University Self-Development Plan: Assessment 2 Report

This report presents a comprehensive self-development plan, analyzing the student's instrumental values (self-control and honesty) and their contribution to leadership. It identifies a weakness (politeness) and its potential impact on leadership, along with two key leadership skills: active listening and teamwork. The development plan outlines two personal goals: networking and becoming an excellent communicator. The justification for these goals is provided, emphasizing their advantages for professional development. The report details how these skills will be developed, and how they will contribute to the student's growth. The student aims to improve their networking abilities and communication skills, which are seen as crucial for effective project leadership and professional success. The report also discusses how these skills will be developed and implemented to achieve the desired outcomes.

Running head: ASSESSMENT 2: SELF-DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Assessment 2: Self-Development Plan
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1ASSESSMENT 2: SELF-DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
1. Personal Assessment....................................................................................................................2
a) Two foremost instrumental values and its contribution..........................................................2
b) One greatest weakness and its impact on self-leadership........................................................3
c) Two leadership skills...............................................................................................................4
2. Development Plan........................................................................................................................5
2.1 Two personal goals................................................................................................................5
2.2 Justifying the selection of goals.............................................................................................5
2.3 Advantages on the professional development.......................................................................6
2.4 Outline a practicable plan......................................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................10

2ASSESSMENT 2: SELF-DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Introduction
The study is based on understanding and developing the project leadership capabilities.
This is essentially required at the academic level as well as in the workplace. However, the skills
development which serves the purpose of both the academics and the workplace can never be
effective without assessing the personal strengths and the weaknesses. It is necessary to identify
the areas where one is efficient and also the areas that need the development. The study is on the
same track and covers the purpose in two segments such as personal assessment and
development plan. In the personal assessment section, some leadership skills and models are
being considered to identify the weakness and strengths in me. The development plan section
thus gives a detailed plan for development, so that, I am well versed with skills which are
required at the academics and also at the workplace.
1. Personal Assessment
a) Two foremost instrumental values and its contribution
Instrumental values are the variety of types; however, I possess only a very few of them.
One of the instrumental values that I possess is the self-control. I am very calm and composed in
varied situations. I am generally not very reactive to smallest of the issue. In case, there is an
emergency like ethicality is tortured and the situation needs a suitable counter-action then, in that
case, I am able to identify the best feasible way to handle it. I am self-controlled because I do not
try to resolve the issue on my own. I rather approach my seniors in a formal way and report them
the entire incident.
Contribution: Self-control that I possess is one of the leadership characteristics. Self-
control is very important as it helps in challenging circumstances to overcome the state and head
towards the solution. Self-control is a rare quality which very few people apart from the proven
leaders possess. This is because an individual need to control the three forces emerging within
inside. The three forces are comprised of the force of intellect, the force of emotions and the
basic instincts (Aga, Noorderhaven & Vallejo, 2016). It means that in order to be a self-
controlled person, there is a need for controlling the rational mind, the flight mechanisms and the
transient moods.

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I am honest and it forms the next level of instrumental values in me. There is probably
very less importance of being honest to the project. However, I have found this rather helping.
Honesty is the one thing which never allows me settles down with something wrong I have
committed. I rather approach my project leaders and disclose the mistakes I have committed.
This might appear a very smallest thing for others; however, it really helps me. Whenever I
disclose such things to my project leads they rather appreciate my daring and come with a
solution. It means the honesty in me has opened up ways to knowledge bases.
Contribution: As I stated earlier, being honest helps me disclose the mistakes whenever I
commit those. It is really helpful because I give my project leaders to understand the pros and
cons in me. This is very good indeed as my project leaders will get enough of points about me
which they can actually use to figure out the good or bad in me. It is really bad for a project that
few of the members are not competent and that the project leaders are not aware of it. This is
indeed good that project leaders are aware of their team members and their strengths &
weaknesses as well (Amin, Kamal & Sohail, 2016).
b) One greatest weakness and its impact on self-leadership
I am very polite in nature which is indeed a very good thing for others around me. It is
relay good for those who are around me in university. It will be no less than a friendliness aspect
for my colleagues when I will be at job. However, being polite may certainly affect the project
and the people around me. This may sound strange to someone; however, this is indeed a fact.
The fact that a polite nature is good for classmates in universities and the professors as well can
be understood from an example. For example, professor was not happy with me as I did not
submit my assignment on time, so, they just were very rude and harsh with me. Some students
might find this very difficult to cope up if such things are repeated again. Few of students with
low morale may also witness a drop in their motivation. These are the few students which require
special mentoring from specialised experts. On the other hand, I being a polite person would take
the feedback as a good resource for my learning. I won’t hesitate and go to my professor asking
the possible way out of my failure. Nonetheless, their job will become easier as I myself have
realised the mistake and want the repairing for it.

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However, being polite at the workplace may certainly hamper the project provided that I
am the project leader. My politeness will be well appreciated by the team; however, it matters the
least as such things are not sufficient to complete a project. A project may require the flexible
leadership which knows how to deal with the different situations. For example, one of the
members is not disciplined and is also very irregular with its work. Politeness at the early stage
will be the key act to deal with such situation. However, continuing with the same strategy may
not find the expected outcome. This may be the case that the irregular member of the project
takes the undue advantage from such attitude. In such situation, it is advisable to go the
otherwise way that must not be the very same way as it was followed until now (DuBois et al.,
2015).
c) Two leadership skills
There is the list of leadership skills. According to the "Great Man Theory", leaders are
born in upper class families, the royal family, ruling class and are biologically the ‘superior’
people & are genetically gifted as leaders”. It means that leaders are born, not created (Lester,
2015). This is true to some extent; however, leadership traits and characteristics can be followed
and copied as well. This means common people can also take the lesson from born leaders and
try to get the maximum of their traits by strategically structuring their career. This is due to such
facts number of leadership traits can be identified; however, all such traits may or may not be
feasible to an individual. This section of the study specifically covers the two of the leadership
skills which I currently have and I utilize these skills to my current practices as a project leader.
Those two skills are “Active Listening” and “Teamwork”.
I am a very good admirer of active listening and teamwork. This is because I lacked to
have both the traits and that had hampered me greatly whenever I had the chance to be a part of a
project. I was never an active listener neither I had a teamwork spirit. However, I had the
realization that someday, I will also be getting a chance to lead the project and that time my
weakness will be tested. This is due to such realization that I started to work on the identified
areas, so that, for the time being, I am able to learn from my mistakes and could prepare myself
for the big stage which is the workplace. Although, I have not so far structured my learning
practices; however, I will supposedly do that also to prepare myself for the big stage.

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Active listening has helped me a lot and I have found that this is very necessary to
possess while being in the workplace. Active listening has helped me to understand the queries
of other members in projects. This has not just helped me to answer their queries appropriately
but has also helped me to save a bit on time span. Initially, I used to waste a significant span of
time in just understanding the queries of others. Active listening has helped me to develop my
learning capabilities as well. Initially, due to the inactive listening tendency, I struggle to figure
out the entire thing which my project leads used to communicate. Such thing did not only cause
the project to get delayed but also had affected my learning capabilities.
Teamwork is another weakness that I used to have. Those days, I used to struggle to mix
up with other colleagues. Consequently, it caused me to worry about many a thing like lack of
support from others, a friendly working environment and lot more. Now, I started to work on
this. The improvements are now evident. My colleagues are now cooperative to me. They
understand me and my working style which develops a collaborative environment in project
works. Now, I enjoy the project works and we have also successfully completed quite a few of
project works.
2. Development Plan
2.1 Two personal goals
My two personal goals are “Network” and “be an excellent communicator”
2.2 Justifying the selection of goals
I want to develop a good network and also that I want to become an excellent
communicator. My goals are justifiable. As opined by the humanistic psychologists and
Abraham Maslow, adult life is largely about achieving the potential and the personal growth
(Simon et al., 2018). Some experts have believed that one should not bother about the innate
limits of leadership skills, the skills should rather be tried to attain (Simon et al., 2018). In the
light of few of theoretical perspectives, this can be said that my goals are justifiable. I want to
develop a good networking capability and the ability to become a good communicator. A good
networking will help to conduct the project efficiently because at times especially in IT industry,
there will be the needs for senior people who may not be available physically. In such times, it is

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only the networking capability that helps to get through (Zulch, 2014). An excellent
communicator will be able to make others understand the message it want to convey. Moreover,
such people will be readily accessible to many which is very good from a perspective that it is
important to be seen as an important personality, so that, skills are attracted towards it (Yang,
Huang & Hsu, 2014). Hence, if I am a good communicator and I am approachable also, I will get
skilled professionals in my project team. This is good from the company’s perspectives as well.
2.3 Advantages on the professional development
Professional development plan is very important and quite a necessity as well. This can
be understood by observing the different stages which are involved from being in the university
to the workplace. If I consider myself at this point of time, I have just started to learn a few of
leadership skills such as active listening skills and the teamwork. The changes which I have
attempted to have already made the difference. Initially, I was not an attentive listener. I also use
to struggle while working on a project. I was an incapable person in regards to teamwork; the
fact which has made me struggled quite a lot. I lacked to have the support from my colleagues
which were necessary at times. Now, since I am working on it I have started to feel the changes.
I am now an active listener and it has helped me to understand the queries of project members &
also the important discussions of my senior or the senior project leader. My capability as a
teamwork has improved and it has backed up me in getting the support from another member.
The differences in my life as a project leader are quite evident and it has happened only after the
implementation & execution of two of the leadership skills such as teamwork and active listening
skills.
It is obvious now, at least from my perspective that professional development plan will
be helpful in my career ahead as a project leader. I just need to identify the two possible goals
which will improve my career as an efficient project leader. I have already mentioned the two
goals that I want to attain with the practicable plan. Networking and being an excellent
communicator are my two goals which I want to develop into me. Networking will help me to
get the technical supports whenever I find myself trapped with some query and having no clues
to solve the same. This will also help me to get better opportunity as a project leader. This is
because there are many project leaders who keep on switching over to better opportunities. Being
into the networking will help me to know about such opportunities. Some of which may also be

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feasible to me which is nothing less than but the real opportunities. Being an excellent
communicator, I would be able to effectively coordinate with others in the project. This will not
only improve the project conduction but will also cut down the time that could have
unnecessarily been consumed due to the communication gap. Excellent communication will also
help to know the ways to establish a good networking with project leaders at different locations.
A good communication will ensure a good bonding with the project members and the senior
project leaders situated in the different parts of world (Zhang & Cheng, 2015).
2.4 Outline a practicable plan
Personal goals Action required Timescales
Network 1. The first and foremost action will be to work
in many projects, so that; opportunities to work
with range of project managers are attained.
This is to borne in mind that heartiest
participation from my part will be the key for
such projects. This is because it will establish a
good image of mine to the project leaders. The
establishment will be in terms of skills and the
behaviours. Moreover, project leaders will get
to know about my strengths as a project
executive. Hence, those project leaders will
definitely approach me for more projects in
future if I meet with the eligibility criteria for
the projects. This will just open up ways for
more number of projects for me. Therefore, I
will be known by many project leaders from
different regions and hence, my networking
with the range of project leaders will become
stronger and deeper as well.
2. Referring to the secondary resources like the
peer-reviewed journal articles and the website
articles. These resources will provide me
opportunities to learn or read the project
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8ASSESSMENT 2: SELF-DEVELOPMENT PLAN
management leadership skills of range of
project leaders. Nevertheless, the experiences
shared by those project leaders will help me to
get through the various facts and points. It is all
about learning from established facts in those
articles.
3. The next stage will be to document all those
findings at one place. Noting all those on papers
will not be a feasible idea. I will rather use the
Microsoft Word and will document separately
such as separate documents for one personality
or making the module wise distribution. This
will make my reading easier and will also be
able to access to the required materials with
ease as those materials are being classified
accordingly.
To be excellent in
communication
1. I will watch different project leaders while
working with them. I will follow how they
communicate and handle the situation. This will
give me the opportunity to know how project
leaders manage the projects. Moreover, I will
have the opportunity to see some practical
application of working principles. This will be a
quick grabbing opportunity for me.
2. The next step will be to follow the various
secondary resources featuring the world
renowned leaders both the traditional and the
modern day leaders. I will rather try to learn
how those few selected leaders had
communicated with their followers and how
they communicated to the media at the time of
troubles to save the image of the company.
Here again, I will document the entire readings
separately by saving those with specific
Till Dec 2019

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keywords. I will save all those in the Microsoft
Word, so that, I could easily access to all those
data whenever I need to revise my learning.
3. The third stage will be to proactively speak
with my colleagues. This will reduce my
hesitation to speak fluently. I am at times very
restive in expressing my views due to a fact that
I am not a very fluent speaker. Moreover, the
plans to proactively speak with my colleagues
and also with my project leads will help me to
get rid of the hesitation to speak fluently.
Conclusion
To conclude, leadership skills are very essential for project leaders. Those who aspire to
be the project leaders, they must follow the way as depicted in this study. The processes as
depicted in this study are related to a systematic analysis of personal strengths & the weaknesses
and the ways to get rid of the identified issues within the set deadline. The first and foremost
thing needed to do is to assess the personal leadership skills in the light of few theories and the
relevant concepts. Such processes help to accumulate the areas of improvement in an
individual’s leadership skills. The next stage will be to plan the practical action for developing
the identified areas for improvement. A structured plan documented in a readily accessible way
can be really effective in attaining the skills which are identified as the areas for improvement.
This will guide to the set goals but in a systematic way. Moreover, this will assist in moving in
the designed path and will also help to avoid any deviation from the set action plan.

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References
Aga, D. A., Noorderhaven, N., & Vallejo, B. (2016). Transformational leadership and project
success: The mediating role of team-building. International Journal of Project
Management, 34(5), 806-818.
Amin, S. U., Kamal, Y., & Sohail, A. (2016). The relationship between transformational
leadership and project team performance: Assessing the mediating role of a project team
management education. Apeejay Journal of Management Sciences and Technology, 3(3),
1-12.
DuBois, M., Hanlon, J., Koch, J., Nyatuga, B., & Kerr, N. (2015). Leadership styles of effective
project managers: Techniques and traits to lead high performance teams. Journal of
Economic Development, Management, IT, Finance, and Marketing, 7(1), 30.
Lester, S. W. (2015). Melding Service Learning and Leadership Skills Development: Keys to
Effective Course Design. Journal of Experiential Education, 38(3), 280-295.
Simon, S., Christie, M., Heck, D., Graham, W., & Call, K. (2018). Making Headway:
Developing Principals’ Leadership Skills through Innovative Postgraduate
Programs. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 43(2), 5.
Yang, L. R., Huang, C. F., & Hsu, T. J. (2014). Knowledge leadership to improve project and
organizational performance. International Journal of Project Management, 32(1), 40-53.
Zhang, L., & Cheng, J. (2015). Effect of knowledge leadership on knowledge sharing in
engineering project design teams: the role of social capital. Project Management
Journal, 46(5), 111-124.
Zulch, B. (2014). Leadership communication in project management. Procedia-Social and
Behavioral Sciences, 119, 172-181.