Personal and Professional Development Assessment

SH4052 Personal and Professional Development Assessment Task

Introduction

Effective professional and personal development involves with ensuring knowledge and understanding within an expertise area to enhance chances of success in career. It is associated with the acquisition of knowledge and skills with a focus on the career advancement along with the personal development. In this reflective assignment, overall knowledge and learning of new concepts and skills will be discussed with the implementation of Kolb’s reflective cycle (Wijnen-Meijer et al, 2022). A contribution of gained skills and knowledge in a context of professional and personal development will be analysed with the implementation of multiple learning theories. There is a significant contribution of the acquired set of knowledge and skills that have a vital impact on the improvement of professional practices will be examined. In addition, key issues related to lack of skills were evaluated that restricts the professional and personal development process. Based on that, a personal development plan will be formulated to improve the weak skills will be evaluated to enhance chances of success within professional practice.

Main Body - SH4052 Reflective Assessment

As a healthcare practitioner, I acquired a diverse range of knowledge, skills and learned about new concepts during module learning. The taught topic has vital influence on my professional and personal development as it leads to improve my learning and knowledge on specific expertise on social and health care sector. In reference to Kolb’s reflective model, my own experimental learning and experience, reviewed and evaluated in strategic manner. Based on the first stage of Kolb’s reflective model, information about professional development and career opportunities are provided in module learning. There are multiple work placement or career opportunities or such as care manger, care worker, community development and occupational therapist are provided that assist the individual to focus on its career development (Brown, 2024). This makes me feel excited as I want to make my career bright in which module learning helped me to gain knowledge about required skills and knowledge for professional development. To become a skilled care practitioner, personal development requires as it enhances effectiveness and improves skills that assist in better self management (Morris, 2020).

I had positive experience during module learning as it guides me in identification of prospective opportunities for work placement. As a result, my analytical thinking skills are developed as I was able to think in a strategic manner about grabbing of future career opportunities. I had strong intuition that knowledge, set of skills and theories learnt during skills that helped me a lot in personal and professional development. In addition to that, in reference to the second stage of Kolb’s reflective model, I observed about importance of professional development with the development of professional and personal skills. Skills development plays a vital role as it enhances productivity, abilities of problem solving and creativity of individuals’ (Idkhan and Idris, 2021). During learning session, I gained positive and informative experience as it helped me to learn about new concepts and specific expertise knowledge. At that time, I felt happy and satisfied about my career choice.

Relation with Yourself

I developed a positive relationship with myself during module learning that involves Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and self-awareness that helped me to learn about myself in a better manner. In reference to the third stage of Kolb’s reflective model, I learnt about self-awareness that was termed as the first element of personal development In Week 4 of the module. Self-awareness is defined as the process of getting to know about attitude, value and feelings (Wijnen-Meijer et al, 2022). It assists me to understand my personal characteristic response in the particular situation. In reference to Maslow’s theory of self-awareness, I analysed that people with self-actualization are highly aware and concerned about personal growth. In addition, self-actualized people are less concerned about other people’s opinion and focuses in the fulfilment of interest by putting their best skills and potential as per this theory (Karas et al, 2020). With the assistance of Maslow’s self-awareness theory, I analysed that I have high self-awareness that helped me to focus on my professional and personal development. For instance, I am highly aware about my development for attracting diverse range of career opportunities in future. To ensure this, I took regular feedback to identify potential areas of improvement that helped me to develop and improve my identified weak skills. This reflects about self-awareness that helped me to establish a bright professional future with adequate skill and knowledge.

Further, self-awareness also helped me analyse my personal strengths and weaknesses that gave me an opportunity to overcome my weakness through effective development. This helped me to attract better career opportunities during work placement. Adequate skills of self-awareness played a vital role in personal and professional development as it assist to become an effective decision maker in future professional career (Mikkonen et al, 2022). This skill helped me to gain confidence as a result of which I am able to communicate with clear intention. Moreover, self-awareness skill fosters high analytical skills that helped to understand tasks and actions from various perspectives (Hill et al, 2020). However, it was identified during self analysis that I have limited skills of Time management that hampers my efficiency and performance. Time management skills plays a significant role in personal and professional development as it is demoted as an ability to manage time win response to utilization of energy to accomplish task in time in effective manner (Kelley et al, 2020).

However, poor skills of time management leads to missed opportunities, delay in completion of tasks to procrastination. Constant emotion of being overwhelmed could be an example of poor time management as it reflects inappropriate optimization of time in effective manner (Crocker et al, 2020). During self-awareness, it was outlined that I have poor planning skills along with an ineffective prioritization of tasks as a result of which I often missed deadline or faced challenges due to delayed performance. For example, I prefer to take constructive feedback rather than personal criticism to balance my emotion and confidence during learning session. This reflects my effective management of emotions along with the identification of key facts about strengths and weaknesses. It has immense contribution to achieve a successful opportunity of work placement as balanced EQ facilitate smoother and effective interaction that leads to promote productive and positive environment (Phelan et al, 2020).

During improvement of self relationship, I analysed about the importance of Emotional Intelligence that was also termed as EQ or emotional quotient. EQ/ EI refers to the ability of use, understand or management of personal emotions in positive and effective manner (Costa et al, 2020). It is also linked with personal response offered to people and evaluates an ability of interpretation and understanding of other’s emotions. During week 6 of module learning, I learnt about measurement of EQ skills on the basis of academic problem solving ability. Further, EQ skill measurement involves processing speed, working memory, verbal comprehension and perceptual organization. This helped me to analyse that I had high EQ skills that enhances my ability of understanding of emotions, emotional signs and language. Elliott, Sinclair and Hesselgreaves, (2020) mentioned that an EQ skill leads to improve ability of perceiving other’s emotions in accurate manner and facilitate effective management of emotions.

However, during module learning, I learnt about the potential disadvantage of very high EQ. There is adverse result of exceptional high level of EQ that leads to minimize level of innovation or creativity of an individual (Ross and de Saxe Zerden, 2020). Besides that, issues are raised on receiving of negative feedback due to lack of emotional management and manipulation due to high relying on an emotional aspect of communication rather than logic. Before module, I did not realize that EQ is an important skill in personal and professional development and about its disadvantages of possessing high EQ. On contrary, Goleman's theory of emotional intelligence demonstrates five essential component of EQ that are termed as self-awareness, motivation, social skills, self regulation and empathy (Idkhan and Idris, 2021). This helped me to analysed that I have balanced EQ skills as I effectively manage my emotions in an adverse situation and offers support and assistance to other individuals when they are in need of understanding their emotions. I developed better understanding with myself due to adequate skills of self-awareness and EQ.

Emotional Intelligence plays an active role in my career development as it helps me to understand feelings and opinions of others in effective and accurate manner. This will enable me to establish a better emotional connection that will offer me a chance to attract diverse range of attractive career opportunities within sector of social and health care.

Relation with others

During module learning, I analysed and evaluated my relationships with others with reference to Kolb’s third stage of the reflective model. This learning session helped me to gain information about multiple skills such as communication skills, listening skills, conflict management and skills of adaptability (Mikkonen et al, 2022). Skills of communication allow understanding and helped to be understood by other individuals. There is a significant importance of communication skills as it facilitates a clear understanding of thoughts, teamwork and collaboration and solves problems, leads to achieve professional success. I realized that module learning helped me to strengthen my communication skills as a result of which I am able to establish effective relationship with other group members. For example: this module helped me to establish an effective relationship with professionals and expertise through communication skills, leads to enhance my network.

Further, Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory of communication guides about focus on interaction among individuals and external environment (Elliott, Sinclair and Hesselgreaves, 2020). This theory states about significance of social interactions for cognitive development of learners. This enables me to emphasise on maintaining effective relationship with an external environment through effective communication skills to attract potential career opportunities in the future. Moreover, I will be able to explain my vision and goals in a clear manner with adequate sense of confidence and competence that will assist me to get work placement opportunity.

However, Kolb’s reflective model assists me to evaluate on the basis of criteria contained in module that I possessed limited skills of listening. Listening skills are significant in professional and personal development as it leads to resolve conflict, helps in problem solving and improves relationship with others (Kelley et al, 2020). Based on the week 7 of the module, I had limited listening skills due to which my personal relationships with other individuals are adversely affected. For example: I faced multiple challenges such as miscommunication, misunderstanding and misinterpretation that ultimately lead to strained relationship with others. As a result, chances of getting work placement was minimized, leads to negatively affect professional and personal development and growth (Ross and de Saxe Zerden, 2020). However, this module guides me to make possible changes for the improvement of limited listening skills as it is crucial for the establishment of a positive and effective relationship with others. For example: I am more focused and listen carefully with maintaining eye contact to expand my listening skills. This will help me to explore future work placement opportunities in effective manner.

Earlier, I do not have enough knowledge of interpersonal skills, however this module strengthens my knowledge of interpersonal skill of leadership. It has vital importance in decision making and to navigate challenges that arise during personal and professional development process. Leadership skills is defined as the process of influencing, encouraging and motivating individuals to work with best possible efforts for the achievement of common goal (Needle, 2024). For instance, I had used skills of leadership to establish and foster teamwork, collaboration and loyalty with other individuals. Exhibiting qualities of leadership through mentoring others and effective handling of health and social care assignments demonstrates my mind readiness for grabbing exciting work placement or career opportunities in the future.

Further, this module helped me to enhance my leadership by offering guidance of transformation theory of leadership. This theory outlines about inspiring and encouraging subordinates and other individuals to develop and innovate new ways to improve path of future professional success (Phelan et al, 2020). With the practical application of transformation theory of leadership, my strength or ability of establishing and maintaining effective relationship with others has been improved. It was outlined in week 9 of the module about conflict management that leads to enhance my knowledge and skill. Ability of conflict management is defined as skills, process or tools to find innovative and respectful manner for the effective management of disputes and disagreements (Elliott, Sinclair and Hesselgreaves, 2020).

During evaluation of skills, it was analysed that I had limited skills of conflict management due to which achievement of objectives could be minimized. I faced multiple issues such as lack of clarity, personality differences and poor communication due to which my personal and professional development has been adversely affected. With limited ability of conflict resolution, I was unable to develop effective relationship with others if they are not addressed timely in effective manner. For example, while attending an academic seminar, I faced an issue of conflict due to personality clash with fellow group member. In this situation of unhealthy disagreement due to clashes in personality, my mental well-being is negatively affected that restricts my leaning and development ability. The modern theories of conflict management guides about strengthen of resolution skill by considering it as inevitable and natural outcome of human interaction (Hill et al, 2020). Its practical application will help me to change my perception, leads to deal conflict in the best possible manner with application of communication and conflict resolution skills.

This will further help me in work placement as it reflects my creativity and innovation skills, results in establishing positive image. At last, during skill evaluation, it was analysed that I had limited ability of adaptability in adverse situation that restricts my performance and overall efficiency. Also, it has adverse impact on personal and professional development as a result of which position for the opportunity of career advancement was minimized (Kelley et al, 2020). In addition, due to lack of adaptability skills, my relationship with other individuals are affects, results in the resentment, misunderstanding and ultimately deteriorates relationships. However, in I learnt about different measures that will aid me to strengthen my skills.

SMART Development Plan’s Objectives

The Personal Development Plan (PDP) consists of multiple objectives related to key development areas, which are as follows:

To improve time management skills: The first objective mentioned in the PDP is to enhance skills of time management to attain diverse range of workplace or professional opportunities for future success (Karas et al, 2020). During module learning, I often deal with challenges such as missed deadlines and lack of prioritization of tasks that has a negative impact on my professional career. However, with the improvement in time management skills, there is a massive increase in work quality and productivity. This objective has a significant importance in personal and professional development as it leads to promote work-life balance and supports career growth (Morris, 2020). Besides that, I will monitor my progress about improvement in skills of time management by way of accomplishment of tasks on timely manner and reduction in missed deadlines. This criterion reflects key improvement in the skills, leads to strengthen professional development and chances of work placement opportunities.

To strengthen an ability of conflict management: The second objective of my PDP is to enhance an ability of conflict management as it was identified as the crucial skill in personal and professional development. Ability of conflict management is significant as it offers the benefit of fostering better inter-personal relationship with others and reduces stress, leads to promote productivity and efficiency (Ross and de Saxe Zerden, 2020). However, due to lack of conflict management skills I was suffered with the issue of mental distress, results in minimized professional development and growth. With the establishment of objective related to improved conflict management skills, there is an increase chances of attracting diverse range of career or work placement opportunities as improved conflict management skills will reflects my creativity and innovation. Further, this will help me to develop an effective personal relationship with others with increased emotional intelligence and empathy, leads to promote satisfaction and positive experience. This is measured through the criteria of improved relationship with minimized conflict and increased performance

To develop skills of adaptability: The third objective is related to the development of adaptability skills that has significant importance in future professional career. An improved adaptability skill will outline personal balance of emotional intelligence and reflects problem solving ability about handling diverse range of adverse situation (Elliott, Sinclair and Hesselgreaves, 2020). An improved adaptability skill often attracts multiple work placement opportunities as it reflects my developed mindset and enthusiasm about learning handling new concepts and situations. I have monitored my progress in terms of handling of adverse situation in an effective and composed manner and through embracing new concepts and learning in the context of work placement.

To enhance listening skills: The last objective is related to enhance skills of listening as it leads to foster better understanding and promotes better decision making in future professional career. In addition, listening skills plays a vital role in professional and personal development as it improves personal relationship and build loyalties and trust among others, which is essential for development and growth. Achievement of this objective is important in respect of work placement as it leads to promote better understanding and communication while overcome issues and hurdles, leads to attract recruiters as it results in informed decision making.

Conclusion

This reflective assignment concludes about the professional and personal development of the role of healthcare practitioner within social and health care. In reference to Kolb’s reflective model, module learning helped to analysed about personal relation and relations with others, in which self-awareness, Emotional intelligence, communication and leadership emerged as strength. Whereas, limited time management, lack of listening skills and limited adaptability emerged as potential weakness that hinders the process of professional and personal development. In support to that, Goleman's theory of emotional intelligence and Maslow’s self-awareness theory was discussed in this reflective assignment. It was concluded that this module learning helped me to gain positive experience with strengthen of weak skills identified during self-evaluation. This leads to foster confidence and high morale with increased efficiency and productivity in increased manner as compare to previous one. At last, it was summarized that improvement and enhancement in key skills, concepts and knowledge will help me to change my professional and personal future with increased chances of success and professional growth.

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References

Books and Journals

• Costa, A.D.F.A., Gomes, A.M.F., Fernandes, A.F.C., Silva, L.M.S.D., Barbosa, L.P. and Aquino, P.D.S., (2020). Professional skills for health promotion in caring for tuberculosis patients. Revista brasileira de enfermagem, 73(2), p.e20180943.
• Crocker, H., Kelly, L., Harlock, J., Fitzpatrick, R. and Peters, M., (2020). Measuring the benefits of the integration of health and social care: qualitative interviews with professional stakeholders and patient representatives. BMC Health Services Research, 20, pp.1-9.
• Elliott, I.C., Sinclair, C. and Hesselgreaves, H., (2020). Leadership of integrated health and social care services. Scottish Affairs, 29(2), pp.198-222.
• Hill, J.E., Stephani, A.M., Sapple, P. and Clegg, A.J., (2020). The effectiveness of continuous quality improvement for developing professional practice and improving health care outcomes: a systematic review. Implementation Science, 15, pp.1-14.
• Idkhan, A.M. and Idris, M.M., 2021. Dimensions of students learning styles at the university with the kolb learning model. International Journal of Environment, Engineering & Education, 3(2), pp.75-82.
• Karas, M., Sheen, N.J., North, R.V., Ryan, B. and Bullock, A., (2020). Continuing professional development requirements for UK health professionals: a scoping review. BMJ open, 10(3), p.e032781.
• Kelley, L.T., Coderre-Ball, A.M., Dalgarno, N., McKeown, S. and Egan, R., (2020). Continuing professional development for primary care providers in palliative and end-of-life care: A systematic review. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 23(8), pp.1104-1124.
• Mikkonen, K., Kuivila, H.M., Sjögren, T., Korpi, H., Koskinen, C., Koskinen, M., Koivula, M., Koskimäki, M., Lähteenmäki, M.L., Saaranen, T. and Sormunen, M., (2022). Social, health care and rehabilitation educators' competence in professional education—Empirical testing of a model. Health & social care in the community, 30(1), pp.e75-e85.
• Morris, T.H., (2020). Experiential learning–a systematic review and revision of Kolb’s model. Interactive learning environments, 28(8), pp.1064-1077.
• Phelan, A., McCormack, B., Dewing, J., Brown, D., Cardiff, S., Cook, N.F., Dickson, C.A., Kmetec, S., Lorber, M., Magowan, R. and McCance, T., (2020). Review of developments in person-centred healthcare.
• Ross, A.M. and de Saxe Zerden, L., (2020). Prevention, health promotion, and social work: Aligning health and human service systems through a workforce for health. American Journal of Public Health, 110(S2), pp.S186-S190.
• Wijnen-Meijer, M., Brandhuber, T., Schneider, A. and Berberat, P.O., (2022). Implementing Kolb s experiential learning cycle by linking real experience, case-based discussion and simulation. Journal of medical education and curricular development, 9, p.23821205221091511.

Online

• Brown, N., (2024). Top of Form
• Bottom of FormReflective model according to Kolb. Online. Available through: <https://www.nicole-brown.co.uk/reflective-model-according-to-kolb/>.
• Needle, D., (2024). Theory of transformational leadership. Available through: <https://www.techtarget.com/searchcio/definition/transformational-leadership#:~:text=Transformational%20leadership%20is%20a%20management,support%20new%20problem%2Dsolving%20approaches>.