Sample

on
Personal and Professional Development

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................1

TASK 1...........................................................................................................................................1

LO 1.1........................................................................................................................................ 1

LO 1.2........................................................................................................................................ 1

LO 1.3........................................................................................................................................ 1

TASK 2...........................................................................................................................................1

LO 2.1........................................................................................................................................ 1

LO 2.2........................................................................................................................................ 1

LO 2.3........................................................................................................................................ 2

LO 2.4........................................................................................................................................ 3

TASK 3...........................................................................................................................................3

LO 3.1........................................................................................................................................ 3

LO 3.2........................................................................................................................................ 3

LO 3.3........................................................................................................................................ 3

LO 3.4........................................................................................................................................ 3

CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................. 4

REFERENCES...............................................................................................................................5

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 LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Personal SWOT Analysis....................................................................................... 2
Table 2: Activities required to improving skills............................................................. 2
Table 3: Evaluation of Personal and Professional Skills............................................. 2
Table 4: Personal Development Plan................................................................................ 3
Table 5: Updated Personal and Professional Development Plan............................3
INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development are such concepts, no matter
in what stage of life an individual is living, they have to be kept in mind
because it is the only effective way through which a better life can be led
(Tomlinson, 2004). In this regard it may not be wrong to say that for me it
would be very important to evaluate areas of strengths and weaknesses of
my own and also to formulate plans through which process of development
can be eased and made simple. Through the present study an attempt
would be made so as to identify and determine some approaches to self
managed learning; and various time management strategies that I can use in
daily social and professional life.

TASK 1
LO 1.1
Self-managed learning basically is the culmination of various learning
techniques that were unique in nature like self-development, self-directed
learning, action learning, etc (Eisele and et.al, 2013). It is a system through
which all round development of an individual can be ensured and that the
learning process also gets simpler. Though every person has different
learning styles and methods, because of which there is no specific style
which can be used by everyone. But some approaches to self managed
learning are as follows:
Seminars and Conferences: Many a times people tend to learn new
things and update their knowledge through the help of seminars and
conferences. It is a very good way through which their horizon can be

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 broadened (Dealtry, 2004). This would mean that by attending the
seminars and conferences, to a great extent I can gather new knowledge
and thus be able to live personal and professional life in a effective way.
Internet: This is another source which can prove to be a very good and
effective source in process of self managed learning. Internet is a very
vast playground and can help individuals by a great margin in their
learning and development process (Hermans, Kalz and Koper, 2014). This
is so because of the reason that the person would be in a position through
which he can access a variety of sites and read the materials provided on
it.

LO 1.2
Learning is a process which essentially must go on a continuous basis,
meaning that it can be meaningful only if is turned into a lifelong process.
There are a lot of ways through which such an activity can be performed.
One of them is that the concerned individual, in this case I, should keep a “to
do” and “to learn” list all the time. They can be very useful ways through
which lifelong learning can be promoted. The two of them are completely
different from one another (Young, 2010). On “To-do list” the individual
would note down the activities that they have to perform during the course
of a day; while the “to learn” list talks about things which they want to learn
over a period of time. Such lists may prove to be of great use in promoting a
lifelong learning attitude in an individual.
Another way through which lifelong leaning in an individual can be
promoted is that of using the early morning time of fifteen minutes. Various
studies into the topic have stated that the morning time must be utilized by
individuals to engage into learning process for their lifetime (Bourner and
Simpson, 2014). The studies suggest that if this period is used in reading
and learning new things would help the individuals by a great deal, as it is
the best period to learn something new.

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LO 1.3
It is a well known fact that self managed learning is a very important
concept and has a great deal of advantages and disadvantages. In this
regard it may not be wrong to say that it not only benefits the individuals
that engage into it, but also to the firm that they work for.

Advantages to individuals
One of the major benefits that an individual can obtain of the
approaches to self managed learning is that they get to learn a lot of new
skills and talents. One of the major areas that they may experience
improvement in is that of the communication skills. For a person to be able
to effectively operate in an organization, communication is the essence and
key to their performance (Cooke, 2012). Therefore it is very important that
these skills are improved. Other than that they also get a chance to learn
how to effectively manage time available to them. For proper working at the
workplace, it is very much essential that attention is paid in learning time
management strategies and skills. It is through the approaches of self-
managed learning that they can do so.

Advantages to organizations
Not only individuals are benefited through approaches to self
managed learning, but also the firm that they work for can reap the benefits
of it. One of the major advantages of it is that overall productivity as well as
performance of the business can be improved (McCourt and Eldridge, 2003).
Additionally, employee loyalty and dedication to work can also be improved
significantly.

TASK 2
LO 2.1
To be able to work in the insurance industry, there are a lot of skills
and abilities which are required to be possessed by an individual. It can be
supported through the fact that the insurance industry is one of the fastest

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yet competitively growing industries in the country. The CII (Chartered
Insurance Institute) and the professional body, in association with
Professional Standards Board, has set some specific standards that
individuals working in this sector have to fulfill (CII Professional Standards
Board., 2013).
In this context the skills that I possess would help immensely in
meeting the targets that have been assigned to me and enabling me to
contribute to that of the organizational goals and objectives. At present the
skills which I possess include communication and presentation abilities. I am
very good at communicating the intending parties about my thoughts and
feelings and understand their feelings and opinions as well. The insurance
code of conduct states that the individuals or the employees must be able to
effectively communicate their opinions and also properly listen to the
opposite party’s point of view and understand their suggestions and thought
process. Other than that one of the main objectives of the company that I
work for, is to give such presentations to the customers or the clients
through which their thinking and behavior can be influenced. In this regard,
the management gives a lot of emphasis on ensuring that the employees are
able to give good and effective presentations. My presentation skills are also
very good, due to which I can say that I have the skills and talents through
which I can contribute to firm’s targets.

LO 2.2
For identifying and determining own developmental needs, one of the
best way is to carry out a personal SWOT analysis. It would provide me with
a lot of useful information through which I can see in what all areas I need
to improve in and the ones that I am strong in. Following is such an analysis
that would help me by a great margin in the process of identifying own
developmental needs and the activities through which they can be fulfilled.

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 Table 1: Personal SWOT Analysis
Strengths Weaknesses
Excellent communication skills – Short tempered
Auditory Lack of stress management
Effective presentation abilities – capability
Visual & Kinesthetic Lack of cognitive abilities
Opportunities Threats
Meeting new people Highly competitive industry
Expanding the human network Too much work pressure
Technology related skills Lack of training and development
Time management sessions
Leadership No workshops on improving various
skills
Problem solving skills

From the above table it can be seen that there are many areas that I
am strong in and many more are there in which I need to improve so as to
work effectively and meet the assigned targets. I need to work extensively
so as to be able to control my anger and the shortcoming of getting
frustrated very easily. There are many ways through which I can learn to
control it. But one of the best and effective one is doing meditation and
yoga. The insurance industry is characterized as highly competitive and the
people working in it are always under pressure and stress to meet the goals
that have been assigned to them. In stressful situations, a very good way
through which it can be combated is listening to classical music. It is known
to help people to calm themselves. Cognitive abilities is another area that I
would have to improve in. To enhance these skills brain storming is the best
way.

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 Table 2: Activities required to improving skills
Skills to be improved Activities required to meet them
Short tempered Doing yoga and meditation
Managing stress levels Listening to good and classical music
Cognitive skills Brain storming

LO 2.3
The company that I am working for, has started giving a lot of
importance and attention to ensure that the employees are able to develop
their various skills so that their current and future needs are fulfilled up to a
great extent. In this regard it may not be wrong to say that there are many
areas in which I want to improve. Following is a table that depicts how good
I am in different abilities, along with an example to justify the rank and ways
through which they can be improved.
Table 3: Evaluation of Personal and Professional Skills
Professional Current Level Best Current Example Ways to Improve
Skills 5 = Strong
1 = Weak
Communicati 5 Positive reviews from NA
on Skills boss and training
manager
Listening 4 Good feedback from Being aware of the
Skills the clients speaker; removing
distractions.
Presentation 5 Effective reviews given NA
Skills by both manager and
clients

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Problem 2 Recently could not Focusing on the
Solving identify the main solution and not
Skills reason of decline in the problem;
performance Having an open
mind while
pondering over the
problem.
Technology 4 Not enough knowledge Attending
Skills of how to use workshops and
computers and seminars that
internet. teach how to
operate them.
Time 3 Many times I have Learning various
Management been late to report for time management
Skills work and to meet with strategies;
a client Scheduling and
Prioritizing.

LO 2.4
It is a very important for an individual that a personal and professional
development plan is developed, mainly because of reason that it would guide
the person in areas that they are strong and weak in, and also ways through
which such areas can be strengthened (Ottewill, 2002). Following is a
development plan that I would have to follow so as to effectively operate in
the insurance industry and also improve my performance in it by a
substantial margin.

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 Table 4: Personal Development Plan
S. Learnin Current Target Development Criteria for Timesca Evidence
N g Proficien Proficien Opportunitie judging le
o. Objecti cy cy s success
ve
1 Listenin 4 5 Removing all Positive 2 months If all the distractions
g Skills the feedbacks during listening to
distractions from clients someone are
and training removed
manager
2 Problem 2 4 Focusing on Be able to 5–6 I am able to put more
Solving the solution identify the months focus on finding the
Skills and not the problem of solution rather than
problem; the situation the problem itself
Having an that I may be
open mind stuck in
while
pondering
over the
problem

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3 Technol 4 5 Attending Be able to 6 months I can now easily use
ogy workshops and perfectly use to 1 year computer and
Skills seminars that computer and internet
teach how to search for
operate them matter on the
internet
4 Time 3 5 Learning Reach to 2–4 Clients and boss are
Manage various time office on months happy that I reach on
ment management time; meet time and respect the
Skills strategies; with clients appointments set
Scheduling as per
and Prioritizing appointment

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TASK 3
LO 3.1
A very important task is to implement the development plan prepared.
Therefore I will have to follow a variety of steps for the same purpose. One
major step in this regard that would have to be taken is to enroll in some
courses that would help me in improving the skills and abilities that I falling
short in. But I will also have to make sure that my attendance in such classes
is upto date and that I do not miss any one of them. This means that i would
have to make a time table so as to manage the time i have on my hand.

LO 3.2
The first step which I would have to take so as to attend the different
courses on skills that I have to improve in, I will have to find colleges which
provide training and classes on the same abilities. Additionally, finding the
different organizations and trusts which conduct seminars, conferences and
other such training sessions will also be of great importance in this process.
Apart from this, I will also have to make sure that the development activities
and plans which I have prepared are well implemented.

LO 3.3
The purpose of developing as well as implementing the development
was to improve myself in various skills and abilities that I lack in. This way I
will try to contribute to organizational goals and objectives. By executing the
plan I observed that i have improved substantially in many skills that I am
not good in. It is due to this reason I can say that I have been able to
contribute in an effective manner to attainment of the firms’ aims and
objectives, which clearly indicates that my performance in the company has
enhanced by a considerable margin.

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LO 3.4
The personal development plan which was prepared above though was
effective, but following is an updated version of it, which consists of various
other skills that I further improve in:

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 Table 5: Updated Personal and Professional Development Plan
Personal Objectives Action Plan Required
Convincing Skills Motivational thoughts
Understanding point of view of others
Analytical Capabilities Reading and understanding more books
Solving more puzzles
Enrolling in courses that teach mathematics

CONCLUSION
For the individuals regardless of the company and industry they are
operating in, one of the most important tasks is related to development of
such plans through which they can walk on the road of prosperity and growth.
In this regard, during the study it was seen that there are many areas that I
would have to improve in so as to be able to operate successfully in the
insurance sector. Some of the skills that I would require are that of the
communication and presentation. Apart from this, I need to have access to
many more of them like, stress management, time management, knowledge
of computers and internet, etc.

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REFERENCES
➢ Bourner, T. and Simpson, P., 2014. Tction learning and the pedagogy of
professional doctorates. Higher Education, Skills and Work-based
Learning.

➢ Cooke, A. N., 2012. Professional development 2.0 for librarians:

developing an online personal learning network (PLN). Library Hi Tech
News.

➢ Dealtry, R., 2004. The savvy learner. Journal of Workplace Learning.

➢ Eisele, L. and et.al., 2013. Employee motivation for personal development

plan effectiveness. European Journal of Training and Development.

➢ Hermans, H. Kalz, M. and Koper, R., 2014. Toward a learner-centered

system for adult learning. Campus-Wide Information Systems.

➢ McCourt, W. and Eldridge, D., 2003. Global Human Resource

Management. Edward Elgar Publishing.

➢ Ottewill, R., 2002. Student self-managed learning – cause for concern?.

On the Horizon.

➢ Tomlinson, H., 2004. Educational Leadership: Personal Growth for

Professional Development. SAGE.

➢ Young, H. S., 2010. 15 Steps to Cultivate Lifelong Learning.

➢ CII Professional Standards Board., 2013.

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