Professional Development Report: Personal and Professional Skills

This report delves into the realm of professional development, utilizing Marks & Spencer as a case study to evaluate personal and professional skills crucial for achieving strategic goals. The analysis incorporates SWOT analysis and skill audits to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses. The report explores techniques to enhance communication, decision-making, and technical skills, aligning them with the strategic direction of the organization. It emphasizes the importance of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and provides practical strategies for skill improvement through listening, group discussions, research, and technical training. The objective is to provide insights into how individuals can overcome their weaknesses and enhance their skills to contribute effectively to organizational objectives, such as expanding into new markets and increasing profitability. The report highlights the advantages and disadvantages of SWOT analysis and skill audits, offering a comprehensive guide to professional growth and strategic alignment.

Professional
Development for
Strategic Managers -
Part A

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Use appropriate methods to evaluate personal skills required to achieve strategic goals 1
1.2 Apply techniques to assess the professional skills required to support the strategic
direction of the organisation...................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Professional development is define as process of education, training, attending conferences in
order to get better opportunities in future. It includes various approaches such as mentoring, coaching and
many more (Hylton and et. al., 2013). This report is based on Marks&Spencer. It is retail industry and a
public limited company which deals with the production of clothing, home products and other related
products. Its headquarter is located in London, UK. It was founded by Michael Marks and Thomas
Spencer. It consists of several brands such as Per Una, Autograph, Limited Edition and many more. Mark
and Spencer serve their customer across the world. This report is based on analysis personal and
professional skills with the help of SWOT analysis which is required to achieve organisational goals. In
addition to this, there are various techniques that is required to influence strategic direction of a firm.
There are also various techniques through which an individual can deal with their weaknesses that will
boost their confidence.
TASK 1
1.1 Use appropriate methods to evaluate personal skills required to achieve strategic goals
For an individual it is important to have personal skills such communication, interpersonal skills
and many more. Personal skills refers to the ability that has been gained during training and development
provided by an organisation (Burke, 2013). These skills assist an individual to grow personally as well as
professionally. In addition to this, I will also able to know where I am lacking and on which sector I have
to work more. The objective of Marks and Spencer is to open a offline store in Nigeria and enhance profit
by 40% in 1 year. To achieve this objective I have conducted my SWOT analysis and skill audit which is
described below:
SWOT analysis:-
Strength Weakness
 Leadership Skills: With the help of this
skill, I am able to guide and direct my team
effectively so that task can be performed in
a proper way.
 Innovative: To make my project attractive
and creative I make use to effective which
help to produce better outcomes.
 Time Management: I am able to complete
my assignment in given period of time so
 Decision Making: There were many
situations where I lack behind in taking
decision which directly or indirectly
affected my outcomes.
 Conflict management: Sometimes in case
of conflicts I am not able to solve issues
between my team members which creates
negative environment in my team.
 Technical Skills: Due to lack in technical
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that I can focus on my other projects.
 Team work: I engage my team members
in process of decision making. This help
me to build relation with them as well it
also motivate my team members.
skills, I am not to use technologies which
can help me to improve my strategies and
make my result better.
 Communication Skill: I am not able to
interact effectively with customers due to
which relation with are not able to build
Opportunities Threat
 I will improve my decision making skills
which will help to deal with outside
pressure or external environment.
 I will also improve my communication
skills which will help me to build strong
customer base which will assist in
enhancing goodwill of my firm.
 Along with this, I will manage conflicts
that arise in my team or organisation so
that it does not affect the environment as
well as also able to retain talented and
skilled workforce.
 There were many talented and skilled
employees which created obstacle in my
growth and development.
 Due to changes in dynamic environment, I
have to adjust according to changes made
in rules and policies of company.
Skill Audit:-
The table below determine my strength and weakness :
Skills Rating by me Rating by others Differences
Time management 8 10 -1 (Strength)
Communication skills 10 9 1 (Weakness)
Leadership Skills 7 10 -3 (Strength)
Conflict management 9 8 1 (Weakness)
Hence, these analyses helped in determining my strength and weakness which will provide me
opportunities to overcome my lacking. Along with this, I will able to improve my skills and knowledge
that will provide my better in future. In addition to this, I will also try to remove threats from my path and
put more efforts to achieve goal and objectives of my company.
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Development objectives- Form the above skill audit, it can be analysed that my communication
and conflict management skills are weak. So make improvement in these competencies, mi set
development objectives. Such as to make improvement in my communication skill, I set target that I will
improve it in with in 2 moths with the help of online coaching and speaking classes, reading books and
news paper etc. to develop conflict management skill, I will effectively analyse the situation and work,
participate in decision making, analyse different case studies related to this skill.
SWOT analysis:
Advantages:
 Problem Domain: SWOT analysis can be adopted by company, individual or a team to achieve
their set objectives (Varbanova, 2013). It is beneficial in examining strategies, technologies,
market products and so on.
 Multi-level analysis: This analysis helps in determining all the four elements i.e. strength,
weakness, opportunities and threat. With assistance of this analysis an individual can enhance its
skills and capabilities which will result in their growth and personality.
Disadvantage:
 Ambiguity: In SWOT analysis, it is difficult to provide mechanism as in this there can be both
strength as well weakness which can create problem in analysing. Along with this, it will also be
difficult to determine which factor should be given more weight.
 Subjective analysis: As business decision are reliable and applicable but due to SWOT analysis
subjective procedure reflects biasness of individual. Due to this, SWOT analysis becomes
outdated quickly.
Skill Audit
Advantages:
 With the aid of skill audit an individual can enhance its skills as well as knowledge and develop
their personality (Blandford, 2012). This will enhance their confidence and will keep them
motivated.
 It also improves productivity and effectiveness of people which encourages them to put efforts on
their task for accomplishment of goals and objectives of company.
 It focus more on training and development plan so that an individual can able to analyse their
strength and weakness and make efforts to overcome them.
Disadvantage:
 Sometimes while doing skill audit, an individual becomes either over confidence or self
consciousness (Zuber-Skerritt, 2013).
 Information in skill audit may be incorrect.
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1.2 Apply techniques to assess the professional skills required to support the strategic direction
of the organisation
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) refers to the loyalty of professionals towards their
task that intensify their knowledge and proficiency which lead in the achievement of goals and objectives
of organisation (Day and et. al., 2013). It also makes employees active and energetic. There are various
techniques that can aid an individual to overcome their weakness and make them achieve objective of
Marks and Spencer. It is described below:
Communication Skills:
Due to lack in communication skills, I am not able to build strong customer base for my
respective company which directly or indirectly impacting its goals. Along with this I was not able to
have effective communication with my colleagues due to which there were of conflicts. In order to
improve my communication skills I have adopted some technique which is explained below:
 Listening: To become a good communicator and to achieve my company's goal, I will listen to
others and their views and opinions. This will help me to understand others and according to that
I will able to respond properly.
 Group discussion: Another way to improve communication skills is to participate in group
discussion. This method will help me open up my views and opinions in front of other people and
I will also not feel hesitate in communicating.
 Feedback: the better to know if there is any improvement in communication skills, I will ask for
feedbacks from my colleagues. This will encourage me to work more harder and in effective
manner.
 Non verbal communication: With the help of non verbal communication, I will able to improve
my body posture while communicating with others. This will help me to keep my words
consistent so that I will able to have effective interaction.
Hence, with the aid of these techniques I will able to improve my communication skills which will help in
achieving the goal of my company. Along with this, I will able to build strong customer base which will
result in increased sales and profits of Marks and Spencer. Making effective use of these techniques I will
not only achieve objective of respective company but also I will grow and develop professionally at my
workplace.
Decision making skills:
I lack in decision making skills due to which I was not able to make decision which impacted my
company's goals and objectives. To enhance my decision making skills I have adopted some techniques
which are described below:
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 Narrow options: While making any decision I will narrow my options so that I can make
effective decision. Having lot of options available will lead me in confusion and that will affect
my outcomes.
 Research: Before making any decision, I will research all the data or information related to the
topic. While doing this I can be confident enough in making my decision that can benefit my
company.
 Conflict management practice: The best method to improve skills of decision making is to
solve conflicts that arise in a team or company. Through this I can build my confidence and stay
motivated.
 Future planning: Another method to enhance decision making skills is to make future plans and
strategies. With this I can have enough time to take decisions and can do my proper research and
analysis.
Hence from the above techniques, I can improve my skills of decision making through which I can
achieve objectives of Marks and Spencer. In addition to this I will also be solve organisation conflicts and
maintain healthy environment. In addition to this, I can also plan effective strategies which will help my
firm in its growth and development.
Technical skills:
Not having technical skills, I was not able to modify my plans and strategies and this lead me to
outdated updates and information. Along with this, I was also not able to use advance technologies. In
order to improve my technical skills, there are some analysis which I have adopted:
 Technical class and workshops: Rather studying online, I will attend my classes and
workshops offline because it will help me gaining knowledge and also improve my technical
skills that will keep my updated with new technologies.
 Reading technical books:With the help of technical books, I will able to understand its theory
concepts that will help me to perform practicals effectively. Along with this, it will also help me
enhance technical writing styles.
 Knowledge of other languages: Having knowledge of other languages will help me in getting
better opportunities. With this, I can also work with international companies in their technical
work and serve them services.
 Technical Projects:Doing technical projects will make me familiar with technologies and will
also increase my knowledge and skills in respective field. In addition to this, I can also build my
relations with domestic as well international companies.
Hence, in order to improve technical skills, these techniques will help me to become familiar with new
software's, advance updates and many more. Along with this, having effective knowledge of technologies
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will provide me better opportunities that will aid in career growth. In addition to this, with the help of
technical skills, I can create my own websites and other webpages that will create my brand value in
marketplace.
Personal development plan
Develop
ment
objective
s
Priorit
y
Activities to
be
undertaken
Resources Target
start
date
Target
end date
Criteria for
success
To
improve
on
communi
cation
skill
High To make
improvement
in this skill, I
join online
speaking
classes or
reading book,
magazines
and news
paper.
Asked to
manager of the
company about to
make
improvement in
my
communication
and expand
interaction with
subordinates.
05/10/19 08/12/19 Attend
online
classes
regularly
and interact
with
different
people.
To
improve
Decision
making
skill
Very
high By solving
different case
studies and
reading or
analysing
different case
situations.
Make
participation
in
conferences
and decision
making
porcess.
To asked manger
to participate in
decision making
process and
conferences.
10/10/19 13/01/20 Get
feedback
from
manager
and other
senior.
CONCLUSION
Hence from the above report it can be concluded that to achieve strategic goals of an organisation
it is necessary for an individual to analyse personal skills with the help of SWOT analyse so that they able
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to determine on which sector they have to work hard. This will help them to understand their strength and
weakness and with this they will able to know their opportunities. Along with this, skill audit of an
individual can also determine their personal skills. In addition to this, continuing professional
development will help in enhancing employees skills, knowledge as well as capabilities. This will aid
them in their growth and development and also provide them better future opportunities. Therefore, there
are various techniques that can be applied by an individual which will help them to improve their
weaknesses.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Blandford, S., 2012. Managing professional development in schools. Routledge.
Burgess, N. and Currie, G., 2013. The knowledge brokering role of the hybrid middle level manager: The
case of healthcare. British Journal of Management. 24. pp.S132-S142.
Burke, B. M., 2013. Experiential professional development: A model for meaningful and long-lasting
change in classrooms. Journal of Experiential Education. 36(3). pp.247-263.
Cunningham, I., 2017. The wisdom of strategic learning: The self managed learning solution. Routledge.
Day, M., and et. al., 2013. Trust and relational embeddedness: Exploring a paradox of trust pattern
development in key supplier relationships. Industrial Marketing Management. 42(2). pp.152-
165.
DeMonte, J., 2013. High-quality professional development for teachers: Supporting teacher training to
improve student learning. Center for American Progress.
Earley, P. and Porritt, V., 2014. Evaluating the impact of professional development: The need for a
student-focused approach. Professional development in education. 40(1). pp.112-129.
Frost, D., 2012. From professional development to system change: teacher leadership and
innovation. Professional development in education. 38(2). pp.205-227.
Hylton, K., and et. al., 2013. Sports development. London: Routledge.
Varbanova, L., 2013. Strategic management in the arts. Routledge.
Zuber-Skerritt, O., 2013. Professional development in higher education: A theoretical framework for
action research. Routledge.
Online
Advantages & Disadvantages of SWOT Analysis. 2019. [Online]. Available
through:<https://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-amp-disadvantages-swot-analysis-
41398.html>.
10 Ways to Improve Your Decision-Making Skills. 2019. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.wisebread.com/10-ways-to-improve-your-decision-making-skills>.
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