Personal Skills
Discuss about the Portfolio and Personal Development Plan.
Mark and Spencer PLC is leading British multinational company that headquarter is situated in London. The company has around 78000 workers in 700 stores in the UK. It has number of variety and stylish products, clothing and home products (M&S, 2018). It is vital for the strategic manager to keep focus on the vision, mission and long term objectives of the company and it is essential for the manager developing the personal as well as professional skills. To improve the skills the manager should participate in the training and development program by M&S (Toms and Zhang, 2016). The role of managerial skills is huge for the manager as it helps to manage daily behavior and manage adverse circumstances to attain its aims. As an operation manager of Mark & Spencer, I can use various tactics as well as tool to examination and to understand skills I have and searching the skills require for further growth.
Personal ability is vital requirement for every manager because the personality of the managers have significant role that attract other employees to work together. Some personal skills are defined below:
Time managing is a significant tool that encourages completing the task within time frame. It is essential for the mangers of M&S to direct its staff by adopting the time management tool to attain objectives. It is possible for the mangers to oversee the time degenerate in the business and handle with them effectively which will facilitates to straight them towards chosen task (Scott and Walker, 2017). Along with that manager of the company must set the SMART Objectives (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-based) which will be helpful in bringing clarity in the decision making process and provides direction. Strategic goals of the company can be attained with this skill as the staff can perform their job effectively.
The skills of communication has imperial impact in the organization as it helps to define the objectives, goals and the purpose the company with its employees in efficient manner. There should be proper communication skill in the manager to deliver right information about the company to the employees in various levels (Carroll, Levy and Richmond, 2008). Along with that the manager has the potential to handle the conflicts in a significant manner
There are number of unseen issues within the organization which can be matured and being the cause of conflicts. In such condition, managers of the organization should have the problem solving skills to handle the issue with purposeful solution. M &S was suffered by 0.9% of sales reduces due to extremely spirited market builds stress among the people within the organization (Cashman, 2017). Managers of the company should have developed the marketing approaches to get progressed in its position (Chen, et. al., 2016).
Techniques to assess the Professional Skills
It is necessary for the manager of the organization to use various practices to evaluate the professional skills as per the requirements and objectives of the organization. Some of professional skills are mentioned below to attain the strategic goals of the company.
There are a number of issues take place in the organization of M&S which are facing by the employees of the company that impact the productivity of them significantly. There should be proper mentoring, counseling and coaching skills used by the manager to give effective guidance to employees (Walumbwa, et. al., 2008). It would be helpful to come out from the adverse situations. The proper advice given by the manager to the employee can motivate them toward performing work in well efficient manner (Eisele, Grohnert, Beausaert and Segers, 2013).
It is the skill of the manager which can be used by them to hold up their employees for knowledge new executed systems in the M&S. It can be done by the manger with the help of face to face short guiding on the job site, which is considered as the at ease to learn about the new systems (Cooper, 2009).
The importance procedure of the company is change which can be adopted by the organization because of the number of factors behind its environment like a change in the IT system, centrally controlled budget and division structure (Kirkham and Mosey, 2017). The company can overcome from this situation if the managers of the company adopt the good leadership style to lead the company (Erasmus and Schenk, 2008). The managers of M&S should ensure the success of the business and create a learning environment. Managers are entirely liable for the growth of the M&S that is why the adoption of the leadership skills is crucial for the mangers (Spears, 2010).
Along with above skills, it is required for the managers of the company to use conceptual tools to recognize own strengths and limitations. The leader must develop the current as well as future job roles in the company and focus on management development and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme (Rego, Sousa, Marques and Cunha, 2012).
A skill audit is considered as the evaluation of remaining skills and recognizes the skills needed for potential leadership requirements like transforms in integration and acquisitions and changes in technology and moreover. This assessment helps to find out the required skills for present role to perform in well efficient manner for future leadership requirements (I Beausaert, Segers and Gijselaers, 2011). As an operation manager of M&S, it is required for me to develop the strategic tools for increasing the sales, market share and the profit maximization.
Evaluations of the Strategic Skills
It is vital for the current position to have the efficient knowledge about my skills. I should note down the various skills that I have and endeavor to develop significantly.
I can ask my colleagues and subordinates to review the rating scores as it facilitates me to understand the point of view of them towards my performance within the organization. With the help of appropriate feedback regarding my skills from them, I can improve them in an efficient manner for further development (Beausaert, Segers, Fouarge and Gijselaers, 2013).
By evaluating the entire knowledge regarding me, where I will get a little score need to development for effective presentation.
The following table will be helpful to evaluate my present and future skills need to improve for future roles.
|
List of information and skills which should be developed while performing in the organization for my present role |
Rating of ability from 1-5 |
|
Communication skill Self- development skills Coaching and mentoring skills Technological skills |
4 3 4 5 |
|
List of knowledge and skills which should be developed while performing in the organization for my future role |
Rating of ability from 1-5 |
|
Application Problem solving Self learning |
3 2 2 |
Learning styles are referred as the set of cognitive, characteristics, psychological and emotional aspects that provide as a comparatively steady pointers. It would help to understand the behaviour of learner that how they interact and perceive and respond to the learning environment. There is an efficient tool ofHoney and Mumford that develop the learning styles on the basis of the work of Kolb and explains four wisdom priorities such as Activist, Theorist, Pragmatic and Reflector. These learning approaches are preferred by an individual to understand the scope of learning and improving the skills for potential.
Along with this there is another model the Neil Fleming’s VARK model which is most ordinary and extensively used learning styles. It entails for preferences of learning such as Visual, Aural, Read/Write and Kinesthetic (Vark Learn, 2018). The learning preferences of both model is similar features and I determined to choose VARK Questionnaire to recognize my preferred learning styles. After filling up the questions, I have found that the highest scores of 8 in my read/write which shows that my favored learning style is reading/Writing. Although I constantly prefer learning through different skills by following specific reading, instructions and pertinent theories, models and involve in the group discussion. I feel relaxed at the time of writing scripts which is the way of communicating that helps me to share the information in more efficient manner. In addition, I can observe things in quick manner and learn them in an efficient way that help me out to enhance the vital skills through reading textbook, relevant information and guidelines.
A personal development plan facilitates to recognize the major district of learning and development movement that would be facilitated me to acquire develop existing skills. Personal development plan for 6 months (May to October 2018) are defined below in tabular form which will be helpful to make better understanding about the skills, present capabilities, target capability, development opportunity, criteria for judging process and evidence.
|
Skills |
Present capabilities |
Target capability |
Development opportunity |
Criteria for judging process |
Evidence |
|
Problem solving skills |
Efficient knowledge in development and systematizing |
Be an outstanding in conflict management and organizer by the end of the October 2018. |
Involvement in the discussion in group with expert facilitator |
Report on effectively handles the issues wisely and improve the plan for team mobilization. |
Show in a self assessment template. |
|
Self-Learning |
Having effective knowledge about learning and self-awareness along with the study skills. |
Expert in self learning and awareness along with the study skills by July 2018 |
Utilizing my leisure time in reading various books and articles related to self awareness by which my skills will be amplified. |
Aptitude in gaining adequate information about self learning and study skills |
Increase my capability in self learning by which the performance in the organization will be enhanced. |
|
Applications |
Temperate skills in interpretation as well as in calculation of budget as well as in the project presentation. |
Attain more capable in forecasting budget and better interpreter by the end of October 2018. |
Discuss and share the information with finance director and international team leader. |
Able to make the finance projects for the company on the latest one. |
Indicates in the template of self assessment and the growth of the business due to have the effective leaders in the organization. |
Preferred Learning Style
Personal Development plan is considered as the crucial tools for the professional development which facilitates me to measure my aptitudes as well as my skills to attain the personal objectives. With the help of Personal development plan, I am able to assess my firm capabilities and high competencies of my personal skill and taking essential steps to enhance in feeble areas. The above mentioned personal plan reflects that all skills which have mentioned above are required to be attained through the end of October 2018. There are some methods mentioned below which are suitable to assess the outcomes.
The function of self reconsidering is a significant technique to assess the precise presentation of the proposed plan, when review shows some flaws behind outcomes to enhance a new plan which can be attained. In case of not accomplishment of self learning skills due to engagement in other activities, the time period will be extended for more 2 months for attaining those skills. Continuously evaluating the working pattern and make the working document in which the daily records of daily activities should be recorded. This worksheet will be able to define what has been done and what need to be done.
After utilizing the adequate table on skills requires for improvement and constantly keep records of improvement in various stages, the comparison is made by comparing the latest data withhold one. Assume I am capable to make superior preparation for innovative product development and made budgetary process as per standards requirement, it will indicate that attained skills is followed the organizational standardized for that level. The increment in sales due to effective performance of the team which is my under, showed that the results of my skills development is satisfied.
The method of Portfolio is well-efficient method to assess my personal development plan. It represents that my personal skills are developed in specific level and in some kinds of skills are required to be improved. It shows that my weaken area should be improved with the help of right suggestion in specific areas regarding my work objectives (Mittendorff, Jochems, Meijers and den Brok, 2008). It is considered as the form of operational document which facilitates me to increase my skills for novel careers.
Learning is crucial for the enduring attainment of the strategic goals of the organization. The managers should understand the procedure of learning to make certain that the requirements of individuals are met. Theories of learning can act in the form of structure for managers to facilitate in the recognition and examination of concerns. It provides me wide range of ideas and considerate the use of various strategies in an execution of changes in M&S. It has influence on me significantly by which I was proficient to make the effective environment where employees were gained knowledge about the system and accepts the amendments like organizational structure, IT systems and role and responsibilities. Hence, it facilitates me to formulate effectively for attaining the strategic aims of sustainability in the present scenario and technological amendments in the store. I come to know that employees of M&S have not effective customer service skills. However, I recommended management of the company to implement the effective program of training and development program in customer services. I endeavored to make them understand that the changing behaviour with the customers can influence on increase sales of the company. Although M&S attained its planned goals of boost market share and productivity.
It helps me to understand that how performance and the efficiency of the management can be maintained for a long time as it directly influences on decreasing the cost of the product in heading towards the quality of services as well as productivity. The sales of the company are increased by 2% with the help of implementing the skills.
Along with that it helps me to understand the concepts of learning process and theoretical knowledge regarding to the problem solving.
Conclusion
In the limelight of above discussion, it can be concluded that the major aim of the skill review is evaluating the professional as well as personal skills for the managers of the organization. Personal development plans help to formulate skill development plan for fix time that reveals the clear picture for require attaining. Various techniques have been discusses in this assignment by adopting this technique, number of issues of the company can be resolved on the spots. After accomplishment of my study, I am able to recognize my needed skills and understand my learning style.
References
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Mittendorff, K., Jochems, W., Meijers, F. and den Brok, P., 2008. Differences and similarities in the use of the portfolio and personal development plan for career guidance in various vocational schools in The Netherlands. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 60(1), pp.75-91.
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Toms, S. and Zhang, Q., 2016. Marks & Spencer and the Decline of the British Textile Industry, 1950–2000. Business History Review, 90(1), pp.3-30.
Vark Learn, 2018. VARK For Teachers and Trainers. Available [online] https://vark-learn.com/the-vark-questionnaire/teaching-questionnaire/?p=results. Accessed on 31st May, 2018.
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