Personal and Professional Development

Introduction My own journey to “today”, thankfully, did not happen individually. I smile when I remember so many helpful people who were contributed in my own learning, growing and developing. I came from Lithuania 8 years ago, immediately after finishing my Secondary School. My first work in Ireland was “Argos” shop, based in Cavan Town. This job built on my past particular interest and experience in the Retail and Customer service processes. After spending 3 years in Argos I have decided that I can do something more than just being a sales advisor. So I did 1 year FETAC Level 5 course- Business and Secretarial in Cavan Institute.
After the successful training I realized that I need to go for higher studies and get myself in to the Management Environment. In order to achieve these goals I need to keep developing myself in both ways: personally and professionally. In this assignment I intend to look at my competencies; analyze all my strengths and weaknesses and list my Personal Development Plan. The competencies required by me as a manager Learning is the method and process which uses personal-power, knowledge and experience to: * make sense of things, (by thinking) * make things happen, (by doing) bring about change, (by moving from one position to another) Learning involves developing skills and competencies in response to both present and anticipated future challenges. Good managers often have many qualities in common. Below is a list of competencies or characteristics that generally lead to good management skills. Consider how well management job applicants have demonstrated the following capabilities in their previous position. Typical Management Competencies: * Analysis Individual Leadership * Oral Communication * Customer Service Orientation Initiative Organizational * Awareness Delegation Judgment Quality Management * Developing Organizational * Talent * Managing Work Teamwork * Empowerment Maximizing Performance Written Communication * Follow-up Negotiation As a manager and a leader I will be judged not only on the results I have achieved but the level of competence I have attained and applied in getting those results. Competence is about knowledge and skills – what people need to know and be able to do carry out their work well. The following list is an example of competencies required by me to become a good and successful manager: Achievement orientation.
The desire to get things done well and the ability to set and meet challenging goals, create own measures of excellence and constantly seek ways of improving performance. Business awareness. The capacity continually to identify and explore business opportunities, to understand the business priorities of the organization. Communication. The ability to communicate clearly and persuasively, orally or in writing. Customer focus. The exercise of unceasing care in looking after the interests of external and internal customers to ensure that they wants, needs and expectations are met or exceeded.

Developing others. To desire and capacity to foster the development of members of his or her team, providing feedback, support, encouragement and coaching. Leadership. The capacity to inspire individuals to give of their best to achieve a desired result and to maintain effective relationships with individuals and a team as a whole. Planning. The ability to desire on courses of action, ensuring that the recourses required to implement the action will be available and scheduling the programme of work required to achieve a defined end-result.
Problem solving. The capacity to analyse situations, diagnose problems and identify the key issues. Teamwork. The ability to work cooperatively and flexibly with other members of a team. However, I think that managerial competencies and skills are not the same. Of course, foreground is important resource which is using by doing any work, but they are not always related to our specific activities or functions of the job. Competence in managerial terms, by contrast, refers to the absolute ability to perform a specific job according to prescribed standards.
Competence can be defined as a behavioral repertoire, allowing an organization in a particular way to achieve adequate performance to the strategic goals of the organization. In other words, competence means the work necessary to accomplish missions or play the role of ability, skills, knowledge, and a mix of skills. My SWOT analysis against these competencies The positive strengths of a manager are not measured based solely on productivity levels and completed sales. They are measured based on how well a manager understands his employees and is able to create an environment in which employees can be creative, innovative and driven.
Strengths My basic strengths for successful managing would be my qualification, knowledge, general skills, health, strong points of character and personality. One of my biggest strengths is my friendliest and ability to learn things very quickly. I am also proud that I can easily speak 4 languages: Lithuanian, Russian, Latvian and English. My second best strength is my flexibility to handle change. As customer advisor at my last job, I was able to turn around a negative working environment and develop a very supportive team.
I easily became a good companion to all my colleagues. I can also say that I am very punctual person, I don’t like to get late and I don’t like when other people are late too. This would be one the most important strengths for managers as it shows how politely and responsible they are. Weaknesses Of course everyone must have some weaknesses too. Some people know how to handle their weaknesses in the right way. Others keep hiding them and do not want any help. I believe that the more I look and analyse at my weaknesses the more I intend to develop myself in to the better way.
My greatest weakness in managerial role would be that I like to make sure that my work is perfect, so I tend to perhaps spend a little too much time checking it. However, I’ve come to a good balance by setting up a system to ensure everything is done correctly the first time. This same need to get things done also causes me stress when I have too many tasks. I also get nervous when presenting ideas to clients or colleagues and a public speaking often takes the passion out of me. I don’t really like delegating people; I think it takes more time to explain than to do the job myself.
I believe that only good experience and training can help me to overcome these weaknesses. Opportunities I’m currently perusing Management Practice course in CITC and it will surely help me to improve my management skills. Financial institutes and Banks can offer funding loans for paying tuition fees for my future studies. Treats Global economy is facing significant possibility of recession. New technology. Device a personal development plan to ensure your own effectiveness in managerial role Personal and Professional development is important.
Organisations need to create opportunities for different types of experiences and ensure people are nurtured. As people development involves moving people by one position to another, this means that learning will be needed; changing and learning are directly connected. One of the difficulties with learning, however, is that many people think they can get along without it. They either think that their knowledge is sufficient already, or they believe that they will learn by experience without any conscious effort. Needless to say, this views to hold in times of continual challenge, and new developments.
My personal development plan will be based on analysing my personality, my leadership style and my learning style. As Mullins (2005) states, “Psychologists have defined personality as consisting of stable characteristics which explain why a person behaves in a particular way”. Besides, to take a holistic view of personality, it is important to take into consideration the dynamic processes, which means focusing on the ways in which an individual’s traits interact. Armstrong (2006) indicates that personality can be regarded as the relatively stable and enduring aspects of individuals that distinguish them from other people.
The aim of this Professional Development Plan is to establish a process of self-management and self-development. To develop myself, it is important to have an idea of my strengths and weaknesses and how can I convert my weaknesses to strengths. It also contains the opportunities that I have in me, I can take advantage of them, and if any change happens in the environment, how can I face this change and get adjustable to these changes. This personal development plan is the key to carry out my goals. It will not only help me to develop myself but also will help me to reach my goals and be successful.
SKILLS: There are two type of skills require to achieve my goal: 1. Fundamental skills 2. Professional skills 1) Fundamentals skills: * Discipline and time keeping * Team work * Stability 2) Professional skills * Supervisory * Sales skills * Group activities Above skills are useful to achieve my personal development plan and my long terms goal. There are more skills required such as communicating, roll model, attitude, self-motivation, decision making, hard work dedication, safety in work, carefulness etc. I did my on exercise to achieve some skills. These are skills use to achieve my goal where I am now.
I will try to complete all skills, which are taking me to my manager goal I think that many personal development skills in one way or another connected with professional and personal development: professional development develops personality. Therefore, the performance of personal development training is affecting human and professional growth while strengthening their professional skills and abilities. My personal development should take place through a series of types of planed experiences. The following list gives examples of some other types of development activities that I might use to meet my development needs: Creativity in education * Self-confidence, positive self esteem * Healthy lifestyle * Time management * Public Speaking * Delegation * Nonverbal language * Modern table etiquette * Improvisational workshops * Dance workshops * Art workshops * Singing workshops * Reading * Networking. ,, If you don’t have clearly defined goals, you will never make it to your objective. You will be like an airplane without a rudder drifting in the clouds rather than heading toward a specific destination you have marked on a map. Goals are made up of tasks.
When you successfully complete all of the tasks in a goal, you have met your goal “(David Rye 2009). According to David Rye words it is easier to achieve our goals if we make a decision as early as possible: who we want to become in the future and how long will it takes to achieve it? Whatever goals people choose to pursue, they must believe that they are attainable. The following list is my short, medium and long term development needs that I am planning to achieve: Short term development goals- I want to become a member in a voluntary organization and take an opportunity to attend day training courses according to management role.
Medium term development goals- Take some other professional courses related to business studies. Long term Development goals- I look forward to get a manager job. I see myself in a management role, leading my team to new innovations and growth. I have a desire to develop my skills as a manager, I’m sure I will eventually get there. These gaols are SMART: Specific- I know what I want, I know why is important, and when I am going to do. Measurable- I can measure and see changes.
Attainable – is a not too far goal, it’s going to stretch me slightly and motivates me. Realistic- I can attain these goals. Timely – In 5 years I am going to achieve all above mentioned goals. Conclusion In conclusion I would like to say that if I want to become a good and successful manager I have to achieve my defined objectives, keep learning and continue to pursue my personal and career development plan. Also I need to strive constantly to improve my own effectiveness and the effectiveness of the operation or service for which I will be responsible.
This involves playing a significant part in any organizational programmes for continuous improvement as well as subjecting my own activities to scrutiny so as to ensure that operational problems are identified and overcome. Everyone has the potential to become a Leader, but isn’t accomplished overnight. No matter where you’re starting from, you will get better at leading over time. There are many complex facets of leadership, including experience, emotional strengths, people skills, discipline, vision and motivation.
The many factors that come into play in leadership are what makes becoming a leader both challenging and rewarding. (David Rye 2009) References 1. David Rye, (2009) “Stop Mnaging and Lead”. 2. Web Sites: www. palgrave. com www. businessballs. com www. open. ac. uk/safari/ 3. Class notes from tutor Arthur MCKeown. Bibliography 1. M. Armstrong “How to be an even better manager” 7th edition (1988) 2. Sally Palmer, (1998) “People and Self Management”. 3. Stuart Emmett, (2008) “Developing People”. Appendix Curriculum Vitae.