Travelodge Assistant Manager: Self-Managed Learning and Development

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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.................................................................................3
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.............................................................................................................................................10
3.1 M3 Discuss the processes and activities required to implement the development plan......10
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.............................................................................................................................................14
4.1 M3 Select solutions to work-based problems......................................................................14
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: Skill Evaluation.................................................................................................................5
Table 2: Skills and methods of development...................................................................................6
Table 3: Personal and professional development plan....................................................................8
Table 4: Implementation of development plan..............................................................................10
Table 5: Documentation for personal and professional development...........................................11
Table 6: Development plan based on feedback and evaluation.....................................................12

Introduction
Personal and professional development plays an important role in enhancing the skills of the
individual. The current report will consider the development of assistant manager of the Hotel
Travelodge and will focus on approaches of self-managed learning. It will undertake evaluation of
current skills and competencies against professional standards and organizational objectives. It will
develop personal and professional development. In addition to this, it will discuss the processes and
activities required to implement the development plan. Last section of the report will demonstrate the
importance of interpersonal and transferable skills.
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Task 1
1.1. M1, M3 Evaluate approaches to self-managed learning
Self managed learning is the approach that supports the individual to learn new things by their
own efforts. It will highlight number of learning approaches along with evaluation of outcomes
from number of tasks being undertaken at the Travelodge (Cunningham and Bennett, 2017).
Being at the position of Assistant Manager in the Hotel, it is essential for developing the abilities
by focusing on self managed learning approaches for gaining more career opportunities as well
as for providing customer satisfaction. Various approaches of self managed learning are as
follows:
Learning through research: There are number of resources that include magazines, books and
Journals which are highly effective in enhancing self managed learning. Such type of sources
improves the existing knowledge of the individual that will further support the individual to
attain appropriate knowledge on how to provide higher satisfaction to customers visiting hotel.
This will support to modify the existing working style which will be an advantageous for the
position of Assistant manager in the Hotel.
Learning from others: There are various others approaches that help the individual to enhance
the skills by gaining skills with the knowledge of others. Mentoring is an example of self
managed learning that support learning from others (Bennett, 2017). Under this approach, the
person with greater knowledge is liable for sharing their own knowledge for enhancing the skill
of others. In addition to this, seminars and conferences are highly beneficial in boosting one’s
confidence that further contribute towards development of personal and professional skills.
Internet is considered as one of the crucial sources for connecting and sharing knowledge with
other people outside the organization. Social media is also effective in connecting with
experienced people from other hospitality and travel organizations for gaining knowledge as per
the changing market trend.
From the above discussion, learning from internet and social media are important self managed
approaches that are helpful in gaining knowledge while working in Hotel Travelodge.
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1.2. M3 Propose ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts could be
encouraged at Travelodge
Lifelong learning is highly beneficial for the individual to develop personal and professional
skills of the individual. There is various numbers of approaches that can be adopted for
encouraging lifelong learning in personal and professional context.
Self Evaluation approaches: SWOT analysis is one of the effective ways of identifying strength
and weaknesses that will further support me to attain organizational goals and objectives. In
addition to this, further threats and opportunities are also identified while working in travel and
tourism sector (Olins, 2017). This will help me to formulate the development plan to gain the
advantage of opportunities as well as to minimise the barriers because of threats.
Self Reflective learning: The approach is beneficial in connecting continuous development
programmes to that with work based learning opportunities. Such type of coupling is
advantageous for developing new skills so that assigned duties can be accomplished in more
effective manner.
Kolb’s learning Cycle is effective for me to attain personal and professional goals and objectives
by focusing on transforming current experiences. It has higher focus over experience learning,
practical approaches, observations and learning based on real time situations occurring at the
workplace.
1.3, M3 Benefits of self-managed learning
Self managed learning is highly beneficial to me as well as Hotel Travelodge in gaining
competitive advantage.
Benefits to the individual
Promotion: Self managed learning contributes towards skill enhancement that further supports
me to handle challenging tasks and situations at the workplace while working in the Hotel
Travelodge (You et.al.2018). This will further help me to gain the opportunities to gain higher
position within the organization. For an example, Kolb’s learning cycle will contribute towards
improving motivation skills as well as better understanding towards organizational policies.
Further self evaluation technique is beneficial in improving the overall quality of the work.
3

Development of skills: This has been identified that development of skills is beneficial in
development of skills that will further contribute towards increasing profitability and satisfaction
of customers towards the organization. This will further help me to identify the lacking areas of
my team members which can be further developed by finding appropriate ways for each and
every individual.
Benefits to the Hotel Travelodge
Customer Satisfaction: Enhancement of skills has helped me to serve the customers in most
distinct manner by identifying their needs and demands. Being at the position of Assistant
Manager, I am now able to analyse the queries of customers so that appropriate solutions can be
find out for their higher satisfaction. This in turn influence positively on its brand image and
overall profitability.
Fulfilment of goals: New learning has helped me to fulfil the desired targets as per the set
deadlines (Francis et.al.2018). For an example, the main motive of the organization is to provide
higher satisfaction to customers so that overall profitability of the organization.
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Task 2
2.1 M1, M3, Evaluate own current skills and competencies against professional standards and
organisational objectives
Being at the position of assistant manager in the Travelodge, it is important for me to develop the
skills for maintaining the standards of products and services for overall satisfaction of customers.
Table 1: Skill Evaluation
My Current Skills Professional standards Travelodge and job
role objectives
Problem Solving Skills: I possess keen
knowledge on analysing the conflicting
situation at the workplace (Sanghi,
2016). However many a times solutions
are not as per the expectation.
The skills are highly
important to handle the
conflicts among employees
as well as for resolving the
queries of consumers.
The objective is to take
initiatives for solving
the critical issues.
Communication: I am successfully able
to share my ideas and suggestions to
my team members
Oral communication plays
important role in presenting
me while transforming ideas
and opinions to team
members.
The main objective is
to enhance the overall
satisfaction of the
customers.
Presentation Skills: Many a times skills
are effective boosting up the confidence
of my team members however I lack
behind in presenting myself with
confidence where situations become
critical
Presentation skills support
sharing of ideas among team
members and with higher
authorities of the
organization.
To make employees
aware about defined
goals and objectives.
Time management Skills: I possess
sufficient skills for handling multiple tasks
as per the needs of customers and complete
it with quality as per the set deadline.
This will help me to handle
customers in more effective
manner so that higher position
can be attained.
To fulfil the objectives of
enhancing satisfaction of
customers visiting to the
hotel (Bolden, 2016).
Team Building Skills: Skills are highly This will help me to develop To provide products and
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important for bringing innovation however
my team members many a times resist to
participate in decision making.
assigned task in more
innovative and creative
manner.
services in more creative
manner so that
organization can gain
competitive advantage.
2.2, M3 Identify own development needs and the activities required to meet them
Table 2: Skills and methods of development
Skills to
improve
Methods of development
Problem
Solving Skills
Skills can be developed by identifying the skills of their managers and higher
authorities in the organization. Keen listening as well as paying attention to
advices of mentors will support me to analyse the situations in critical manner
so that appropriate solutions can be find out (Brockett and Hiemstra, 2018). In
addition to this, communication skills will also contribute towards delivering
appropriate information that will minimise the factors of arising issues.
Presentation
Skills
Presentation skills can be developed by participating as speaker in more number
of presentations for improving my confidence. In addition to this, feedbacks
from peers will support me to enhance my lacking areas such as voice tone, eye
contact, using of appropriate words, etc.
Team Building
Skills
Team Building skills can be developed by motivating the team members to participate
in decision making so that better ideas can be generated (Woodcock, 2017). This can be
further developed by providing benefits for their best efforts so that future performance
of the team can be raises. They must be provided with training for making employees
aware about importance of working in team.
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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?
Hotel industry is one of the fastest growing industries that provide number of career growth
opportunities. Being at the position of Assistant Manager of the Travelodge, it is important for
me to develop problem solving and presentation skills for improving the productivity of the
business. Development of skills will help me to enhance the customer satisfaction.
Opportunities for meeting current and future needs
Travelodge operates as a large scale organization and therefore face number of challenges while
gaining competitive advantage in the market. Being at the position of assistant manager it is
important for me to develop certain skills which will further contribute to attain defined goals
and objectives of the organization (Melissen et.al.2016). Senior authorities of the hotel support
me to identify the lacking areas and suggest ways to overcome the barriers for enhancing the
skills. With the appropriate communication skill I am able to enhance my understanding related
to assigned roles and responsibilities. Feedback of managers and peers will support me to work
on skills such as team building, presentation and problem solving skills.
For enhancing the communication skills, interaction with customers, employees and higher
authorities of the organization must be focused upon. In addition to this, problem solving skills
can be improved by focusing on enhancing listening skills as well as communication skills so
that information can be delivered in more effective manner. Further, support of managers and
peers will help me to work upon lacking areas as per the suggestions.
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2.4 M3 Devise a personal and professional development plan based on identified needs
Table 3: Personal and professional development plan
Development
Objectives
Priority Activities to be undertaken Resources Target
Start
Date
Target
End Date
Criteria for
Success
To improve
problem
solving skills
Very
High
Problem solving skills can be
improved by focusing on face to
face communication so that
tasks can be understood in much
better manner (Savery, 2015).
Communication skills are
advantageous for explaining and
understanding the issues which
further help to identify the
solutions for the issues. In
addition to this, listening skills
will support to analyse the
situations in detailed manner.
Feedbacks from
managers as well as
ability of accepting the
outcomes in positive
manner are important for
improving problem
solving skills. Adopting
the approach of self
managed learning with an
emphasis on online
researches must be
considered.
1/2/2019 15/3/2019 Positive reviews
of mentors, peers
and managers.
To improve
presentation
Presentation skills can be
improved by participating as
Higher authorities of the
organizations plays
15/2/2019 1/4/2019 Appraise from
managers and
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