An assignment

On
Personal and Professional Development

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 Executive Summary

Through this assignment, a conceptual analysis has been made on the Personal and Professional
Development based on the organisation where it deals with the learning and development plan
to develop the personal skills of the employees of the organisation. Here, different types of
approaches to develop any manager’s skill are shown along with effective implication of these
knowledge in the real life in the organisation which must play a vital role in the proper
management of the firm and leads to the success of the organisation. Here it is analysed very
clearly how effective management can energize an employee and leads them to the successful
completion of the goals. Researcher has given emphasis on effectiveness of the personal skill
development plan of the leader. This lesson also talks about to gain the foreign market and the
skill required to lead the global market and ensure proper and smooth business operation.
Moreover, it is clear that these theoretical experience can help any person to be an effective
leader and boss of practical corporate world.

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Table of Contents
Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................ii
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1
Task-1 ........................................................................................................................................ 1
1.1 Evaluation of different approaches for Self-Managed Learning ..................................... 1
1.2 Different ways by which life-long learning can be encouraged in the context of personal
and professional skills development ...................................................................................... 2
Task 1.3 Discuss the benefits of self-managed learning both to the individual and to the
organisation ............................................................................................................................ 2
1.4 Different work-based problems with proper solutions .................................................... 3
1.5 Different types of communication styles at different organisational levels .................... 4
Task 1.6 Evaluation the effectiveness of time management strategies .................................. 4
Task 2 ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Task 2.1 Evaluate current skills and competencies by against professional standards and
organisational objectives ........................................................................................................ 5
Task 2.2 identifying the areas of skills for developments and activities required to meet them
................................................................................................................................................ 6
Task 2.3 Identifying development opportunities to fulfil current and future needs .............. 7
Task 2.4 Devise a Personal and Professional Development Plan (PDP) ............................... 7
Task 2.5 Activities required for implementation of development plan ................................. 8
Task 2.6 Documentation of different development activities according to plan ................... 9
Task 2.7 Reflection of own learning against original aims and objectives ......................... 10
Task 2.8 Revised Personal Development Plan based on evaluation and feedback ............. 10
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 11
References ................................................................................................................................ 11

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Introduction
Personal and professional development plan (PPD) is the ways by which any individual
employee of any organisation by himself/herself takes initiative to improve his/her skills. In
this purpose, s/he sets different goals and objectives and defines different strategies to achieve
these goals (Grit et al., 2008). However, these types of planning are supervised generally by
the senior supervisors or any mentor. I am business graduate and I want to develop my career
in Marketing and Sales profession. This assignment is prepared on my personal development
plan. Besides, I have updated my plan through measuring my current skills and required skills
with the benchmarks.

Task-1

1.1 Evaluation of different approaches for Self-Managed Learning

Self-Managed Learning (SML) is a learning approach, which has different elements to organize
the learning mechanism like self-development, self-direct learning, and action learning
(Tomlinson, 2004). There are different sequential approaches of self-managed learning like
planning, self-monitoring, controlling and in fine Evaluation of the overall performances.

Life-long learning is an approach to enhance the capacity to manage the individual’s own
learning from different course of actions, and at the same times takes the control of different
of various issues about what, how and when the individual will learn (Bembenutty, 2011).
Different strategies for encouraging the life-long learning in personal and professional context
are discussed here:

1. Working through projects: In this case, organisation assign a project for the trainee
to work to improve their skills and expertise. Working under the project the members
can gather the practical knowledge, which can adept them in the related sectors.
2. Learning through internet: Internet has identified different tools for
telecommunication like Computer Managed Learning (CML), Virtual Learning
Environment (VLE), Distance Learning, as well as other online resources to make the
learning process easier for the interested group.
3. Through research: At present, to cope with the dynamic business world, organisation
usually invest substantial amount of money for research purpose from where the
individual or interested persons can gather their desired skills and knowledge.

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 4. Other strategies: Besides those above referred strategies, the any interested person can
enhances his/her skills though sitting in different related examinations, facing different
interviews, attending in various seminars and conferences and also through monitoring
and controlling from different social networks.

1.2 Different ways by which life-long learning can be encouraged in the

context of personal and professional skills development
To be successful in the personal and professional life, there are certain level of skills and
expertise anyone should have or should learn. Not all these skills can be developed at a shorter
period. For this life-long learning is needed. However, all these skills to learn, there is no time
limit. So anyone can be encouraged for such life-long learning (Bryce, 2004). Different
possible ways that can encourage my life-long learning are discussed here:

 Personal planning: According to Hallman and Rosenbloom (2003), while going to

learn something throughout longer lifetime, I should have a specific planning.
However, it is obvious personal planning differs from person to persona, skill-level to
skill-level.
 Organizing the learning process: However, as the learning process is much length
it is difficult to manage and organize the required actions taken or to be taken. I should
be careful about this matter.
 Evaluation: Evolution is must to measure the process which can be by self-attempts
or under any supervisors or seniors, that can help me to understand the shortcomings
and further required level of actions to be taken.
 Continuous practice: For the skills development, the first and foremost need is the
continuous practice of the skills and also the implementation of alternative course of
action to improve one’s current level of learning.

Task 1.3 Discuss the benefits of self-managed learning both to the individual
and to the organisation
Self-manage learning is very important for both the employees and the organisation itself. This
learning process helps the employees to take more responsibilities, make their learning more
meaningful for the organisation as well as to them (Horton, 2011). Different benefits of self-
managed learning are discussed below:

1. This process helps the employees to learn differently.

2. Encourages personal ownership;
3. Helps the employees to apply their learned skills in the workplace;

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 4. Helps to bring out cost effective learning solution;
5. One of the main advantage is that the self-study and learning both can be managed at
the same time.
6. Adept in learning resources of the own organisation
7. Learning resources arranged for different learning styles;
8. Make arrangement of Just-in-time learning process;

1.4 Different work-based problems with proper solutions

While working within an organisation, employees at different level face different types of
problems. All these problems are to be considered under the personal development plan to the
improvement. Now I am working as Sales Executive of Wal-Mart, where I face some major
problems. Some of these problems are discussed here with proper solutions:

 Problem of multi-language: As Wal-Mart is a worldwide organisation, I as a Sales

Executive have to handle different types of customers from different locations and from
different culture, which becomes a huge problems for me. As for solution, while going
to dealing with any foreign customers, I should start conversation in English and for
those who don’t know English need a supervisor who can understand the local
language.
 Lack of good communication skills: As the Sales Executive, I always need to impress
the customers with my speech of tongue. In this case, communication skills should be
improved. As for the solution, I can exercise presentation by myself or under others’
supervision.
 Time management: Time management is one of the important issues at any kinds of
job. Many of my colleagues are seen late in the workplace, which is very important to
reduce both for the professional as well as personal success (Varga, 2011). To be timely,
there is no direct or specific solution or suggestion but everyone should practice to be
timely.
 Working with target: As a Sales Executive, I have to maintain standard target like
others, which is very much important to consider as the benchmark for success, which
seems to be a problem sometimes. As for solution, I need to divide my target within
different small target. And these small targets are to be considered to reach in the final
target.

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1.5 Different types of communication styles at different organisational levels
There is three-hierarchy level in any organisation. Based on the organisation level the style and
manner of communication differs. Such as-

1. Communication Style at Strategic level: At the strategic level, managers need to

maintain liaison with different stakeholders to take different strategic decision for the
organisation. They attend different meetings where the forms of communication are
based on the different memos, vouchers etc. (Mwangi et al., 2015)
2. Communication Style at Middle level: In the mid-level, the decision taken by the top
management is implemented. According to their level, different letter, case
presentations, meetings with the fellow employees are considered as communication
style.
3. Communication Style at Operational Level: Operation level employees just work
according to the order of the managers. In this case, their communication style implies
just in maintaining proper team stability and target fulfilling (Holtorf, 2009).

Task 1.6 Evaluation the effectiveness of time management strategies

Time management is one of the important factors for the success in the work place. There are
many types of work in the organisation. All these works are to be accomplished to ensure the
overall success. However, all the works are not same important. Therefore, it is important to
understand which tasks are to be performed earlier and which tasks can be performed later
(Kneale, 2014). To solve this problem, Priority Matrix has been introduced.

Figure 01: The Priority Matrix

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According to the Priority Matrix, it is emphasized that the tasks, which are urgent and at the
same time very important, should be done just in time (Garman, 2016). For example, salary
which has to be timely. However, the tasks which are important but not important that much
could be given next priority. These types of tasks are to be performed as soon as possible. In
the third priority, those tasks are delegated who are urgent but not important. In addition, the
trivial tasks that are not urgent even not important are postponed to reduce the misuse of time.
In this ways, time is managed and work schedules are distributed based on the importance of
the work.

Task 2

Task 2.1 Evaluate current skills and competencies by against professional

standards and organisational objectives
For the assessment of the skills and capabilities of the individual by himself/herself against
benchmark set of goals is very much important because it helps him/her to measure any kinds
of meaningful progress of personal skills (Belasen, 2000). However, if I go for evaluating
his/her current skills and competencies against benchmark, I have to make a brief SWOT
analysis of my skills and competencies:

Strengths Weakness

 good leadership skills  lack of communication skills at

 desire to take challenges professional level
 prefer managing multitasking  problem in handling customers of
 excellent organizing power different culture and language
 good decision making skills  having little professional experiences

Opportunities Threats

 as being business graduate, I have  The number of expert entering in this

strong academic background in the field.
related field  Excessive pressure of target fulfilling
 Dynamic demand of employers

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  availability to take suggestion from  Customer’s demand is not unique
the peer group as well as from the  Handling larger number of customers
seniors for the professional solution is a big threat.
 having huge scope of training to
enhance the level of skills
 scope to attend in different
workshops and training to develop
communication as well as
presentation skills

Table 01: SWOT analysis of current skills

Task 2.2 identifying the areas of skills for developments and activities
required to meet them
To cope up with the dynamic change of the organisation, I need to develop my skills
accordingly (Yan, 2011). In this case, first I need to select the areas of skills that I need to
develop. Then I go for deciding which activities to be taken to develop the skills. Here, I am
going make a brief discussion of the skills requirements and the activities for the development.

Skills required Activity Required

1. Planning and To make proper planning as well as organizing the most

organizing important issue is the suggestion from the seniors or observing
how they are making the plan and organize the works.

2. Managing Clients Before managing client effectively, the important thing is to

learn the task assign to them. In addition, another important
thing is to keep temperament enough to make smile behave with
them.

3. Communication There is no short cut ways rather continuous practicing under

and Presentation the supervision of others. It is a continuous process.
Skills

4. Persuading new It is a great tactic to learn how to convince the new customers
customer: for my product. However, it is a fact of learning to achieve
convincing power.

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 5. Motivating To inspire Sun-ordinates friendly and flexible work
Subordinates environment is the foremost need. However, compensations and
rewards can motivate them more.

Table 02: Areas of skills for developments and activities

Task 2.3 Identifying development opportunities to fulfil current and future

needs
If I want to develop the required skill for my personal as well as professional skill development
purpose, I have to have difference opportunities both in myself as well as in my work
environment, which have been discussed here:

1. Self-awareness: It lies in understanding my own character, level of skills comparative

to others. When I will be able to realize my limitations myself, then it would be easier
to overcome them.
2. Values: Values are the belief and norms that I should absorb myself to feel that I can
do or I must do. Self-awareness is required to uphold values.
3. Skills: To develop my skills and competencies, I need to have some basic skills of some
experience about the related knowledge, education, learning, and practice of assigned
actions (Wistow and Schneider, 2006).
4. Information: information is the key determinant of the skills and self-awareness, which
I need to be careful to get any kinds of recent updates.
5. Goals: The most important thing is that the goals or target level of skills development
is to be determined.

Task 2.4 Devise a Personal and Professional Development Plan (PDP)

Understanding my current level of skills by comparison with the standard requirements and
considering the types of actions to be taken I have developed a Personal and professional
development plan, which has been depicted here:

Leadership and Level of Example of Current 4. Activities to undertake

management skill expertise Skill level (two activities)
area (Out of 5)

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 1. Planning and 3 When I make any plan, I 1. Supervision of experts
organizing generally forget about any 2. Coaching
important issues.

2. Time 4 I always love to work 1. Time requirements for big

Management maintaining routine, which project are to be divided
saves my time in small part to reach in
final success easily.
2. Continuous monitoring of
time schedule with work
level.
3. Managing 3 I feel uneasy to promote any 3. On-the job training
Clients less selling products 4. Monitoring

4. Communicati 3 I feel nervous to deal with big 1. Coaching

on and customers 2. Practice with diverse
Presentation people
Skills

5. Problem 4 I can handle complex situation 1. Need more practical

Solving and have adept in quick case scenario.
solution. 2. Work with diverse people

6. Persuading 3 Sometimes, customers have 1. On-the job training

new diverse needs which I cannot 2. Demo practice
customer: align with my products

7. Motivating 4 I am good at motivating the 1. Know their needs

Subordinate subordinates both through 2. Learn to ensure friendly
compensation and rewards environment

Table 03: Personal and professional development plan (PDP)

Task 2.5 Activities required for implementation of development plan

While going to implement personal development plan, everyone has to follow four important
stages (Ireland, Cure and Hopkins, 2009). In case of the implementation of personal
development plan, all these required processes and activities are discussed:

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Figure 1: Process of Personal Development Plan

Source: (Ireland, Cure and Hopkins, 2009)

At the very beginning stage of the implementation, I need to think once again the required skills
and my related strength and weakness to achieve these skills. Secondly, I need to make a plan
about when and how the actions are to be taken. In this situation helps from the supervisors or
other seniors might be taken to make a list based on the priority development. Thirdly, actions
are to be taken. Generally skills are to be developed through different workshops, seminars,
conferences, monitoring or online courses etc. In fine, reviewing is needed to evaluate the
outcomes and re-establish the future plans for further development.

Task 2.6 Documentation of different development activities according to

plan
Various activities are required for the development my current position. Different factors also
affect my development plan positively. Firstly, Self-managed learning approaches, which
means to monitor my level of improvement by myself. There are four different learning style
under self-managed learning approach like being reflector, activist, pragmatist, and theorist
(Tomlinson, 2014). Besides, some researchers think mentors or supervisors are good at giving
advice and helping for learning. Thirdly, direct interview under the supervision of the experts.

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Besides, internet has been considered as the one of the important instructors in the learning
process.

Task 2.7 Reflection of own learning against original aims and objectives
According to the Personal development plan, my aims and objectives was-

1. Good planning and organizing capability;

2. Efficient time management

3. Excellent managing capability of clients

4. adept in communication and presentation kills

5. Problem Solving

6. Capability to persuade new customer:

7. Motivating Subordinates

Among them some skills areas are improved enough to satisfy the aim some are not. The
reasons of failure in different skills areas are discussed below:

1. Planning and organizing capacity is good enough but time management target has not
been achieved, as it is continuous process.
2. I have been adept enough in client managing capacity and critical problem solving but
communication and presentation skills target failed because it is inadequate training
facilities (Edwards, 2007).
3. Capability to attract new customers has been improved significantly. And I am adept
enough in motivating subordinates.

Task 2.8 Revised Personal Development Plan based on evaluation and

feedback
All though the discussion, I have discussed about my level if expertise in different skills, my
lacking and different action plan have already been taken. Whatsoever, it is logical that not all
skills will be developed at a time. Therefore, the skills that have not been improved that much
have been discussed though upgraded Personal development plan

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 Skills that didn’t fulfill target Why the objectives were not Revised Action plan
met
Efficient time management Lack of sufficient resources to Demo practice of fulfilling
be devoted to this skills bigger projects within shortest
possible time or within due time.
Reschedule for July 2015
onwards.
Communication and Substantial level of practice are Practice is not continued under
presentation skills not taken any training and coaching.
It’s a continuous process Reschedule time: up to August
2015
Table 04: Updated Personal Development Plan

Conclusion
Personal Development Plan is the best way to improve the skills of a person. Self-help is the
best help. Sometimes, organisation cannot trained much employees. In other case, it cannot be
alert for any diverse situation. However, as an employee, to be successful in the work place
every one should be careful about all this issues. Besides, skill and knowledge is key
determinant to be successful within much competition. That is why, the employees should go
for personal and professional development plan for their personal and professional goal
achievement.

References
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Bembenutty, H. (2011). Self-regulated learning. San Francisco, Calif.: Jossey-Bass Inc.

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Edwards, J. (2007). Presentation skill. Delhi: Global Media.

Garman, C. (2016). Affirm Your Life: Action Priority Matrix. [online]

Affirmyourlife.blogspot.com. Available at:
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