Introduction

Personal and professional development refers to

improvement in the set of skills that requires gaining the
desires position at workplace and maintaining the good
relations with the people in social life. Personal
development includes qualities like social competencies,
behaviour, and understanding of people. Professional
development involves communication, knowledge of
operation in interested field, planning and proper
management of time to achieve the goals and objectives
(McNiff, 2010). The Unit 13 Personal and Professional
Skills Development Assignment Copy will evaluate the
approaches of self-managed learning that can be used
for encouraging the learning of Travelodge hotel staff
and propose the ways of lifelong learning in personal and
professional context. Travelodge is private limited
organization in hospitality industry that is operating
business with 6000 (Full and part time) staff members to
meet the objectives of business as well satisfied the
needs of customers. Report will provide the information
about my own current skills and competencies against
professional standard of organization as an assistant
manager and develop the plan for improvement in areas
of lacking. In the next part report will discuss the
processes and activities required to implement the plan
and critically analyze the learning against the original
aims and objectives. Moreover, report will provide the
solutions for overcome the high turnover rate of staff
members at Paramount travel hotel Park Royal as well
analyze the communication styles and time management
strategic.
Task 1
1.1 Approaches for self-managed learning
Self-managed learning is way to manage the own
learning according to needs and requirements to gain the
desired position within organization and craft
improvement in the set of skills. Self-managed learning
approaches can be applied as per the needs of the
individual and goals that going to be achieved through
personal and professional development. Being a assistant
manager at Travelodge hotel I have identified the areas
for improvement for staff that can be possible through
self-managed learning. According to Kolb model of self
managed learning following approaches would be
beneficial for staff of Travelodge hotel:
 Observation: This is an effective self-managed
learning approach for staff members to gain the
knowledge and understanding about the practices
and operations that performed at hotel (Moon,
2013). By having close observation of senior staff
members the staff members could craft
improvement in the set of skills like communication
 with customers, planning and utilization of resources
which will help to encourage the effectiveness at
workplace.
 Reading: For individual reading about the role and

responsibilities is also good way to maintain the self

managed learning. By reading the books, articles and
journals about the operations of hotel and process
to meet the benchmarking standard will help
individual to craft improvement in the set of skill as
well improve the professional understanding that
will help to achieve the personal goals and objectives
more convincing manners (Lago, 2010). This kind of
approach will be cost and time effective.
1.2 Ways to encourage the life-long learning
In order to craft improvement in the knowledge, skills
and quality to sustain position at workplace, learning
plays critical role. Being the manager at Travel, I will
suggest the following ways for life-long learning that will
help to increase the efficiency of staff members and
support them to meet the personal and professional
objectives.
 Self-evaluation: For life-long learning, self-
evaluation would be more effective to understand
the own value against the benchmarking standard of
Travelodge. I will suggest my team to properly
evaluate the own skills and gaps that are influencing
 the performance and working. Moreover, I will
implement the policies and corrective measures for
better understanding of effectiveness of individual at
workplace (Bunderson and Boumgarden, 2010). For
example, collect the own refection of staff member
about performance that will help them to know area
of lacking and make efforts to improve. Apart from
that, this kind of approach will also beneficial for me
to maintain the learning through evaluation of own
against the standard.
 Internet: In the current scenario, internet is offering
all kind of information and tools that could be used
for life-long learning. For that staff members of
Travelodge use of online source would be beneficial
to gain the knowledge about the resource and their
utilization in best manner to achieve the goals and
make positive impression on top management. For
me it will be key resource for identifying the trends
and new policies to lead the people and motivate
them to manage the operations at hotel in efficient
manners (Graves, 2013). Online learning is key part
for both personal and professional context that help
to put innovation and increase the level of creativity
in working and interacting with people at workplace.
1.3 Benefits of self-managed learning for me and
organization
The benefits of self-managed learning for me and
Travelodge hotel are as follows:
Benefits for me:
 Improvement in skills: For me self-managed learning

is beneficial for encouraging the skills like

communication, planning of resources, allocation of
role and responsibility and decision making to
contribute in the development of organization. By
using the self-managed learning approaches I have
crafted improvement in the leadership and time
managed management qualities which are major
areas of lacking in professional context.
 Get the higher position: By using the self-managed

learning, I would able to get the higher position in

organization ([Link]. 2012). Through self-
managed learning, I have gained the knowledge
about the leading, decision making and planning of
operations that helping me to achieve the goals and
objectives as well get the reorganization of top
management which will aid to get the promotion.
Task 2
2.1 Evaluation of own skills and competencies against
professional standard of manager and organizational
objectives
According to given scenario, I am working as assistant
manager at Travelodge and looking to gain the higher
position at workplace. For that reason, I have to evaluate
the current set of skills and competencies to identify the
areas of lacking and strength for further improvement
which will support to achieve the desired goals. Through
self-evaluation I have analyzed the skills against the
professional standard of manager and objectives of
Travelodge. From the evaluation it is being carried out
that command over different language, time
management, decision making and planning of
operations are the major areas that requires the
improvement to gain the higher position and meet the
organizational objectives (De [Link]. 2010).
Moreover, knowledge about the global approaches and
changes in the environment of hospitality functions are
key areas to concern which also requires improvement.
In addition to this, through self-evaluation I have come to
know that skill of motivating staff and utilization of
resources is not up to the standard of manager as well
the proper management of time according to day
operation and consideration of effectiveness of staff
members at Travelodge.
SWOT analysis:
Table 1: SWOT analysis
STRENGTH WEAKNESS
 Communication  Time management

(Verbal)  Lack of understanding

 Motivation of professional
 Identification of standard
resource  Less knowledge of
 Planning other languages
 Relationship building  Decision making

OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
 Gain the higher position

 Improve knowledge of  Competition level

hospitality operations  Changes in the policies

 Proper management of and process

resources  More use of technology

 Increase level of  Difference in

confidence and perception
leadership
2.2 Identification of development needs and activities to
meet them
Being the assistant manager at Travelodge I have to craft
improvement in the set of skills that identified using the
self-evaluation and SWOT analysis. In order to overcome
the gap according to standard of organization and
manager at hotel I will follow the different activities like
use of online sources, reading and take part in seminaries
and conferences. According to analysis there are need of
improvement in time management, decision making,
planning, command over different language and
knowledge of international standards of working in
hospitality organization (Desimone, 2011). For that I will
take suggestions from the mentors and leading staff
member of organization that will also help to choose the
activities that are effective as per my ability to learn.
Moreover, to craft improvement in the skills that
identified using the analysis I will observe the people
around me who are handling the operations at
Travelodge and providing the guideline for executing the
plan of hotel. Apart from that to meet the development
needs I will watch the videos and listen audios to gain the
knowledge about the time management, planning of
resources at hotel and remain calm in critical situations
(Wenger, 2011). This kind of approach and activities will
help me to meet the development needs and maintain
the growth according to plan as well sustain the position.
2.3 Development opportunities to meet current and
future needs
In the professional life there is always a scope for
improvement and development of qualities and skills to
meet the current and future needs. For that
identification of opportunities and plan to meet them is
important which helps to maintain the effectiveness and
standard for executing the activities at Travelodge.
Following table will help to identify the opportunities and
needs and process to meet them:
Table2: Development opportunities and action
Current Future Action for
Opportunities
standard standard improvement
Proper
scheduling of
Time task and prior
2 4
management planning will
help to manage
the time
Planning 3 5 By reviewing the
past activities
and take the
suggestion from
leading staff
(Murdoch?
Eaton and
 Whittle, 2012).
I will take part in
the seminars
Communicatio and conferences
3 5
n (Non-verbal) to improve non-
verbal
communication
Observation of
leading people
and reading the
Leadership 3 5 tactics of
leadership I will
try to improve
leadership
Referring the
past decisions
and involving
Decision the team
2.5 4
making member in
decision making
I will try to meet
the future needs
Language 2.5 4 For that I would
join the training
classes and
interact with the
 people who
belong to
diverse
background
2.4 Personal and professional development plan
In order to craft improvement in the personal and
professional standard, I will undertake the follow
development plan. This will help to craft improvement in
the set of skills that identified using the SWOT and self-
evaluation tools. For improvement development plan is
as follows:
Table3: Development plan
ACTIVITY TO TIME
SKILLS EVIDENCE
IMPROVE FRAME
Planning of
activities and
Completions
gaining the
Time of event at
prior 2 months
management hotel in given
knowledge
time period
about use of
resource
Leadership By books of 2 months Offering the
reading the guideline and
books and direction to
journals as staff
 well
members at
observing the
Travelodge
senior staff
hotel
members
Use of past
activities and
collection of
make
review of
decision in
Decision other team
3 months absence of
making members for
manager at
decision
hotel
making
(Nicholls,
2014).
By improving
Make
the
interaction
interaction
with
with the staff
Communicatio international
and use of 2 months
n visitor using
gesture and
the gesture
hand to
and different
communicate
language.
information
Planning Reading and 2 months Recently
watching the planned the
videos for activities for
 planning of
event at
hospitality
Travelodge
functions
Taking active
Taking part in
participation
meeting at
in team
hotel and
Team working meetings and 1 month
parties with
improving
staff
interaction
members.
with people
Read about Aspact of Contract Law
Task 3
3.1 Process and activities required to implement
development plan
For development in personal and professional skills, I
have established the plan. Now to implement the plan I
will use the following activities to utilize it properly.
 Mentoring: This would be the important process for

implementing the plan and meet the organizational

and personal objectives. By using this, process I will
take assistance of experts from different fields to
execute the activities as per the plan. This kind of
process will help to gain the knowledge about
proper time allocation, advice for using the
 resources and tools that would be beneficial for
crafting improvement (Pedler, 2011).
 Training: For implementation of plan training will

also an effective process that will help to perform

the tasks as per the plan and provide the direction
for making changes according to new trends.
Moreover, training would help to work hard and
manage the activities according to level of learning
and stay energetic ([Link]. 2013). By using the
training process I will focus on the communication,
leading, planning and team working. For example, in
training I will work on the skills with proper
monitoring that will improve the effectiveness of
plan.
3.2 Document for development activates as planned
For implementation of personal and professional
development plan I will undertake the following
document for different objectives:
Table4: Document table
Development activities To document
Improve professional  Knowledge about the
performance operation of Travelodge
 Timeline and meeting of

standard
 Interaction with the
 staff
 Planning and allocation
of resources
 Monitoring and
direction for staff
 Identification of key
staff members
 Collection of feedback
Organizational exposure  Analysis of new trends
and policy
 Use of lifelong learning
process
 Learning of other
languages
 Interaction with the
people
Interpersonal skills
 Understanding of needs
of individual
 Decision making and
leadership
3.3 Critical evaluation of own learning against original
objectives
By following the personal and professional development
plan, I have crafted improvement in the different skills
and competencies like communication, planning and
leadership but still there are some qualities needed more
efforts to meet the desired objectives. For analyzing the
effectiveness of plan and learning I have collected the
feedback from mentors and trainers that helped to
understand the areas of improvement and lacking. By
considering their feedback, I have come to know that
improvement in language learning, utilization and
arrangement of resources and leadership requires the
more efforts to achieve the desired level for future needs
(Schein, 2010). For further improvement, I will use the
online sources and take the experts advices that will help
to meet the objectives in both personal and professional
context to maintain the effectiveness as well gain the
position of manager at Travelodge.
3.4 Updated plan for development
By considering the critical evaluation, I have made some
changes in the plan to achieve the goals and objectives
more convincing manners. Following is updated personal
and professional plan:
Table5: Updated plan for personal and professional
development
Time
Action for
Qualities Lacking period
improvement
(Month)
Time Delivery of Proper 2
 scheduling
products and and collection
management
services of
requirements
Observing the
top
Encouraging
Leadership management 1
staff members
people within
organization
Following the
direction and
Identification
global
Planning and allocation 2
approach for
of resources
hospitality
provision
Join the
training
Not good
Communicatio centers and
understandin
n (use of try to
g about 2
different communicate
different
language) with people
language
([Link]
2010).
Task 4
4.1 Solution of work based problem
According to given scenario, Paramount hotel is having
issues in engaging staff members as the employee
turnover rate is high and affecting the operations of
organization. Now to overcome the problem the
management could use the following activities to
motivate and retain the staff:
Rewards and incentives: In order to engage the staff and
meet the satisfaction level the organization could offer
rewards and incentives to staff of hotel. For example,
Paramount hotel would provide rewards to staff member
who are performing well which will boost the morale and
keep the other staff members motivated to stay in
organization ([Link]. 2010). Policy of incentive
will overcome the situation of high turnover and helps to
maintain the operational flow.
4.2 Communication styles that could be used by
Paramount hotel
The management could use the following communication
styles for sharing the information with employees:
 Email: This would be cost and time effective
communication style that could be used by the
manager at Paramount hotel. Email communication
will help to maintain the two way communication
 process as the employees of organization can
provide their input for changes and offer new ideas
for managing the operations (Thrun and Pratt, 2012).
 Meetings: This is traditional method of
communicating the information to respective staff
members and collecting the real time feedback to
analyze the response of individual. For example, line
manager of Paramount hotel is conducting the
meetings to explain the tasks and role to team
members as well anticipate the needs of individual
that helps to develop further plan.
4.3 Time management strategies
The line manager of Paramount hotel could use the
following time management strategies to improve the
efficiency and minimize the delivery time:
 Prioritization: This is an effective strategy that can

be used for doing the first thing first and plan the
activities more convincing manners. The line
manager of organization would define the role and
responsibilities of individual according to skills and
expertise ([Link]. 2010). The
prioritization of task would be done according to
needs of customer and events at Paramount hotel
that will save time and helps to meet the deadline.
 Scheduling: The manager of hotel should plan the

human resources according to operational activities

and needs of customer. Scheduling of task will
support to overcome the time for arranging
resources as well allocation. Moreover, proper
scheduling of tasks and operations at workplace will
helps to assign role and responsibilities to staff and
support to maintain the positive working
environment where staff members perform the
functions as per the capabilities (Stüber, 2011).
Task 5
Poster
Conclusion
From the above Unit 13 Personal and Professional Skills
Development Assignment Copy it is been considered
that, personal and professional development is continues
process that helps to gain the advantage over other
people and gain the desired position. Report has
explained the self-managed learning and life-long
learning approaches and activities that could be used by
me to maintain the effectiveness at Travelodge hotel.
Moreover, report has presented the analysis of own skills
and competencies against the organizational and manger
level standard. At the end, report has developed the plan
for improvement in the identified skills to gain the higher
position.