Personal and Professional Development Plan for Travelodge Hotel Staff

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PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
LO1: Understand how self-managed learning can enhance lifelong development....................4
1.1 Evaluate approaches to self-managed learning. Which approach can be more
suitable for you or your staff at Travelodge Hotel?...............................................................4
1.2 Propose ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts could be
encouraged.............................................................................................................................5
1.3 Evaluate the benefits of self-managed learning to the individual and organisation........5
LO2: Be able to take responsibility for own personal and professional development...............8
2.1 Evaluate own current skills and competencies against professional standards and
organisational objectives........................................................................................................8
2.2 Identify own development needs and the activities required to meet them.....................9
2.3 Identify development opportunities to meet current and future defined needs..............10
2.4 Devise a personal and professional development plan based on identified needs.........11
LO3: Be able to implement and continually review own personal and professional
development plan.....................................................................................................................13
3.1 Discuss the processes and activities required to implement the development plan.......13
3.2 Undertake and document development activities as planned........................................14
3.3 Reflect critically on own learning against original aims and objectives set in the
development plan.................................................................................................................15
3.4 Update the development plan based on feedback and evaluation..................................16
LO4: Be able to demonstrate acquired interpersonal and transferable skills...........................17
4.1 Select solutions to work-based problems.......................................................................17

4.2 Communicate in a variety of styles and appropriate manner at various levels..............17
4.3 Evaluate and use effective time-management strategies................................................18
Conclusion................................................................................................................................20
References................................................................................................................................21

Introduction
In this competitive era, everyone is tending to improve their personal and professional skills
thus to deal with challenges and get better career opportunities. This report is an attempt to
define the need for personal and professional development for individuals’ and develop the
concept of self-managed learning among people. Travelodge is the chosen organisation for
this entire assignment as it is one of the leading hotel chains throughout the UK. There are
over 500 hotels of the group within the nation by having revenue of £637.1m. The prime
objective of the organization is to become the world's largest hotel chain; for this purpose,
management is focusing on applying the approach of self-managed learning. Furthermore,
there will define own skills and competencies so as to develop an effective PDP plan. In
addition to this, development opportunities will also discuss to achieve personal goals and
objectives. At last, there will be discussed communication styles at various levels so as to
determine the best solutions of work-based problems.

LO1: Understand how self-managed learning can enhance lifelong development
1.1 Evaluate approaches to self-managed learning. Which approach can be more
suitable for you or your staff at Travelodge Hotel?
Topic – Approaches of self-managed learning for staff individuals of Travelodge
Date – 25th Jan 2018.
Introduction
Own learning plays a vital role in individuals’ life as it provides them with the opportunity to
improve specific areas as per the personal and professional requirements. Basically, self-
managed learning links with goal setting signify the purpose of learning as well as implement
ways to accomplish these goals. By using the approach of self-managed learning,
organisations’ like – Travelodge can strengthen the skill or competencies of employees;
utilization of this approach also contributes in enhancing learning at the workplace (Moss, et.
al., 2014).
Main Body – Self-managed learning is required for individuals as it directly supports in life-
long learning; in other words, the approach provides an option to people as they can
improvise their ability in order to sustain the desired market position. Following is define
main approaches of self-managed learning, such as –
 Conferences and seminars – By attending various seminars and conferences, people
can gain a large extent of knowledge. It enables people to learn others’ experience in
particular areas. It also improves the confidence in public speaking and presentation
skills.
 Social network – In this modern era, most of the people are using social media sites,
i.e. Facebook, Twitter etc. it is a platform where people can share any type of
knowledge. Employees of Travelodge are also using social media network thus to get
up to date from all trends in the market.
 Internet – It is an identical source of self-managed learning which allows people to get
knowledge from different sources, i.e. Google, Yahoo, Bing etc. All these search
engines help people to search any kind of knowledge.
Conclusion
It is analysed that all these approaches of self-managed learning are beneficial for staff
members of Travelodge; it will make them able to accomplish all tasks or activities in an

effective manner.
1.2 Propose ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts could
be encouraged
Introduction
The prime objective of an individual is to increase concentration throughout life. Life lessons
are essentials and important as well because they help out people to complete activities or
tasks in the required manner. Personal learning them to take imperative decisions and choose
a right career path. In the context of Travelodge, it is essential for managers to increase self-
managed learning among employees as they always learn new or innovative ways to do work.
Main Body
While acquiring the concept of life-long learning, there are certainly effective ways, such as –
Personal lifelong learning – This type of learning is acquired by individuals for obtaining
personal growth and development so as to achieve career goals and objectives in the required
manner. Personal learning is beneficial for those students and employees who want to achieve
a specific position in their life (Bolden, 2016). To implement the concept of lifelong learning,
individuals can implement
Professional lifelong learning – This learning can be achieved through attending meetings,
conferences, group discussion and so on. While working in an organisation, it is essential for
employees to perform in well-being manner; for this purpose, they can focus on different
ways to accomplish tasks or activities. Along with this, professional lifelong learning can be
achieved by improving working activities or business affairs by implementing innovative
ways in it. This would be beneficial in accomplishing organisational goals and objectives in a
certain time period.
Conclusion
It is essential for individuals’ to identify different approaches of lifelong learning thus to be
up to date with all trends in current markets. It enables employees’ to strengthen their skills
and capabilities in a certain time period.

1.3 Evaluate the benefits of self-managed learning to the individual and organisation
Topic – Benefits of self-managed learning
Date – 25th Jan 2018.
Introduction
Self-managed learning a process which assists to motivate period to determine their own
aptitudes or potentials. The approach provides initiatives to individuals’ to take initiatives for
improving specific areas. In Travelodge, managers and employees have tended to
comprehend the benefits of self-managed learning; it will help them to regulate consistency
in life and business as well.
Main Body
Self-managed learning is really beneficial for individuals and organisations as it provides a
comprehension of which areas should be improved (Templeton and Tremont, 2014). In the
context of Travelodge, self-managed learning will be helpful for employees to set their own
goals and learn accordingly. The outcome of this approach would be facilitated the process of
resolving any specific task or activity.
Benefits to individuals
One of the main benefits of self-managed learning is it facilitates individuals to do all tasks,
i.e. presentation and the group of work assignments. It builds up the ability of teamwork
among people and promotes it effectively.
Self-managed learning contributes to improving the communication skills of people by
making them able to interact with others in an effective manner. In the current professional
environment, communication is a most demandable skill which ensures individuals to obtain
the desired position at the workplace.
Benefits to organization
In the context of business associations, like Travelodge, self-managed learning assists to
make imperative business decisions and helps them to grab better future opportunities
(Pollock, et. al., 2015). In addition to this, self-managed learning assists people to be more
ethical and become more judgemental.
It also organisations to effectively resolve problems or issues; as well-qualified people will be
able to demonstrate the best solutions of problems and ready to accept challenges.
Conclusion
After analysis the benefits of self-managed learning, it is advised to employees of Travelodge
as they must encourage employees to acquire the approach; it would be assistive to boosting

their performance level.

LO2: Be able to take responsibility for own personal and professional development
2.1 Evaluate own current skills and competencies against professional standards and
organisational objectives
In order to accomplish my desired goals and objectives, I need to work on my skills or
competencies then assess to make respective changes as it is required to ensure career
growth. For this purpose, I have to focus on doing a detailed analysis which helps me out to
adopt those resources and skills which are needed in personal and professional development.
To evaluate my current skills or competencies against benchmarks, I have developed a
SWOT analysis, such as –
Strength
One of my major strengths is I have strong
leadership and managerial skills; which
would aid me to lead a wide range of people
in an effective manner.
I never feel hesitate to accept challenges, this
ability makes me confidence and also assists
to grab better opportunities in career
lifecycle.
I can easily make decisions due to my good
organizing power; this skill makes me
analyse things effectively and decide what is
good for me in future.
I also have the ability of multitasking; this
skill enables me to perform different
activities in a certain time period.
Weaknesses
My major weakness is I have lack of
communication skills at a professional level,
the reason behind this I feel quite hesitated
while interacting with others.
I do not have much professional experience;
due to which I cannot apply to large
corporations.
I faced problems in handling customers of
diverse culture or background. Additionally,
my technical skills are also not so effective.
Opportunities
As a management graduate, I have a strong
academic background which would help me
to get a better corporate platform.
I am focusing on learning and training which
represents a huge scope for me to improve
Threats
Dynamic demands of employers’.
Excessive pressure of fulfilling the targets.
Handling a wide range of customers in a
specific time is a big threat.

the level of certain skills.
I have availability to take suggestions from
the peer groups and my seniors for
professional solutions.
2.2 Identify own development needs and the activities required to meet them
In order to manage dynamic changes within the organisation, I need to focus on developing
my skills or knowledge accordingly. For this purpose, firstly I have to select certain areas of
skills which I must develop, then go for activities which should be evolved. Here, I am going
to discuss skill requirements and necessary skills for development.
Skill required Time required Activity required
Planning and
organizing
1 month In order to ensure proper planning
and organizing, I need to observe my
seniors and recognise how they
develop action plans and organise the
whole work.
Managing clients 1.5 months Before managing clients in an
appropriate manner, the prime thing
must be learned is to assign tasks to
them. Another foremost thing is to
keep temperament and treat them
with a smile.
Communication and
presentation skills
2 months There is no short cut way rather than
continuous practices under the
supervision of senior managers; they
can provide better guidance towards
the progression of this skill.
Motivating
subordinates
20 days In order to encourage or inspire
subordinates, a flexible and friendly
working environment needs to be
implemented. However,

compensations and rewards are also
a great way to inspire employees.
2.3 Identify development opportunities to meet current and future defined needs
In order to meet current and future needs, I need to demonstrate and develop opportunities in
a similar area of context. My current skills will be helpful in accomplishing short term goals
whereas my future needs aid me to achieve long-term goals. Therefore, to determine these
needs I have to set certain goals on that basis on current and future needs then build up
command over them accordingly. Following is given a description of current and future
needs, such as –
Current needs
 Improvement in communication or way of talking thus to effectively interact with
people and express my views to them.
 Develop strategies so as to deal with issues of daily life.
 Attend training programmes and conferences.
 To get a job in a reputed organisation where I can explore my knowledge level and
skills.
Therefore, to achieve my current needs I should emphasis on learning effective
communication skills which assist me to interact with my colleagues and provide an
opportunity to share issues or problems. Apart from this, to resolve daily life issues I need to
formulate a time framework and constantly check them so as to achieve short term goals. To
get a job in the reputed organisation I have to convert my weaknesses into strengths.
Future needs
 Become an efficient manager or leader who is enough capacity to handle all tasks or
activities at the workplace.
 Get a higher managerial position in an international organization which is having a
strong brand name over the world.
 Achieve various awards and certificates that represent my hard work and courage.

Henceforth, to achieve my future needs I have to work on my weaknesses and improve my
managerial skills; this would be helpful for me to get a good managerial post in an
international organisation. For being an efficient manager I have to demonstrate imperative
ways which contribute to resolving business problems or obstacles.
2.4 Devise a personal and professional development plan based on identified needs
Skills/Activities Target
proficiency
Current
proficiency
Examples of
current level
skill
Ways to
improve
Planning and
organising
10 4 When I make
any plan, I
usually forgot
about important
issues.
Coaching
Working under
supervision.
Time
management
10 7 I always prefer
to work in a
given time
period which
saves my time.
Divide big
projects or tasks
into small parts
to arrive at final
success.
Constant
evaluation of
time-schedule.
Managing
clients
10 5 I feel uneasy
and low
confident while
promoting and
selling any
product.
Monitoring
On the job
training
Communicatio
n on
presentation
skills
10 6 I feel quite
nervous to deal
with my
colleagues,
customers and
Reading English
articles and
watching
English movies.
Practice with