Personal & Professional Development Plan: Self-Managed Learning

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of personal and professional development, focusing on self-managed learning approaches within the context of Travelodge. It evaluates various methods for encouraging lifelong learning, such as seminars, social networking, and internet resources, and assesses the benefits of self-managed learning for both individuals and the organization. The report includes a SWOT analysis to identify personal development needs, outlines activities to meet those needs, and presents a personal and professional development plan. Furthermore, it details the processes and activities required to implement the plan, documents development activities, compares current skills against objectives, and updates the plan based on feedback and evaluation. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of continuous self-improvement for both personal and professional growth.

Personal and
Professional
Development

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Approaches to self-managed learning..............................................................................1
1.2 Ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts could be
encouraged..............................................................................................................................2
1.3 Evaluation of benefits of self-managed learning..............................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Evaluation of own current skills and competencies against professional standards........5
2.2 Identification of own development needs and the activities required to meet them........5
2.3 Identification of development opportunities to meet my current and future defined needs. 6
2.4 Personal and professional development plan based on identified needs..........................8
TASK 3 .......................................................................................................................................10
3.1 Processes and activities required to implement the development plan..........................10
3.2 Undertake and document development activities as planned.........................................10
3.3 Comparing between my own skills and original aim and objectives.............................11
3.4 Update the development plan based on feedback and evaluation.................................12
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................13
Covered in Poster.................................................................................................................13
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
All humans want to make improvement in their career and personality. An individual can
take various types of training and learn new things so they can focus on their personal
development. Travelodge is operating in motel industry, their hotel chain is present in all over
the world (Zepeda, 2012). This report is discussing self learning management and suitable
approach for cited company. It also includes the areas where an individual need to improve. Aim
and objectives of person and its relation to organisational goals is also highlighted here. This
project is also including about different types of work related problems and their solution.
Several varieties of communication style will get discuss at the end of this file.
TASK 1
1.1 Approaches to self-managed learning
Self management learning is a skill which help an individual in throughout his life. It
starts with with finding shortcomings and ends with acquiring new skills. Some goals are set
which has to be achieved in a specific time. Kolb's model has four elements, first is concrete
experience which is related to feeling. When a person go through a situation he learn something
from it which he can use in his whole life. Second is Abstract conceptualisation which is related
to think. A person can use his brain in order to understand a concept. Third is active
experimentation where an individual learn things by 'doing' them. When they practice it for a
long time they become specialist of that field. Last is reflective observation where human being
learn things by watching them.
If an organisation want to achieve their long term goals than they have to use new
techniques and approaches of working. Each individual want to develop his/her personality so
he/she can improve his/her current performance. There are various ways of self learning
management but the best method is to observe a process or situation (Brody and Hadar, 2011),
and than determine what is the reason of any problem. After this, a person need to do research
about the available options in market and than choose best way of efficient learning. Following
are some of the techniques of self managed learning:
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 Seminar and conference – Cited company can organise a seminar or conference for staff
so they can get knowledge about new ideas and working styles which are getting popular
in this era. This will keep industry updated about latest trends (Nicholls, 2014).
Employees can share their personal experience and learning with other worker so they
can stop themselves from committing same mistake. If someone has some special talent
than they can teach it to other personnel. This will help them in improving their
personality. It will also support them in gaining confidence so they can deal with
customers appropriately. It will also have some disadvantages because an employee who
is attending these seminar may not remain in organisation for a long time. This will also
involve some extra cost.
 Social networking – Various types of information is available on social networking sites
like Facebook, twitter, etc. If an individual read different kind of blogs which is posted by
people on these websites than they will attain lot of knowledge (Shortland, 2010). This
can be used by them in their job and personal life also. People also do research and post
them on their pages, workers can read these details and learn new talent and way of
communication.
 Internet – It is considered as the best sources of gaining knowledge. There was a time
when internet was not present to every office or home but nowadays it is available in
whole country and at every place. Employees can learn anything from internet as
everything is available on net. They can study about management and share this type of
knowledge with their co-workers. Their is a big question mark on the credibility of the
information which is present of internet. It can also show wrong data and information.
For Travelodge, seminar and conference will best option because when employees
interact with each other they learn new things in less period of time. Their working relationship
will also improve when they spend quality time with each other.
1.2 Ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts could be encouraged
The skill that a person possess get outdated after sometime. So he/she has to learn new
thing in regular interval of time so they can make improvement in their personality. This
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personal analysis can be done by finding strength, weakness, opportunities and threats i.e.
SWOT analysis. This self analysis will help employees in building self confidence and
improving their communication skills. It will also support them in making long term
relationships in their life. Following are some methods of lifelong learning:
 Self Evaluation – Worker can do SWOT analysis of their personality so they can
determine their strengths and weakness. It will assist them in evaluating opportunities and
threats which they may face in their life (Kumari, 2011).
 Continuous learning – With time, employees need to change their working style. This
task can only be done by them if they learn new skill and talent on constant basis.
Sometime an individual possess some abilities but he/she still need to gain other skills.
Some employees has good knowledge about the task they are performing but their
personality lacks basic qualities like pressure handling skill, working in team, etc.
Personnel should attend seminar, coaching and training class so they can update their
current working style (Hamza, 2010). They should learn about current innovations and
new technological changes.
 Good communication and relationships – Most of the companies in this era are
recruiting people from different country and culture. This provide them great assistance
in learning new methods of doing a task. It will help employees of cited organisation in
improving their communication skill. When these workers will spend time with each
other, their relationship will also get strong which will support them in building
confidence and acquiring new talent which they currently do not possess.
 Achievement and motivation – An individual should focus on self motivation so he/she
can deliver result in hard time. Workers who are working in Travelodge are facing
various types of problems in their life, sometime they will not find anyone who can
support them. In these situation this skill will provide them great assistance and by using
this learning they can come out of any problem.
 Coaching, shadowing, mentoring – Coach of person can teach him techniques that which
can encourage him to do better in upcoming life. Continuous monitoring can provide
great assistance in finding and solving shortcoming of an individual.
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1.3 Evaluation of benefits of self-managed learning
Self managed learning will be beneficial for both to employees and for company also.
There are many ways through which an individual can improve their personality, like by
analysing their past and professional experience. Personnel can share knowledge between each
other. Following are skills which workers can acquire (benefits to the person):
 Team work skill – When employees will attend various types of seminars and
conference, they will interact with co-workers (Brody and Hadar, 2011). When workers
will spend quality time with each other than their relationship with each other will get
strong. In a research it was found that most of the successful companies were focusing on
good team work. It will help them in increasing their net profit. This will also support
them in achieving long term objectives.
 Presentation skills – Staff of cited organisation need to learn presentation skill because
they are operating in hospitality industry (Bauer, 2010). Self managed learning will help
them in gaining confidence which will make a positive impact on their performance.
 Communication skills – Managers who are working at middle level management has
good communication skills but lower level staff lack in this talent. Self managed learning
will improve behaviour of workers. They have to learn right manners so that they can
effectively communicate with customers, manager and co workers. If one employee
acquire this talent than he/she can share it with others. This will assist to the cited
organisation in creating a good working environment.
Following are the benefits of self learning to an individual:
It generate self-confidence, life satisfaction, etc. which are the necessary natural
developments. It provide metal strength to a person but at the same times distract an individual
from real world. Another benefit is related to opportunities, it a person expand his reach than he
can pursue his interest by leaving typical school with its pre-defined curriculum. It will make his
life meaningful but at he same time he has to face the fear of uncertainty. It will also help an
organisation because if they will have confidence people in their organisation than they can
achieve their target in short period of time. But they promote the theory of pursuing interest in
organisation that more will will leave company because they will try to find their real interest in
life.
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TASK 2
2.1 Evaluation of own current skills and competencies against professional standards
I firmly believe that every individual is responsible for own personal and professional
developments. There are some things in which I am very good but at the same time some I still
have to learn some skills . I will acquire new talent, this will help me and my organisation in
achieving out set targets. With my current experience, I can understand that self managed
learning will help me in overcoming my shortcomings. Following are my current skills which are
also needed by a manager of hotel:
 Communication skills – My communication skills are decent. Manager of an hotel must
possess this talent because he/she has to deal with customers as well as top level
management. This talent can be further divided into more parts like writing, listening etc.
My writing ability is not good but I have good listening skill. I always focus on providing
comfort to customers so I can develop a friendly nature with them. This move will help
me in getting a permanent client which will provide huge support to long term
organisational objectives. I like to share talent which I possess, so other member of my
staff can learn new things and work on innovative ideas.
2.2 Identification of own development needs and the activities required to meet them.
Although I have decent communication skill but to hold a position of hotel manager I
need to hone this talent. I have to learn new languages so I can properly understand demand of
foreign customers. For this, I will make short term targets, every year I will learn a new language
and after that I will visit that country. This will assist me in understanding the nature of people
who live. When they will come to our hotel I will treat them according to their requirement.
Time management is very important in hospitality industry.
5

My time skills are not up to mark so I need to put hard effort in this area. I will make short term
targets which will help me in improving my overall performance. If I will achieve small
objectives than it will be very easy for me to attaining my long term goals.
I will focus on developing leadership skill in my personality because as a manager I have
to give directions to the staff member. I will study various types of leadership skills from books
and internet, after this I will choose correct style which suits my personality. My do not have
good knowledge of technology, this is one area where I need to work very hard because it will
very essential for personal growth in this era. I will join coaching centre who teaches updated
software and provide information about latest trends which are running in market. I also have to
work on my general knowledge so I can understand political, environmental, social and cultural
background of the customer are are going to stay in our hotel. It will also help in understanding
personalities of people whom I will met in my life.
Strength Weaknesses Threats Opportunities
 Education
 Team work
 Time-
management
 Low
communication
skills
 Low leadership
skills
 Low
presentation
skills
 Rising
competition
 Limited work
experience
 Obstacles
related to
training and
development
 Utilising skills
in different
areas
 Improvement
in the
education
 Work at high
posts
6

2.3 Identification of development opportunities to meet my current and future defined needs
Every individual possess some talent but at the same time he/she want to acquire new
experience and knowledge. Desires of an individual changes with time. I also have some current
needs like I have to learn respecting individual difference. The hotel where I am working
believes in hiring people from different places and culture. I will focus on giving importance to
every individual whose thoughts do not matches with mine. I want to learn new languages, my
co- workers belong to different nation so they can teach the language which they speak in their
domestic country. I can fulfil this need within my organisation. Currently I want to develop
leadership skill in my personality, I can acquire this talent with taking help out any outsider.
Cited company has allotted me subordinate, I need to manage them properly by using leadership
style which I have learn by using internet and books. I also want to improve my communication
skills, by creating a proper scaler chain. This will help in honing my communication skill, I do
not need to take assistance from any outsider. My workplace is providing me various types of
development opportunities.
I have to make some targets which I will be trying to achieve in upcoming time.
Technology is one area where I am very weak. I can not apply for various kinds of posts so but
because of this short coming I have to face rejections. I have to join coaching classes so I can get
knowledge about new software which hotel industry is using in their business. I can not acquire
this skill within my organisation. Family and friends are considered as one of the most important
part of an individual's life. In future I will focus on creating a balance between my personal and
professional life. I have to give more importance to my relatives so I can spend quality time with
them.
Professional skills Rating (2-6) Best current
example
Ways to improve
Communication
skills
2 If there is
communication
gap between all
employees then
this will
minimizes the
overall
It can be made more effective by
attending seminars and training
programmes.
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performance of
organisation.
Leadership skills 4 If there is lack of
leadership skill
then whole work
cannot be
completed in well
and different
issues will
created.
It can be improved by working under
best leaders and learning their skills
that how they handle their team
members.
Presentation skills 6 If there is poor
presentation skill
then it will give a
bad impression in
front of
colleagues and
high posted
officers.
This can be made appropriate by
attending workshops and practising
those methods in front of mirror.
2.4 Personal and professional development plan based on identified needs
Before acquiring new skill first I need to make a proper plan so I can achieve my set
goals effectively. SWOT analyse would be a prefect strategies to determine all aspects of my
personality. First I will evaluate all the skills that I possess. I have some dexterity which is most
of the people do not have. This will provide me some extra edge on my competitors. After this I
need to find my weakness, these are the key areas where I need to do improvement. Every person
has some opportunities in their life which they want to grab in future. I also have to face various
types on threats which will challenge my skills . First skill that I want to acquire is improved
communication skills, I also want to learn one new language every year. Technology is another
8

area where I am not up to mark so I would like to improve my knowledge of this field. In order
to improve my commination skills, I will visit different kind of seminars and conferences. I will
attend a seminar in next week which will help in honing my communication skill. I will join
online classes from next month and at the same time I will meet worker ,who are from different
country, so I can talk with them in their language. This will be the best way to practice new
learnings. In order to improve my knowledge of technology, I will join coaching centre from
next week so I can get information about new knowledge and innovation.
Learning
objectives/
Goals
Current
proficiency
Target
proficiency
Developmen
t
opportunities
Criteria for
judging
success
Time scale Evidence
Communicatio
n skills
Good at
written
skills but
weak at
verbal skills
To improve
the verbal
skills
We will
achieve this
by joining
training
programs
and work
shops.
This can be
attained by
giving
presentation.
2 weeks Colleagu
es
Leadership
skills
Good
working as
team
member but
poor as the
role of
leaders.
To increase
the skills of
leadership.
This can be
achieved by
working
under
efficient
leaders.
By guiding
several
members in
organisation.
3 weeks Determin
ing by
manager
director
Presentation
skills
Good at
making
slides show
but poor in
verbally
presenting
To enhance
the verbal
presentatio
n skills
This can be
done by
practising in
front of
mirrors and
friends.
By
presentation
4 weeks Determin
ed by
colleague
s
9

it.
TASK 3
3.1 Processes and activities required to implement the development plan
If an individual try to implement all the plan in one short than it will be very difficult for
them attain all the set objectives. The first step of implementation process is to evaluate and plan
all the resources that I will be needing at the time of execution, like money for coaching class
etc. I have to find scope of improvement by monitoring my personality and its relation to
personal development plan. This programme will be focused on specific purpose (Hadar and
Brody, 2013). This approach will motivate an individual to improve their personal and
professional effectiveness. This shows seriousness of an individual and its satisfaction towards
development planning programme. Every person need support at the time of implementation of
these plans. First they need to focus on improving effort towards communication and training
process. After this I need to find right person or class who can teach new language and
technology in short period of time. Support is very important because I can learn new things by
myself up to a limit.
Making plans is very easy but its implementation is very difficult. I firmly believe in
thought of ''one step at a time''. First I will learn new language so I can provide better service to
my customers. After this I will focus on increasing my technological knowledge, for this task I
have to search proper coaching classes who can give me information about new trends and latest
software. I will bring updated software in hotel so I can practice the new skill which I learnt in
recent period of time. This plan will be beneficial for both, organisation and for my personality.
All the planning were ultimately connect to personality and business development.
3.2 Undertake and document development activities as planned.
Implementation of plan is more important than formation of plan because it will deliver
the desired result. The program that I made mainly has three priorities, first is improving
communication skill, second is learning new language every year, and last is updating my
10

knowledge relating to technology. If I will try to learn all the things in one short than I will never
learn any of the skill. So as a part of development plan, first I will search online language
learning class. According to my expectation, I will get command on new language in almost one
year because I am a quick learner (Mwalongo, 2011). After this I try to find a coaching class who
can support me in getting better knowledge about technology. I can implement new learning at
my workplace which will be beneficial for my company and to me also. I will executive
theoretical knowledge than it will assist in remembering the concept for a long time. I will meet
people from various culture on frequent basis so I can get information about their customer and
thinking which will help me in improving my communication skill.
This work will be done in parts. First I have to gather initial thoughts and get all the
required information that is available in market. I have to make notes of all the data that I am
capturing because it will assist me in process of decision making. I will make document of the
thoughts that I will get in my mind (Nofziger and et.al., 2010). After this I will show the
documentation to my team members so they can find loopholes in it. It would be difficult for me
to find my own mistakes. I will get new ideas from other people and if I find something that I
can implement in plan than I will make it part of documentation.
3.3 Comparing between my own skills and original aim and objectives
Review of personal and professional development is necessary because personality
development plan is a cycle. I was good with some things but at the same time I need to some
improvement in my personality. My communication skills are at decent level but there is a huge
scope of betterment. After involving with people of different culture and country I can feel a
tremendous change in my communication skills. Online class provided me great assistance in
learning new language. Now I can speak Spanish without any fumbling. I took coaching in order
to learn new software and update my knowledge relating to technology. It helped me in
understanding new innovations that are happening in industry but this is one area where I still
need lot of improvement. After this I will organise a meeting with my co-workers so I can
evaluate my current performance. It can be done at three levels, first is academic, second is
personal and last one is professional. The main reason of organising this meeting is to check that
all my advisor and supporter are on same page. I have to compare my previous knowledge and
11

experience with present situation. I did not learn new languages in my college time because I
was keeping my focus on technical and practical knowledge. I will join online class so I can
learn new languages. I will take to my Spanish friend in their domestic language because practice
is considered as the most important part of learning.
3.4 Update the development plan based on feedback and evaluation
Organisation can keep the feedback from their workers and can effectively appraise them
to identify the efficiency of the development plan. The plan can be updated by using following
process:
 Planning: we need to think about ourself and have to prepare a plan in order to attain
the goals of development plan. A new beginning with the sufficient resource and more
time aids in defining aims and objectives (McNiff, 2010). As defining goal will tell that
what is going to be happen in future and what will be its outcomes. Hence, we can say
that setting goals and reassessment of them is one of the essential task because it assists
in developing the outputs.
 Reviewing: If we give more time in reviewing the goals then it will aid in
understanding more clearly about ourself. This will give a big contribution in our
personal and professional development. This is done after planning and implementing
the schemes. This will give us a very clear scenario of our strength and weaknesses of
our achievement that will help us in improving those weaknesses and more strengthen
the power of ourselves.
 Improvement in communication skill: This can be achieved by speaking often in that
language only. Reading more number of books that can help in reducing words
shortage. Speaking in front of the mirror can help in increasing confidence while
speaking with other persons.
 Improving leadership skill: This can be achieved by participating in more team
related tasks. Leadership skills can be generated at the basic level. Organising events in
home can help in increasing confidence which is required in development of leadership
skill.
12

 Development of presentation skill: This skill can be developed by giving small
lectures in front of friends or colleagues. Listening to good speeches by famous orators.
Giving presentation in front of family or mirror.
TASK 4
Covered in Poster
CONCLUSION
From the above based report it has been concluded that personal and professional
development is nothing but a mechanism of improving own personality and working by using
some appropriate approaches like time-management. This is very important to develop personal
and professional ability to become successful in their personal life. There are different
approaches of self – managed learning that aids in making good personality and improve the
better level of understanding that assist in achieving aims and objectives. There is a need to
determine the personal strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats so that these all sections
can be effectively improved by minimizing the weaknesses. Several communicating style are use
explained here like controller style, promoter style, supporter style and analyser style. Time-
management strategies are also discussed in order to improve the performance of individual.
Time-management strategies consists of setting priorities, getting organized, avoiding multi-
tasking, etc.
13

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