reflection on your personal and professional development

PGBM68; Developing Skills For Business Leadership; Michael Winship

Name…. Michael Winship

Student Code… 090993152

Module Tutor.. Denis Reid

Module Code… PGBM68

Module Name.. Developing Skills for Business Leadership


Contents

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Relevant Group, interpersonal and learning theories

3.0 How the group operated

4.0 Brief review of what has been learned from the visiting speakers programme and the organizational visits.

5.0 Skills that have been developed

5.1 Goals Outlined

6.0 Conclusion

7.0 Appendices


Reflection on your Personal and Professional Development

1.0 Introduction

This report will look into my personal reflection and professional development throughout undertaking the Developing skills for business leadership module at the University of Sunderland. This report will help me to be able to evaluate some of the things that I have learnt throughout the module and allow me to demonstrate how some of this learning will be able to help me through my career upon completion of the module and my Masters degree at Sunderland University. The goals that were set out at the start of the particular module will be looked at to see whether any development has been made and whether development still needs to take place in order to enhance these goals further.

2.0 Relevant Group, interpersonal and learning theories

Undertaking the tasks associated with this module has made me learn a couple of things. One of these things is that normally I would take the role in group dynamics as I feel I’m most suited to this role however on these tasks I decided to take a back seat and let someone else within the group lead as this would be an opportunity for someone else to experience trying to manage a group to ensure that targets could be met. I felt that letting someone else take the lead of the group meant that I could possibly learn a new way of managing a group as a result of a different leader. The learning theory that was learned in this instance is that just because I am normally the leader of the group does not always mean that this is the best way for tasks and group work to be completed usually it is better if someone different takes the lead in order for a new style of working to ordained. The group theory that was outlined from the start was how the use of communication was going to be used going forward this was because of some of the group members not being in the same classes as others and therefore may have needed to be kept up to date with things that happened in classes with other members.

3.0 How the group operated

In terms of how the group operated it can be said that the group operated fairly well with each other as we all knew what was required of us once the module had commenced. The natural thing was to appoint a leader of the group who would be able to ensure that all of the tasks were completed and that the group was motivated enough to ensure that tasks could be completed on time. The main form of communication throughout the group operating was email as this was considered the best way of keeping everyone up to date with what bits of tasks were completed and what still needed to be done. In the run up to the presentation the entire group ensured that each member knew what it is


that they would be doing this is so that both the presentation would be a success and also the tasks required would be completed. I think that the experiences the group encountered undertaking the tasks required has been a good learning experience for everyone involved. Members of the group did however report a lack of communication with some members of the group not knowing what it is that was required of them this was address by ensuring that a meeting with everyone in the group was arranged so that this member of the group clearly knew what was required of them going forward. It was decided by the leader of the group that each member was to have their own section of the presentation and subsequently the portfolio to work on this meant that all members were engaging with what had to be done. On the day of the presentation one of the members of the group was unable to attend the presentation which would have surely meant that this would have changed the atmosphere within the group knowing someone else would have to speak on behalf of the absentee.

4.0 Brief review of what has been learned from the visiting speakers programme and the organizational visits.

The organizational visits that took place during the first term of this module were insightful to find out how relevant aspects of business are applied within certain businesses. The organizational visit that was to me of the most relevant was the visit to the Sunderland Glass Centre the reasoning for this is at the time of the visit the glass centre was gearing up for a relaunch and the question and answer session that was undertaking allowed me to be able to understand why the glass centre needed to have a relaunch. It was also communicated to me about how important the marketing and communications officers job within the glass centre was in trying to highlight why the glass centre is a good place to visit. I think the guest speakers programme has given me a hugely invaluable insight into how various people work within organizations and how these people are motivated by the jobs that they are undertaking within their organization.

5.0 Skills that have been developed

In terms of the skills that have been developed I would say that the biggest skill that I have been able to develop over the course of undertaking this module is the skill of working with others. Many of the people in my group were from different cultures which meant that being able to work with some of the skills I had acquired from my previous studying. Communication skills have benefited a lot from this module as I am now able to say that I can communicate effectively with people from different cultures, something that will be able to help me throughout my professional career development. My listening skills have also been enhanced as a result this is due to me having to listen to a new leader rather than me telling others what needed to be done. Developing listening


skills can only ever be considered a good think as this is one skill that I will always need throughout my career.

At the start of the module I filled in a Personal Development Plan which I set myself goals for the upcoming year to achieve outside of academic work I can now reflect on these goals and say what has been learned from undertaking these goals. Most of the goals that were outlined will be able to help me in my career development as I will need to use some element of these goals in most career choices that I may face.

These goals were;

5.1 Goals Outlined

The goals that I had set myself over the course of undertaking the business leadership module were;

BudgetingI felt that my budgeting of money could have been enhanced to ensure that I knew exactly where the money I had was going and also to ensure that I tried to build up a skill in being able to save money and not spend it all in one go. Upon reflection of this goal I can say that this has been developed as I now am able to know what it is like to save up and can effectively plan my money through the resource of a cash flow forecast. Evidence of development of this skill is through now being able to have more money put aside for when this money is needed, although this skill has been developed over the course of this module work can always be done on this skills to ensure financial stability.

Creativity

Another one of the goals that was outline on my PDP was the goal of creativity as I thought I lacked awareness of when creativity was possible. Through undertaking this module I felt this to be one of my major goals as creativity could help me throughout my professional development. Upon reflection of this goal I can say that it is still something that needs to be worked on this is not a surprise as I originally thought that this goal would take quite a bit of time to accomplish.

Critical Thinking

From the first semester of undertaking my masters it was clear to me that one of the requirements of me being able to successfully complete my degree was critical thinking. Critical thinking is something that does not come naturally to me and as a rule I normally don’t think in depth and in as much detail as required. Upon reflection of this goal I can say from already undertaking four modules as part of my masters’ degree that I think


development has been made with me now being able to look at a situation and think further into what this may mean. Evidence of development of this skills came from the results from semester one at university which indicated that

Outside of the personal goals that were set out one skill that has been developed is the skill of organization largely down to the fact that I had to organize myself to be able to ensure that my section of the work that was needing to be done was done on time and was done to the level that it should have been done to. Organisation skills will be developed every time I need to use them in my professional career and this module has outlined further how much these skills will need to be used in the way of trying to ensure that the task that was outlined to me was finished and was finished on time, this has also improved my ability to be able to meet and satisfy deadline skills.

Time Management

Throughout undertaking this module and this Masters programme I believe my skills in time management have been developed greatly. Undertaking a part time job as well as studying full time means that I have had to ensure that I was attending lectures and seminars in order to fully understand what the assignments were and how to best complete them in order to pass the module successfully. This skill I always a skills that Is worthy of having as in my professional life this will be a skill that I will need to use on a daily basis in order to ensure that I am completing my tasks effectively. This skill was also developed throughout my first degree whilst I still maintained working part time and studying full time.

Presentation Speaking

During the first semester of undertaking the masters in marketing I believe that the skill of presentation speaking was developed through presentation speaking within the classes. Through presentation speaking within classes this has developed my confidence in speaking and now feel as though I’m able to effectively present either on my own or part of a team. This skill will help in my professional development as I will be able to use this skill to present when I need to

All of the skills that have been set out on this PDP have been developed and enhanced over the course of undertaking this module and this masters programme, these skills will be used to the best of their ability over the course of my professional life and all of these skills will continue to be enhanced over the course of the development stage.

6.0 Conclusion

In conclusion to this report it can be said that this module into my personal and professional development has been a module that will benefit me throughout my career.


Some of the skills that have been developed through this module will allow me to ensure that I can use them to the best of my ability during my career. I think the major thing that has been learnt from this module is that I can work just as well whilst being told what is required of me to be done rather than me delegating to others what I would like them to do. The personal goals that were outlined in this module will be worked on further away from this module in order to ensure that they are met to their maximum and again so that these will be able to benefit in the best way that they can. The way in which the group operated has made me think about how the best way to lead a group is and this is something that can be applied in to the next group work task that I undertake in whatever capacity this may be in. I have understood how important communication is in making sure that group work works to the best ability possible I also think that following the completion of this module I will be able to ensure that I am fully aware of how what others think can influence how the group operates this was evident in some of the group knowing what the task they were doing was and others knowing which created a divide in how and when work was to be submitted for each part of the task. Some of the skills acquired in this module have already been put to use in working life when applying for jobs and undertaking interviews.

7.0 Appendices

Appendices are attached to this report which includes learning logs from team meetings that took place. Also attached are various emails that were exchanged between group members in order to ensure that tasks were kept on top of with other work for other modules building up.

Appendices One – Emails

The following are a few emails that were exchanged between members of the group communicating about the presentation.


Appendices Two – Learning Log

The learning log has been attached to this assignment.


Total Word Count (Excluding Bibliography and References) = 2,220

reflection on your personal and professional development

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