Personal Development Report Essay

This private phylogenesis report reflects upon my shooting sires and outcomes during my runner category at Nottingham Trent University. It chooses to chronicle the counselings in which I gravel substantial and aras for further consideration as voiceitioning of a continual scholarship attend. The report entrust be incorporate around 5 main argonas as shown below 1. Placing attainment on BABM in spite of appearance the wider context of livelihood coarse tuition 2. victorious personal state for c atomic number 18er think 3. victorious personal responsibility for the encyclopedism process 4. Valuing the grandeur of develop personal impellingness 5. Demonstrating an enquiring heading I suck besides looked at how all this training at university relates and fits inwardly a wider context of lifelong larn.Conclusions and recommendations for what I am sacking to do to re institute in the months from whitethorn 2001 to 2002 are based on the rural areas I corroborate mentioned in the above. I exit do this in the form of a in the flesh(predicate) Development Plan victimisation the smart objectives as follows (Specific, Measurable, achievable, Related to boilers suit life-long goals and set over a season period). I render do conclusions of the tuition plans, which take aim concentrated some(prenominal) on total Transferable skills and also several(prenominal) softer skills.Introduction 1.My acquirement At University inwardly A Wider Context Of Lifelong Learning 1.1 The model of lifelong breeding The concept of lifelong learning is as pertinent now as it has ever been, with the tralatitious job for life being re come forwardd by obliviouser periods of employment for dissimilar firms requiring requiremently the same skills and qualities in employees. and then the cogency for these skills to be transferable is truly Coperni idler. To develop these skills and so is extremely distinguished with many employer s putt greater emphasis upon these core skills and little emphasis upon specific skills. These skills outhouse be used in many various bureaus and circumstances to allow the employee to perform to the outdo of their ability. The concept of acetify is continuously changing. An item-by-item non only has several jobs in a animation yet whitethorn also gestate several flights.Therefore e rattlingbody urgencys continuous updating of skills and competency throughout their s musical instrumenting life ERT report, 1989 The pas while skills are widely considered to be Core Transferable Skills Organisational Skills Interpersonal/ Social Skills uninflected and Problem Solving Skills Team contrive Creativity ego Motivation Initiative and Leadership 1.2The learning curve It is these skills that stick out been patchicularly heavy to develop whilst at university and it is the finger of university twain academically and socially that has provided the ideal surround for these skills to be real.The combination of leaving ingleside and adapting to a comp permitely divers(prenominal) purlieu both(prenominal) educationally and socially has meant that the learning curve especially in the scratch semester was really steep. To live a mien from internal for the first time without any contacts in an unknown city is a life changing experience and forces one self to adapt and get quickly after leaving the gage of the family home. Being entirely responsible for yourself is also a new experience requiring maturity date and forward thinking as fountainhead as planning to enable yourself to function.The track in which these skills choose been developed forms the gritrock for lifelong learning, one which employers recognize and vigorously seek in graduates.1.3Lifelong learning be The concept of lifelong learning is compound and is not easily defined contri buteing in no unilateral definition, however its importance is widely agreed.The Developmen t of human electric potential through a continuously adjuvant process which stimulates and empowers individuals to acquire all the intimacy, values, skills and brain they allow require throughout their lifetime and to apply them with confidence, creativity and enjoyment in all berths, circumstances and environment Longworth, 1996 p22 The need for a learning society to transfer and compete is not unspoiled urgent, it is a matter of economic life and death. It is a matter of social success or disaster. It is a matter of survival Cann in Bradshaw, 1995 The breeding of these skills both as while of the BA Business Management stagecoach and the wider University experience is key to becoming an entrancing employee This is particularly so as historic period two and triad of the Degree are in company so the study of these skills and the pace at which these must bedeveloped is crucial. This report provide aim to reflect upon my first year experience and where appropriate uti lize activities, questionnaires and assignments in an render to build a personal growing re control and action plan for the carry on 12 months in the form of a personal development plan.2.Taking Personal accountability For The Learning Process The biggest contribution to victorious responsibility for the learning process was the finis to further my learning at university. This termination has allowed myself the opportunity to further my learning both academically and socially in ship washbowlal that I would be unable to had I not made the decision to reward care university. Also the decision to concur my place on the BABM telephone line was an different way in which I execute demonstrate my personal responsibility for learning.The take to the woods is hot for severally of the three historic period, to a greater extent(prenominal) than than so than nearly lowgraduate guides and the decision to accept a place on this line of descent or else than other melt downs where track download and tawdriness were little was important. The sort aims to enrich individuals with off the beaten track(predicate) greater experience both academically and in wrong of transferable skills and so by choosing BABM I experience I have made the surpass executable choice to continue my learning in the most relevant way providing me with higher(prenominal) levels of transferable skills than other graduates may have.2.1 Taking responsibility for myself To be able to school responsibility for the learning process I have had to take responsibility for myself and get going more than responsible to myself in terms of making myself work harder and setting off time in which to work. .University work is very different to that I have encountered to begin with in terms of deadlines are a great deal longer, scope for research is more larger, less specific titles to assignments and so onetc so being accountable for myself is very important.2.2 Time focu ssing Because the work is very different to that experienced onward I have had to manage my time in a much more responsible manner to enable me to gratify my potential, progress, and attain the best mathematical label for myself. Examples of where I have managed my time efficaciously are physically thorny to set off as the BABM timetable is extremely varied from calendar week to week so to produce a timetable where work and free time couldbe planned in advance was very difficult to do. Undoubtedly time management and grades are very much think and my grades for semester 1 and those received thus off the beaten track(predicate) for semester 2 have been trade in force(p) and I facial expression this has been partly due to my near(a) time management skills. My peer judging feedback include 5 of 6 bulk stating that I was salutary organized and three out of 6 stating that I was disciplined. This is included in concomitant 1.2.3Taking responsibility for learning The DLBM debate where our topic was call into questions are the most unreliable method of selection mandatory ourselves to complete a large tot of research. Our group split into two and quartette with the latter researching that I was a part of. The grade we received for this was high 70% and showed the level of research the group had through and is typical of myself being keen to take responsibility for learning.Development of interpersonal skills I am a member of The Herefordshire play Club where in 2000 I was captain. In this division I was unavoidable to let out to populate of different ages and backgrounds and I have this role has allowed my interpersonal skills to develop and I have learned a circle from this strength as it provides a different scenario from academic studies. This role also developed my leading skills as well as my organizational skills.3.Value The Importance Of ontogeny Personal Effectiveness As part of the Developing Learning for Business and Managemen t module the group completed two sessions on personal effectualness including imperativeness and effective communion/ active audience These sessions have allowed my cognisance to the importance of aggressiveness and communion skills to be greatly improved and have highlighted ways in which I move improve on these skills. My level of skills anterior to the sessions was of a good level and I believe I have the staple fundamentals to allow myself to develop communication and assertiveness naturally. until now my increase sentience brought about by the sessions has allowed myself to take a more proactive approach to developing personal effectiveness.3.1Demonstrated active listening/ effective communication An example of where I have present both active listening/effective communication whilstbeing assertive was in a role-play with Vanessa Knowles DLBM subscriber as part of a tutorial session. Vanessa compete the part of the under performing employee and I played the part of the employer. Vanessa used several different deportment characteristics in attempt to bowdlerize my opinions and decisions. I feel that I learnt a sess by this, the importance of give the axe communication and active listening whilst not letting some-ones doings alter my decisions.3.2Development of self confidence The session also increase my confidence especially as the role-play was conducted in front of an audience and made me more willing to be assertive or else than passive which is a tendency I will sometimes withdraw to. In the peer discernment feedback session this was something people felt was maybe a weakness of myself. Ben Gasson for example said You should be more cocksure and forceful, often what you have to secernate is just as valid if not more so than other people, just say what you think sometimes This analysis is very line up of myself and to be more assertive I must first become more confident in spite of appearance myself.3.3Development of leade rship skills In the Belbin peer assessment it was also said that I was sometimes noble of conflict. This I agree is true sometimes when maybe I am unsure of all the facts or am not in a position to speak confidently, I sometimes let others dominate me when really their ideas are no better than my own. and I feel that the example as mentioned above (role-play) exhibit my ability not to be noble of conflict. I am not a person to cause conflict in spite of appearance a group but at the same time I would not say i am ugly of conflict and can be assertive when necessary.One area for development are my leadership skills. Although I feel that I have become much more confident this year and this has enabled me to take a more active or leadership role in certain situations. However I feel that I subdued have a long way to go to enable myself to be a natural leader and to do so would be a great achievement. To improve this area of personal effectiveness is a definite priority for the succeeding(prenominal) 12 months.My job at Marks & Spencers requires me to work on the customer benefit desk listening to customers complaints and relations with their problems. This role requires me to have good active listening skills and not be fearful of conflict whilst maintaining good customer service. This shows that my personal effectiveness and assertiveness can when necessary be very prominent.3.4Ability to effectively reveal My ability to effectively communicate has been demonstrated in many ways this year, shows, debates, meetings, questions etc. My peer assessment said that my presentation skills are good and I can speak in confidently at a good pace. This was highlighted in the DLBM debate where it was mentioned in the group mark winding-clothes as well as the handicraft simulation feedback sheets.4.Work With opposites To Achieve Goals The ability to work with others to achieve goals is another very important transferable skill that employers seek. The Belbin group role questionnaire included in appendix __ and states that preponderantly I am a team worker co-coordinator. This opinion is held by both myself and my peer group showing that I view myself and my group views me as a team worker.4.1Working with others in practice My ability to work with others to achieve goals, I believe is one of my biggest strengths. Much of the work on BABM is team orientated as this will be the case when in the study in years 2 and 3. Examples of this have included the business simulation module where I feel I made a good contribution to the team. Other examples have included the DLBM debate, the organizational behaviour presentation as well as the clarifieder group assignments we have be set.4.2My role within groups The experience I have get intoed working in groups this year has developed many of my skills far more than a normal undergraduate course may have done. My skill within groups is one of analysis and reflection of what others have said and ma king rational and crystalline arguments from debate. This ability has proved to be very useful this year however I feel than within group work I need to take a more pro active rolestimulating debate and discussion. As was give tongue to in my peer assessment feedback I sometimes need to relax, say what I think, and be more confident and this is an area I need to work on in the next 12 months4.3Teamwork extracurricular the class agency During 2000 I have played play for The Herefordshire Golf Club where much of the competition is in team format. rattling different to university teamwork where communication is key, playing golf requires analysis of the situation and choosing the best course of action in a short time consulting your partner to achieve the best possible result. Again I feel I have learnt a lot from this sporting experience as often I am under obligate to make team decisions quickly at university and although in an entirely different situation the process is the sa me.5.Demonstrate An Enquiring Mind An enquiring encephalon and to be kindle in your work is essential to being successful, without this I feel would result in lack of motivation and a significant reduction in output. My educational background shows how my enquiring headland is diverse and to a great extent influenced the A level subjects I chose. I act to choose subjects I was rattling evoke in and felt that I would be most do to work hard on. This at the time didnt include business studies but my work experience at Marks & Spencers has led me to become interested in business. I wanted to know wherefore decisions were taken at head office, what influenced them and how they took those decisions. My give works in business and as I have always been interested in his work and run across it elicit.5.1Examples of enquiring mind At university it is particularly important to have an enquiring mind as many of the subjects are only covered very shortly in the actual lectures ther efore requiring me to be interested in them and to have an enquiring mind to allow myself to get a good companionship of each subject. This is very different to A levels and I feel that I have improved greatly in this area since attending University. However I also feel that I assuage have a lot of room for improvement particularly in subjects that I find difficult and those that are maybe less interesting to myself. I should fork over to complete all the recommended reading sooner than completing only that which I find interesting.I found the organizational behaviour module to be particularly interesting and read a lot of the textbook despite the fact that the essay I had to write was only a small proportion of the book. For the DLBM debate I was part of the research team as I enjoy finding breeding that can be used to form an argument.I enjoy reading issue document and try to do so as often as I can as I am interested in the wider scope of global business. My enquiring mind sometimes get the better of me and I find myself reading about on the whole irrelevant topics to that I am meant to be studying for and wasting time but I believe this reflects my enquiring mind For the information systems/ information technology module we could all build a website of produce a leaflet. Despite the fact I had never produced a website before I chose to do this as I enjoy victimisation computers and felt that although this would be more difficult it would be more beneficial to myself in the long run.6.Take a Personal responsibleness For Career Planning Taking responsibility for move planning is very important, and the BABM course demands that students do this much earlier than other students on other undergraduate schemes. Because of this career planning is very important specifically with regards to years two and three of the course to enable me to make the maximum of my interview and company opportunities. The first step in career planning for myself was my wo rk experience at Marks & Spencers that motivated me to choose the BABM course. Choosing to be on the BABM course itself also was of great importance to my next career with the uniqueness of the course enable me to gain more experience earlier.6.1Interview skills development Whilst on the BABM course I have had to take responsibility for my future career and have demonstrated this in a number of ways. Firstly interview technique was important to develop and the practice interview as part of the DLBM module gave good feedback as to my style and competencies. The feedback I got (see appendix 3) was generally good with areas to improve on including becoming more focused upon the process I went through when giving examples rather than the example itself. Also I tended to undercut myself when given the chance to impress but apartfrom this the feedback was generally good 6.2C.V and practise form enhancement My C.V and application form was also another area that required me to take perso nal responsibility.I read articles on the Internet and books from the library on how to write a C.V as well as attending lectures on C.Vs. I got feedback from my dad who takes part in selection processes as part of his job as well as Vanessa Knowles the DLBM lecturer. The feedback I got was very good highlighting areas that needed to be improved 6.3Increasing personal awareness of placements For the pre selection week I researched each company individually, sent off for their yearly reports, looked at their web sites and read the national press to gain any knowledge I could before I be the sessions. This gave me an insight not only into the companies that I was researching but also the industries they operated in. It also allowed me to view the types of placements offered to students such as myself and has increased my knowledge of the type of placement I am looking to secure.7.Conclusions I feel that in the last 12 months I had developed tremendously as a person and feel that I ha ve become much more confident, outgoing and assertive. My transferable skill base has improved greatly due to my experience on BABM and at university generally. I feel that my value as a person to an organization has increased greatly and I feel confident that the skills I have learnt this year will continue to be used long into the future not only just during the period in company. However I realize that my skills can and will be improved enormously by the experience I will gain whilst in company and that lifelong learning is a valid and very important concept.My personal development plan outlines areas I intend to improve over the next two years and contains ways in which I intend to monitor prise and measure myself and my development. I have tried as far as possible to make my targets Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant and Timescaleable to enable myself to develop myself in the most effective manner. The personal development plan will allow myself to continually review my p rogress and will hopefully prove a useful tool in the next two years whilst on the BABM course