Personal and Profesional Development - Essay Example

Task 1A and 1B In the of my career I have consistently adhered to self-learning and lifelong learning. Generally, from time to time I carry out a self-check; where I am at the moment, where I want to go and ways of getting there. All this is aimed at achieving efficient long life learning. The first step is to identify my learning needs.The learning gap is normally wide therefore I give priority to the handiest needs. Then I set out to confirm if the resources to successfully cater for the learning needs are available and capable to meet the demands.

I will also keenly assess and evaluate my own learning. Research has always been key in my learning journey. I use all means at my disposal to research about any subject of concern that might impact on my career. The internet has always been invaluable. I gather all necessary information about almost any learning need I intend to meet. My selling skills techniques were bolstered by thorough research on the relevant issue. Various renowned newspapers are online thus I get to acquaint myself with information that will give me valuable knowledge in my field of career.

Also, I read good books. Most of them contain information relevant to my career and wholeness of life in general. People are great source of information. I listen to people and their grievances or happiness with a particular product or service. This gives me insight on the consumer behavior and how they can be well addressed and over time I get to know the general trend with time. I have found this useful since many changes occur within a span of few years and old techniques cease to apply. Technology is always evolving at a surprising speed.

Since the advent of Twitter and Facebook among other social websites, learning has been made simpler. I always ensure I follow or like all relevant companies, individuals and any useful party. This way I am able to keep up to date with advancements, the conditions of the global and local market and most importantly learn from industry giants and individuals who are specialists and experts in the field. It takes discipline to conform to only useful information and communication in the entertainment laden segment of the internet catering to social media.

Reading technology related information magazines and newspapers helps in coping up with technology based acumen. Another useful self-learning technique that has proved indispensable is the power of networking. It dawned to me from an early time that building networks and using any chance to talk and share ideas with individuals in the same career path is imperative. It reaches new heights when the same individuals are ahead of me and well experienced. I get to know the challenges ahead and how to overcome them.

Amazingly, these individuals have been through the same path I am treading thus by pointing out to me the right steps, I save myself the agony of trial and error. This technique has not only contributed to my career growth but also personal development. I attend workshops and seminars related to my career or personal development. This are besides those organized by the company. Personal development has greatly made me realize it cant be separated from career path. Union of the two leads to a perfect combination that eventually yields better productivity at work with much lesser stress.

Most of these seminars are hosted by international success gurus in the industry or experienced speakers. At the end of the day I collect chunks of information that over time cumulatively amounts to top success secrets. The least one can get is networks. Although I have learnt to be self-reliant, I greatly get to improve by working with others. In a team I get to look at other members. Obviously, there is the top level members of a team who are the peak of attainment. I learn new work ethics, techniques and many breaking through tips.

Then the members at the middle or below I happen to see their faults or teach them as they inquire and learn from me. This inspires a spirit of strive in me and the same time I get to gain valuable knowledge as a result of the need to be able respond to them satisfactorily.Another self-managed learning is the use of resources. I take any offer by the organization. For instance any optional education opportunity available, attend any special business related activity. The books, newspapers, journals, computers and programs available in the business I use them maximally.

This not only enriches my mind in the area of expertise but also whole roundly this helps me remain relevant in the vastly competitive employment world. Personally managed learning has been of great value in my career. The best part is that it is lifelong learning. I keep looking for avenues to improve my knowledge and skills. The benefits of personally managed learning have been of great impact to me and my organization. Basically, I constantly acquire new skills and knowledge. It stems from research.

This means that I climb up the corporate ladder not necessarily through promotions but as the quality of my output improves. This opens up opportunities for me. Also, the organization benefits from better services. On another note my creativity, independence and interdependence is boosted.Task 2AA thorough audit of my skill set reveals that there are a few areas that I am proficient in. One of these areas is the ability to work effectively in a team and be a valuable team member in terms of contribution and value.

Another one of my traits that has been an important factor in my success is my ability to effectively and articulately communicate and get my points across the board to the relevant personalities. A few qualities that play off my personality are willingness to meet new challenges, efficiency and timely deliverance of work and adaptability to the task at hand. Approaching a new task with willingness to not only be successful in it but also to enhance my own learning experience is an attitude I take into every project.

An easygoing and friendly attitude coupled with the ability to learn quickly and become efficient is a quality which I possess to a certain degree and which I am trying to elevate. There are quite a few things needed to perform consistently in an organizational setting. One of the most important qualities needed to succeed and survive in such an environment is to be motivationally driven and have a particular personal and professional drive. To be able to consistently perform and stay motivated to get things or tasks finished is a valuable quality that pays great dividends in a professional workspace.

Time management is also another attribute that is vital to progress in an organizational setting, and is highly valued. The most important skill one needs to have mastery over is leadership skill, as it is imperative to success anywhere. Strong leadership skills mean competent decision making skills and the ability to independently be held accountable for any decisions made in any situation. Side skills that complement these larger skills include excellence in written communication and a high level of distinctive and creative thinking.

Task 2BMy basic aim would be to enhance my vision, decision making, stress management and independence skill so as to portray a more solid and sturdy portfolio as a leader. Another personal development key to career progression would be the ability to effectively be able to organize, create and initiate plans and projects that highlight my abilities. I also plan to inhibit and regulate the negative traits that can be disastrous in the short or long term for my professional career. Creativity is something that I need to work on, and the ability to think outside the box is one that will be handy in my armory.

Another negative trait that I plan to tone down is to manage my stress levels and inhibit excessive emotions. Not losing hope and becoming fully committed to an enterprise is something that I need to fully incorporate in my personality. Opportunities rarely present themselves and I plan on seizing any good opportunity with both hands. Although opportunities are sometimes not clear-cut, and beyond my control, I can still gauge the industry through different changes taking place and get advantage from those situations.

Dealing with threats is also very important in the progression of a career, and for that one needs to gauge his or her obstacles that might get in the way of progress. My first development objective would be to have a clear and concise plan that would involve long term success and would be based on seizing opportunities as they appear ie making decisions at the right time.Being motivated and being motivated for the right reasons are two different things, therefore I aim to thoroughly research any aspect that I am investing my time, energy and resources into for which it is also important to prioritize my responsibilities and aims.

Updating my skill set keeping in view the rigorously changing industry as well as trying to update my qualifications to present a competitive edge.Understanding and analyzing the industry, looking at related websites or talking to more experienced people in my chosen profession to get a better grip on the understanding of what the industry requires. For this, another objective also is creating and developing healthy network of colleagues, employers, professional friendships etc.Task 3AIn order to overcome weaknesses and implement my plans I will take on every problem one by one.

To overcome excessive emotions I will separate my career and my personal like and make sure the intermingling of both does not result in a professional loss. Develop a habit to plan well ahead of schedule and making a performance review to regulate procrastination and laziness. Adopt a never die attitude and take it into every project to battle disappointment so that it becomes an eventual habit.To grab opportunities at the right time I will take a series of steps that involve:Attending developmental workshops related to my field of choice, attend networking and professional social events or conferences to enhance my skill set and meet a diverse range of people.

Be aware of the changing trends in the related industry such as: scientific advancements in the field which can affect me and my performance, changing trends in different companies and how may I benefit from them, thinking innovatively about bridging supply demands or doing something that is not being done, taking full advantage of any mistakes from my competitors or rivals.To battle against threats the following implementations will prove to be helpful: as risks might not always pay off, a contingency plan is essential if the current one does not full-fill expectations; analyzing, identifying and planning to deal with possible obstacles that may cause damage or impede progress; getting feedback from customers to guard against any threat may be slowly building up.

Task 3BPlanning is an essential part of conducting any task. Personal and Professional developments plans, that is goals and objectives, are also made with a desired outcome in mind. Nevertheless, there are chances that after the achievement of the goals and objectives, there might be changes in the outcomes. For instance, I plan to work on my stress management and emotional feelings at workplace, as discussed above, but I may not be able to overcome this weakness as per my plan. When actually faced with work under pressure, many individuals may just lose it.

Therefore, in such situations, I would review my action plan again, and try to incorporate other productive things that would help me successfully achieve my goal.Being motivated is more of a mental exercise rather than a physical one. If I still lose my motivation, in between work then I would have to review my actions again. I need to work on being positive and patient and have to believe in the larger benefit that would be achieved when I am highly motivated to do the task. I will have to learn to look at things from a brighter perspective so that it boosts up my morale to work diligently.

One of my main goals is to have a good amount of relevant industry experience. For this, when I discuss with other professionals, there are chances that I may be getting a biased opinion and I may not be able to derive the information I need. Hence, in such situation I would have to change my strategies, I would then look into the best practices implemented by firms and how this contributed towards their level of success. I would have to change my sampling too so that professionals can be interviewed from a vast area rather than a limited number of professionals.

This would also help me learn about the changing industry trends from a different perspective. Being vigilant in grabbing opportunities as and when they come is a very challenging task. For this an individual needs to be keenly observing the opportunities and make the right decisions at the right time. It may so happen that a wrong decision may impact the profits of the firm. Hence, understand business dynamics and risk is a core skill that I want to gain mastery. If I make wrong decisions, I need to understand that humans make errors and I immediately need to develop a contingency plan to deal with such situations.

As they say, working on a mistake is better than crying over spilt milk. Challenges in a business can be physical, emotional and mental. A business professional needs to be prepared for all of these challenges and most importantly should accept the fact that things can go the other way round from the one expected. Being able to deal with wrong turns and unexpected outcomes is an art and I want to develop myself in a person who can deal with all these situations. For this, I would constantly reflect upon my action plans and make amendments wherever required.

Task 4AWhen working in a Print House many problems can arise. One of the most common problems is malfunctioning machines that are needed for the day to day work of the employees. Because the machines are so important when a machine does malfunction it can send the whole working day out of whack which means it is important to fix any malfunctioning machines as quickly as possible. If this occurs your first point of call should be your line manager or boss. It is important to report malfunctioning equipment to ensure that no members of staff are injured if they attempt to use the machine and it is also important to report these things as quickly as possible so that they can be fixed in as shorter period of time as possible.

Your line manager or boss will tell you who to contact for the right actions to take place. It is most likely that you will be asked to contact a machine engineer who works alongside your company. In this scenario you should contact the engineer as soon as you have their details. When speaking with an engineer you must communicate clearly and precisely to ensure they know the exact problems you are going through with the machine. In some cases they may be able to walk you through a fix on the phone.

If not they will schedule an appointment to take a look at the machine. If the engineer has to come out to view the machine it should be shut down until they have given it the all clear to be used. This is for health and safety reasons and also to ensure that there is no more damage caused to the machine. Another solution for this problem would be to look at the machines manual. Every company should have at least one copy of a manual for the machines they use so that everybody can read it so that they are sure they are capable of using the machine.

It is important to know what you are doing with a machine before you use it otherwise you could end up making the machine malfunction without even knowing it and the solution could be as simple as reversing what you’ve just done. In some instances machines are completely unfixable. These machines should be removed from the working environment as quickly as possible to lower the risk to the health and safety of the staff and also so that a new machine can be installed. Regular tests should be made on the machines to ensure that they are all working correctly.

This will ensure that problems are picked up as quickly as possible so that they can be fixed in as little period of time as is humanly possible. All members of staff even those who do not usually use the machine should be notified of any malfunctions to ensure that they do not use the machine until it is fixed. The results of using a broken machine could be fatal especially with bigger machines where people may become caught or trapped especially if it is the stop button that is malfunctioning.

If this occurs it can be very hazardous to employee health and safety and the machine should be cordoned off.In some companies it is necessary to write a formal report up on what has happened to the machines to ensure that a record is kept for future reference and to ensure that all records are kept up to date for when machines are tested. This ensures that if an employee who handles the machines leaves the company then anyone who takes their place will know the history of the machine and understand some of the past problems that the machines have gone through.

Because machines can often malfunction or break when they are heavily used throughout the working week it can be a good idea to have a reliable, trusted engineer company that is used for all problems with the machines. This ensures a trusted relationship between the company and the engineers and means that the machines will be looked after in the right way. It also means that you don’t have to waste time looking for a new engineer every time a machine malfunctions.When it comes to machines it is also important to purchase only from reputable companies or companies that you have purchased from before to ensure that only the highest quality machines are used to lower the risk of health and safety issues.

Purchasing higher quality machines often raises the limit at which a machine will malfunction or break. It is also important to remember that every machine has a limited life span and remember that machines will not carry on working forever. It is possible to put a plan in place to ensure that older machines can be replaced after a certain period of time to make sure that the machines are working as efficiently as they are meant to. Task 4BThe application of effective time management is important in every business.

Tasks should be prioritized in order to ensure effective time management and make sure that all tasks or completed in the right time frame. The working day can be filled with unforeseen problems like machines breaking of a member of staff calling in sick. This can throw a real spanner in the works when it comes to time management. When a member of staff calls in sick it can often mean you have more work on your hands. You should take into account how long it will take you to get both your own work as well as their work done to ensure that all deadlines and targets are met.

A good way to ensure that you keep effective time management is to keep a list or a diary of tasks to complete and how important they are. Once a task is done you can simply tick it off the sheet and when you look back at it you’ll know it’s already been done. This means you don’t have to waste time looking to see what has been done and what hasn’t as well you have more work on your plate it can often become confusing as to what you’ve finished and what you haven’t.Good time management means good work.

It keeps stress levels low and enables you to concentrate on the important things in the work day like getting your work done and meeting your deadlines. No matter how much work you have to do always give yourself a break or your whole plan will go out of the window. Without a sufficient break your brain will wander and if this happens you have no hope of getting your work done on time. Having effective time management means you have more productive hours to get your work done. This can sometimes mean you get work done early and so you are able to take on more work.

More work means more earning potential which is always great for yourself and your company. 1 extra productive hour to a day means 5 more in a week and 20 more in a month. Just think of all the extra work you could cram into those hours. Better time management can also mean you are more successful with co-workers and also your competitors as well as company partners. For example if you are always on time for your meeting or company dinners you can ensure you gain trust. Excellent time management means you have more control over not only your work life but also your whole life in general.

This is because if you manage to get all your work done during work hours you don’t have to worry about it when you get home. That means you can concentrate on the things that matter to you like family and friends. It also means that you are very well organized and you don’t have to worry about those dreaded deadlines. Planning out the daily tasks of your work day can help to make you a more efficient employee and in turn will get you a good seat within the company. It means your fellow workers will trust you and they will probably even ask you for advice on how they can become more efficient themselves.

Also if a boss sees how organized you are and how your beating those deadlines you may be rewarded or even promoted. It’s always better to have good time management as it helps you stay cool and calm in unforeseen situations and helps you to keep your mind clear for the road ahead. People are often scared of becoming rigid or stiff with time management but it is usually very much the opposite. It frees you up to enjoy life when you get your work done within the right time frame. Because you control your time management you don’t have to worry about others telling you what or when.

It’s always better not to have people breathing down your neck all day waiting for that assignment you were meant to have in three hours ago. ReferencesCaprino, K. (2012) What You Dont Know Will Hurt You: The Top 8 Skills Professionals Need to Master. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2012/04/27/what-you-dont-know-will-hurt-you-the-top-8-skills-professionals-need-to-master/2/. (Accessed 27 January 14).Garrow, V. (1998) Self-Managed Learning: Development for the 21st Century, [Online] Available at: http://www.mbsportal.bl.

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