Professional Development Report: Skills, Challenges, and Analysis

This report delves into the realm of professional development, examining the skills acquired and challenges faced through three distinct scenarios: the Apprentice Challenge, the Presentation Challenge, and the T-Shirt Challenge. The report highlights the development of crucial skills such as communication, teamwork, time management, and various business competencies. It analyzes each challenge from a business perspective, illustrating how the acquired skills were applied in branding, finance, and operations. The report also incorporates Tuckman’s theory on teamwork to analyze team development stages and concludes with a SMART action plan to enhance communication skills. The report emphasizes the importance of professional development for career advancement and provides valuable insights into applying skills in real-world business contexts.

ASSESSMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Apprentice Challenge..................................................................................................................3
Presentation Challenge................................................................................................................4
T-Shirt Challenge........................................................................................................................5
ANALYSIS OF EACH CHALLENGE FROM A BUSINESS ANGLE AND KNOWLEDGE
GAINED FROM ABOUT HOW BUSINESSES ACTUALLY WORK........................................5
Branding......................................................................................................................................5
Finance........................................................................................................................................6
Operations...................................................................................................................................6
Tuckman’s Theory on Teamwork...............................................................................................6
ACTION PLAN...............................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Professional development is the development and improvement in the skills in order to
meet their needs. It helps in improving the skills and knowledge of the individual so that
achievements can be made. The professional development helps in creating a vision for the
success and requires knowledge, skills and competencies to climb the ladder of success
(Argüello and Méndez, 2019). In order to develop the career, it is important to require the skills
so that planning and negotiation can be done and networks can be built. It also involves learning
from the experiences and understanding the oneself. This report shall cover the reflection of the
three challenges.
MAIN BODY
Apprentice Challenge
It is a challenge which is aimed to improve the communication skill and also inspire the
teams and groups to come up with the numerous ideas (Becker and Stone, 2020). When I was
pursuing my studies, I came up with this challenge in my college which is London School of
Science and Technology (LSST). While undergoing this challenge, I developed the following
skills-
 Communication skills- It is very important for the student to have this skill. As a
student, I have tried hard to develop this skill and this skill have helped me in making the
communication to my teams mates. This skill have helped me in completing this
challenge without any hurdle. While I was taking up the task, communication skills
helped me in delivering my information to all effectively so that there is clarity in the
work.
 Teamwork- As a student, according to me, team work is very important as it helps in
coordinating the task with others. This skills have helped me in dividing the pressure of
the challenge which ultimately helped me working effectively. At the initial stages of the
challenges, my team work skills were weak but while undergoing it, I successfully
developed this skill and worked with others with full cooperation and collaboration.
 Time Management skills- This skill is very important at the the stage of academics.
Time management skills have helped me in bringing discipline in my personal and

professional lifestyle as I am able to fulfil my task well on time. By the development of
this skill.
 Business skills and competencies developed- As a student, developing this skill was a
challenge for me. It involves various skills and competencies which have helped me in
successful completion of the challenge. By developing business competencies and skill, I
was able to take quick and effective decisions which brought efficiency in my work and I
also developed the problem solving skill which ultimately helped me in overcoming the
hurdles.
Presentation Challenge
Presentation is a process of delivering the topic to the audience (Harding, 2020). When I
was working in Tesco Plc, I was given a presentation challenge where I was able to
communicate my information to the customers. Tesco is a large company which deals in
groceries and general merchandise, so I was tasked to meet the customers and help them with the
service.
 Communication skills- As I was working in the organisation Tesco, I developed the
communication skill which helped me in delivering my information to the people who
have come to shop with us. This skill played an important role in my professional
development as I was able to complete the presentation challenge and develop this skill.
 Teamwork- it is one of the important skill in the professional world as working in
companies involves team work. As I was working in Tesco, I was able to develop this
skill by interacting with my team mates so that I can clear my confusions and doubts.
This skill helped me in working with cooperation and I learned to work while respecting
the opinion of others.
 Time Management skills- It is very important to manage the time while working. While
working in Tesco, I was able to complete my work well on time so that I can achieve my
targets. This skill was developed when I was able to give my equal and proportionate
time to my presentation where I was able to manage every customer who came to avail
the services of the company. So this skill have really helped me in completing this
challenge.
 Business skills and competencies developed- In the professional life, business skills
and competencies play a major role. While I was working in Tesco and I got the

presentation challenge where I was able to complete it with the help of business
competencies which included problem solving skills, decision making, leadership and
many other. While I dealing with the customers, I have to narrate the description of the
product so these competencies were developed while I got struck in any customer's
question.
T-Shirt Challenge
It is a challenge which was about launching a new T shirt (Natvig and Stark, 2016). I
was entrusted with a role to launch a New T shirt which demonstrate the brand and logo of the
company. This challenge has led to development of certain skills which is discussed below-
 Communication skills- As I was working in an organisation, I was given this chance to
launch the t shirt. The communication skill was developed by me when I was undergoing
this skill. As I was working in marketing department, I have to deliver the market
research which is I did to my team so this skill was developed at this time.
 Teamwork- This skill was developed when I was working with the marketing team. I
have to coordinate with the other members of the department and work with them in
order to successfully complete this challenge. When any market research is done, it is
shared with everyone so that strategies can be built to deal with them so it helped me in
developing this skill.
 Time Management skills- While working for the T shirt challenge, I was able to
develop this skill as I have to work according to the given target. I developed discipline
in my working as my boss was very strict with the punctuality so I was able to develop
this skill due to my boss.
 Business skills and competencies developed- While undergoing this challenge, I was
able to develop professionalism within me as I have interact with the customers and
convince them to purchase the T shirt. These business skills were developed by me while
undergoing this challenge as I have take decisions quickly and on the spot.

ANALYSIS OF EACH CHALLENGE FROM A BUSINESS ANGLE AND
KNOWLEDGE GAINED FROM ABOUT HOW BUSINESSES
ACTUALLY WORK.
Branding
While I was undergoing presentation skill, I developed communication skill which helped
me in branding about me product. As I was engaged in dealing with the customers, I needed this
skill so that I can deliver my information clearly to others. So this skill helped me in performing
my task for branding.
Finance
When I was allotted the challenge of T shirt, I developed the time management skill. This
skill is utilised by me in my finance unit where I was able to develop the cost plan within the
allotted time. Team work skill also helped me in making the budget of the department as I was
able to communicate and coordinate with other units while preparing budget for them.
Operations
While working for the operations department, I utilised my time management which
helped me successfully completing the task. As I was working in the production department, I
was able to complete the task on the allotted target which brought efficiency in the work.
Tuckman’s Theory on Teamwork
This theory is focused on the five stages of the development of the teams which is given
by Bruce Tuckman in the year 1965 (Solomon, 2020). The stages of team development is
discussed below- Forming- In this stage, the team is formed and every member of the team interact with
others as it is the introduction of the team. Storming- In this stage, the members of the team are able to know about the
characteristics of the team members. Norming- During this stage, the team members appreciate the strength of team members
and start to notice each other. Here everyone contribute and work as a cohesive unit. Performing- In this stage, members are confident, motivate and confident with the
project for which the team is built and can work without any supervision.

 Adjourning- In this stage, the project is ended and the team is disband after the goal is
accomplished. It involves wrapping the final task.
ACTION PLAN
The SMART goal for developing the communication skill is- Specific- The goal is to develop the communication skill so that I can improve my
presentation skills. Measurable- This goal shall be measured by my performance where I have used this skill
for further improvement. Achievable- I will attain this skill by undergoing the course so that I can efficient
improve and enhance my communication skill. Relevant- To ensure its reliability, I have to take many certificates in order to prove its
relevancy.
 Time frame- I will acquire this skill within 6 months (Udugama and et. al., 2018.).
CONCLUSION
It is concluded from this report that professional development is very essential for an
individual in order to develop its career. The three challenges have been undertaken, which
helped in developing various skills like teamwork, communication, time management and
business skills. These were effectively utilised in the business functions like branding, operations
and finance. Further a Tuckman theory is discussed with respect to team development and a
SMART goal for the development of the communication skill which will help in further
enhancement of the presentation skills.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Argüello, G. and Méndez, M.G., 2019. Virtual Advising: A Tool for Retention, Engagement,
and Success for the Graduate Distance Learner. Distance Learning. 16(2). pp.51-57.
Becker, C.A. and Stone, A.E., 2020. Graduate Student Literature Review: Heat abatement
strategies used to reduce negative effects of heat stress in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy
Science. 103(10). pp.9667-9675.
Harding, L.M., 2020. PROCRASTINATING TOGETHER: FLOCKING GRADUATE
STUDENTS INTO GROUPS BASED ON A SHARED PROCLIVITY TO
PROCRASTINATE. Marketing Education Review, pp.1-6.
Natvig, D. and Stark, N.L., 2016. A project team analysis using Tuckman's model of small-group
development. Journal of Nursing Education. 55(12). pp.675-681.
Solomon, D., 2020. The Worth of Steady Digital Team Formation Strategy A Case Study of
Bruce Tuckman's Model in Software Industry.
Udugama and et. al., 2018. BIOPRO World Talent Campus: A week of real world challenge for
biotechnology post-graduate students. Education for Chemical Engineers. 25. pp.1-8.