Personal & Professional Development Assignment Sample

Introduction Of Personal & Professional Development

Personal and professional skills development has become vital for every individual in the modern scenario. Continuous improvement and learning in this context may lead a person to face challenges in the marketplace. There are many tools and techniques by which human being can improvise their skills. A dedicated staff member may easily attain their own goals and objectives that have been set by the company (Thomas, 2015). This type of development can push an individual towards the growth of their career. Skilled employees directly hit targets efficiently and effectively. The current report is on Waitrose, a multinational organisation that deals all over the United Kingdom in the retail sector. The assignment highlights the approaches by which lifelong learning and self-managing skills can be improved in an individual. This assessment has also included a personal audit to find its strengths and weaknesses. Lastly, a development plan has been braced by the management.

TASK 1

1.1 Approaches to self-managed learning and different learning styles

It has become essential for every individual to keep improving their skills, which various approaches can do. A person can improve his learning by using different learning styles. This activity may lead them towards the growth of their own personal and professional. Individuals must find many learning ways and utilise them to achieve goals and objectives in a specific time frame. While setting up a stall at an exhibition, a person should be more effective and have proper communication skills. It can aid them in giving a detailed description of the products they are offering to consumers. A less talkative individual cannot appropriately influence a customer. Thus, the person needs to evaluate their weaknesses and improve them to become more effective. There are a few approaches to learning to improve his skills and knowledge.

Some approaches of self-managed learning are as follows:

Conferences, meetings and seminars: It is an approach that the organisation has mostly used. In this hypothesis, the management of Waitrose gives training and development sessions to employees to improve their skills and knowledge (Moss, Gibson and Dollarhide, 2014). Apart from this, in these sessions, executives also give an overview of modifications that they have made within the company. For a less talkative person, it is essential to attend every seminar to develop their skills by having words with people of different mindsets. This activity makes staff members familiar with new tools, techniques and technologies that the firm has adopted.

Social networking methods: In today's world, there are many sites by which every single person can improve their skills and knowledge. This type of approach allows individuals to learn from their homes or anywhere. YouTube has various channels by which human beings can educate themselves. It is less effective for people who talk less as personal interaction is necessary at every single place. But, it plays an essential role in learning new tools and technologies coming to the marketplace. Continuous updates in this sector can aid an individual to give suggestions in group discussions.

Online courses: In this kind of approach, individual learns from different sites. These websites are mostly made for educational learning. In the modern era, the internet is the main source by which human beings can learn as per their objectives. It becomes vital for a person who is a freelancer to locate new tools and techniques through which knowledge can get enhanced, and these can be easily found on various educational websites.

1.2 Benefits of self-managed learning in the context of individuals and organisation

It has been found that individuals learn different things like new tools and techniques from time to time (Brody and Hadar, 2015). Thus, it can be stated like learning is a continuous process in which human beings acquire knowledge and improve skills. It has become essential for individuals to have sufficient knowledge in the modern era as competition rises in the marketplace. For example, if a person worked as a freelancer and made a stall in an exhibition. At the same moment, they should locate all other stalls made by other people to make/her stall unique. With the help of this, the attention of consumers can be gained. Few benefits of self-managed learning are mentioned beneath:

Learning benefits to individuals:

• The hypothesis may easily lead individuals to improvise their skills and knowledge, which helps them attain their own goals and objectives.
• The approach brings confidence to a person. This helps them in giving competition to others.
• Improvement in morale may lead individuals to make decisions favouring their betterment.
• Learning brings capabilities by which they can easily perform their duties.

Learning benefits to organisation :

• Talented employees can easily attain their own goals, which becomes beneficial for the company to grab a leading position in the marketplace (Grima-Farrell, 2015).
• Innovative ideas, creative mind, unique decision power, etc., are some abilities that come under individuals after taking training and development sessions given by the management of Waitrose.
• Apart from this, the productivity and profitability of firms can get improved effectively and efficiently.

TASK 2

2.1 Evaluation of current skills

Learning plays a vital role when it comes to self-managing. An explained version of an individual's skills to become more effective in the competitive world.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

EXISTING LEVEL AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDISATION

5=Strong

1=weak

BEST EXAMPLE

TOOLS TO DEVELOP

Communication skills

1

Interpersonal skills are said to be much effective at the workplace. Still, it has been located that most people look forward to giving suggestions and trying to adapt the skills of others while working with them.

Suppose an individual is much effective and has good communication skills. In that case, it may be possible that they will become more skilled and start helping the firm in hitting targets more effectively and efficiently.

Leadership skills

4

These skills are much important for an individual to have to make decisions. Along with this, a company may start achieving their goals and objectives more effectively if every staff member starts determining their issues and making them their strong points by learning continuously.

It has been located that firms keep on conducting meetings and training sessions to improvise personal experiences of individuals. Along with this, it also helps in enhancing both skills and knowledge.

Issue solving skills

3

It is mandatory to resolve all the issues and barriers regarding hitting targets for a longer period. By this, management can help employees in reducing conflicts. Being a volunteer, it is essential to locate problems faced by both others and take initiatives so that it won't affect the company's reputation.

Suggestions can be given to others to resolve issues on their own. Along with this, some mind games can also be given to them to remove all the problems or face barriers.

Team working skills

5

Working as a volunteer brings up many responsibilities. Thus, giving jobs to workers as per their capabilities can help in various ways.

This skill may lead an individual to become more effective with other teammates. With the help of this, targets can get hit by taking suggestions from others.

2.2 Identification of own development needs

While working as a volunteer, I have faced an ample number of responsibilities. I can set future goals by locating all my strengths and weaknesses. For improving my skills and knowledge of mine, SWOT analysis is mentioned beneath:

Strengths:

I can influence others to work efficiently as I have good leadership qualities. Apart from this, I also have high-level patience, which aids me in listening to others and resolving their issues in a limited period (Dixon and et al., 2014).

Weaknesses:

Continuous improvement of communication skills is necessary for me as I am less talkative. I must become more confident so that I can face every situation easily. I need to keep up a belief in myself to grow.

Opportunities:

I have ample opportunities within the company, like becoming a senior manager. I can attain this quickly by hitting targets or putting extra effort into the workplace. Continuously improvising my skills and knowledge may easily help me achieve my own goals and objectives.

I am good at leading people. Thus, I can make effective decisions for people working beneath me to complete or finish their work in a specific period.

Threats:

Competition is the only threat that I have. In an organisation, staff members are continuously trying to get promotions, which can be dangerous. I need to keep pushing my limits from time to time to achieve better results.

2.3 Personal and professional development plan

While forming a personal and professional development plan, it is mandatory to include all targets and objectives of own. This type of plan aid in developing of own skills and knowledge or making decisions for the betterment of a career in the context of the future (Forte and Flores, 2014). The plan is comprehended beneath:

LEARNING OBJECTIVE/GOAL

CURRENT

PROFICIENCY

TARGET

PROFICIENCY

DEVELOPMENT

OPPORTUNITIES

TIME SCALE

1

Communication

2.7

5

I already have good communication skills, but I have to improvise them to gain better results. I can do this by taking regular communication classes from an institution (Bayar, 2014). Apart from this, I can also take lessons from YouTube from different channels, which may help me in unique ways. This will directly put a positive impact on my overall personality.

35 days

2

Leadership

4

5

My aim is to become a senior manager in an organisation (Nicholls, 2014). Hence, I need to have the proper knowledge to lead my team towards a peak where we can attain our objectives in a short period. To fulfil this requirement, I must take lessons from past experiences and take classes to learn about managing or leading a team. These sessions can easily help me become more efficient at the workplace (Cox, Bachkirova, and Clutterbuck, 2014).

42 days

2.4 Activities required to implement the development plan

Development Objectives

Priority

Activities to be undertaken

Resources

Target start date

Communication Skills

1

As I do not talk much, I need to go to seminars, conferences and attend meetings.

Books.

Seminars.

Conferences

23/12/17

Learning Skills

2

As a volunteer, I need to learn from the mistakes that I have done while doing work.

Internet

Social sites

23/12/17

Team working Skills

3

Suggestions which they have given I need to locate if they are helpful or not to attain targets in a shorter period.

Events

Target achievements

23/12/17

Issue solving skills

4

While altering to make workers more effective, I can use some motivational videos and give them topics to do group discussions

Training and development programmes

23/12/17

TASK 3

3.1 Undertaking development activities as planned

Many sorts of activities can be included in this context, and these are mentioned beneath:

PERIOD OF WORK

ACTIVITY UNDERTAKEN

WHAT IS LEARNT UP TILL NOW

WHAT TO DO NEXT

WHEN TO DO

Week 1

It is mandatory to find research related to the set objective (van Aalderen‐Smeets and Walma van der Molen, 2015).

Under this, management can easily find problems that come across.

People who have already faced the same type of problem may easily aid in giving ideas to resolve issues in a short period.

Same week

Week 2

This is when analysis or monitoring of the plan is being done.

Proper analysis can be stated as done while forming a plan.

Allocating jobs to an individual should be in writing so that no conflicts may organisation faced.

Same week

Week 3

Implementation of the plan and taking feedbacks from people so that improvements can be made right on time (Murdoch-Eaton, and Sandars, 2014).

The improvisation process takes place in this context.

Management keeps on looking at aspects from time to time that may create problems.

Same week

3.2 Reflection on own learnings

In developing a plan of my own, I set goals and objectives. The plan showed my skills in which I am good at, and weaknesses that I needed to cover up to become more effective.

• It has been concluded that my communication skills are good. Thus, it may help in having a healthy conversation with others.
• Analysing skills related to data is more than enough to aid me in doing proper research at times.
• I can handle a team of almost 30 to 40 members without even hesitating while allocating tasks.
• Confidence is low; hence I must hit the target in a short period (Körkkö, Kyrö-Ämmälä and Turunen, 2016).

3.3 Evaluating time management strategies

It has been found that Waitrose uses different strategies to accomplish tasks right on time. These are mentioned beneath:

Setting precedence on objectives: Waitrose must keep allocating tasks to individuals as per their capabilities to know their worth in the organisation (Grima-Farrell, 2015). Apart from this, the manager must keep on giving knowledge to employees that what should be done on a priority basis.

Usage of tools of planning: Planning gives an overview to executives. Apart from this, there are various tools and techniques of making strategies that the organisation's management can use.

Delegating work: This element plays a vital role in the organisation. Management gives jobs or tasks to individuals as per their capabilities. Managers need to find the abilities of staff members to attain objectives in a short period (Cox, Bachkirova and Clutterbuck, 2014).

3.4 Updating development plan based on feedback

Learning Needs critically on your learning against the original aims and objectives set in the

development plan

 Evaluate the time management strategies

Priority

Activities to be Undertaken

Resources Needed

Deadline

Evidence of Achievement

Time management skills

High

Attend time management seminars.

Time

20/02/18

Completion of documentation

Communicating skills

High

Meetings, group discussions can be conducted.

Within organisation

Continuous

Reports

Leadership and Motivation abilities

High

Influencing subordinates to their limits to attain their objectives (Bukor, 2015).

Enough funds.

25/02/18

Completion Documentation

TASK 4

4.1 Issues and problems faced at the workplace and their resolution.

It has been located that there is an ample number of problems that can be faced by an individual and by the organisation as well. Resolving them regularly may lead the firm to improve its reputation in the marketplace. Some issues that Waitrose is facing are as follows:

Lack of coordination and communication in between departments and management of Waitrose and workforce of the firm:

It has been analysed that Waitrose is facing issues related to communication. Both employers and employees do not like to share their views which may lead Waitrose to raise conflicts when it comes to decision-making. Here, it is the management's responsibility to resolve their issues so that positivity can be spread.

Solution:

Waitrose can resolve the issue at the workplace by continuously taking suggestions from subordinates.

Creation of communication channels: This is one of the processes through which determinations can be made where information is sent from top-level management to middle and then to lower one.

Reducing confusion regarding hierarchy: This is when confusion can be reduced by giving all the responsibility to a department where they must circulate information from one department to another.

4.2 Variety of styles and appropriate manner at various levels

There are various kinds of issues and conflicts that the company is facing, and to solve them, there are various kinds of tools and techniques utilised by managers in a better and effective mode. Waitrose is one of the largest companies with a huge number of employees hired, and along with this, there are certain techniques that the company uses to minimise the chances of conflicts. These kinds of methods are undergoing thorough modifications with time and situation. Managers of the company utilise various kinds of styles along with manner including the physical, visual and logical to inform and interact with an employee. There are a few major styles of administration.

There are various kinds of issues determined by an individual effectively and efficiently. There are various kinds of learning styles combined with various styles like logical, visual, and physical. Three styles are being utilised for managing management.

• Controller style- In this kind of factor, the manager presents the assignment or plan before the higher authorities or the board of directors for execution permission. The plan is being implemented after the agreements.
• Supporter style- Manager and leader are being suggested by memo for ineffective result opinions related to the certain plan.
• Analyser style- The higher authorities or manager coordinates activities and programmes to organise inappropriately. This is the mod style level in that employers inform a worker through email to provide the information.

4.3 Effective strategies of time management

To raise work efficiency and performance, time management techniques are valuable, which help an organisation or person. It will help in properly achieving objectives and goals by managing personal activities. A particular person can use various kinds of approaches for managing time.

• Focus strategy: It aid in achieving the particular goal, which leads to aiming at a particular task by proper utilising resources at a specific place.
• Organisation and delegation: it helps meet goals in the situation of limited resources by coordinating organisation and delegated use of many functions.
• Preparing to do list: tasks are performed as per their urgency and value. It leads to achieving particular and desired objectives.

For Waitrose, concentrating on strategy is very helpful and raise higher outcomes by decisions and creating more particular routine and goals.

TASK 5

5.1 Ways to encourage lifelong learning

An Individual's journey brings so many changes in their life. A person can learn or take lessons from past experiences to not get repeated. The journey of life teaches so many lessons to individuals. This helps them become more confident and careful when making decisions on their own. It has been found that these persons can use an ample number of tools and techniques by which they can upgrade skills and knowledge of their own. Organisations like Waitrose must be aware of new technologies that they will adapt to in the future. Hence, this helps them become familiar with changes that the company is going to make. Improvised knowledge and skills lead a person to become more effective and efficient at the workplace. In this context, different methodologies are mentioned beneath:

Continuous Personal Developing Skills: In Waitrose, management should keep on analysing the productivity of every single individual. This helps them know where that person is weak and where he is strong. Apart from this, an individual can also make plans of their development and monitor it from time to time (6 Core benefits of personal development, 2017).

Self-directed Initiatives: An approach in which an individual takes the initiative and follows the plan made by the organisation to improve staff members. Continuous monitoring of this perspective may lead an individual to become more efficient and confident. This scenario will boost their motivation and morale (Robertson, 2016).

Healthy Competencies: Organisations should keep on improving the skills and knowledge of individuals by giving them proper sort of training. Apart from this, conflicts should be reduced between staff members. Management of Waitrose should give proper attention to staff members to perform well at the workstation.

5.2 Identification of development opportunities

Skilled individuals may easily grab opportunities within the organisation at the marketplace. These changes can be anything like promotions, incentives, etc. But, persons must improvise their skills and knowledge from time to time as the market faces so many modifications. Knowledge of new tools and techniques may lead individuals to become more effective and efficient. This aids them in finishing tasks that the management of Waitrose has given right on time.

Current needs: Marketplace is said to be dynamic. Hence, new tools and techniques organisations face from time to time. I must grab knowledge about these new tools. This may help me in sustaining in the company for a long time. I have faced many problems like my production was low, and management gave me a warning letter. At that time, I had to improve myself to become more effective and efficient.

Future Needs: I must get a promotion within the company and become a senior executive. Proper knowledge-based skills of mine may lead towards attaining my goals and objectives (Nicholls, 2014). Apart from this, learning sessions may also aid in giving tough competition to competitors.

CONCLUSION:

From the comprehended report, it can be stated that an individual's development is highly mandatory in both personal and professional aspects. This report included a person's development plan by which individuals can improvise skills and knowledge of their own. These plans help in the long term success of a person. This programme can easily aid members to become more effective and efficient at the workplace. Assignment Help provided by New Assignment Help

References:

Books and Journals

Bayar, A., 2014. The Components of Effective Professional Development Activities in Terms of Teachers' Perspective. Online Submission. 6(2). pp.319-327.

Brody, D. L. and Hadar, L. L., 2015. Personal, professional trajectories of novice and experienced teacher educators in a professional development community. Teacher development. 19(2). pp.246-266.

Baker, E., 2015. Exploring teacher identity from a holistic perspective: Reconstructing and reconnecting personal and professional selves. Teachers and teaching. 21(3). pp.305-327.

Cox, E., Bachkirova, T. and Clutterbuck, D. A. eds., 2014. The complete handbook of coaching. Sage.

Dixon, F. A. and et al., 2014. Differentiated instruction, professional development, and teacher efficacy. Journal for the Education of the Gifted. 37(2). pp.111-127.

Forte, A. M. and Flores, M. A., 2014. Teacher collaboration and professional development in the workplace: A study of Portuguese teachers. European Journal of Teacher Education. 37(1). pp.91-105.

Grima-Farrell, C., 2015. Mentoring pathways to enhancing the personal and professional development of pre-service teachers. International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education. 4(4). pp.255-268.

Körkkö, M., Kyrö-Ämmälä, O. and Turunen, T., 2016. Professional development through reflection in teacher education. Teaching and Teacher Education. 55. pp.198-206.

Moss, J. M., Gibson, D. M. and Dollarhide, C. T., 2014. Professional identity development: A grounded theory of transformational tasks of counsellors. Journal of Counseling & Development. 92(1). pp.3-12.

Murdoch-Eaton, D. and Sanders, J., 2014. Reflection: moving from a mandatory ritual to meaningful professional development. Archives of disease in childhood. 99(3). pp.279-283.

Nicholls, G., 2014. Professional development in higher education: New dimensions and directions. Routledge.

Olsen, B., 2015. Teaching what they learn, learning what they live: How teachers' personal histories shape their professional development. Routledge.

Robertson, J., 2016. Coaching leadership: Building educational leadership capacity through partnership. New Zealand Council for Educational Research. PO Box 3237, Wellington 6140 New Zealand.

Thomas, P. A., 2015. Curriculum development for medical education: a six-step approach. JHU Press.

Van Aalderen‐Smeets, S. I. and Walma van der Molen, J. H., 2015. Improving primary teachers' attitudes toward science by attitude‐focused on professional development. Journal of research in science teaching. 52(5). pp.710-734.

Online

6 Core benefits of personal development. 2017. [Online]. Available through: <https://www.coachingpositiveperformance.com/6-core-benefits-personal-development/>.