Exploring Self-Directed Learning for Personal and Professional Growth

The assignment delves into the significance of self-directed learning for individuals seeking continuous improvement in their careers. It examines how crafting a personal and professional development plan can identify necessary skill enhancements, thereby fostering lifelong learning habits. Furthermore, it discusses various communication styles and effective time management techniques that are integral to achieving sustained success in any professional environment. The essay is supported by references from multiple journals and books that highlight the impact of these strategies on teacher collaboration and student achievement. By understanding and implementing self-directed learning principles, individuals can better manage their development pathways, ensuring ongoing personal and professional growth.

Personal and Professional
Development

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Approaches of Self managed learning..................................................................................1
1.2 Ways to encourage lifelong learning.....................................................................................2
1.3 benefits of Self managed learning to individuals and organisation......................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Evaluation of current skills and competencies against companies objectives......................3
2.2 Identification of own development needs.............................................................................5
2.3 Identification of development opportunities.........................................................................6
2.4 Personal and Professional development plan........................................................................7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
3.1 Activities required to implement the development plan ......................................................8
3.2 Undertaking development activities as planned .................................................................10
3.3 Reflect on own learnings.....................................................................................................10
3.4 Updating development plan based on feedback .................................................................11
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................12
4.1 Solution to work based problems .......................................................................................12
4.2 Variety of styles to communicate........................................................................................12
4.3 Evaluating time management strategies..............................................................................13
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development can be defined as a process which is conducted
by both organisation and individuals in order to meet the challenges of business. Basically, it is
associated with the development needs of group and individuals. It is a long term process which
is necessarily to be conducted by companies in order to manage the skills of employees. Personal
development is associated with learning new skills and professional growth is related with
gaining knowledge (Calderhead, Denicolo and Day, 2012). If a person is personally developed
then he will definitely excel his professional performance and in this way, he will be able to
contribute in the organisation's success. The firm that will be referred here is Waitrose. It is a
British supermarket chain that is having more than 350 branches across the United Kingdom. It
is also Britain's largest employee owned retailer. This report will discuss about the way in which
self-managed learning can improve lifelong development and responsibility of developing own
skill also. Here, a personal and professional development plan will also be prepared along with
demonstration of interpersonal and transferable skills.
TASK 1
1.1 Approaches of self-managed learning
Self-managed learning can also be referred as self-directed learning in which an
individual takes initiative by their own to analyse their own learning needs with or without the
support of other people. . Once the person gets to know about its learning needs, then after this
they can define learning goals and recognise which resources will be used by them to learn those
skills and then further evaluating the learning outcomes. In this an individual is supported very
much that they take the complete responsibility of meeting their own needs so that they can
improve their existing skills on their own (Cleary and et. al., 2011). The various approaches that
can be used to manage learning by own self are:-
 Conferences and seminars- There are so many companies who want their employees to
gain new skills so they organise various seminars and conferences where they get to learn
new skills and improve their knowledge. In Wait-rose, employees are also getting this
opportunity to learn new skills which they will further use in improving their
performance in the organisation.
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 Social networking styles – Now-r-days it is also a medium through which an employee
is able to gather more knowledge. If a person is not having a habit of reading then they
can get latest information and knowledge through these mediums also. Here an individual
is connected with son many people so if he will have an interaction with a few also then
they will be able to get some latest information (Cox, Bachkirova and Clutterbuck,
2014).
 Online Courses – If a person really wants to learn something new then he will get a
source to learn from anywhere. Internet is one of them. Here, a person can learn anything
they want to learn. There are so many sources that are available on internet from where
an employee can learn so many new subjects as per their choice.
1.2 Ways to encourage lifelong learning
Learning is a continuous process which is carried out in a person's life. These learning
helps them in reaching their goals fast. It helps them in fulfilling their aim be it on personal level
and professional level. While learning, a person tries to in gulf new skills and knowledge into
them which helps them in becoming creative and innovative. Here basically main task which
takes time is deciding the time in which a person will be available to learn new skills. In this an
individual requires support of their respective companies because if they will not support then it
will be very difficult for them to engage in learning and performing job at the same time.
Waitrose plays an important role in encouraging new skills and knowledge among employees
and they are providing due opportunities for this also. Ways in which it can be encouraged are -
 Continuous personal development skills – individuals should monitor themselves time
to time to analyse the requirements that are needed to be fulfilled. The person should
compare himself with another person who is more skilled than yours. This will help them
in modifying themselves nicely.
 Self-directed initiatives – In this method, an individual himself tries to analyse the
opportunities present in an organisation. Through this they will be motivated and will try
to do their work more effectively (Desimone, 2011).
 Healthy competition – There should be a competition in an organisation but only a
healthy one will be preferred. Through this, a person will compete the other person and in
this process they will be able to analyse their skills in a better manner.
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Source – Self Directed Learning, 2017
1.3 Benefits of self-managed learning to individuals and organisation
Learning never hurts anyone, it is always beneficial. Each and every work that is
performed by the employees in an organisation always have a learning. If a person is well
informed than he will have more confidence than other people present in the company. It helps in
developing the overall personality of an individual (Forte and Flores, 2014). The various benefits
that are derived out of self-managed learning are-
Benefits to individual
 It helps in making the person self-dependent as here they are not dependent on other
person to learn new skills.
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Illustration 1: Self Directed learning

 Another benefit is that if something is learned by your own self then it is retain=d for
long.
 Through this, confidence of employees is also increased and they get motivated to learn
more now.
 Self-managed learning helps in bringing in sense of responsibility and accountability in a
person (6 Core benefits of personal development, 2017).
Benefits to Organisation
 If an employee is self-managed then they will perform well and it will bring growth and
development in the company.
 Learning helps in bringing creativity in an organisation and this is a reason because of
which companies encourage learning and development of employees.
 It helps in improving productivity of employees which will further increase the profits of
the company (Gamrat and et. al., 2014).
TASK 2
2.1 Evaluation of current skills and competencies against companies objectives
Personal skill audit is conducted by an individual because it helps in identifying the
strengths and weaknesses of that person. Here, a comparison is conducted between skills that is
required and skills that are currently present. A person should try to learn all those skills which
will help them in performing their job in an easy way. The current skills are evaluated in the
given table below -
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS CURRENT LEVEL
5 = Strong
1 = Weak
BEST CURRENT
EXAMPLE
Communication skills 3 If an individual is able to
communicate properly with is
team then it will give various
benefits like all the important
information will be shared
easily and there will be no
communication gap. I have
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ranked myself 3 out of 5 in
communication.
Leadership skills 3 Leading a team is not easy.
There are various skills that
are required to be in a leader
in order to lead a team
successfully. I have ranked
myself 3 out of 5 which says
that I also need to develop
myself in order to become a
good leader.
Problem solving skills 4 This is one of the most
important skill that is
required in an individual. If I
want to become manager of
the company then I will have
to improve my problem
solving skills.
Listening skills 4 This skills helps in
performing various other
tasks in a company. If I am
having good listening skills
then I will be able to
understand the issues,
information going inside the
company.
Name: XYZ
Address: 89, Will Street , London
Mobile number: 00001111
E – mail: [e-mail]
Objective: My aim is to give good results to the company by completing all the work that is
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being assigned to me. Also, I will be performing my work with full dedication and honesty.
Qualifications:
 Graduated Masters in Finance and marketing
Experience: 3 years of experience of working with Tesco by handling marketing department and
basic finance work was also performed by me during my initial days in the company.
Personal skills:
 Team Handling skills
 Leadership
 Problem solving Good communication Skills
Date: 11 / November/2017
Signature:
2.2 Identification of own development needs
In order to analyse my own skills, I will have to conduct a Swot analysis on myself in an
effective manner. In an individual, their personal needs are different and professional needs are
different. It is very important to determine all of them as it will help then in understanding where
there is more need of improvement and where improvement can be done later. It will also help
me in knowing what the possible threats that can occur in future are and opportunities also which
can improve my efficiency.
Strengths Weaknesses
 According to me, one of my major
strength is my listening skills because I
always listen patiently whatever is
being told to me by any person. In this
way I am able to understand their
issues and problems very nicely. I am
also having strong problem solving
skills because I think that I am able to
 One of my weakness is that I get
nervous in various situations that comes
in my way. Sometimes I feel less
confident when I don't have sufficient
information about matters that are
discussed in the company. I have also
noticed that I need to improve my
communication and leadership skill as
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give good solution to the problems that
are arise by the employees of the
company.
well so as to handle everything
effectively.
Opportunities Threats
 There are various opportunities that
keeps coming in the company. It is
dependent on us that how we make use
of such opportunities available. If I
will improve my problem solving
skills and leadership skills then I can
get an opportunity to become a
manager in the company.
 The most threatening thing for an
organisation are its competitors which
can completely turn the table in the
market. They have the capacity to
either grow or decline the company in
the market.
2.3 Identification of development opportunities
There are so many opportunities that are available in marketplace but if it is not
recognised then it is wasted. Once an opportunity is lost then it is lost for ever. So, I should
know that which skills are required to be improved in me and which are not. Then only it will
help me in meeting my current needs so that the productivity is also increased by the same.
Finding a development opportunity is a very difficult task and is to be conducted very carefully.
These opportunities are basically based on improving the existing skills by learning more
knowledge and information which will help them in dealing with the problems of the
organisation very easily.
 CURRENT NEEDS – These are considered as that requirement of the company that
needs to be fulfilled by them are fast as possible. These are basically short term
objectives of the company which has be to be ascertained in a minimum period.
Sometimes I am not able to complete the work on deadline so this is the current need that
needs to be developed by me so that I am able to complete my work on time (Owen, Fox
and Bird, 2016).
 FUTURE NEEDS – In this, I have to look that all the activities in present are being
conducted properly or not so that it does hamper the work that will be performed in
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future. I have thought that my future need is to improve my problem solving skills. This
is very important for me to develop this because this activity is a part of my job and I
want to do it nicely.
2.4 Personal and professional development plan
In a personal and professional development plan, all the objectives and targets that will
be conducted by the individual is included. These plans helps the employees in their career
development and future development as well. The plan which is prepared is as follows -
S.N
o.
LEARNING
OBJECTIV
E/GOAL
CURRENT
PROFICIE
NCY
TARGET
PROFICIENCY
DEVELOPMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
TIME
SCALE
1 Communicati
on
2.5 4 I will be able to
improve my
communication skills
by speaking to more
and more people who
are having good
commuinixcationj
skills, by attending
various seminars and
coachings where
guidance will be given
about how to do
communication.
40 days
2 Leadership 3 5 Leadership skill is very
important in an
organisation. In order
to develop this skill i
will have to get training
about leading people in
35 days
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a company and also in
will have to inculcate
few leadership skills
also in me so that i am
able to do my work
properly.
TASK 3
3.1 Activities required to implement the development plan
The various processes and activities that are required to be conducted for implementing
the development plan are -
SKILLS AIMS RESOURCES
REQUIRED TO
ACHIEVE MY
OBJECTIVES
TARGET DATE
FOR
ACHIEVING
MY
OBJECTIVES
ACTUAL DATE
OF
ACHIEVING
MY
OBJECTIVES
Decision making
and problem
solving
Since it is very
crucial for the
managers to take
decisions in an
appropriate
manner because if
decisions will be
effective then it
will affect the
growth of the
company.
In order tom
improve the
decision-making
skills, I will read
judgements of
famous judges,
increase my
knowledge in
law, by referring
to various cases
of famous
lawyers etc.
May 2017 to
December 2017
01/12/17
Time and
Organisation
It is very
important for the
For achieving
this, I will have
May 2017 to
December 2017
01/12/17
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management company to
manage its time so
as to conduct all
its activities on
time.
to study all the
time
management
strategies that
has been used
earlier by other
companies.
Planning This is the first
step every
company takes.
Without planning
nothing exists in a
company. Its very
important.
In management
various planning
methods and
techniques has
been defined
which can be
used to make a
good plan for the
company.
May 2017 to
December 2017
01/12/17
Written
communication
This practice is
required to be
conducted in order
to have a written
record of all the
activities that are
performed in the
company.
Samples of
written records
of other
companies can
be referred for
guidance
purpose.
May 2017 to
December 2017
01/12/17
3.2 Undertaking development activities as planned
The activities that are planned are given as below:-
PERIOD OF
WORK
ACTIVITY
UNDER TAKEN
WHAT IS
LEARNT UP
TILL NOW
WHAT TO DO
NEXT
WHEN TO DO
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Week 1 In the starting all
the shortcomings
are analysed that
are present in the
company.
I have got to
know the reason
due to which
this problem has
occurred.
Here all the people
that may get affect
with this issue
should be informed
about the same.
Same week
Week 2 In the next week,
all those skills that
are required to be
developed are
recorded.
All the concepts
that will be used
in planning is
studied.
All the activities
conducted should
be converted in
written manner.
Same week
Week 3 In this week,
concentration will
be on skill
development.
Necessary
knowledge that
are required in
the employees
are checked.
Requires skills are
to be improved
Same week
Week 4 Taking Feedbacks Checking the
implementation
of above tasks
Taking feedbacks
are very necessary.
Same week
Week 5 Doing
improvements
Necessary
improvements
are conducted
Review everything Same week
3.3 Reflecting own learnings
The aims and objectives that has been set by me in my development plan is achieved
partially. From the plan, I have analysed that:-
 I am now able to communicate more properly to the people present in the organisation,
 I am now able to deliver information to others at a fast rate and that too without any
problems (Cleary and et. al., 2011).
 I can now lead a team of 5-10 people successfully. This is because of the training
sessions that I attended in order to improve my qualifications.
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 I can successfully analyse my own strength and weakness which will help me improve
myself properly.
3.4 Updating development plan based on feedback
The updated plan based on feedback is as follows:-
Learning
Needs
Priority Activities to
be Undertaken
Resources
Required
Target
deadline
Proof of
Achievement
Time
management
skills
High Enrolling
myself to
attend this
session.
Time 01/03/17 Certificate of
completion
Multi-Tasking
skill
High Here, one
person will be
appointed
different
activities.
Current
company
Continuous Outcome of
project
undertaken
Leadership
and
Motivation
skill
High Already
enrolled now
so good
communicatio
n will be
required to
communicate
the work
which
Finance and
Time
01/09/17 Certificate of
completion
Presentation
skill
Medium `Attending
sessions for
which I have
enrolled.
Time 01/07/17 Certificate of
completion
People High Trying to get Finance and 01/05/17 Certificate of
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management
skill
maximum
information
from other
sources
Time completion
TASK 4
4.1 Solution to work based problems
There are various types of problems that are present in an organisation. It is the duty of
employer to find best solution to the problem present. It is because all these problems can affect
the employees in their personal and professional career as well (Ifanti and Fotopoulou, 2011).
Various work based problems and their solutions are -
 Conflict and Disputes – Many times in an organisation, an employee gets involve in a
conflict with other employee on some personal matter. So, in such cases employer should
tell them to solve all such problems after the office hours or they may also try to resolve
their problems by giving appropriate solution.
 Harassment – If the employer comes to know that an employee is being harassed in the
company then he will try to know the whole matter and then take corrective actions for
solving this major issue.
4.2 Variety of styles to communicate
It is very important for the organisation to regulate effective communication in the
organisation. This will help in achieving the objectives very easily (Calderhead, Denicolo and
Day, 2012). The various styles of communication that are used in an organisation are -
 Assertive communication Style – This is the best and the most effective style of
communication. People who use thus style is very confident and does not play any cheap
games to satisfy their needs and wants. They work in their limits always.
 Aggressive communication style – this communication style is not effective because here
person gets his/her wants on the expense if other's expense. Here people ate determined
to win at any cost and use any method to achieve it (Desimone, 2011).
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 The Passive aggressive communication style – Person who use this style of
communication usually feel powerless. They are not reliable and can be regarded as
dubious, complainers or gossip kinds etc.
 The Submissive Communication style – People who use this kind of communication style
try their best to please others and try ton avoid conflicts. They believe that others are
having more rights than themselves. They speak softly and try to make themselves small
in the company.
 The Manipulative communication style – people who use this are cunning and
calculative. They do everything with a a hidden purpose. They control other person for
their own benefits and then leave them later on.
4.3 Evaluating time management strategies
There are various time management strategies that are implemented by the companies in
order to finish their tasks on time. Some of them are -
 Setting priorities on goals – In this people who have been assigned the task has to
decide that which activity is more important for him and will be kept on priority and
which activity can be performed later on. People who are working in the company should
know how to decide about which tasks can be performed on priority and which can not.
 Usage of planning tools – Planning tools will help them in performing the activity more
appropriately and this will help in increasing the productivity of the company as well.
 Delegating work – This is the most effective and mostly used technique in a company. If
there is excess of work on an employee, then it can be divided between other members of
company. This helps in reducing the workload and activity will also be performed on
time.
 Know how to spend your time - Here, it is discussed that how a person should divide its
time in order to perform their tasks (Meichenbaum, 2017).
CONCLUSION
From the above mentioned report, it can be concluded that an individual is required to be
developed both personally and professionally. Then only they will be able to utilize the
opportunities that can be utilized by them in order to get more developed. . The development
plan which is prepared will help them in gaining their skills that are required to be in the
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individual to perform their tasks. This report covers about how self managed learning can
develop a habit if lifelong learning in an organisation and how can a person identify their own
skills in order to start their own development. A personal as will as professional development
plan is also prepared here which helps in identifying the skills that are needed to be developed in
a particular person. Along with this variety of communication styles is also discussed along with
time management strategies.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Calderhead, J., Denicolo, P. and Day, C., 2012. Research on Teacher Thinking (RLE Edu N):
Understanding Professional Development. Routledge.
Cleary and et. al., 2011. The views of mental health nurses on continuing professional
development. Journal of clinical nursing. 20(23‐24). pp .3561-3566.
Cox, E., Bachkirova, T. and Clutterbuck, D. A. Eds., 2014. The complete handbook of coaching.
Sage.
Desimone, L. M., 2011. A primer on effective professional development. Phi delta kappan.
92(6). pp .68-71.
Forte, A. M. and Flores, M. A., 2014. Teacher collaboration and professional development in the
workplace: A study of Portuguese teachers. European Journal of Teacher Education.
37(1). pp .91-105.
Gamrat, C. and et. al., 2014. Personalized workplace learning: An exploratory study on digital
badging within a teacher professional development program. British Journal of
Educational Technology. 45(6). pp .1136-1148.
Ifanti, A. A. and Fotopoulou, V. S., 2011. Teachers’ perceptions of professionalism and
professional development: A case study in Greece. World Journal of Education. 1(1).
p .40.
Lumpe, A. and et. al., 2012. Beliefs about teaching science: The relationship between elementary
teachers’ participation in professional development and student achievement.
International Journal of Science Education. 34(2). pp .153-166.
Meichenbaum, D., 2017. The evolution of cognitive behavior therapy: A personal and
professional journey with Don Meichenbaum. Taylor & Francis.
Moon, J. A., 2013. Reflection in learning and professional development: Theory and practice.
Rutledge.
Nicholls, G., 2014. Professional development in higher education: New dimensions and
directions. Routledge.
Owen, N., Fox, A. and Bird, T., 2016. The development of a small-scale survey instrument of
UK teachers to study professional use (and non-use) of and attitudes to social media.
International Journal of Research & Method in Education. 39(2). pp.170-193.
Online
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