Enhancing Professional Skills: A Development Plan for Travelodge

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments. This report details a personal and professional development plan for a Travelodge assistant manager.

Personal and Professional
Development

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................2
1.1. M1, M3 Evaluate approaches to self-managed learning......................................................2
1.2. M3 Propose ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts could
be encouraged at Travelodge.......................................................................................................3
1.3, M3 Benefits of self-managed learning.................................................................................4
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................5
2.1 M1, M3, Evaluate own current skills and competencies against professional standards and
organisational objectives.............................................................................................................5
2.2, M3 Identify own development needs and the activities required to meet them...................6
2.3. M3 Identify development opportunities to meet your current and future defined needs.
Which opportunities are available for you inside or outside of the hotel to improve your skill
development needs?.....................................................................................................................7
2.4 M3 Devise a personal and professional development plan based on identified needs..........8
Task 3...............................................................................................................................................9
3.1 M3 Discuss the processes and activities required to implement the development plan........9
3.2. M3 Undertake and document development activities as planned. In this task, you should
implement the development plan you prepared for yourself and then write down how you
implemented your plan..............................................................................................................10
3.3. M3 Reflect critically on your own learning against original aims and objectives set in the
development plan.......................................................................................................................11
3.4- M3 Update the development plan based on feedback and evaluation...............................12
Task 4.............................................................................................................................................13
4.1 M3 Select solutions to work-based problems......................................................................13
4.2 M1, M3 Communicate in a variety of styles and appropriate manner at various levels.....14

4.3-M1, M3 Evaluate and use effective time-management strategies.......................................15
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................16
References......................................................................................................................................17

LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Current skill evaluation.....................................................................................................5
Table 2: Personal and professional development plan....................................................................8
Table 3: Developed plan implementation......................................................................................10
Table 4: PPD documentation.........................................................................................................10
Table 5: Updating development plan as per feedbacks.................................................................12

Introduction
Development of individual in a personal and professional manner helps the person as well as
organisation to achieve various types of benefits in respect of skill development and business
growth in the market. The report will discuss the personal and professional development of the
Travelodge assistant manager so that they will deliver the quality of hotel services to their guest
as an organisation is dealing in the hospitality industry. The report will identify lacking skills and
through this development plan will be prepared. The report will discuss some problems facing by
organisation along with the strategies to improve their business functions.
1

Task 1
1.1. M1, M3 Evaluate approaches to self-managed learning
As the assistant manager in Travelodge hotel the development of their abilities is required and
for this self-managed learning, the approach can be applied so that career opportunities can be
gained to provide customer satisfaction.
Following are the various approaches related to self-managed learning:
Learning from observing other people: This approach helps the individual to learn many things
from observing another person. In self-managed learning, mentoring is one of the examples
which support the person to learn things from others. Observation other for learning helps the
person to gain shared knowledge of other person and try to improve own skills and abilities. The
arrangement of conferences and seminars will help to boost the confidence and support them in
future personal and professional development (Cunningham, 2017).
Internet and social media are also considered as the sources through which knowledge of other
people can be observed and improve individual skills. These sites will identify the person to
understand other people knowledge and experience and apply them in their skill development.
Learning by research: conducting research will also help the individual to gain knowledge and
improve their skills. Books, journals, articles and magazines are resources that can be used to
enhance self-learning. In-depth knowledge of authors can be learned from these resources, and
that help individuals to improve their current knowledge so that quality of services can be
provided for guest satisfaction in the hotel (Cunningham and Bennett, 2017).
With the above discussion, it is suggested that social media and internet are the most useful
sources or tools that can be used for self-learning management because this is easy to access and
gain the knowledge to work in the hotel as the assistant manager.
2

1.2. M3 Propose ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts could be
encouraged at Travelodge
For a person, Lifelong learning is active because through this they can improve their professional
as well as personal skills. Different approaches can be used by a person to encourage their
lifelong learning in respect of personal and professional.
The approach of self-evaluation: This approach can be applied through SWOT (strength,
weakness, opportunity and threat) analysis. By applying this approach, the further strategies can
be identified to overcome the weaknesses and threats by improving strengths and using
opportunities. The person can also analyse the opportunity in the hotel industry and use it to
remove the barriers (Oskam et al, 2017).
Learning from self-reflection: Self-reflection help the individual to analyse their continuous
development events that are based on work-related opportunities. This approach is effective to
develop the new abilities and skills so that duties and roles can be completed effectively.
Kolb’s learning Cycle is the model which helped me in achieving my personal and professional
objectives so that I can survive in the hotel industry and deliver my quality of services. This
model helps me to focus on my current skill and experience transformation (Dixon, N.M., 2017).
Kolb’s learning Cycle model mainly focuses on practical approaches, experiential learning,
observations and real situations based on learning that is occurred in the Travelodge hotel
workplace.
3

1.3, M3 Benefits of self-managed learning
The management of the self-learning helps my hotel and me to achieve the competitive benefits
by surviving with many competitors. Following are some benefits that are gained by individual
and some that are obtained by Travelodge:
Benefits achieved by me as an individual
Professional skill development and promotion are the two major benefits that are achieved by me
as the assistant manager in Travelodge. Self-learning helps me to improve my skills and that
support me to understand the critical situations of the hotel through which I can handle the
situations. This improvement helped me to create my position in the hotel and support me in my
further professional promotion (Sithole et al, 2017).
For example, Kolb’s Learning cycle model helps me to improve my problem-solving skill
through which I identify the risk in the task and identify the solution of the problem. Self-
managed learning also helped me to improve my current skills by gaining knowledge from others
and research. I also learned to manage my team members to contribute to hotel growth.
Benefits achieved by Travelodge hotel
Through a self-managed learning approach, some of the benefits are also achieved by an
organisation such as- increased customer satisfaction level and competitive benefits. If skills of
employees will increase, then it will reflect on their performance and skills through which
productivity level of the hotel willincrease and that help to deliver the quality of services to their
guest regarding accommodation, food etc. I am as the assistant manager in the Hotel try to
communicate with customers and understand their issues and then try to resolve it (Bennett,
2017). This will improve the brand image in the market and help Travelodge to gain competitive
benefits by surviving long in the market.
4

Task 2
2.1 M1, M3, Evaluate own current skills and competencies against professional standards and
organisational objectives
It is important for me to develop my current skills as the assistant manager of Travelodge so that
I can effectively maintain the hotel service standards by delivering the quality of accommodation
services. Following are my skills and its competencies regarding Travelodge objective and
professional standards:
Table 1: Current skill evaluation
Existing skills Current status Travelodge objectives Professional standards
Time
management
I am capable enough to handle
various tasks at one time
according to guest requirement
and deliver quality of services
within deadline (Bolden, 2016).
It is important for me to achieve guest
satisfaction that stays in the hotel.
Professional standards help me
to manage my guest so that I
can achieve further promotion
in hotel.
Decision making I effectively take the decisions
as per the requirement of
business and guest comfort.
The main objective of Travelodge is
to improve the quality of services by
adopting effective management
decisions.
Professional standards help me
to take decisions as per the
framed rules, regulations and
policies of organisation.
Communication My communication is proper as
I effectively share my
suggestions and views with the
team.
Travelodge objective is to improve
interaction with a guest to satisfy their
requirements (Hurrell, 2016).
As per professional standards,
verbal communication is
effective as it improves
employee relation.
Motivation Mine always encourage my
team members to increase their
working efficiency level.
Travelodge objective is to improve
the employee's involved in the
decision-making process.
According to professional
standards I need to use
participative leadership style to
motive employees for
participating in the discussions.
Problem-solving I use my knowledge to identify
the risk in the business but
sometimes time solutions are
not done properly.
The organisation objective is to
initiate in identifying issues for
solutions.
This skill is important to
remove internal conflicts and
solve guest issues.
5

2.2, M3 Identify own development needs and the activities required to meet them
Following are my lacking skills along with the development methods so that Travelodge
objectives and professional standards can be meet:
Motivational skill: My motivational skill needs some improvement through which the
involvement of the team members can be improved. As the assistant manager of Travelodge, it is
essential for me to encourage my team members to take part in the discussions and share their
views for improvement. It is essential for me to provide some benefits to my team members so
that they will get motivated to improve their efficiency level. I can use a participative leadership
style to motivate employees for their involvement (Vasilagos et al, 2017).
Problem-solving skill: To improve problem-solving skill I need to take advice from my mentors
and pay attention to the organisation problems. Keep listening to the mentor’s advice will help
me to identify the critical situations along with the solution. Problem-solving skill can also be
improved by enhancing the observation lower to that many risk or problem can be focused for
further improved.
Communication skill: My written communication is effective, but I need improvement in verbal
communication so that interaction with the other employees can be improved. Communication
skill can be improved by increasing participation in the group discussions through which I can
share my views and opinions with my team (Hurrell, 2016). I also need to discuss the hotel
problems with my team members so that their opinions can also be achieved.
6

2.3. M3 Identify development opportunities to meet your current and future defined needs.
Which opportunities are available for you inside or outside of the hotel to improve your skill
development needs?
Travelodge hotel is the leading hospitality industry based in the UK, and this organisation also
provides high professional growth to the people. As the Travelodge Assistant Manager, I need to
develop my motivation, communication and problem-solving skills so that the productivity level
of the hotel can be increased. Skill development also helps me to meet the customer’s
satisfaction.
Following are the opportunities through which current needs and future needs can be
meet:
Travelodge hotel provides its hospitality services in many places, but they face various types of
competitive challenges while achieving the benefits. I am working as assistant manager in
Travelodge so it is important for me to improve my motivational, communication and problem-
solving skills so that I can achieve the organisation objectives and goals. The top authorities of
the hotel also support me to analyse my lacking and weak skills and also provide suggestions to
me so that I can overcome the barriers (Melissen et.al.2016).
By taking the feedback from my team members, I can involve them in the discussions which
help me to improve my motivation skill. To improve the communication it is important for me to
improve my interaction level with employees, guest and seniors. With the help of listening and
observation, I can improve my problem-solving skills. My senior managers always support me to
improve my skills for future professional growth.
7

2.4 M3 Devise a personal and professional development plan based on identified needs
Table 2: Personal and professional development plan
Goal Rate
priority
Suggested activities Main resources Duration Future success
criteria
Improve
communication
skill
High Communication skill can be
improved by enhancing the
involvement in the
discussions, events and
conferences. Try to discuss
the points with the team
members so that every person
can share their views.
Use mobile phones,
email, fax etc. for verbal
and written
communication
improvement (Hurrell,
2016).
2/2/2019-
16/3/2019
Try to focus on
verbal
communication
to improve
employee
relation.
Improve
motivational skill
Moderate Motivational skill can be
improved by providing
benefits to employees as per
their skills in which fulfilling
their basic needs is also
essential.
Use Maslow motivational
theory to analyse
employee’s basic needs.
Give monetary and non-
monetary benefits
16/2/2019-
2/4/2019
Try to focus on
performance
appraisal and
increase their
involvement in
the decisions.
Improve problem-
solving skills
High Problem-solving skill can be
improved by improving the
observation and listening
power and try to take the
feedback from mentors.
Take effective feedbacks
from the managers and
mentor and try to resolve
the problems (Hooshyar
et al, 2015).
2/4/2019-
16/5/2019
Try to focus on
the positive
feedbacks of
peers, managers
and mentors
8