Professional Development Reflection Report: Self-Awareness

This report provides a detailed reflection on the student's professional development journey. It begins by exploring the concept of self-awareness, examining how personal experiences and interactions with family and friends influence career choices and motivation. The report then delves into the crucial role of professional networks and mentors in providing guidance, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and facilitating skill development. The student highlights the benefits of having a mentor and the importance of networking for accessing information and opportunities. Furthermore, the report presents a professional development plan, outlining the student's strengths and weaknesses, and proposing specific actions to improve skills in communication, leadership, and mathematics/financial basics. The plan includes estimated timelines for each skill improvement, demonstrating a proactive approach to achieving long-term career goals. The report concludes by emphasizing the significance of self-awareness, mentorship, and continuous skill development for professional success.

About reflection

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
PART A ..........................................................................................................................................1
Level of self awareness ...............................................................................................................1
PART B ...........................................................................................................................................2
Role of professional networks and mentors ................................................................................2
PART C............................................................................................................................................2
Professional development program .............................................................................................2
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Selection of a suitable career is vital for the continuous professional development. The
experiences and the thinking process are correlated to each other and plays an important role in
the professional development (Desimone and Pak, 2017). This report will discuss the
significance of mentors and self awareness through reflection practices and learning.
PART A
Level of self awareness
In my opinion self awareness is the integral element which motivate or demotivate an
individual to choose a specific career and to make progress in it. When I observe my parents,
relatives and friends then I feel really motivated that how successfully they have managed their
career and are able to achieve everything they need. When I interact with them then I really feel
inspired that they have gone through huge challenges and difficulties to achieve their goals.
Their harsh experience and career stories gives me thrilling experience. It encourages me to
always remain alert that I must not take my career lightly and should try to manage time and
regular skill development.
Contrary to this I regularly update my knowledge through communication with people or
through various events of information sources around me. It helps me to have complete
knowledge of all possible career options towards me and how I can achieve those goals.
However, there are several incidences which demotivate me to make efforts towards my career
goal. Last year when I was working on one of my short term goal and program to enhance my
technical efficiency then I failed to achieve that goal. That failure has created a fear in me that
what if I will fail in my career as well.
I also believe that it is not fair enough to develop a fear from the failure experiences.
Learning from my failure incidences I have improved my knowledge and awareness that which
of my drawbacks lead to failure. In order to overcome the failure in my professional goals I am
trying to analyse my possible shortcomings. The emotional motivation from my family and
friends also inspire me to overcome these challenges and to take forward steps for professional
development.
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PART B
Role of professional networks and mentors
It is extremely difficult to survive in the highly competitive professional race. I have been
very luck to have a mentor who supports me with valuable guidance. The professional network
helps an individual to explore the wide growth and career opportunity. For the long term it is not
possible to survive alone professionally without having any network. This type of network assist
in identifying the strengths and weakness which influences the career growth (Voogt and et.al.,
2015). With the help of my mentor I have been trying to improve my network so that I can have
vast range of information resources and support. There were several instances when my mentor
guided me to adopt and improve my specific skills.
For instance few years ago when my mentor suggested me that I must learn team work
skills then I was very confused that why this skill is needed for my personal development. I will
learn it naturally when I will work in team. However, as per the instruction of my mentor I
learned that skill. Today when I review myself then I realised that team work skills are essential
and they have brought a lot of changes and improvement in my working. Thus, it may not be
possible for an individual to assess own capabilities. However, the mentors and professional
networks proves to be an effective in identifying the skills, capabilities and skill gaps which are
required in an individual (Gaudin and Chaliès, 2015). Communication has been one of the most
fundamental tool to lead progress in the professional growth. The professional network also
teaches that how an individual must behave in the professional work front.
PART C
Professional development program
On self evaluation and guidance from my mentor I have assessed that I have following
strengths and weakness. The skills or the activities which acts as my weakness needs
improvement and immediate attention so that they do not influence my overall long term
professional goals.
Strength
 Good professional network and mentor greatly helps me to
identify the skills which I must improve.
 I have good at technical skills
 Good command in analytical skills
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 Effective team work and coordination
Weakness
 Though I have been good at communication skill but when I am
in groups I often fail to express my opinion clearly.
 Leadership skills are also one of my weakness because due to
fear I always fail to take initiatives like a leader.
 Mathematics and basics of finance have always been challenging
for me which creates a barrier in many of my professional goals.
Professional development plan:
To improve my skills I can follow the below development plan.
Skill Actions need to be done Estimated time
required
Communication and
language improvement
To improve this skill I can enrol in
language and communication
improvement class so that my
confidence will boost up and I will
be able to communicate with public
as well.
3 months
Leadership skill For developing my leadership skill
I must first change my thinking
process. When I will overcome my
fear and will start taking initiatives
of the problem then I will naturally
develop leadership capabilities
(Hagger and McIntyre, 2018). I can
also seek help from my mentors to
enhance my risk assessment and
solving abilities. When I will not be
afraid of failure then, I will make
2 months
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attempts to lead the actions.
Mathematics and financial
basics
I can learn new problem solving
methods from tutors so that my
problem solving capabilities can be
improved. Further the regular
practice can also help me to
improve this skill.
6 months
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the above discussion that there are several motivational factors
which encourages professional awareness among individuals. This awareness and guidance from
the mentors helps to excel in the professional growth.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Desimone, L.M. and Pak, K., 2017. Instructional coaching as high-quality professional
development. Theory Into Practice. 56(1). pp.3-12.
Gaudin, C. and Chaliès, S., 2015. Video viewing in teacher education and professional
development: A literature review. Educational Research Review. 16. pp.41-67.
Hagger, H. and McIntyre, D., 2018. Mentors in Schools (1996): Developing the Profession of
Teaching. Routledge.
Voogt, J. and et.al., 2015. Collaborative design as a form of professional
development. Instructional science. 43(2). pp.259-282.
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