Reflective Journal: Exploring Gibbs Cycle, SMART Goals, Action Plans

This reflective journal explores the student's personal and professional development journey. It begins with an introduction emphasizing the importance of professional growth and the development of competencies. The main body focuses on the Gibbs reflective cycle, analyzing the student's experiences and learning from a project related to Amazon's CEO, Jeff Bezos. The student describes their initial understanding, feelings, evaluations, and analysis of their strengths and weaknesses. The journal then proposes an action plan to improve ICT and time management skills through online courses and practical application. Additionally, the student sets SMART objectives, aiming to develop ICT knowledge and enhance time management skills. The journal concludes by reiterating the significance of reflection for identifying areas for improvement and creating opportunities for future success. The student also provides references to support their analysis.

Reflective Journal

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
Gibbs Reflective Cycle................................................................................................................1
SMART objectives......................................................................................................................4
Action Plan..................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development is considered to be one of the essential aspects of
business which aids individuals related with entity, to develop competencies and firm’s
knowledge through performing with others (Dunn and Doolittle, 2020). It would be helpful in
developing confidence to perform more effectively as well as obtain opportunities to develop
career successfully. The topics which are going to be covered in this report are Gibbs reflective
cycle, action plan related to improvement of employability skills and also a SMART objective is
developed for future development.
MAIN BODY
Gibbs Reflective Cycle
As per my own analysis, I have developed my knowledge upon Gibbs reflective cycle that
is considered to be an effective reflection model. Respective model was established in 1998
through Graham Gibbs that represents the learning as well as experience results which is
obtaining through performing activities in effective and efficient way. This particular reflective
model incorporates six stages that are description, feeling, evaluation, analysis, conclusion and
action (Adeani et.al., 2020). It may be determined that application of respective model enable
person to express all level of specific states, upon which they are reflecting with intent to explore
its own learning for future development.
With assistance of first task which is on Amazon CEO named as Inc. Jeff Bezos, I get to
know that individuals’ leadership competencies are very much helpful in performing an entity in
successful way. At current times, where environment of business has become dynamic so by
performing upon this particular project, I have determined to enhance my understanding related
to how leadership style and skills affect whole organisation performance. Also, get a chance to
develop my employability and study skills which involves research, time management,
communication and many others. Whole these employability competencies are vital for a person
to be gained at academic period, so that it would provide beneficial chance of employment into
future. In this context, with assistance of Gibbs reflective cycle six stages, I have expressed my
experiences of learning and gaining knowledge. All stages are discussed below:
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Figure 1, Gibb’s Reflective Learning Cycle.
(Source: Gibb’s Reflective Learning Cycle, 2020)
 Description: It is stated to be initial stages which provide information such as
description related to specific circumstances which is needed to be performed through
person (Contreras et.al., 2020). Before developing presentation on Amazon, I have gone
through module that is available to me on our portal. It would facilitate me appropriate
information related to the way in which that information is to be presented. So, after
going through particular module, I have got to know that effectiveness of applying
various competencies that are required for effectually accomplished task in professional
manner. In context to this, there are particular skills that are to be executed like time
management skills, communication skills and others. All these are needed for
accomplishing activities. In addition to this, there are few tasks that are conducted
through me where applications of skills are required along with other key abilities like
utilisation of ICTs, self management and so on.
 Feelings: Because of new patterns, I was little tensed to learn creative thinking and
become updated with creative aspects needed for previous assignment. As I can able to
gain various effective information about various leadership styles of Inc. Jeff Bezos with
the assistance of various secondary resources. Therefore, it would assist me to apply my
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research competencies which are my key strengths. But due to lacking in ICT, self
management and time management skills are some competencies that are my weaknesses.
Therefore, I have facilitated various time upon reading module and online articles to
make an effectual presentation. After consulting to my mentor and learning module
appropriately, I felt more confident for meeting the objective of particular task.
 Evaluation: This have been evaluated that after reflecting upon weaker parts of my
understanding, seniors support assisted me to developed the presentation in more specific
way. I have also evaluated that in order to perform such task; I should have to enhance
my ICT, self management competencies in more effective way. These competencies are
vital for providing better performance at the time of academics and also assist me to
improve employability skills. But due to lacking in technical skills, I have to tackle
various problems for preparing my presentation at initial stage. In addition to this,
inefficient information regarding managing the time also develops problems for me to
accomplish the task on time (Hindrasti, 2020).
 Analysis: This has been analysed that performing upon respective task, has assisted me to
gain various employability and study competencies. Moreover, it would assist me in
future development for showing effective skills of mine for providing best performance.
In addition to this, by going through various style of leadership, I would able to analyse
that leaders should undertake effective style for getting higher post within large entity
and also it have to be an effective leader at first. For instance, understanding related to
communication competencies, ways to influence others etc are important to be enhanced.
This, I would perform more upon developing competencies of me in order to attain
effective employment life.
 Conclusion: This has been summarised from whole reflection report that performing
upon project whether in group or individually provide opportunities to person to improve
its competencies (Wang, 2020). This allows person to not only determine its own
strengths as well as weaknesses but also ways to deal with it. In this context, I have also
determined my capabilities that are research skills, communication skills and others. But I
have also determined my weaknesses that are lack of time management, ICT knowledge
and many others. This has enhanced my problems for accomplishing as well as meeting
task criteria on time.
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 Action plan: After determining that how various competencies and styles of leadership
assist leaders to manage the work area of Amazon (Markkanen et.al., 2020). So, it has
been analysed that I required focusing more upon this. So, I will prefer to attend some
online classes for learning about concepts of leadership skills along with significance of
handling difficult business atmosphere. Also, I have to develop my ICT knowledge as it
is very essential at present times. For it, I will join coaching class. Along with this, I will
perform under my superiors for another task as this would assists me to grab knowledge
about the way to manage whole team and leadership competencies for accomplishment
respective particular and attainment of desired results.
SMART objectives
A SMART objective basically stands for Specific, measureable, achievable, realistic and
timely. This assists individuals to seek for future development. Also, as objectives are SMART
so by fulfilling all criteria person goal can be attained at stipulated time duration.
 To develop my ICT knowledge of about 85% within 45 days.
 To enhance my time management skill around 80% in 60 days.
Action Plan
In order to attain the above mentioned objectives, a personal development plan is
considered to be a structured framework which is utilised for becoming aware about the
competencies that an individual have (Opiniano et.al., 2020). Also, it is helpful to determine as
well as to improve competencies that it requires and work upon them for attaining weak skills
and how that can be accomplished effectively. So, personal development plan is prepared below:
Development
objectives
Priority Activities to
be
undertaken
Target
initiate date
Target end
date
Criteria for
success
Time
management
skills
High For
developing
this skill, I
will try to
schedule to
whole of my
day to day
5/10/2020 5/12/2020 It may be
attained
through
scheduling
the time of all
activities and
observing it at
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work. Also, I
attend various
sessions or
campaigns
related to
time
management
continuous
basis.
ICT skills or
technical
skills
High For
developing
this skill, I
will join
online classes
and subscribe
to some
effective
technical
sites.
15/10/2020 30/11/2020 This can be
attained
through
concentrating
upon the
work and
performing
regular
practical
regularly.
CONCLUSION
Based upon the above report, it has been concluded that reflection is essential for
individuals as it is helpful in knowing about past experiences and understanding its affirmative
and pessimistic impacts. Moreover, this is vital that few skills and proficiencies that are required
by individuals to accomplish task effectively. In addition to this, with the assistance of Gibbs
reflective cycle, individuals can be able to determine effectiveness of several academic and
employment competencies along with ways to improve it. Also, this allows person to represent
all level of specific areas, upon which they are reflecting with intent to explore its own learning
for future development. Apart from this, through performing upon various assessments assist
learners to create professionalism within them, that is crucial to gain opportunities to obtain
superior post in their future time.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Adeani, I. S., Febriani, R. B., Syafryadin, S., 2020. Using GIBBS` reflective cycle in making
reflections of literary analysis.
Contreras, J. A., Edwards-Maddox, S., Hall, A., Lee, M. A., 2020. Effects of Reflective Practice
on Baccalaureate Nursing Students’ Stress, Anxiety and Competency: An Integrative
Review. Worldviews on Evidence
‐Based Nursing.
Dunn, R., Doolittle, S. A., 2020. Professional development for teaching personal and social
responsibility: Past, present, and future. Journal of Teaching in Physical
Education. 39(3). pp.347-356.
Hindrasti, N. E. K., 2020. The reflective thinking skills of preservice biology teacher in histology
lectures. JPhCS. 1470(1). p.012080.
Markkanen, P., Valimaki, M., Anttila, M., 2020. A reflective cycle: Understanding challenging
situations in a school setting. Educational Research. 62(1). pp.46-62.
Opiniano, J., Daquipil, R. A. and Romarate, P. I., 2020. Reflective practice in the newswork of
Filipino journalists: A grounded theory study. Journal of Applied Journalism & Media
Studies.
Valmas, M. M., Himrich, S. J. and Finn, K. M., 2020. Women’s experiences of supervision and
professional development. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration. 30(1). p.130.
Wang, P., 2020. A REFLECTIVE LEARNING APPROACH TO TEACHING COMPUTER
AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COURSES. Issues in Information
Systems. 21(2). pp. 19-29.
Online
Gibb’s Reflective Learning Cycle. 2020. [Online] Available Through:<
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/301/study-skills/university-study/reflective-practice >.
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