information and
Communications Technology. For instance, working on several software for acquisition of
information as well as development of presentation was quite effectively possible by the use of
ICT. In addition to this, due to making this project in a team, each member was effectively
communicated through this technology, which facilitated the accomplishment of task
appropriately. Another positive factor in context of the overall module was related to time
management. It was very much appropriate for me to manage the time and allot the same to each
activity within the module which helped me in accomplishing my tasks within the stipulated time
period. This was possible done by me through effective planning and prioritising the activities.
Moreover, there were several problems related to the module, which were related to ineffective
access to credible resources, as well as software best for presentations. For this purpose, I applied
my problem solving skills to provide relevant and flexible solutions to these problems.
However, there were certain negative aspects as well. For instance, as mentioned above,
my research skills are quite weak, which was very much challenging for me to acquire effective
2

information from the internet which could be used within the module. In addition to this, since
this was one of the main activities throughout the module, it presented certain barriers to
development of an effective presentation earlier. Another negative experience within this
assignment was related to teamwork. The reason for this is because I find it very hard to adapt to
different work culture as I am very much habitual in working as per my own methods and
approaches. Thus, working in a team with individuals having different mindsets was very much
challenging for me. Moreover, it also enhanced certain conflicts throughout the team on several
occasions, which lowered the effectiveness of working within this module.
 Analysis:
Within this stage, analysis is made on the overall situation to make sense out of the
experience (Davies, Curtin and Robson, 2017). Through the assignment, I realised that there are
yet several appropriate skills and competencies which are required to be enhanced by me in order
to ensure effectiveness within the overall personal and professional success. The sense which I
made out from the overall module is that it is highly necessary to study and analyse the concept
of leadership as it is necessary in context of analysing as to what best approaches and practices
could be leaders of a company adopt to lead the same towards success. Furthermore, analysis of
entrepreneurs and their leadership styles helps in appropriately getting an insight on to the good
practices that must be followed to become a great leader. In addition to this, I also realised that
skills like communication, research, technical, problem solving and teamwork are highly
necessary to provide better and more consistent growth to students and aspiring professionals.
 Conclusion:
To conclude, the module has been quite contributing in context of enhancing the scope of
success and providing a through insight onto the concept of leadership and application of several
skills, which has been very much appropriate in context of improvising the competencies in a
prominent manner (Johnson, Prescott and Lyon, 2017). However, this module could have been
attempted in a better and more effective manner. The reason for this is because there are several
ways through which the inconsistencies within my performance could have been improved. For
instance, other individuals such as my assessors and colleagues could have been approached by
me in relation to developing my skills in a prominent manner. Moreover, I could also have
approached a workshop or feedbacks to ensure development in skills in which I am weak.
 Action Plan:
3

To ensure development in the weaker aspects of the competencies, an action plan is
required to be appropriately and effectively made that is subjected towards continuous
improvement (McDonagh and et. al., 2019). In this context, there are several activities which
would be done by me in context of enhancing my weaker skills. For instance, to enhance my
research skills, I would be undertaking feedbacks from my seniors and assessors, who would be
guiding me towards segregating effective sources in context to choose the most credible ones. In
addition to this, my communication skills are very weak, as a result to which I failed to
appropriately communicate my viewpoints in public. Hence, in order to enhance the scope of
success, I would be undertaking workshops in relation to becoming competent and confident in
presenting my viewpoints which is necessary for my personal and professional development.
Another aspect in which I am quite weak is teamwork. For that matter, I would be undertaking
seminars and attend conferences, which would be appropriate and required for me to enhance the
scope of improvement. This would allow me to gain insight on viewpoints on professionals and
would be studying from manuals as to how best the teamwork abilities could improvise in order
to commence and accomplish future projects like this in an effective manner (Xerri, 2017).
CONCLUSION
Thus, it is concluded from the assignment that personal and professional development is
an important activity for an organisation that is necessary in order to appropriately required in
context of enhancing growth of academic and professional skills. Lastly, reflective journals are
helpful as well as contributing in context of reflecting upon past experiences in a way which
elevates a path for future effectiveness in skills and competencies required to ensure personal
growth and professional success.
4

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Davies, K., Curtin, M. and Robson, K., 2017. Impact of an international workplace learning
placement on personal and professional development. Australian occupational therapy
journal. 64(2). pp.121-128.
Dorociak, K. E. and et. al., 2017. Development of the Professional Self-Care Scale. Journal of
Counseling Psychology. 64(3). p.325.
Grant, J., 2017. The good CPD guide: A practical guide to managed continuing professional
development in medicine. CRC Press.
Johnson, M., Prescott, D. and Lyon, S., 2017. Learning in online continuing professional
development: An institutionalist view on the personal learning environment. Journal of
New Approaches in Educational Research (NAER Journal). 6(1). pp.20-27.
McDonagh, C. and et. al., 2019. Enhancing practice through classroom research: A teacher's
guide to professional development. Routledge.
Tour, E., 2017. Teachers’ self-initiated professional learning through personal learning
networks. Technology, Pedagogy and Education. 26(2). pp.179-192.
Vangrieken, K. and et. al., 2017. Teacher communities as a context for professional
development: A systematic review. Teaching and teacher education. 61. pp.47-59.
Xerri, D., 2017. Teachers' use of social networking sites for continuing professional
development. In Educational Leadership and Administration: Concepts, Methodologies,
Tools, and Applications (pp. 635-659). IGI Global.
5