Personal & Professional Development Assignment Answer

Introduction - Personal & Professional Development

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In modern scenario, development of personal and professional skills has become vital for every single individual. Continuous improvement and learning in this context may lead a person to face challenges at marketplace. There are many tools and techniques by which a human being can improvise his/her skills. A dedicated staff member may easily attain own goals and objectives that has been set by company (Thomas, 2015). This type of development can push an individual towards growth of their own career. Skilled employees directly hit targets in an efficient and effective manner. Current report is on Waitrose which is a multinational organisation and deal in all over the United Kingdom in retail sector. Assignment is giving light on the approaches by which lifelong learning and self-managing skills can be improved in an individual. Apart from this, personal audit has also been included in this assessment so that person can find own 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 single individual to keep on improving own skills and this can be done by various approaches. Person can improve his learning by using different learning styles. This activity may lead him/her towards growth of their own of both personal and professional. It is mandatory for individuals to find out many learning ways and utilize them to achieve goals and objectives in a specific time frame. While setting up a stall at an exhibition person should be more effective and should have proper communication skills as it can aid him/her in giving detailed description about products that they are offering to consumers. Less talkative individual cannot influence a customer in an appropriate manner. Thus, it is important for the person to evaluate his/her own weaknesses and improve them so that he/she can become more effective in nature. There are few approaches of learning so that person can improve his own skills and knowledge.

Some approaches of self-managed learning are as follows:

Conferences, meetings and seminars: It is an approach which has been mostly used by the organisation. In this hypothesis, management of Waitrose gives training and development sessions to employees so that they can improve their own 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 company. For a less talkative person it is essential to go in every single seminar so that he/she can develop his/her personal skills by having words with people of different mind sets. This activity makes staff members familiar with new tools, techniques and technologies that have been adapted by the firm.

Social networking methods: In today's world, there are many sites by which every single person can improve his/her skills and knowledge. This type of approach gives an opportunity to an individual to learn from their home or at anywhere. YouTube has various channels by which human being can educate himself. It is less effective for people who talks less as personal interaction is necessary at every single place. But, it plays an essential role when it comes to learning of new tools and technologies that are coming at 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 modern era, internet is the main source by which human beings can learn as per their objectives. It becomes vital for a person who is a free lancer to locate new tools and techniques through which knowledge can get enhanced and these can be easily found various educational websites.

1.2 Benefits of self-managed learning in 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. In the modern era, it has become essential for individuals to have sufficient knowledge as competition is raising at marketplace. For an example: If a person who works as a free lancer and made a stall in an exhibition. At the same moment he/she should locate all others stalls which has been made by other people in order to make his/her stall unique in nature. With the help of this, attention of consumer can be gained. Few benefits of self-managed learning are mentioned beneath:

Learning benefits to individuals:

• Hypothesis may easily lead individuals to improvise their skills and knowledge and this helps them in attaining their own goals and objectives.
• Approach brings confidence in person. This helps him/her in giving competition to others.
• Improvement in morale may lead individual to make decisions which are in favour of his/her own betterment.
• Learning brings capabilities by which he/she can easily perform their duties.

Learning benefits to organisation:

• Talented employees can easily attain their own goals and this becomes beneficial for company to grab a leading position in marketplace (Grima-Farrell, 2015).
• Innovative ideas, creative mind, unique decisioning power, etc. are some abilities that come under individuals after taking training and development sessions which has been given by management of Waitrose.
• Apart from this, 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 measurement of skills of an individual in regards to become more effective at competitive world.

2.2 Identification of own development needs

While working as a volunteer there are ample number of responsibilities that has been faced by me. Future goals can get set by me by locating all the strengths and weaknesses. For improving skills and knowledge of mine SWOT analysis is mentioned beneath:

Strengths:

I am capable of influencing others to do work in an efficient way as I have good leadership quality. Apart from this, I also have high level patience which aid me in listening to others and resolve their issues in a limited period of time (Dixon and et. al., 2014).

Weaknesses:

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

Opportunities:

Ample number of opportunities that I have within company like become senior manager. This can be attained by me in a short period of time from hitting targets or by putting extra efforts at workplace. Improvisation of my skills and knowledge in a continuous manner may easily help me in achieving goals and objectives of own.

I am good at leading people thus, I can make effective decisions for people who are working beneath me so that they can complete or finish their work in specific time of period.

Threats:

Competition is the only threat that I have. In organisation, staff members are continuously trying to get promotions and this can be dangerous for me. It is important for me to keep on pushing my limits from time to time so that better results can come up.

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 betterment of career in context of future (Forte and Flores, 2014). Plan is comprehended beneath:

2.4 Activities required to implement the development plan

TASK 3

3.1 Undertaking development activities as planned

Many sort of activities that can be included in this context and these are mentioned beneath:

3.2 Reflection on own learnings

In developing plan of my own I set goals and objectives. 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 healthy conversation with others.
• Analysing skills which is related to data are more than enough that 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 it is mandatory for me to hit target in a short period of time (Körkkö, Kyrö-Ämmälä and Turunen, 2016).

3.3 Evaluating time management strategies

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

Setting precedence on objectives:It is mandatory for Waitrose to keep on allocating tasks to individual as per their capabilities so that they know their worth in organisation (Grima-Farrell, 2015). Apart from this, it is duty of manager to keep on giving knowledge to employees that what should be done on 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 which can be used by management of organisation.

Delegating work: This element plays vital role in organisation. Management gives jobs or tasks to individuals as per their capabilities. It is essential for manager to find abilities of staff members so that they can attain objectives in a short period of time (Cox, Bachkirova and Clutterbuck, 2014).

3.4 Updating development plan based on feedback

TASK 4

4.1 Issues and problems faced at workplace and their resolution.

It has been located that there are ample number or problems that can be faced by an individual and by organisation as well. Resolving them on a regular basis may lead firm to improve its reputation at marketplace. Some issues that are being faced by Waitrose are as follows:

Lack of co-ordination and communication in between departments and management of Waitrose and workforce of firm:

It has been analysed that Waitrose is facing issues which are related to communicating. Both employer and employees do not likes to share their views which may lead Waitrose to raise conflicts when it will come to decision making process. Here, it is management responsibility to resolve issues of them so that positivity can be spread.

Solution:

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

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

Reducing confusion regarding hierarchy: This is the phase where confusions can be reduced by giving all the responsibility to a department where their duty is to circulate information from one department to another.

4.2 Variety of styles and appropriate manner at various levels

There are various kind of issues along with conflicts which are being faced by the company and in order to solve them there are various kind of tools and techniques utilized by manager in better and effective mode. Waitrose is one of the largest company with huge number of employees hired and along with this there are certain techniques which the company uses in order to minimize the chances of conflicts. These kind of methods are undergoes thorough some modifications with time and situation. Manager of the company utilize the various kind of styles along with manner including the physical, visual and logical to inform and interact with employee. There are few major styles of administration.

There are various kind of issues which are being determined by an individual in effective and efficient manner. There are various kind of learning styles which are being combined of various styles like logical, visual and physical. There are three styles which are being utilized for managing management.

• Controller style- In this kind of factor, manager presents th assignment or plan before the higher authorities or the board of directors for the permission of execution. Plan is being implemented after the agreements.
• Supporter style- Manager and leader are being suggested by memo for not effective result opinion which is related to the certain plan.
• Analyser style- Some activities and programmes are coordinated by the higher authorities or manager in order to organize in appropriate manner. This is the mod style level in that employer inform through email for worker to provide them information.

4.3 Effective strategies of time management

For raising work efficiency and performance, techniques of time management is valuable which help an organisation or individual person as well. It will help in achieving objectives and goals in an proper way by managing persons activities. Their are various kinds of approaches which particular person can use for managing time.

• Focus strategy: It aid in achieving particular goal which lead to aim on a particular task by proper utilizing of resources at a specific place.
• Organisation and delegation: it help in meeting goals in situation of limited resources by coordinating organisation and delegated use of many functions.
• Preparing to do list: task are performed as per their urgency and value. It lead to achieve particular and desired objectives.

For Waitrose, concentrate on strategy is very helpful and raise a higher outcomes by decisioning and creating more particular routine and goals.

TASK 5

5.1 Ways to encourage lifelong learning

Individual's journey brings so many changes in his/her life. Person can learn or take lessons from past experiences so that mistake will not get repeated. Journey of life teaches so many lessons to individuals. This helps them in becoming more confident and careful at the time of making decisions for their own. It has been found that these persons can use ample number of tools and techniques by which he/she can upgrade skills and knowledge of his own. Organisations like Waitrose must aware employees about new technologies that they are going to adapt in the upcoming future. Hence, this helps them in becoming familiar with changes that company is going to make. Improvised knowledge and skills lead person to become more effective and efficient at 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 in knowing where that person is weak and where he is strong. Apart from this, individual can also make plans of his/her own development and keep on monitoring it time to time (6 Core benefits of personal development, 2017).

Self-directed Initiatives: An approach in which individual takes initiatives and follow the plan which has been made by organisation for improvement of staff members. Continuous monitoring of this perspective may lead individual to become more efficient and confident. This scenario will boost his/her motivation and morale (Robertson, 2016).

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

5.2 Identification of development opportunities

Skilled individuals may easily grab opportunities within organisation at marketplace. These chances can be anything like promotions, incentives, etc. But, it is mandatory for persons to improvise the skills and knowledge from time to time as 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 have been given by management of Waitrose right on time.

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

Future Needs:It is mandatory for me to get promotion within company and to 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 individual's development is highly mandatory in both personal and professional aspects. This report included, person's development plan by which individual can improvise skills and knowledge of their own. These plans help in long term success of a person. This programme can easily aid member to become more effective and efficient at workplace. Assignment Help provided by New Assignment Help

Refrences

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.

Bukor, 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 counselors. Journal of Counseling & Development. 92(1). pp.3-12.

Murdoch-Eaton, D. and Sandars, 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 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/>.