Personal Development Plan for Strategic Managers - Essay Example

? Personal Development Plan Introduction In order to success in career and life, it is important to have good knowledge of both internal and external world. We tend to focus more on external needs and environment and often ignore our own shortcomings and talents, which ultimately decide what we become. The aim of this paper is to evaluate myself and make a personal development plan for future. In order to achieve this, a personal SWOT analysis is done so that my personal strengths and weaknesses can be identified. This is followed by an analysis of my preferred learning style and a skills audit, which provides a deep knowledge of my habits and behaviors. Based on all this information, a personal development plan is presented in the end stating short and long-term goals along with an action plan explaining how they are to be achieved. Personal SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis was developed by Albert Humphrey during the 60’s and the 70’s a result of a project aimed at identifying the causes behind planning failure of corporations (Pahl and Richter, 2009). SWOT analysis is defined as “a strategic planning tool used to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats involved n a project or in a business venture” (Villa and Antonelli, 2008, pp. 164). SWOT analysis help in identifying both, internal and external, factors influencing the performance of the organization and had proved to be quite helpful for many organizations in scenario planning (Jackson, Joshi, and Erhardt, 2003). Moreover, it provides an overview of the present situation and where the organization stands in the market (Manoharan, 2008), which is very useful in the decision making process. That being said, SWOT analysis is also used to perform self-analysis in order to obtain a better understanding of oneself with reference to career. It does not only help in identifying ones strengths and weaknesses but also points out the talents of a person on the basis of which decisions related to career can be made. A personal SWOT analysis is performed in exactly the same manner as the one performed for business except that the person, whom the analysis concerns, must perform it him or herself and honestly provide all the information. It is more of an introspective report that allows a person to look deeper in self. Keeping all these points in mind, I performed the SWOT analysis on myself and following are the results: Strengths Double Bachelors – The two most desired degrees in computer science are of BSc (Hons): Computer Science and BCS (Bachelors of Computer Science. Often students are confused about which degree to get of the two. I have both these degrees, which give me an edge over most graduates of computer science. Moreover, I am also a Microsoft Certified System Administrator. All these skills have equipped me with the skills required to survive in the industry of computer science. Multiple Work Experience – I have work experience in different industries like food, banking, and healthcare. I have been involved in customer services for a while for different companies and so I have extensive experience in the field. Moreover, I have worked in different regions like Abuja, Nigeria, and different parts of England which has given me knowledge of different cultures, increasing my ability to understand difference in customer behavior. I also have experience in the field of marketing. Leadership and Communication Skills – I have worked as a leader of many different teams in the past and have also played the role of a motivator in the teams. I have supervised employees at different place, which has improved my leadership and communications skills. I do not only have leadership skills but also know how to work under someone else’s leadership for which I have been rewarded with the award for best team member at BLOSSOM. Ambitious, Motivated, and Multi-interested – I have always been very ambitious which is why I have double bachelors. I’m eager to learn new things and have a need to gain as much experience and knowledge as I can. Moreover, I have multiple interests, which is the reason why I have work experience in different industries. Weaknesses Over Ambitious – My ambitiousness sometimes turns into obsession when there is plenty of work that needs to be done. I tend to over work which leads to fatigue in the end. This also adds to my stress, which may bring down my otherwise high spirits. Impatient – I have the need to get everything done as soon as I can. This perhaps compromises the quality of my work because every time I rush things, I get a feeling that I could’ve done a better job with the task. Imbalance between Work and Personal Life – Due to obsessive behavior with work, I tend to take more work than I can handle and then have to compromise my personal life with family. This can have a negative impact on my life overall in the long run. Opportunities Expand Knowledge – I am currently working as a Finance and Admin Assistant at MAN, Nigeria. This is a great opportunity for me to gain knowledge of the new culture that I am in. Since I’m also interested in research work, this is perfect time for me to put my experiences together and perform research identifying cultural and consumer differences. Improve Equanimity – Since I am away from my family at the moment, I have a chance of focusing completely on myself and working on my weaknesses and improve my ability to remain calm and practice self-control. Education – I believe it is the right time for me to apply for my Masters degree since I have a stable job and can spare a few hours a day for my studies. Gaining a Masters will also give me an edge over other members in the field and also add to my knowledge and skills. Threats Long Distance – The universities from where I wish to apply for my Masters are Oxford and Cambridge. Currently I’m working in Abuja and do not wish to leave this as there are other candidates who would gladly be appointed in my place. Time Pressure – I am currently under a lot of time pressure since I have work responsibilities and I plan to complete my research as well. If I apply for Masters also, this can lead to mismanagement of time and I will not be able to do my best in any of the things. Identification of Preferred Learning Style(s) Learning style of an individual may refer to the most effective approach of learning for a particular individual. It is defined as “a description of the attitudes and behaviors that determine an individual’s preferred way of learning” (Honey and Mumford, 1992, pp. 1). Learning is a higher cognitive function and plays an important role in the personal development of an individual. Therefore, much importance is given to the learning style of an individual as because using a preferred learning style enhances the learning experience. Many models of learning have been presented by different theorists for instance, Kolb (1984), Pask (1976), Honey and Mumford (1982), and Felder and Silverman (1988). Felder and Silver gave four dimensions of preferred learning styles each working as a continuum between two types of learning styles. These include: Figure 1 – Showing the continuum of learning styles as explained by Felder and Silverman (1982). Based on this model, I believe my learning style is sensory, visual, active, and global as described below: Sensory Learning - I believe my learning style is sensory, as I prefer making use of concrete and practical information. I tend to learn better when I’m provided with facts and figures. This could be because of the fact that I prefer having factual knowledge as it helps me understand better. Moreover, I find this type of learning to be reliable as it is procedural and I find it easier to implement in real life. However, I have the following limitations with respect to this dimension: Innovation is required in every field and it requires taking risks based on theories and assumptions. Though it is not good to constantly rely on them, it is curtail to consider them at times. I believe that my sensory learning style at times binds me to facts and figures limiting my intuition. Visual Learning – I observe information from visual data more quickly than I do from verbal data. I prefer this learning style because it provides maximum information in just one glance. That is the reason why I encourage my team members and employees to make use of visual data as much as possible. This leads to the following drawback: Even though visual data is often used for presentations and other official meetings, verbal data is main source of information. The details are always provided in the verbal form that needs to be studied properly in order to avoid missing out on important information. I believe I’m more likely to miss out on important information when presented in verbal form which is a major disadvantage in the field that I’m in. Active Learning – I always like experimenting and practically trying out the information that I’m given. I prefer teamwork and enjoy working in groups to find a solution to a problem. I am most productive when given an opportunity to practically do things and in teams, which can lead to great results. In this dimension I have the following limitation: At times, certain things require reflection, thinking, and scenario planning. I at times can be a little too focused on taking action without thinking it through. Sometimes, decisions are taken without taking all the relevant information into consideration. Global Learner – I tend to take look at the bigger picture in mind when taking decisions. My approach to learning is holistic as I look at the situation as a whole and not in parts. Once I get the full picture of the situation, and then systematically fill in all the details. I am clear about what I want to achieve in the end and then all the actions are taken in accordance with the goal. However, this approach ahs the following drawback: Having a global learning style puts me at the risk of missing out on important small details. For instance, even though I am fully aware of the aims and objectives that I want to achieve, I’m not always aware of how I would achieve them. Improvement of Learning Skills The analysis of my learning style clearly shows that I have many limitations that need to resolve in order to accomplish effective learning. First, and foremost, I must make it a habit to take theoretical information in consideration along with other possibilities in mind before practically implementing a decision based solely on facts and figures. This will improve my ability to innovate and will also help be become an entrepreneur. Secondly, I must teach myself to carefully read and listen to the information provided that does not have a visual component to it. Developing a reading habit and practicing active listening can do this. Active listening will not only help me improve my verbal learning skills, but also enhance my ability reflect on things. It is obvious in the above analysis that I lack reflective learning. I can improve these skills by taking other’s opinions into consideration and assess all the possible actions and their outcomes. Lastly, I need to work on my sequential learning skills. This will not only help me become more organized, it will also give me an opportunity to identify external and internal factors influencing the decision, which are otherwise ignored. Moreover, it will improve the quality of my learning and consequently, the decision made will be more effective. Skills Audit A skills audit is performed to explore the skills and is “a process for measuring and recording the skills of an individual or group” (Watson, 2004, pp. 1). A personal audit allows a person to “reflect and think about who you are and what you want to do with your life” and includes a systematic analysis of behavior, interests, vocational, interpersonal, and personal skills (Mason, Horne, and Irvine, 2004, pp. 107). Following are the results of the skills audit that I performed on myself: Skills Development of Skills and Examples Communication and Literacy Skills Have received multiple certificates in the field of computer science which has provided me with complete knowledge of my field of education. Moreover, I have made presentations related to IT project management for a workshop. Have also conducted a workshop on two panels for recruitment and selection, preparing adverts, job descriptions, grading and interviewing and also conducted a seminar on importance of employees. These experiences, have improved my communication and public speaking skills. I have also conducted numerous other seminars and workshops as a member of BCS. I have also developed good communication skills working as a Customer Service Executive, at Silverberg, Leytonstone, London, as I was responsible for customer services and sales promotion. I often did telemarketing, which taught me how to effectively communicate with potential customers and put forth my opinion. Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills Throughout my career, I have worked with groups and have successfully managed to achieve the desired goals set by the group. I’ve had many interactions with customers and the management of the placed I’ve worked for, given numerous presentations, and have also conducted interviews as part of my workshop. All these experiences have taught me professional interpersonal skills. Moreover, I have also managed to achieve the given target with each company that I have worked for and also gave innovative ideas to the organizations that I worked for. As a result, I was given teams to lead which I was able to manage successfully. I have also won the best team member in my volunteering service period with BLOSSOMS. Personal Skills and Organization The main drive behind all my achievements has been my motivation to become a successful [please insert what you wish to become here]. This means that I am self-motivated and do not need any external factors to motivate me to perform my best. Whatever task I perform, I do it with complete concentration and motivation. I was also given a project once to produce, create, and introduce a fashion catalogue for CLEMAS Couture which I was able to create with high intensive colors that appealed to the customers a lot. Moreover, my previous jobs related to customer services [and my current job] required me to take responsibility of coming up with my own ideas to improve sales which I did successfully and also implemented these ideas on my own. Interests and Behaviors I have always been interested in computers and software and enjoy doing work that involves tasks related to computing. However, most my work experiences has to do with customer services and sales which has increased my interest in the respective field. I am not only interested in the customer services, but I have also become quite good at handling customer needs and making sure that the customers are hay. I am also interested in traveling and like visiting other places. I believe this gives me an edge over other people since I have no issues what so ever working oversees and would like to become an expatriate. My interest in travelling can also be seen in my work experience since I have worked not only in different parts of England but also in Nigeria, where I am currently working. Planning Towards Future Leadership Requirements “He who fails to plan, is planning to fail” – Winston Churchill. Planning the future is an important step toward achieving a desired goal. Future planning is considered to be very important not only in business, but also in real life. All the major organizations set certain goals for themselves in order say on track to achieve their aim. Similarly, in order to advance in career, some planning is required. This planning is based on the personal experiences, interests, and skills of the individual because the plan does not only have to be desirable, but also practical to follow. It is defined as “a structured and supported process undertaken by an individual to reflect upon their own learning, performance and/or achievement and to plan for their personal, educational and career development” (The Higher Education Academy, 2011). There are two of ways of going about a personal development plan. It can be done either by identifying issues of concern and then planning an action to resolve those issues or it can done by setting long and short term goals (Streeter, 1994). Keeping this in mind, I have merged these two types in to a single PDP where I have divided the areas of concerns into three different timelines. Timeline Issues Requirements Action Plan Short Term Improve listening and reading skills Active listening Careful reading This can be achieved by paying attention to the verbal data being discussed and developing a habit of reading documents. I plan on using the PQRST method to improving my reading and learning skills (Hilgard, 1996). Find out how I am perceived by my peers Interaction with peers Rapport building In order to find out how I am truly perceived by my peers and co-workers I have to gain improve my relationship with them. Finding this out will also give me an idea of my short-comings as seen by others which can be used to improve myself as a person. Medium Term Time Management Plan out activities before starting a project Maintain a daily planner As mentioned earlier, I tend to take more work than I can handle and end up being stressed. Maintaining a daily planner will help me plan my activities in such a way that I don’t get stressed and manage it well. Maintain a balance between personal and professional life Give family more time without compromising work Take some time out of myself Meditate I plan on spending quality time with my family at least on the weekend. Since I am quite busy throughout the week, I can keep my weekends free for family. Moreover, I plan on finishing work in the office and avoid taking work home unnecessarily. Moreover, I want to spend some time alone at least once a month to release stress. Also, I plan on spending at least twenty minutes a day meditating. Long Term Develop reflective skills Take different ideas and opinions in to consideration Keep an open mind Give more importance to details I tend to be a little pessimistic toward ideas that are based solely on assumptions and theories. I plan on keeping an open mind toward new ideas and avoid rejecting them without thinking it through. Moreover, I plan on encouraging other members at work to share their ideas and think out of the box. I will also make a proper action plan before taking a decision i.e. figure out each step toward achieving a particular goal in both personal and professional life. Get my Masters degree and complete at least two researches before 2015 Make a schedule before applying to a University Get in touch with a University Professor for assistance with the research Before I can apply for my Masters, I need to manage time. For this I will have to maintain a proper balance between my professional and personal life. Once that is done, I will apply for my Masters and dedicate at least three hours to study each day. I will also seek guidance from a university professor for my research and begin it under his or her supervision in order to produce authentic, reliable, and valid results. Conclusion Keeping the review of personal assessment and analysis in mind, it can be said that much to improve in myself as a person in order to become a good leader. Writing this report has helped me in identifying my strengths and more importantly, my weaknesses of which I was not aware. This report has helped me realize my shortcomings and my talents and given me an opportunity to improve myself both personally and professionally. The PDP plan that I have developed will help me achieve my goals and hopefully make a better leader and a person. References Felder, R. M., and Silverman, L. K. (1988). Learning and teaching styles in engineering education. Engineering Education, 78 (7) , 674-681. Hilgard, A. (1996). Introduction to Psychology. Harcourt Brace College Publishers. Honey, P., and Mumford, A. (1982). The Manual of Learning Styles. Maidenhead: Peter Honey. Honey, P., and Mumford, A. (1992). The Manual of Learning Styles, 3rd Ed. Maidenhead: Peter Honey. Jackson, S. E., Joshi, A., and Erhardt, N. (2003). Recent Research on Team and Organizational Diversity: SWOT Analysis and Implications. Journal of Management, 29 , 801-830. Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Manoharan, P. K. (2008). Education and Personality Development. APH Publishing. Mason, L., Horne, S., and Irvine, J. (2004). BTEC Introduction to Health and Social Care. Heinemann. Pahl, N., and Richter, A. (2009). Swot Analysis - Idea, Methodology and a Practical Approach. GRIN verlaq. Pask, G. (1976). Styles and strategies of learning. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 46 , 128-148. Streeter, W. T. (1994). Personal Development Plan: A Guide to Accomplishing Your Dreams. Baypointe Publishing. The Higher Education Academy. (2011). PDP - Personal Development Planning. York, UK: HEA. Villa, A., and Antonelli, D. (2008). A road map to the development of European SME networks. Springer. Watson, H. (2004). Skills Audit. The Skills Framework. Read More