Personal and Professional Development Free Essays

string(63) " things done also causes me stress when I have too many tasks\." Introduction My own journey to â€Å"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. We will write a custom essay sample on Personal and Professional Development or any similar topic only for you Order Now My first work in Ireland was â€Å"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 t heir 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. You read "Personal and Professional Development" in category "Essay examples" 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, â€Å"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 object ive. 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 â€Å"(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) â€Å"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 â€Å"How to be an even better manager† 7th edition (1988) 2. Sally Palmer, (1998) â€Å"People and Self Management†. 3. Stuart Emmett, (2008) â€Å"Developing People†. Appendix Curriculum Vitae. Related article: Time Management – Work File How to cite Personal and Professional Development, Essay examples Personal and Professional Development Free Essays string(63) " things done also causes me stress when I have too many tasks\." Introduction My own journey to â€Å"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. We will write a custom essay sample on Personal and Professional Development or any similar topic only for you Order Now My first work in Ireland was â€Å"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 t heir 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. You read "Personal and Professional Development" in category "Papers" 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, â€Å"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 object ive. 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 â€Å"(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) â€Å"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 â€Å"How to be an even better manager† 7th edition (1988) 2. Sally Palmer, (1998) â€Å"People and Self Management†. 3. Stuart Emmett, (2008) â€Å"Developing People†. Appendix Curriculum Vitae. How to cite Personal and Professional Development, Papers Personal and Professional Development Free Essays string(164) " eventually get bored and loose the motivation of working Frustration: Frustration is a silent killer in workplace which creates motivation and enthusiasm problem\." Hotel manager is the person who is responsible for management of the hotel and its entire staff (SAGAS, 2012). We can also say hotel manager is someone who is accountable for managing the business of hotel and also assure the quality, radioactivity, performance of employees Cones Lockwood, 2004). Hotel manager is responsible for planning, budgeting, financial management and also directing and leading all hotel service. We will write a custom essay sample on Personal and Professional Development or any similar topic only for you Order Now This profession requires various types of skills, knowledge and experience which has to be developed starting from the bottom. Despite the fact this area is accessible for all graduates with an HAND but the following qualification or subject may enhance the chance such as business or management, Hotel and hospitality, business study with different language and travel and tourism (SAGAS, 2012). But it’s not always necessary to have an HAND or inundation course to enter this profession since the employers puts a lot of priority on relevant experience. A minimum standard of education is sought and most of the people work their way up to this management level gradually by training on the Job and external qualification. Employers often look for relevant work experience but not only related to hotel but also customer focused such as retail, catering, bar and language skills also an advantage specially a hotel related to international chain. 2. 0 SOOT analysts: So aim of the topic is to critically analyses my C.V. with the help of SOOT in term of the rarer I have chosen and Justify the strength, weakness, opportunity and threat. At the end I will conclude the topic with recommendation of what needed to be improved in future. 2. Strength: Effective communication skills can boost the overall performance of a business and in my chosen career of hotel management it’s the only way where I can establish a good relationship with the customers and increase staff engagement to increase overall performance. I have systematically represented my communication skills and the efficiency of it in my C.V.. I have the ability to communicate in a very effective and reflections way with different people by carefu lly listening to client and address my message to them. During my time at Marriott hotel I have demonstrated my effective communication skills while working on reception and feedback from customers for my performance were excellent. 2. 1. 2 Team Work: Team work is two or more people working together co-operatively in order improve the performance and achieve their goal. In hotel management profession it’s very important because when numbers of people working together their knowledge, skills, experience from several source coming together. I am a very co-operative team layer and able to work with different people from different sort of background. I know how work with the team as a supporting hand and encourage other team working skills and achieved better result while I was working in Ginsburg as a team leader 2. 1. 3 Customer Service: In my preferred career of hotel management customer is very important to satisfy the customers and make sure they come back again and again. I have tried to be focused on highlighting how good customer service I can offer in my C.V.. I am able to compromise with all sort of customer in effective way from different country and aground and solve any quarries they have with a positive attitude and satisfy them to come back to us again and again. While I was working in Ginsburg I have been awarded best customer service assistance 2010 twice. 2. 1. 4 Management skills: Success of hotel industry depends on effective management and it’s important for planning, organizing, controlling, directing and decision making. In my C.V. I have shown my ability to manage team and plan ahead during a busy environment. During my time at Marriott hotel I improved my management skill through different aspect such as problem solving, organizing, team building and decision making in a implicated environment. I believe I can properly utilize these skills and create value in my hotel management career. 2. 1. 5 Relevant experience: Relevant practical experience always gets priority in hotel industry career. In these industry for new requirement employers always looks for relevant experience. During my time at Marriott hotel hotel allowed me have a proper customer engagement help me to earn a better understanding of customers needs and expectation. I can deal with different sort of customer in a professional way and achieve 100% customer satisfaction. . 1. 6 Language skills: I am able to speak and understand other language such as Bengali, Hindi, Urdu. Multi-lingual skills are very important for hotel industry where you get to meet international customer’s every day. While I was working in Marriott hotel if the customer from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh customer who couldn’t speak English well and I used to communicate with them the other language that I know. 2. 1. 7 Computi ng skills: In the 21st century computer is very essential for every aspect of business. I have the ability to use all computing feature required for business purpose such as MS Word, MS Excel and MS Powering. I used to create work Rota, revenue sheet and daily sales data entry while I was working for Marriott. Also during my time at ELSE library I have used computer to keep the data of books borrowed by students and delivery statement. 2. 2 Weakness: 2. 2. 1 Lack of various work experience: Having lots of different work experience always gets priority for any Job. Though I have relevant work experience for this career but I have worked only in few places. Whereas working is various place would have allow me to gain different experience which I could have use in my career path. 2. 2. 2 Intention to change Jobs: Another weakness of mine is I can’t work in same place for long time. If I work in same place for long time I eventually get bored and loose the motivation of working Frustration: Frustration is a silent killer in workplace which creates motivation and enthusiasm problem. You read "Personal and Professional Development" in category "Papers" In work place when things don’t go as I planned or senior colleagues perform an action which I don’t think is fair makes me frustrated. During my time at ELSE library my senior used to abuse me by giving extra responsibility they suppose take care of and this used to make me frustrated and eventually I lost the motivation to work there and left the Job. 2. 2. Short tempered: I am a very sort tempered person which is not expected for being in a management of hospitality industry. In workplace my short temper can be triggered by over talkative person, people getting to my physical space and when people drug my personal life to workplace. When I lose my temper I always make harsh decision which makes me regret later on. 2. 2. Can’t say â€Å"no†: I am a very helpful person as a result when people ask me to do something or ask for help I can’t say know even if there is lots of work pressure on me. For example when I was working on Ginsburg one of the managers asked me to take the delivery and at he same time another manager asked me to fill up the shelf and I couldn’t say no to him as a result I ended up middle of two tasks and none of the task was completed properly. 2. 2. 6 Working with large group: I prefer to work with small group because it’s easier to organize and transmit the information and I can assess the performance and productivity of my team easily. But on other hand when I am forced to work with large group I find it hard to control and organize this large amount of people. 2. 3 Opportunity: In this current time the hotel management industry have vast employment opportunity. Furthermore when globalization getting acceptance in almost every country, the hotel management industry becoming global. Since hotel chain owners are trying to open new hotels in every big and small cities, demand of trained hotel management profession are colossal. So I believe having a business degree and relevant work experience will allow me to start a good career in hotel management industry. According to Economic and social research council static hotel industry contributes El ban to I-J economy and it offers 7% to 8% of total country employment which shows the amount of opportunity it offers. 2. 4 Threat: We have seen so far in hotel industry experience always gets priority. Though I have relevant experience but I have worked in one place which is related to my chosen career so far so it might be not be enough for the management level I am trying to start the career with. When it comes to comparison recruitment team might choose someone more experienced than me. 3. Conclusion: After the discussion above and SOOT analysis I can see my own strength, weakness, opportunity and treats which gives me a better vision of where I need to be improved in order to fulfill the requirements of a successful hotel management career. I can say y strength and opportunities in current Job market is very potential as the demand of skilled and experienced professional manager is increasing. I believe I need to work on my drawbacks and try to absorb related experience and a good internship from reputable hotel which I might use as reference later on. SAGAS, e. , 2012. Online] Available at: HYPERLINK â€Å"www. Prospects. AC. UK† www. Prospects. AC. UK [Accessed 11 September 2013]. Jones, P. Lockwood, A. , 2004. The Management Of Hotel Operation, an innovative study of hotel management. Cornwall: Thomson Learning, TX international Appendix: Cover Letter MR. Simon Dickson Streets Berkshire Hamlet James Webber Recruitment UH Berkshire HRS RE 2013 Dear Simon Dickson, 82 Wesson Tower London E 23 August I am here by showing interest and writing to apply for the role advertise on Caterer. Com and enclose my C.V. which I have prepared systematically with the key skills you require. First I became aware of The James Webber group by surfing in internet and was really impressed by the current stands of the company profile and its reputation. I am mainly attracted by the attention you company puts on working with different clients from various country and provide a top rated service and also the passions it wows to the hospitality and management. I am very excited about its graduate development and training project which offers a great learning and future career opportunity. The roles and requirements advertised really suits my skills and knowledge I am have achieved on my degree and my practical working experience. My degree offers some key elements vital in business such as staff and customer management, business strategy and decision making skills and also improving quality and efficiency. I am also a reader of financial press and well aware of current financial market trends and attitude which is vital in current professional industry. I have systematically prepared my C.V. which shows various roles where I have shown high rated communication skills and presentation skills and I am well confident that I will be able to maintain friendly and productive relation with the client and staff of your company. I would like to draw you attention of my work experience at working in a star Marriott hotel in one of the most challenging city like London. I can use the achieved experience and skills in your organization to make a highly productive and professional environment for the organization. In my C.V. I have demonstrated my experience of managing financial issues and manage complicated roles during a busy environment and under pressure. I hope that after kind consideration of my C.V. I will be given a chance to prove my ability and potential as a member in your company. Looking forward to hear from you and I am available for interview anytime. Yours sincerely Mitten Bar Curriculum Vitae Flat-I 0208153536 82 Whetstone street, Telephone: Mobile: 07825184078 E UH Email: HYPERLINK â€Å"maillot:mithuncox@gmail. Com†mithuncox@gmail. Com Personal Details Summary Business studies with English undergraduate. Ability to speak Hindi and Bengali and Urdu. Practical work experience with a top 5 star hotel. Skills and Achievements Effective Communication listening to clients as testified during my work at Ginsburg Supermarket. Fluency on English, confident and strong presentation skills, also able to demonstrate face to face to group of people. Customer Service Able to deal with all sort of customer in an effective way and solve their any problem and quarries with positive attitude as practiced during my retail experience in under pressure environment. Ability to build a quick friendly relation with customer and aka them to come back to you again and again with top rated customer service. Teamwork I am a good team worker and I believe team work puts force for motivation. During my time at Top Marriott hotel demonstrated top rated excellent customer service in a busy environment. Administration Great ability to plan ahead of work and manage team under pressure. Improved time management skills and managed complex role during my time at Marriott Hotel. Excellent ability to balance my professional and student life. Shown a top rate of service and quality at my full time work while I was managing my two courses at university and scored 70% grade. Experience of Tourists’ needs My recent time at Marriott hotel allowed me face to face interaction with various tourists from different country that gave me the experience to understand the expectation of tourist and holiday customers’ needs. Initiative For all my courses I self funded myself and used my plan ahead skills to balanced my study and work at the same time and take control of my career. This shows that I am fast learned and can handle stress and still continue my work and study together. Sales knowledge Acquired financial sales knowledge during my internship at Marriott hotel. How to cite Personal and Professional Development, Papers Personal and Professional Development Free Essays string(91) " skill set in realistic terms, comparing it with the skills needed to get on in my career\." Abstract An account of the author’s experiences of a ‘personal and professional development’ module. The two main sections analyse the learning experience, and focus upon a particular area for self-development. The analysis of learning covers aspects of the module which were found useful, and why, and describes ideas such as Kolb’s ‘learning cycle’ which were used for the process of self assessment. We will write a custom essay sample on Personal and Professional Development or any similar topic only for you Order Now It also covers negative and positive experiences of the module. The section on competence development focuses upon self-confidence, and sets out ways in which these can be improved. The author’s experience of the module overall is summarised. 1. Introduction The following looks at my experience of the ‘personal and professional development’ module. Taking part in this module has been a significant learning experience for me. I thought initially that I had nothing to learn, and that I had already got an idea of how I wanted to progress in my career, and also a good understanding of my abilities and weaknesses. I felt I had a number of areas of weakness, particularly self-confidence and my susceptibility to stress. I didn’t believe that anything could be done about these, and felt they would always hold me back in my career. I had a less clear idea of my strengths. I also had little idea of my development needs, as I now see I had an unchallenged belief that it is not really possible to change or work on weak areas. Through taking part in the course (an experience which was initially challenging) I found out that I was wrong in lots of ways, particularly about what I am capable of, and also discovered that it is possibl e to make changes in areas of personal performance that are weak. I have been inspired and enthused by working through the module.I am better able to assess what I am good at, and what needs work, and now posses the tools to improve. 2. Analysis of learning One aspect of the module which I found very useful was the learning journal.I would say that I both enjoyed it, but also found aspects of keeping it uncomfortable emotionally, as it made me confront aspects of my behaviour that I hadn’t been aware of, and which I wanted to change when I became aware of them. The concept was introduced in the module in a straightforward way, as a way of enhancing learning. I liked the idea that it did not have to be in a conventional format or written in academic English, but that it could contain notes, jottings and thoughts recorded in different ways such as diagrams (Moon 1999). I also liked the idea that it could be a way of expressing my personal feelings about my educational and career journey.Once the idea had been introduced I could see the potential of it as a way to reflect upon things which I had done or which happened to me. The actual process of writing down my reactions to situations was cathartic in itself, as it helped me expres s what I’d been feeling at the time, and I would usually feel calmer afterwards, if it had been a stressful incident for example.But it also allowed me to reflect upon the situation I’d recorded in my journal. I was able to read over the material I’d put in the journal a day or two later, and then I would write notes about what now felt about the situation. I used an idea by Kolb (1984), the ‘Reflective Cycle’ to understand this process. Kolb suggests that learning takes place through a cycle of thinking about experience, in four stages. First, a concrete experience forms the basis for reflection. This is just a description of events. This is followed by reflection and observation on the experience, thinking over what could have been done differently. This stage leads to the generation of theories or abstract ideas about how best to act in future, which prompt new actions and hence new experiences for reflection (Moon 2004). For example, I initially found having to do any form of speaking to the module group extremely stressful. I was simply aware that I felt like running away when I had to give my opinion. I used my learning journal to write about this experience in great detail. I wrote down everything I could remember about the experience, and included diagrams of the class. It was fairly traumatic to write it down, as I realised I was physically affected by the situation, and had thoughts about being useless running through my head. A few days later, I read through it. I realised people had actually reacted well to my comments, and we had had an interesting debate about some of my ideas. I also realised that my physical stress symptoms had subsided once I started talking. I decided next time to remember how well things had gone, and say to myself ‘you are feeling a bit stressed, but it will pass’. I tried this out the next time I had to offer an opinion in class, and I felt much less wor ried, my physical symptoms were much less and I actually felt slightly excited. This convinced me how useful a tool the learning journal is.I was particularly surprised at the way something I had thought of as an academic discipline – writing – could be used as a tool for self expression, but more importantly that I could use the tool to make real changes to my feelings and behaviour. As the learning journal was introduced in the early stages of the module, I found it also useful to assess my changing feelings to the module as it progressed. During the seven sessions, I noticed a real change in my attitudes and abilities. Initially, although I had an idea of how I wanted to develop in my career, I hadn’t really examined this in any detail, for example looking at my present skill set in realistic terms, comparing it with the skills needed to get on in my career. You read "Personal and Professional Development" in category "Essay examples" I also had a very fixed idea that success in my career would automatically bring me success in other aspects of my life, and the unrealistic idea that I would enjoy every minute of it.At the same time, I had very fixed ideas about what I saw as my failings. I considered I was someone who suffered a great deal from stress, and I felt it was holding me back. I thought there was nothing I could do to change my basic nature. I also had, I feel now, unrealistic ideas about my strengths. I tended to concentrate on my weaknesses and underplay the things I was good at. Overall, I would describe my position at the start of the module as ‘lacking in self-knowledge and unaware of the possibilities for change’. Looking back, I can see that we were introduced to lots of useful tools in the early sessions. As mentioned above, I immediately took to the concept of the learning journal, and started to write down my feelings and experiences at once. However, it took a bit longer for all the other ideas to make sense to me. Overall, by around the third or fourth session, I was feeling very confused by the module. I could make academic sense of the ideas that we had covered, however, I struggled to work out how they could all be useful. I felt like I was overwhelmed by the information, and that I did not have the skills to use the tools properly. I see now that I was assuming a pessimistic view of what I was capable of. I assumed that I had a set of personality drawbacks that I was unable to change. However, at the time, I just felt as if I was struggling, and could not get to grips with the course as a whole. The learning journal helped me in particular situations, but initially not with the overa ll picture.I tried to persevere, and somewhere around the 5th session, I felt I had made a break through. I was conscientiously using my learning journal, writing down how I felt, both about particular issues and about the module as a whole. I started to find that I was going back to my feelings of confusion with new insights. I was starting to use other tools, such as the notion of personal development planning, behaviour modification and the use of feedback, which I had learnt, and realised I could use these to plan for my future through analysis of my past experiences. The module as a whole really started to ‘come together’ and make sense at this point.I also noticed that I was really enthusiastic in class, eager to join in discussions and work with others. By the end, I felt I had gained a set of tools that I can take with me in my future life, that will help me not only deal with day to day situations in my working life, but will help me assess where I am and where I want to be in a dynamic way, not a static one. I feel able to reflect upon my personal life as well and see if I am happy overall with the way my life is going. I also feel much more positive about myself and my skills, and really understand that change is possible although it is very difficult at times. The module helped me discover many things about myself that I hadn’t been aware of. There were many particular things I learnt, for example that I had poor listening skills (I had thought I was a good listener), but that I was good at leading people and bringing out the best in them. There were many other aspects of my personality and skill set that I became aware of, however I would say the overall thing I learnt was self-awareness. I thought before the module that I knew what motivated me, what my talents were and what I was bad add, but I realised that I lacked the skills to really understand what I was about. The module taught me how to become properly self-aware through some simple tools. I am now, I feel, much more self-aware, though I still have a lot to learn (and I am looking forward to learning it). The only thing that I felt affected the way I engaged with the module was my sense of stress and being over-whelmed at the mid stage, which I describe above. At one point I felt like quitting the module altogether, as I felt I just wasn’t getting to grips with the course as a whole. However, I used my learning journal and that helped me pull through this period and really enjoy the module as a whole. I felt lucky that this was the only issue; some people in my group suffered with health problems, and had to miss one or two sessions. 3. Competence development For the first assessment stage of this module, we were asked to complete a ‘professional development matrix’, listing competencies in key areas including self-management interpersonal skills, personal leadership and self-development. Carrying out this assessment and completing the matrix was invaluable in assessing the development of one particular competency. My four competencies I discussed originally were stress management, self-confidence, personal leadership and goal setting. In this section I am focussing upon self-confidence, as this was one of my early successes I had using my learning journal, and I also feel that it lies at the heart of other competencies for me. Learning how to improve self-confidence helps reduce stress, as one feels naturally able to handle different situations. It also means leadership is easier, because if I don’t have confidence in myself, I cannot expect others to do so. It is also vital to self-development as one needs to have co nfidence that one can make the changes necessary for future development.I also focus upon this competency as I have always had a problem with believing in myself. This has led me to suffer stress in the past, for example when I was in high school I had a difficult exam. Although I had done well in previous exams, and although my teacher told me I had no need to worry, I really doubted that I would be able to pass. I had sleepless nights when I thought about how stupid I was, asking myself why I wasn’t able to remember the easiest thing, and thinking I would never achieve anything. Overall, at the start of the module, I would say I was still pretty low in self-confidence. I struggled to think of positives about my abilities and personality, although I could always think of bad things! The module has been invaluable to me in showing me practical ways to work on self-confidence, for example seeking feedback on how I have done from others, rather than relying upon my ‘inner critic’. However, I wish to focus on this competency not just because I feel it is at the core of the other competencies I have discussed, but because I feel I have a great deal of work still to do to improve my self-confidence further. For example, my self-confidence issues mean I would find it hard to give a presentation to a large group of people (I am now happy presenting to small groups for example my module group), or standing on a stage to present information. In order to improve my self-confidence, I felt I needed to assess my current levels, in order to isolate where I need to improve. To do this I carried out a number of tests I found online, for example one posted by an association of counsellors and psychotherapists (OACCPP [online] 2011) which assesses self-confidence levels in terms of three areas, ‘achievement and accomplishment, ‘being valued and valuing others’, and ‘acting on beliefs’ (Commitment to values). I found that I scored particularly low for sense of achievement and accomplishment, highest on acting on beliefs, and rather low for being valued and valuing others. This suggested to me that I need to focus upon building my sense of achievement first, and also pay some attention to how I believe others value me. I felt there was a need for a practical and theoretical framework to help me do that, although I saw I could use some tools that had been taught during the module: for example skills taught in session about confidence and assertiveness as well as listening and communicating were helpful. I did some research into different frameworks for building self-confidence, and found that Burns (1993a; 1993b) had put forward a respected model for improving levels of self-esteem. I found it particularly useful as it offers a step-by-step way to tackle problems, and you are able to work alone or in groups. I also liked the fact it incorporates principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (Mruk 2006). Cognitive behavioural therapy is a way of identifying behaviour patterns and thoughts which are not helpful, and then identifying ways of challenging the thoughts and intervening in the behaviours. (Wilding and Palmer 2010) I felt Burns’ ideas were presented in a way similar to the module, in that tools were given for both assessing levels of ability and to change my actions and beliefs. Particularly, because Burns (1993a) offers a plan which includes activities, ways to carry out assessment and also ways to improve, I felt it fitted well with my learning journal and Kolb’s cycle of learning. My present level of competence in self-confidence is higher than in the past, but I feel still lower than it could be. I want to build upon the successes during the course, where I found out that by trying new things which might challenge me, I can become more confident. There are a number of situations which I want to seek out to build confidence, working with Burn’s tools. I want to develop my ability to speak to others in large groups, and also my ability to convince them of a particular point of view. I will try and take such opportunities as they present themselves. For example, if I am in a class where the leader asks a question, I will try and answer even if I am not 100% confident of what to say. I will also join a debating society, which I believe will give me practical tools to help convince others of what I say. I am also going to ask for feedback from my friends much more often, and of other people as well, where the opportunity presents itself. I would also like t o build my confidence in interview situations, as I will face a number of these when I move into the working world. To work on this I am going to read about best interview technique, and will ask friends if they will help do ‘dress rehearsals’ of interviews, with feedback. I am also going to contact the university careers service to see if they offer practical help. I will set out a schedule for these activities using my learning journal. I will make notes every couple of days (after an exercise) and will read back these every few days and again at the end of the exercise, to reflect upon how the challenges went. 4. Conclusion The above offers an account of my development as a result of taking the module. Completing the seven session has contributed tremendously to both my personal and professional development, and has also helped me see these as two interconnected elements, each of which impact upon the other. I started the module with, I thought, a clear idea of my capabilities, ambitions and limitations, but working through the course made me realise that I had not realistically assessed my capabilities. It also made me realise that I could change things about my performance that I did not like, and has given me a blueprint for my future career and personal life which I will take with me. Overall, I am pretty happy that I took full advantage of the opportunities of the course. Although I found it a little challenging at the early stages, I tried hard with the exercises, especially the learning journal, and did work beyond the course requirements. For example, I was inspired to research different ways of keeping journals, which was very helpful. I can see that although I have made a lot of progress, there are always going to be things which I want to work upon. In fact, I see it as one of the benefits of the module that I can now be realistic about what I have achieved and build upon my successes in the future. I want to continue to work to improve my self-confidence, as there are some areas, such as speaking to large groups of people I don’t know, where I feel I am still weak. But I’m optimistic that I can improve and will actively seek out opportunities to work on this area. I am going to continue reading and talking with a few friends who are also interested in taking personal and professional development further. We might work in a group to help each other with feedback and new ideas. All in all, I am really looking forward to my future now. 5. References Burns, D D (1993a) Ten Days to Self-Esteem, Quill, New York. Burns, D D (1993b) Ten Days to Self-Esteem: The Leader’s Manual, Quill, New York. Kolb, D A (1984) Experiential Learning experience as a source of learning and development, Prentice Hall, New Jersey. Moon, J A (1999) Learning journals: a handbook for academics, students and professional development, Routledge, UK Moon, J A (2004) A handbook of reflective and experiential learning: theory and practice, Routledge, UK Mruk, CJ (2006) Self-esteem research, theory, and practice: toward a positive psychology of self-esteem (3rd edn.), Springer Publishing Company, 2006 New York OACCPP (2011) ‘About self-confidence’ [online] (cited 30th September 2011) available from http://www.oaccpp.ca/survey.html ‘About self-confidence’. Wilding, C and Palmer, S (2010) Boost Your Self-Esteem with CBT: A Teach Yourself Guide, McGraw-Hill, USA. How to cite Personal and Professional Development, Essay examples