Personal and Professional Development Advancement Organisations

Question: Discribe about personal and professional development? Answer: Introduction In todays era of rapid technological advancement organisations are constantly looking for individuals with updated skills. In order to achieve the desired career goals it is important that we identify our own learning needs and take appropriate actions to fulfil those needs. Personal and Professional development is a continuous improvement process on the path to success. Self-managed learning is a continuous process wherein individuals identify their own learning needs with or without the help of others, define realistic learning goals, identify appropriate resources to meet those needs and continuously evaluate learning outcomes (Graves Norman, 2013). There are a number of approaches and theories that facilitate self-managed learning. Being a student at David Game College, Higher Education Centre I am focusing on self-managed learning in order to further enhance my personal skills and professional careers. It will not only help be in taking responsibility of my own personal and professional development but will also help me in achieving desired career growth. It will help me identify my strength and weakness which can be used to take advantage of opportunities present and minimise threats. Persona Skill Audit An audit of personal skills will help me in identifying my learning needs by minimising the gap between my existing knowledge/skills and desired knowledge/skills. I have identified my skills used five point rating scale to grade my skills. Poor, 2- Below Average, 3- Average, 4- Above Average, 5- Good Knowledge / Skills for Current Studies Rating Written and Verbal Communication Skills 4 Course Knowledge 3 Ability to Concentrate 3 Time Management 2 Technology 2 Knowledge/Skills for Current/Future Career Rating Time Management 2 Leadership and Motivation Skills 3 Problem Solving skills 2 Knowledge of business area 3 People Management 2 An audit of personal and professional skills reveals that I must work on improving time management skills, problem solving skills, technical knowledge, and knowledge of business area, leadership skills and people management skills. SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis is a business management tool that will help me identify the internal and external factors that will influence my career development. It helps identifying my strengths and weakness that will help me in handling external opportunities and threats. SWOT Analysis Strengths Weaknesses Written and Verbal communication skills Positive attitude and open personality Enthusiastic and Friendly nature Quick learner Good concentration ability Team Player Computer efficient Poor Time management Not much familiar with new technologies Poor in handling problems Average leadership qualities Average presentation skills Opportunities Threats Job opportunities growing in the market Short-term and long-term courses available both on-line and off-line Availability of learning material on internet. Organisations prefer candidates with upgraded skills. Demand for candidates with leadership and decision making skills rising Knowledge in multiple fields is desired The SWOT analysis will help me in creating a reflective learning log and a detailed personal development plan. Reflective Learning Log The Honey and Mumford Learning style model identifies four learning styles namely; Activist, reflector, theorist and pragmatist (Aspin, 2008).I am greatly interested in learning new things and undertake new experiments with a positive attitude thus Activist learning style defines me. According to Kolbs learning styles I am accommodators who prefer active experimentation and concrete experience (Evans, 2008). Based on my learning style identification experimental learning theory and social learning theory will work best for me (Friedman, 2013). Accountability and goal setting are the two ways by which lifelong learning can be enhance in an individual (Jarvis, 2010). An individual is encouraged to undertake lifelong learning when he knows he is responsible for his own development and in order to that he must define realistic goals. Self-managed learning not only benefits individuals in achieving desired career growths but it also helps organisations in achieving desired organisational goals (LeFever, 2011). Talented employees are the primary assets of an organisation. It helps enhancing accountability, self-confidence and satisfaction among individuals. Such employees are more learning oriented thus support an organisation on its path of innovation and growth. Personal Development Plan Short and Long-term Objectives Short-Term Objectives Long-Term Objectives Improve time management skills Improve presentation skills Upgrade technological knowledge Gain more knowledge in my area of specialisation Acquire leadership and motivation skills Acquire people management skills Acquire problem solving skills Acquire knowledge of multiple fields Personal Development Plan Objectives Priority Activities Resources Target deadline Evidence of Achievement Upgrading technical Skills High Part-time technical course from reputed institute Time and Money August-2015 Course completion certificate Time Management Skills High Two days session on time management Time and Money April-2015 Course completion certificate Problem Solving Skills High Two-three days session on problem solving skills Time and Money May-15 Course completion certificate Leadership and Motivation Skills High Part-time course on leadership skills Time and Money October-2015 Course completion certificate Presentation Skills High One-day session on presentation skills Time and Money April-2015 Course completion certificate I will seek for feedback from my supervisors and sub-ordinates and will continuous evaluate my action in order to plan further improvements (Fox, 2007).Activities Undertaken Objectives Activities Undertaken Upgrading technical Skills Enrolled for a part time technical course from a reputed institute Time Management Skills Enrolled for a time management session to be conducted in first week of April Problem Solving Skills Enrolled for a problem solving skill development session to be conducted in second week of August Leadership and Motivation Skills Enrolled for a part time course in Leadership skills development Presentation Skills Enrolled for a The selection and enrolment to various training session and part time course helped me gain knowledge of various resources that can help me meet my learning needs. I have joined related online forums and discussion groups that will further help me enhance my knowledge. With a self reflection of actions undertaken and feedback received form supervisors and subordinated I am able to develop a revised personal development plan that will ensure continuous improvement(Hellriegel John W. Slocum, 2011). Revived Personal Development Plan Objectives Priority Activities Resources Target deadline Evidence of Achievement Upgrading technical Skills High To Gather as much knowledge as possible from the course and additional online materials Time and Money August-2015 Course completion certificate Time Management Skills High Attending the session and practicing informed strategies Time and Money April-2015 Course completion certificate Problem Solving Skills High Attending the session and practicing informed strategies Time and Money May-15 Course completion certificate Leadership and Motivation Skills High To Gather as much knowledge as possible from the course and additional online materials Time and Money October-2015 Course completion certificate Presentation Skills High Attending the session and practicing informed strategies Time and Money April-2015 Course completion certificate References Aspin, D. N., (2008) Philosophical Perspectives on Lifelong Learning. Hamburg: Springer Science Business Media. Evans, C., (2008) Learning styles in education and training. Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing. Fox, W., (2007) Managing Organisational Behaviour. Cape Town: Juta and Company Ltd. Friedman, A. L., (2013) Continuing Professional Development: Lifelong Learning of Millions. New Jersey: Routledge. Graves Norman, (2013) Learner Managed Learning: Practice, Theory and Policy. New Jersey: Routledge. Hellriegel, D. John W. Slocum, J., (2011) Organisational Behaviour. New York: Cengage Learning. Jarvis, P., (2010) Adult Education and Lifelong Learning: Theory and Practice. New Jersey: Routledge. LeFever, M., (2011) Learning Styles. London: David C Cook.