PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Shaji Viswanathan Mcom,MBA(UK) Introduction Certainly a dynamic leader should be motivated the team members to see the sights of latent skills, besides that the tacit to be utilized for the innovative and creative management process for the overall excellence in personal and professional achievement. To manage the changes in organizations due to the challenges from the changing global competitive atmosphere, besides that to manage oneself, undoubtedly ideal leaders should be emerged and manage the changes both personal and professional. The personal and professional development has its role to accelerate ones personal and career advancement, moreover it has different methods and planned activities to acquire the skills consist of ongoing skills inventory, knowledge plan, skills acquisition and those are integrated with the individual performance and development plans. Admittedly it reveals the importance of the personal and professional development strategies and its proper implementation.

Outcome (Task 1) 1.1 Approaches to Self Managed Learning Self Managed Learning is the structured approach with a strategic way of learning and it helps to provide more efficiency and performance through its structural approach. The main characteristics of this self managed learning is, it is strategic, syllabus free, self managed, shared, supported, structured and stretching. In self managed learning, the responsibility to learning to be with the learner and it can solve through different approaches of learning such as, dependent, counter dependent, independent and interdependent.

(Self Managed Learning, 1994-2012) ““According to Kolb (1984) "learning is the process whereby knowledge

is created through the transformation of experience. Knowledge results from the combination of grasping experience and transforming it."” Learning refers to acquiring new knowledge and skills. An effective self learner can be access by his performance through perspective and goals. Effective learning involved with ongoing tasks, review the learning goals, strategies and outcomes and context. To perform and succeed in personal life and professional careers one should have to create knowledge through experience and learning, and blending those and generate knowledge. (Alan Chapman, 2012)

1.2 Significance of Lifelong Learning The changes occur in all areas of life due to fast moving technologies, globalization, changing organizational atmosphere, expansion of business units to other geographical areas. To compete with these changing and challenging atmosphere a leader should have to change self with an updated technological mind improved and sharpened managerial skills to lead the change.

Personal and Professional skills Leadership The concept of leadership refers that it is a process of influencing people in situations with communication and generate a leader and follower atmosphere, besides that the leadership emerged from self awareness, technical proficiency, responsibility for actions, decision making power, role model, knowing people, communicative, responsibility on workers, team building, resource utilization, allocation of responsibilities, moreover supervision and accomplishment of responsibility. Leader is one who challenges the process, share the vision, and motivate others to act, model the way and encourage the heart.

Time Management Time never change and once it lost means lost forever, so managing time is vital and it means managing oneself with what time actually have, besides that it means change the behavior of oneself. The time management process possible by better organized, due to that helps to more productive and stay in cool.

Stress Management Stress management refers control over ones emotions, thoughts of emotions, family, work, heavy work schedules or from relationships. Stress management is vital to perform in leadership roles otherwise, it have an effect on the performance, due to that the proper measuring of reasons behind the stress and manage it accordingly with suitable solutions.

Presentation Skills A good leader should put up with leadership qualities and have a good presentation skill to lead the group to success. The leader should be a good listener and even be a good teacher, and then only the leader can motivate the group and communicate in effective way to subordinate groups for solving the issues through proper manner. The presentations skills to be developed maintained and communicated for the overall performance of both personal and organizational achievements.

Charring the Meeting The successful meeting are depends the leader and the successful chairing obtained through, learning, practice and experience, so it is vital that the skill of chairing and conducting successful meetings are crucial in organizational achievements and then in personal attainments. Therefore the successful chairing and successful meeting depends the leader, besides that measuring the successfulness by achievement of aim of the meeting and it depends the time management, well designed agenda, good venue,

Problem Solving Method The one of the good qualities of a leader is good decision making or problem solving skill by analyzing the problems and arrive at a solution from alternatives with various techniques such as artificial intelligence, computer science, engineering, mathematics, psychology and more by defining the problem, generate alternatives, evaluation and selection and implementation.

1.3 Benefits of Self Managed Learning Self Managed Learning is suitable to all and it suits with various types of learning styles, as well as one can choose it own comfortable time with one of the instructional methodologies even if it is an approach to continuous learning, more over it is a responsibility of learning without time dependent.

Outcome (Task 2 and 3.1) 2.1 Current Skills and Competencies The observation and evaluation of the current skills and its effectiveness will gives a clear understanding of the position that where the person is now and what are the skills to be developed and experienced, besides that skill audit and skill development how it impact on personal and professional objectives. So it is necessary to personal skill audit, analysis, development and managing it.

Personal and Professional Skill Management Undoubtedly the above explained skill plays a crucial role with the molding of an ideal leader, due to that the leader can perform better and motivate the group. The optimization of the managerial skills individually and in organization, the leader or manager can have a vital role to play to develop and bring it into practice, besides that it should measure with different tools to obtain the perfect aim. To obtain the objectives innovative and creative management practice to be followed with continuous monitoring and feedback. The manager should have to prioritize his work and prepared to fasten what must do, ought to do and would like to do.

The quote by Dr. Stephen Covey,””attaining management skills requires prioritizing work which is “important but not urgent”.”’ (covey, 2010)

Personal Skill Audit It is important to analyze the approach of learning style and for this purpose to list the strengths and weaknesses listing in a learning style questionnaire and identified the style. The learning style has an important role in the process of training skills as well as development programs, so the manager is responsive to the learning style of the team individuals. The learning style of this author is, “accommodating”; it is a grouping of concrete experience and active experimentation, in order to analyze the skills, the personal strengths and weaknesses listed below.

Analysis The learning styles consists of different merits and demerits, the above style helps this author to manage dynamically the above discussed skills, besides that it helps to achieve the manager level actions of setting the deadlines, plan to get future goals, visualization of pros and cons of activities, significance of feedback from levels of management.

Skill Development The personal skill audit discloses the personal learning style and leadership skills besides that managerial behavior and activities that helps to realize own strengths and weaknesses. The realized weaknesses can be overcome through training and development programs for to effectively achieve goals. As a result of this the significance revealed for acting with care in over all works such as running meeting, care of fire exists, feedbacks, importance of visual aids, audience learning style, interpretation, understanding and even more in acting with care and practical steps has to continue to complete the management skills.(3.2)

2.2 Development Needs and Required Activities

The success depend on identifying the problems and find suitable solutions from the choices at right time, besides that the success depends the implementation of the plan, the success goes with those who implement the plan correctly. So both the developing of personal and professional plans required activities.

Personal Development Plan Certainly the managerial skills and learning style should have an impact on managing the team. This author belongs in “accommodative” learner and the strengths and weaknesses have an impact on managerial skills to build the team, besides that this author desired to take innovative actions as well as models with practical experience achieved to recognize the pros and cons of every activity in order to create innovative management models and to verify the result for suitability.

2.3 Plan to Meet Current and Future Needs Planning is the process of filling the gap between present and future with various tools and it helps to obtain the personal and organizational objectives, moreover it is essential to identify the required resources and skills in planning process, such as, factors that affect the techniques and tools, barriers, time and skill requirements.

2.3.1 Plan Implementation Process The Implementation process starts after the planning works, therefore all the planning works are executed accordingly, and such as pre planning requirements are analyzed and executed to achieve the targets. After that the implementation process executed accordingly, besides that it is required to be develop the skills for the effectiveness in leading and attaining targets. The goals are set with “SMART”, such as specific, measurable, achievable, and realistic more over time bound. In order to make the objectives “SMART”, it is essential to analyze the “SWOT” such as the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of own skills.

2.4 Plans to Managing Skills Time Management Skill The achievement of skills and goals consists in time management, to manage the time, it is essential to prioritizing the jobs and it can implement in time schedule and finish it in time. The prioritizing includes the classification of work load based on the importance, planning the assigned work, execution, setting the long term and short term objectives, sharing of the work and minimization of risk.

Stress Management The stress management skill is an art and it is a grace to an ideal manager, besides that it helps to perform any critical situations in a pleasant manner, more over the manager can guided and to be a model for group members. To control the stress at critical stages it is better to practice some methods such as , to be optimistic and relaxed, broad minded, kind hearted, cautious to take preventive actions, practice meditation to maintain cool mind, learn methods to deal apprehension and attend counseling as well as awareness programs.

Effective Presentation The art of effective presentation skill attracts listeners a great extend and it can motivate listeners and it helps to attain the meeting goal or organizational goal with limited resources and express the idea as it means. S o it is essential to develop the presentation skill. The methods such as improving the presentation skill, strategic approach to flow of presentation, delivering précised points, appearance, convincing and impressing listeners in a great manner helps to present a dynamic presentation.

Conducting Meetings Meetings are part of strategy to develop team work. The strategy managed organizations conduct meetings for the effective management by absorbing innovative and creative ideas, views and objectives and every meeting it has an aim and the successful meeting met the aim and to conduct a successful meeting

the manager should have efficiency in that skill. To conduct an effective meeting, the manager should have to meet the tips such as, develop a team, formation of agenda, and follow the agenda and more over straight talk with expression of views.

TASK 3 3.2 Development Activities Plan The personal skills development activities help the manager perform better in personal life and more in professional life. It is vital to approach the targeted objectives, due to that an inventory test identified as “accommodative” and the manager should knows his strength and weaknesses, so that it helps him manage the required changes of learning style and personality.

Auditing Study Skills Learning and understanding different study skill is a part of developing a plan. The review of this reveals the skills and tacit, more over got an insight to future movements.

Time logs and time management questionnaire

The time log is important to any manager to accomplish the works in scheduled time, besides that it helps to smooth function and goals attainment, further more helps to use the time effectively. The time logs and questionnaires are usually verifying for inspecting the time utilizing effectively or not. The findings are:-

It is recognized that this author not utilized the time effectively, so that necessary corrective steps has taken to maximum utilization of time effectively. The analysis of daily time log sheet and weekly time

log sheet forced this author to change the time management strategy. A self explanatory schedule attached here with for the utilization of time from start of time management, how much time saved and how the saved time utilized(Appendix-A, Appendix-B) , besides that a schedule for learning style diagnosis chart shown in the appendix.(Appendix-c)

On completion of the time log it is recognized that, the time is precious and once it lost it cannot recouped, so the author now using the precious time carefully and effectively, besides that started a daily plan for coordinating the routine activities.

Auditing Stress Management

The leading people should be free from bad temper, fear, scattered and foggy mind and other stresses, so that the it is essential to recognize the reasons behind the stress by auditing it remedies should take in action for a better personal life and professional career, besides that to enjoy a pleasant social, professional and family life. Control stress is an art and the reason behind stress due to various social, personal, work place and relationship reasons. To identify

such

situations

and

avoid

with

suitable

solutions

is

necessary.

The stress audit form filled duly and it revealed the stress related matters up to an extent. The result indexed me to the problems of stress and the remedies put in action and now feel more relaxed with a flexible cool minded and confident to take any role in an organization.

In order to hold the key position in an organization, the manager indebted to correct himself up to a degree and be able to avoid delays in action, besides that can perform duties more quicker than before. To reach that level the author started to perform some strategically changes in stress management such as meditation to better the mental ability to overcome stress.

Personal Development Plan As a result of the skill audit, time log questionnaires and stress management questionnaires, it is recognized own strengths and weaknesses up to a level, moreover it is necessary to overcome weaknesses in character to reach a position of successful manager in future. So that it is important to get the above noted skills and considering with that the personal development plan by means of “‘SMART” analysis.

Specific:-

The specific purpose is that to develop more perfection

in presentation skills by avoiding shyness, audience fear by which obtaining

making

small

presentations

among

friends,

family

members or other interested groups and get feedback from them, besides that record it for verification and analysis to obtain the remedies for to improve the skill. Meanwhile it is necessary to improve the time management by maintaining daily and weekly time table. These processes providing the author with a great confidence and the specific plan lead achievable goals.

Measurable: - The objectives are not only worthy but also achievable because it is time bound and measurable, it is set with structured

frame

and

it

derived

from

a

confident

mind.

In

organizational level it is necessary to do the jobs in time schedules.

Achievable: - The goals set in this program are achievable and for the improvements in skill management, the author started to attend seminars,

attending

discussion

groups,

joined

with

online

professional management groups to achieve the goals. These activities make a person in key level position and it is essential to perform in managerial role. To attain that it is practicing daily and weekly time logs to manage the activities.

Realistic: - It is realistic and attainable in a short period of time, because it is not dream, it is derived from the confidence and realization of the skills and it leading to the target with continuous learning, practice and in a preplanned structure.

Time Bound:-The time bound actions are planned in order to achieve the goal such as attending seminars, debates, membership in libraries and following the time logs, analyzing and taking corrective steps and following stress management. It is sure that the next semester it is possible to perform with great confidence in running meeting, making presentations because of the time bound actions and the targeted goal in future is attainable in time bound.

“SWOT” ANALYSIS “SWOT” represents strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

“Swot”, analysis is a tool used for analyzing the situation for decision making, it is a frame work of reviewing strategy, position and direction of an individual or an organization and it is used for business planning, strategic planning, competitor analysis, business and product development, research report, team building more over personal skill development. Strengths Listing advantages those others don’t have, such as skills, certifications, education, and connections.etc, and what can do better than others? What personal resources can access, what others seeing strength in oneself, the most proud achievements, values, connections with influential people.etc. Weaknesses What task avoiding due to unconfident, what others seeing weaknesses in one, confident about skill development, education if not where is the weakest area, negative work habits and how handling skills. Opportunities It is discussing the opportunities from all sources about new technology, internet, industry growth, and advantage from current market, advice from specialists, strategic contacts, and benefits from net work, education, conferences, and additional languages. Threats It discuss and realizing the obstacles facing at the moment, competitors, challenge from changes, threat changing technological change, turning the weaknesses to threat.etc. The swot analysis can prepare based on the reflected best self, besides that performing the analysis gives key information, more over it can identify the needs to be carryout and set problems to standpoint. Reflected best self based swot analysis attached (Appendix’s-D)

3.3 Comparison Between Own Aims and Set Objectives Aim refers the general goal and the aim of the author is to achieve a top level position in a multinational company within the next three years. Objectives refer

that “SMART” goal, such as to get a good pass in the examination with distinction. But Tactics refers that the methods used to achieve the objectives.

3.4 Feedback and Set Objectives The above discussed personal and professional skills are monitored with different audit methods as mentioned earlier, and the work out of questionnaires and checklist provides the opportunity to achieve talents, recognizing strengths and weaknesses and the concept to the approach to study has totally changed and it improved the level awareness and heritage in the society, moreover this is the lifelong knowledge acquired and it helps to make a positive change to personal life and certainly it leads to the Aim.

TASK 4 4.1 Work Based Problems and Solutions Refers to Brennan and Little, 2006, cited by The Higher Education Academy in their research work-publication ““Work-based learning has increasingly become an area of interest for the higher education (HE) sector. It is seen as means by which to support the personal and professional development of students who are already in work and the focus of the learning and development tends to be on the student’s workplace activities (Brennan and Little, 2006)”” (Iain Nixon, 2006) There is difference in theory and practice, in theoratical study the overal litarature about the subject, techniques and tools ae covering. But in actual life it will differ from theory, so one has to develop work based problem solving skills, due to that one can face and perform in real life problems. So it is important that one has to cover the all areas of the solving process such as :Identify problem Selection of goal Generating various solutions Selection of most appropriatee solution Implementation of the solution Evaluation of solution

So it is important that the whole area of the problem solving process required various tools and techniques. In order to meet this required problem solving skill and it has to develop, maintain and use.

4.2 Communication ““Communication is more than the words we speak. Communication is about whom we are and how we express ourselves and relate to the world. Communication is the message we deliver through nonverbal as well as verbal means. Communication is the ultimate expression of who we are””. (Gordan, 2012) The statement explains the importance of effective communication, so it is vital to every manager and individual to develop dynamic communication skills to address various situations in personal and professional situations. To make the communication powerful, the followings points to be considered for the effective delivery of idea and disclose the personality.
To be clear about the idea to be conveys.
Maintain diplomacy and good manners.
Express in precisely and specifically.
Understand the standpoint and framework.
Integration of diversity in common ground.
Action and words alignment.
Communicate through silence
Conflict with diversity of opinions
Aware of context, text and subtext.
Responsibility and flexibility.

4.3 Strategies in Time Management The effective management of time is one of the basic less stressful life and practicing time management reduces the stress and helps to maintain a personal life, as well as in organizational life also it is helpful to perform effectively such as more work in minimum time . To obtain the perfectness in time management, it is essential to follow certain time management steps. For example:-

 Plan daily  Prioritize tasks  No to non essential tasks  Delegation of works  Take time for quality job  Break time consuming tasks into small tasks  Practice ten minute rule for big tasks  Evaluation of time  Block out calendar and limit distractions for urgent and big tasks  Maintain good health  Attend time management courses  Relax when it required

Conclusion To recapitulate, the personal development is the basic of optimizing a person with human values and skills, besides that adding the professional qualities and development enable one to reach the zenith of profession and these both leads to optimization.

Bibliography Work Cited Alan Chapman. (2012, October 21). businessballs. Retrieved October 21, 2012, from businessballs.com: http://www.businessballs.com/kolblearningstyles.htm

Business Dictionary. (2012, October 11). business dictionary.com. Retrieved October 11, 2012, from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/organizational-structure.html

covey, s. (2010, April 24). ebook3000.com. Retrieved October 24, 2012, from ebook3000.com:

http://www.ebook3000.com/The-7-Habits-of-Highly-Effective-

People_53805.html

Gordan, J. (2012, October 25). quality coaching. Retrieved october 25, 2012, from Quality coaching: http://www.qualitycoaching.com/Articles/communication.html

Iain Nixon, K. S. (2006, Jyly). Work-based learning. Heslington, York YO10 5BR, Unitrd Kingdom.

Self Managed Learning. (1994-2012, October 23). Self Managed Learning.org. Retrieved October

23,

2012,

from

Self

Managed

Learning.org:

http://www.selfmanagedlearning.org/about-sml/

References Alan Chapman. (2012, October 21). businessballs. Retrieved October 21, 2012, from businessballs.com: http://www.businessballs.com/kolblearningstyles.htm

Armstrong, M. (1993). Corporate Assessment. In A. a. Furnham, Human Resource Management Process (p. 311). Routledge, London: KOGAN PAGE.

Armstrong, M. (2008). Strategic HRM: The key to Improved Business Performance. London: CIPD.

Business Dictionary. (2012, October 11). business dictionary.com. Retrieved October 11, 2012, from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/organizational-structure.html

covey, s. (2010, April 24). ebook3000.com. Retrieved October 24, 2012, from ebook3000.com:

http://www.ebook3000.com/The-7-Habits-of-Highly-Effective-

People_53805.html

Gordan, J. (2012, October 25). quality coaching. Retrieved october 25, 2012, from Quality coaching: http://www.qualitycoaching.com/Articles/communication.html

Iain Nixon, K. S. (2006, Jyly). Work-based learning. Heslington, York YO10 5BR, Unitrd Kingdom.

Self Managed Learning. (1994-2012, October 23). Self Managed Learning.org. Retrieved October

23,

2012,

from

http://www.selfmanagedlearning.org/about-sml/

Appendices I.

Appendix-A

II.

Appendix-B

III.

Appendix-C

IV.

Appendix-D

Self

Managed

Learning.org: