Analysis of Personal and Professional Development at Travelodge Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of personal and professional development within the context of Travelodge, a hotel and hospitality business. It begins by defining personal and professional development and then explores self-managed learning approaches, including learning through research and learning from others through conferences and mentoring. The report proposes ways to encourage lifelong learning, such as apprenticeships and higher education, and evaluates the benefits of self-managed learning for both individuals, like assistant managers, and the organization. It then assesses the author's current skills and competencies against professional standards and organizational objectives, identifying strengths and weaknesses. A personal development plan is devised to address identified development needs, with specific actions and timelines for improving communication, negotiation, and leadership skills. The report concludes by discussing the processes and activities required to implement the development plan, documenting development activities, reflecting on learning, and updating the plan based on feedback.

Personal and Professional
Development

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Evaluate approaches to self-managed learning......................................................................1
1.2 Propose ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts could be
encouraged...................................................................................................................................2
1.3 Evaluate the benefits of self-managed learning to the individual and organisation..............3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Evaluate own current skills and competencies against professional standards and
organisational objectives.............................................................................................................4
2.2 Identify own development needs and the activities required to meet them...........................5
2.3 Identify development opportunities to meet current and future defined needs.....................6
2.4 Devise a personal and professional development plan based on identified needs.................7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................9
3.1 Discuss the processes and activities required to implement the development plan...............9
3.2 Undertake and document development activities as planned................................................9
3.3 Reflect critically on own learning against original aims and objectives set in the
development plan.......................................................................................................................11
3.4 Update the development plan based on feedback and evaluation.......................................11
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................13
4.1 Select solutions to work-based problems............................................................................13
4.2 Communicate in a variety of styles and appropriate manner at various levels...................13
4.3 Evaluate and use effective time-management strategies.....................................................14
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................16

INTRODUCTION
Personal development is defined as continuous or lifelong process which help individual
for assessing their qualities, skills, capabilities. This assists them to consider aim of life and
setting goal accordingly for maximising potential. It identify skills which enhance employability
prospectus, raising confidence, leading for high quality. Similarly, professional development is
defined as learning to maintain or earn professional qualification like academic degrees,
attending conferences, learning opportunities which are situated for practices. This both personal
and professional development is required for individual to achieve their career growth and
opportunities. This can help in business to accomplish set goal and objectives in effective and
efficient manner. The given assignment is based on Travelodge which was founded in 1985 at
United Kingdom. It is private organisation which is operating business in hotels and hospitality
sectors and serving in different parts of world. The aim of report is to understand about self
managed learning which can enhance lifelong development and taking responsibility for
developing own personal and professional development. It also highlights about implementation
and continually review of own personal and professional development plan. The required
interpersonal and transferable skills are also discussed in report.
TASK 1
1.1 Evaluate approaches to self-managed learning
Self-managed learning- This is the method through which personnel and individual
manages their own learning. It is kind of tools used by individuals for learning different things
from society, environment, work along with identification of purpose, setting of goal for learning
and accomplishment of objectives in effective manner. The different approaches used by
Travelodge for self managed learning are as follows:
Learning through research- This is type of learning where individual learn different things
with assist of literature review, market condition, research work and others. It is responsibility of
Travelodge to provide chances to working force for learning through research and apply those in
practical life.
Learning from others- It is defined as learning from different sources that are described
below:
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Conferences- The individual can learn and get knowledge with assist of seminars, workshop
and conferences. This can lead to build confidence and skill to speak in front of public. The
respective organisation should arrange conferences for staffs and employers for learning of new
methods, competitors and work. This can helps in achievement of goal and objectives in efficient
and effective manner.
Mentoring/Coaching- Mentoring is defined as relationship in which the more and skilled
experienced guide and lead their less experienced people with help of conducting classes and
provide them with coaching for improvement. They provide all required information such as
market and firm. Travelodge has multiple mentors and coacher in order to guide their employees
for outstanding performance.
The most suitable approach for Travelodge is mentoring and coaching where they can
easily increase and enhance learning for various products, company, competitors and market.
The employee queries are solved through such approach.
For providing learning different tools are used like bulletin board, focus groups, internet,
newsgroup and social network. These helps in creating information instantly and catch attention
for improvement. Hence, it also assists in creation of awareness for competitors and firm.
1.2 Propose ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts could be
encouraged
Lifelong learning- This is self motivated, voluntary and ongoing learning which is
pursued to gain knowledge for personal and professional development. This can help to enhance
personal development, competitiveness, self sustainability, employability and others. Such
training is required in Travelodge for providing learning to working force.
Self-directed learning- In this type of learning where individuals have to take various
initiative and responsibility for happening of events. This is way which can assist individuals to
select, asses and managing their own task.
Continuing Professional Development- It is defined as procedures for tracking and
documenting different experience, skills, knowledge which are gained either formally or
informally with help initial training and work. This is called record for learning, applying and
experiences. This is also called ongoing professional development which is on continuous basis.
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The lifelong learning provides benefits to individual in order to grow and develop their
both professional and personal skills in effective and efficient manner. This is significant for
improving oneself on continuous basis for accomplishment of goal. The different ways through
which both professional and personal knowledge can be encouraged are mentioned below:
Apprenticeships- This is on job training which is provided to profession and trade for
result achievement. These assist practitioners for gaining licence in order to practice profession
in practical life. It is lifelong learning that motivates and encourages both professional and
personal development of people.
Higher Education- This is required for all individual in order to make better decision for
themselves. It helps people to improve themselves on continuous basis which is never ending
process. Travelodge employees can work better if they have provided with higher education and
can improve their knowledge and skills for surviving in market.
1.3 Evaluate the benefits of self-managed learning to the individual and organisation
Self learning is defined as method to develop self learning process for better results. In this
process the individual decided goal and objectives. This provides benefits to both individual and
organisation which are as follows:
Benefits of self managed learning to Assistant Manager
This self learning provides various benefits to Assistant manager which are as follows:
Improving skill level- Travelodge assistant manager need to improve their skills that they
have gain from self managed learning. For this they need to learn new skills and put it into
regular practice. For example, if assistant manager has learned technology skills then it need to
discuss with their subordinates and employees by conducting class.
Improving ability range with Personal learning- The assistant manager need to enhance
skills and capability which helps them to increase confidence level for performing any type of
work. For example, manager should adopt changes in their business for getting success.
Benefits of self managed learning to Organisation
This benefit of self managed learning to organisation is as follows:
Increasing confidence and motivation levels- Employees having self managed learning
can help them for promotion in organisation which can act as role model for other staffs. This
helps them for increasing motivation and encourages them for better results.
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Better individual with better performance- This can help Travelodge to get capable, skilled,
dedicated and responsible staff for their business that focuses on increasing productivity and
profitability of organisation.
TASK 2
2.1 Evaluate own current skills and competencies against professional standards and
organisational objectives
Professional standards are defined as set of principles which have ethical and legal code of
practices against set results for performing different responsibility and role in proper manner. It
is significant for Travelodge to set some standard and work accordingly for achievement of goal
and objectives. The professional standards can be talking politely, wearing dress code and others.
The objectives set by Travelodge are:
 To reduce complaints from users from 80 to 30.
 To provide high quality food.
Being assistant manager of respective organisation, I have to encourage and motivate employees
and focus on improving performance and skills of organisation. The current skills are:
Skills and Competencies Score Score from others Difference
Communication skill 9 8 1
Problem-solving skill 7 9 -2
Negotiation Skill 6 5 1
Decision making 8 9 -1
Time management 7 9 -2
Leadership skills 8 6 2
From mentioned table, with help of skills and competencies the strength and weaknesses of
individuals can be evaluated which is as follows:
Strengths Weaknesses
With help of personal skill audit, I can easily
determine strengths which assist me in
The personal skill audit also helps me in
identifying my weaknesses that create
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achievement of goals and objectives of
organisation which are as follows:
Problem solving skills
Decision making
Time management
difficulty in accomplishment of objectives of
business in proper manner which includes
following:
Communication skill
Negotiation skill
Leadership skill
2.2 Identify own development needs and the activities required to meet them
In order to develop myself for achievement of goal and objectives of business I need to
make personal development plan by analysing my weaknesses from personal skill audit. For
survival in organisation I need to learn and enhance more skills against standard of business.
Requirements Personal
Audit Rating
(Scale 0-10)
GAP Remedial
Actions/Strategy
Deadline for
remedial
actions
Communication
skill
8 I did not focus on
communicating with
any one in organisation
due to which I lack
such skill for carrying
out work
In order to improve
my communication
skill, I need to
participate in different
activities of
organisation such as
conference, seminar
and debate and have to
go through reading
books.
3 months
Negotiation
skill
5 I did not get
opportunity in
organisation to deal
with consumers and
guest in effective and
efficient manner. This
This skill can be
improved through
reading books related
with negotiation and
applying those in
practical life for better
2 months
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lead me back in doing
negotiation with other
in terms of facilities,
services and pricing.
outcome. I should also
deal with each and
every people of
organisation for better
outcome.
Leadership skill 6 I did not focus on
leading other for
carrying out work in
effective and efficient
manner at organisation.
I only focus on
performing my own
work rather than
organisation goal and
objectives.
I need to manage team
and provide them
guidance and help for
achieving business
goal and objectives. I
should focus on
leading other in order
to improve my
leadership skill.
4 months
These above skills should be improved in order to achieve goal and objectives of business such
as:
Skills required to be improved Ways for improve skills
Communication skill I need to be participating in other activities for
improvement.
Negotiation skill I should focus on learning from others for negotiation skill
improvement.
Leadership skill I need to lead and manage team for effective outcomes.
2.3 Identify development opportunities to meet current and future defined needs
For survival and growth in competitive market, I need to build my skills for meeting both
current and future needs of organisation. Different opportunities are available which should be
grabbed by firm with aid of their personal and professional skills. This can help them to grow,
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sustain and survive in competitive market. Some of current as well as future needs are as
follows:
Current needs- The needs which are required in current period of time such as leadership,
communication, decision making and other. This can help respective organisation to grab
different opportunities available in market.
Future needs- The needs which are required in future period of time that helps to create
opportunities for organisation in future date. Travelodge need to focus on improving future need
and skills of their employees for result achievement.
The development opportunities for meeting both current as well as future needs which
can be achieved through improvement in weaknesses. This provides various advantages to
Travelodge which are as follows:
Communication skill- This can help me to communicate with each and everyone in
effective and efficient manner. This skill is required in every organisation for positive outcomes.
It can help me to know about work performance of business.
Negotiation skill- This skill can help me to grab better opportunities for business at
reasonable price. With such skill, I can negotiate with suppliers and others in terms of pricing for
effective results.
Leadership skill- It is also important skill in business which helps me to lead other for
carrying out of work in proper and effective manner. With this skill I can guide and help other to
perform different activities.
2.4 Devise a personal and professional development plan based on identified needs
Personal and professional development plan is important which helps in identifying need
and skills along with strength and weakness. This assist in overcoming weaknesses which are as
follows:
S.
No.
Learning
target
Present
Proficiency
Target
Proficiency
Development
Opportunities
Criteria for
Judging
Attainment
Time
Scale
1 Communic
ation skill
8 10 Improving
communication and
learning skills,
Supervisor 60 days
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building confidence
for better work
performance in
organisation under
supervisor.
2 Time
manageme
nt skill
8 10 Improving time
management skill in
order to do each and
every task assigned
to me in effective
and efficient manner
with help from
manager.
Manager 40 days
3 Problem
solving skill
9 10 Improving problem
solving skills,
reliability and
working constantly
on same given task to
solve it in better
manner with help of
manager and mentor.
Mentor and
managers
45 days
4 Leadership 8 10 Improving my
leadership skill by
leading and guiding
other for better
outcome for
achievement of goal
and objectives of
business.
Leader 70 days
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TASK 3
3.1 Discuss the processes and activities required to implement the development plan
The respective organisation need to develop various process and activities which can helps
them for implementing plan in proper manner. If such plans are not executed properly then it
cannot get success in organisation. Some of activities can help for implementing development
plan which are as follows:
Define goals – It is first step where goal is defined for development plan. This helps in
achievement of goals as per future prospectus. In order to implement plan, it is very important
for organisation to set right goals which can helps in growth of future.
Understand your strengths – In this stage, strength should be understood and weakness
should be improved properly. While making development plan, it is necessary to include those
skills which should be improved as per demand of organisation.
Arrange training – In order to improve weakness of employees, it is necessary for
business to provide training and development programmes for them. This should be provided to
those who want to develop their skills and knowledge in organisation according to demand.
Set a deadline – Development plan should be implemented for improving in given time
period. The plan consists of skills which needed to be improved in particular period of time such
as 3 months, 6 months which should be motivated for learning.
Clearly define objectives of plan – In order to implement development plan, objective
should be clear and transparent. This plan can help to achieve all those objectives that for
personal and professional actions. The objectives can be short, medium and long term.
Therefore this process and activities required for implementing development plan which
helps in achievement of goals and objectives of organisation in short, medium and long term.
3.2 Undertake and document development activities as planned
The given below represent all document which are required for development activities plan
as per stipulated time period. They are as follows:
Time Period Action Interpreted What is learn till What is required Estimated time
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