Personal Development as a First Line Manager - Assignment Example

Personal Development as a First Line Manager TASK ONE Introduction Personal development planning (PDP) involves acknowledgement of one’s own ways ofcreating opportunities to meditate about, what are his priorities are in life, what are his own strengths and weaknesses towards achieving the set goals within what time frame.Personal development would entail further the aspects of what kind of an individual one admires to be tomorrow, is he clear about and determined to achieve the personal set goals and ambitions (Bowerman & Van Wart, 2011). Critical decision making ability is given emphasis in PDP so much as this would result directly to how effective and successful one would emerge. Being in good control of one’s own self and actions ensures that the individual keep within track geared towards achieving the goals and objectives set. Planning for the future emerges to be an important aspect of the individual’s development course. Every success depends on individual time dedication and effort input to reach the set standards in life. Development planning in a number is a personal process - or rather it can be a process enforced by your tutor or employer. Personal development will never be a spontaneous issue at all it is a thing of time. One structures his time and life in such a manner that targets and ambitions are the guiding benchmark to shape the next course of action in day-to day life undertakings. Share your reflections with close confidants to help resolve in an informed conclusions. Opportunities are the yardsticks for measuring and experimenting on the new areas to result to an improved understanding of one’s abilities. Keeping of one’s records of achievement and learning is a vital aspect in personal development planning as this helps doing of comparison for a specified period of time and serves still as a basis of reference. Personal Development Planning tend be an applicable multi-faceted field in which arenas like the professional, academia and general day-to-day life fits into so perfectly. For the purpose of this essay paper much of the applicable areas PDP fits into we are going to give emphasis on the professional aspect of personal development (Bowerman & Van Wart, 2011). As one analyzes different circumstances emerging in the course of undertaking a duty there is confidence development resulting to making of proper choices. The progress in the job market has taken a divergent angle and stiff competition for better position is the order of the day. PDP has been the pivot of operation of such competition and dynamism in the employment sector. Advancement in successful professional life is a by-product of PDP due to improved competences, planning, ability and problem solving skills A good number of employers now expect employees to realize their individual performance and to apprehend how to adapt to meet times of change, increased workload and stressful situations (Winkler, 2010). Change being the only constant factor in life, employees are expected to embrace it to the best of the company’s success. Most of the time there is expectations to reveal personal devotion to continuous professional development (CPD) through information searching, training and events that will keep their experience, skills and knowledge up-to-date (Cottrell, 2010). SMART PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN - will be reviewed and updated on _1st ____________ of each month Area needing Development How will I do it? Resources/ Authorisation By when? Have I done it? Relationship to organisational & role objectives Example: Communication skills - giving presentations and talking to groups Free internet downloads, volunteering to chair meetings, be group spokesperson Laptop - got Authorisation not needed (will do it at home) 30/9/10 Put YES if successful Re-list if aim not achieved To make team briefings clearer and more effective when I deliver them Academic Training- equipping oneself with educational knowledge background and vast information background Attending a college providing educational units. Attending seminars and forums for education. Library –in the institution Laboratory –in the college Access of relevant books for my line of educational units. Authorization is attained for the college after getting admission. 21/11/2012 YES To be equipped with vast information to pass to the students. Professional acquaintances enables me to properly handle the students with the best level of professionalism. Physical Training- Physical fitness to enable me facilitate coaching of the students on co-curriculum activities Assembling games kits and other necessary games equipment. Organizing training sessions. Games kits-from school games office. Authorization is got from the games master Daily YES The off-classroom co-curriculum activities are enshrined in the national curriculum. Art of effective communication-facilitation of teaching dissemination processes Attending language classes and be tested on communication skills Academic books No authorization needed 01/10/2010 YES Command of strong language and effective presentation skills enables facilitate efficient learning and knowledge dissemination. Area needing Development How will I do it? Resources/ Authorisation By when? Have I done it? Relationship to organisational & role objectives Self-programming- Facilitating of effective learning Scheduling of teaching time-table And arranging reading materials necessary. Exercise books- Laptop access- No authority needed since the exercise books and the laptop are personal assets. Per term YES High organizational level and proper planning facilitates smooth learning process without collusion of activities or mix ups. Time management- Entails organization and every activity allotment resources and time Planning my work appropriately Personal organization- Requires no authorization Daily YES Time management is an area that is of vital concern to every organization has it enables prioritization in activities execution. Student assessment- Doing of Exams and other assessment areas by the students Scheduling of exams and continouos assessment tests dates and presentation of the exams to the students Availability of printing apparatus for the written exams No authorization since its school’s routine and termly undertakings Termly YES Schools assess students improvement ability and academic advancement through assessment tests TASK TWO Methods or processes available to determine work plan priorities Educational calendar The government regulated calendar stipulating timeframe and activities to be specifically carried out during a specific term. The activities are set and scheduled for execution by the teachers and students at large. This gives restriction for incorporation of non-scheduled activities in a term by any other authority not to mention a mere teacher like me. The set prioritized activities are within the restriction of the government education calendar. This offers a stipulated framework with limited flexibility and adjustments, thus, determining our work priorities (Colby et al., 2010, p. 38). The national curriculum The government set national curriculum is a guideline to our scope of learning materials, research, and the content of information delivery to the students (Furth & Wachs, 2001, p.28). The national though will be incorporated into the school curriculum but it comes fully pact for what and how much to unleash to what level of academic cadre. As teachers we give priority to the national curriculum as demanded by the authorities of state education after which school curriculum is incorporated in. Time management and work plan objectives achievement Procrastination is one failure that a teacher would discourage by all means from all angles. Time management calls for individual with the spirit of let’s do it now (Bowerman & Van Wart, 2011, 67). We should not complain of the number of times we have tried doing something to unsuccessful but would rather forge out another plan to resolve the whole scenario. Objectives are set in institutions of different dealings with time frame as the determining factor. Therefore time management becomes unavoidable by the virtue of default. Management of time to enable achievement of the work plan goals would include: What to do. Keeping a list of what to do is the first step to successful time management. A reminder of things to be done at a particular time and place is a necessary ingredient towards effective time management. For execution of an action plan one is entitled to keep a list of tasks that need to be completed. Set Goals to achieve. Set realistic and achievable goals that are clearly defined and precise to the target. Do an evaluation of your own self presently and prioritize on what to achieve first then followed by another (Hopkins, 2007, p. 59). Prioritizing. Decisions on tasks which are urgent and important are made to ensure focus on them. Listing of the tasks is important and they should be sort in terms of priority. Appropriate time should be scheduled for the prioritized task. Avoid procrastination. The fear of letting things done within the appropriate time line is a good time management skill. Breaking down tasks. A huge task at a time may be discouraging and time consuming. Breaking the task to smaller components would enable the tasks to be accomplished one at a time and could less discouraging as compared to a huge task that takes quite a long time to be accomplished Use of time log. Set clearly what you want to achieve within a period of time in a chart. Divide the tasks into categories and portion adequate time for a specific task for completion. Significance of flexibility in a work plan Time changes and new ways of doing things emerge on a daily basis. Flexibility entails embrace of change which is the only constant thing in life. Incorporation of new ideas in a work plan enables greater and optimal outcome of the task undertaken. A plan of work may be deficient of ideas and resources at the time of execution but in the due course better ideas emerge and solicitation of resources is realized for the project to be a success (Furth & Wachs, 2001, p. 39). Styles and approaches to leadership This paper analyses different leadership styles to help realize the best level of production within an organization or an institution. Participatory leadership. Very good mangers engage the employees in a number of decision processes in the organization. This is done because these managers acknowledge the value associated with tasking an individual on a duty he/she has participated in formulating and enforcing during the decision making period. Democratic leadership. Gaining the best of the employees would involve leaders engaging the people in decision making even though the ultimate decision is made by a few tasked representatives after a comprehensive consultation. In scenarios where the people feel part and parcel of decision making in an organization or in the countries management issues then one is fully obliged to make every decision work out to the optimal level possible. Transformational leadership A team leader of inspiring vision and the interest of the organization at heart drives the vision of the organization to full potential. Colleges vioew them with respect and accord them the best coordination and cooperation ever admired. Transactional leadership. Individuals are put to task when they are motivated by rewards. On the other hand, individuals would carry out a task to avoid being punished. There is clear chain of command in this leadership style and instructions are ceded from the authorities. Laissez- Faire This leadership approach is such that there is no central co-ordination of activities taking place. Here employees are motivated and capable in making their own decisions, thus minimizing the involvement of the leaders directly to what is being undertaken. The capability of the personalities on the ground undertaking the project is trusted. Situational approach and Contingency Models Leaders acknowledge that not all situations would call for a single style of leadership. It is argued that the situation in hand for resolution itself determines the style of leadership that would be most effective. How to develop good working relations Interpersonal skills. Good interpersonal relations would purely remedy the development of better working relationships. Acknowledgement of chain of command and identification of authorities to be answerable to paves the way for peaceful work environment with fellow colleagues and the rest of the organizational fraternity. Team membership co-ordination.Team work is a vital aspect to different organizations’ progress. Employees embrace respect and coordination abilities towards achieving the organization’s goals. Delegation of responsibilities is another area that would help eliminate collusion in terms of duties and tasks assigned. Every member should be assigned in a given line with a specific point of authority to be answerable to clearly separate boundaries. Responsibilities for safeguarding team welfare First line manager becomes the pinnacle of employees’ refuge of their grievances. Being a servant of the people by the manager makes him empathize and feel part of the team’s problems (Cottrell, 2010, p. 40). Airing of such complaints with the relevant departments and individuals is a first step in resolving t heir issues to create a better working environment and ultimately improvement on their welfare. References BOWERMAN, K. D., & VAN WART, M. (2011). The business of leadership: an introduction. Armonk, N.Y., M.E. Sharpe. Cawelti, G. (1999). Portraits of six benchmark schools: Diverse approaches to improving student achievement.  Arlington, VA: Educational Research Service. Colby A., Kohlberg L., Speicher-Dubin E., and Lieberman M. (2010). Secondary School Moral Discussion Programs Led by Social Studies Teachers, Journal Moral Education 6 (2), pp.90-117. COTTRELL, S. (2010). Skills for success: the personal development planning handbook. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan. Furth, H.G. and Wachs, H. (2001). Thinking goes to school.  Piaget’s theory in practice. New York: Oxford University Press. Hopkins, G. (2007, December 4). Character(istics) Count! -- What Principals Look for When Hiring New Teachers. [Online]  Education World. Retrieved April 20, 2008. www.educationworld.com WINKLER, I. (2010). Contemporary leadership theories enhancing the understanding of the complexity, subjectivity and dynamic of leadership. Berlin, Springer. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7908-2158-1. 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