PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Natalie O'Meally

Saint Leo University

MBA 525

DR. BRYANT SARAH

10Th December 2023

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2

Abstract

This professional development plan stems from personal assessments of various professional and

workplace skills to bring out individual strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and

from them develop a professional development plan. The development plan is then to be

implemented in the course of the next one with a sole purpose of ensuring improvement in areas

of weakness and mitigation of potential threats that may be identified in the course of the

assessments. This is to be achieved by setting specific, measurable, assignable, realistic and

time-related goals that shall be pursued to attain the overall professional development status

needed.

Introduction

In this professional development plan, the core purpose is to identify personal strengths and

weakness in various aspects of my professional career and sequentially formulate a development

plan to improve areas that may need improvement.

Through a personal SWOT analysis and a number of self assessment tests of strength in

leadership, communication, project management, accuracy, time management and critical

thinking, not only have I been able to unveil areas I need improvement on but also areas I can

use as foundational pillars upon which I can build profound and versatile professional skill set to

foster professional growth, career advancement and an effective contribution towards diverse

workforce environments.
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PRE-ASSESSMENT SWOT ANALYSIS

Strengths Opportunities

1. A good communicator 1. Continuous Learning

2. Decent problem solving skills 2. Training and development

3. Can make a good leader 3. Improvement on stress management

4. Quick Learner 4. Improved creativity

5. Honors Integrity & Values

Weaknesses Threats

1. Over thinker when it comes to decision 1. Misinformation

making 2. Suppressed critical thinking in groups

2. Slow to make urgent decisions in 3. Accuracy / Attention to details

critical thinking

3. Time Management

4. Stress management difficulties

By conducting a SWOT analysis of my own professional profile, I was able to unveil areas of

strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Ideally, the strengths and opportunities are a

representation of the things I am good at and things I can do to enhance self improvement where

else the weaknesses show the aspects I am struggling with and things that can further worsen the

situation for my professional journey.

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Pre-Assessment Strengths

Based on a personal assessment for strengths, it was noted that I am a fairly good communicator

and when it comes to communication skills, I have no problem expressing and understanding

other people’s expressions. As per Dyole (2021), the ability to communicate effectively with

individuals within the workplace setting is essential and we must know how to effectively

convey and receive messages in person as well as via phone, email or even social media. Dyole

(2021) further lists and suggests 10 essential communication skills that one ought to posses and I

posses that include; Listening skills, non-verbal communication skills, clarity and conciseness,

friendliness, confidence, empathy, open-mindedness, respect, ability to give and take feedback

and ability to choose the right communication medium.

Other than being a good communicator, it is also correct to conclude that I posses decent

problem solving skills that are essential for career advancement in today’s work place. As a

strength, I am also fairly good at getting things done on time even though sometimes I fall short

on meeting set deadlines because of one reason or another but there is still room for

improvement. In addition to this, I feel like I am a quick learner and can also make a good leader.

Lastly, I am person of integrity and I respected value can govern my existence among other

people.

Pre-Assessment Weaknesses

When it comes to weakness, I consider myself an over thinker as I tend to ponder on even the

smallest of the smallest thoughts. Ideally, over thinking can be defined as a situation where you

decide on something but still continue thinking of associated pros and cons and eventually end

up making a huge problem that it was. From the state of over thinking, we eventually end up not
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being able to make sound decisions about a particular issue or concern we may be trying to solve

thus affecting our decision-making abilities (World. 2023).

Other than over-thinking, I also often spend too much time making critical decisions even when

quick solutions are needed. I don’t feel confident when I make rushed decisions and this makes

me quite slow to respond to urgent concerns that need urgent solutions and this can be attributed

to the fact that I am generally an over thinker and fear making rushed decisions due to fear of

failure. Lastly, I am not very good with time management as sometimes I fail to meet deadlines

and this is an area I feel I need to work on.

Pre-Assessment Opportunities & Threats

Opportunities can be defined as chances that can be used to better one’s own skills and

possibilities of advancement in career development. On conducting an assessment of my own

opportunities, it is evident that there is room for improvement. By engaging in continuous

learning in areas perceive weakness, per-taking in training and development programs and

finding ways to improve my creativity and stress coping mechanisms, I will greatly improve my

own professional capabilities.

In this assessment, threats on the other hand can be defined as conditions that pose the potential

to negatively affect one’s own professional development. In my analysis these include;

misinformation which has the ability to affect and deter critical thinking and problem solving

capabilities, inability to think critically whenever I am in working in a group setting due to the

limitation of having to work within the thoughts of the group and lastly, falling short of paying

attention to details and accuracy sometimes, something can potentially lead to negative results.
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PROFESSIONAL GOALS TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT ONE YEAR

1. Increase involvement in continuous learning opportunities over the next one year

By increasing my involvement in the next one year I will be able to work on several of my

weaknesses and potential threats. Ideally, by engaging in continuous learning opportunities, I

will be able to improve my critical thinking capabilities. I can also attend training and

development courses to equip myself with stress management and time management skills.

2. Improve my accuracy and attention to detail in the next six months

I can improve my accuracy and attention to detail by implementing a double-checking system for

important tasks into my daily routine, breaking down complex tasks into smaller and manageable

chunks and learning to take short breaks between tasks to maintain concentration.

CRITICAL SELF REFLECTION

CRITICAL THINKING
Strengths Some of my strengths mentioned by Elder & Paul (2010) when

it comes to critical thinking include; Clarity, relevance and

Fairness in my critical thinking process.

Some of my weaknesses when it comes to critical thinking

Weaknesses include lack of attention to detail and Failure to follow problem-

solving process in detail (mindtools,2023)

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LEADERSHIP
Strengths As per Folkman (2023) assessment, my leadership strengths

include me being a fairly an effective leader who is moderately

engaged and satisfied with her job. Other than this, I posses

some learning agility and I take initiative where need be. Other

than that, I am risk taker who champions for change and

innovation.

Based on the same report, I have a weakness in collaboration

Weaknesses and teamwork.

TIME MANAGEMENT
Strengths When it comes to time management, the assessment from

psychology today (2023) suggests I am have more of

weaknesses than strengths and this probably the worst skill I

posses.

Weaknesses

The assessment suggests that I am not organized, not efficient,

and not diligent and I have poor organization skills (Psychology

today, 2023).

Project Management
Strengths 1. My Project management skills are okay and when
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projects are simple the outcome is good (mindtools,

2023).

Weaknesses

1. Based on the assessment taken, I tend to have less

control over complex projects (mindtools, 2023).

COMMUNICATION
Strengths 1. My communication skills are in the average and I am

making moderate use or my skills and abilities. To

better improve my communication skills I should

address my weaknesses by;

Weaknesses - Optimize my listening skills

- Resolve conflicts as they arise

- Master non-verbal signals

- Make the most of non-verbal communications

(Optimalthinking, 2022)

ACCURACY / ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Strengths Based on the assessment results, I seem to have what it takes to

Weaknesses be attentive to details but I am just not applying it often enough

(Queendom, n.d).
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POST-ASSESSMENT SWOT ANALYSIS

Strengths Opportunities

1. Critical thinking- clarity, relevance, 1. Communication skills ;

fairness in my critical thinking process. - Optimize my listening skills

2. Leadership – effective leader, learning - Master non-verbal signals

agility, initiative, risk taker, a champion - Make the most of non-verbal

for change. communications

3. Fairly good communication skills. 2. Incorporating Continuous learning

and attending training and development

sessions.

Weaknesses Threats

1. Critical thinking – Lack of attention 1. Project Management – I am more likely

and following processes to detail to lose control over complex projects.

2. Leadership – weakness in Teamwork &

collaboration 2. Accuracy / Attention to detail- lack of

3. Time management – not organized, not paying attention to details may result to

efficient, not diligent and I have poor serious issues.

organization skills.

4. Project management – My skills are

okay for small projects but not for

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complex projects

PROFESSIONAL GOALS TO ACHIEVE IN THE NEXT YEAR

1. Improve my communication skills over the next three months.

2. Work on improving my time management skills over the next coming year

3. Work on accuracy/ attention to detail over the next six months

DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Goal: IMPROVE MY COMMUNICATION SKILLS OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.

Strategies to Enhance Personal and Core competencies

Functional/Technical skills
Professional Competencies. Analytical Thinking
Leadership skills
Creativity
Project Management
1. Make use of my listening skills. Critical Thinking
Problem Solving/ Decision Making
2. Master non-verbal cues Communication
Time Management
3. Make the most of non-verbal Integrity / Values
Accuracy/Attention to Detail
Understands environmental issues

Consider the Impact of:

Personality Type
Learning Style
Optional Competencies
Influence/Negotiation
Service
Optional-Supervisors
Goal Setting
Stress Management
Action Steps: Timeline for Completion

Incorporate both listening and non-verbal cues

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into my daily activities to make it a norm. The next 3 months

Goal: IMPROVE MY TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS OVER THE NEXT COMING YEAR

Strategies to Enhance Personal

and Core competencies
Functional/Technical skills
Professional Competencies. Analytical Thinking
Leadership skills
1. Incorporate Continuous learning Creativity
Project Management
Critical Thinking
Problem Solving/ Decision Making
2. Attend training and development Communication
Time Management
sessions on time management Integrity / Values
Accuracy/Attention to Detail
Understands environmental issues

Consider the Impact of:

3. Put into practice improved time Personality Type
Learning Style
management skills Optional Competencies
Influence/Negotiation
Service
Optional-Supervisors
Goal Setting
Stress Management
Action Steps: Timeline for Completion

Develop ways I can improve my time

management skills Over the next 1 year

Attend training and development sessions on

time management Over the next 3 months

Put into practice my newly acquired time

management skills Over the next 1 year

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Goal: IMPROVE ACCURACY/ ATTENTION TO DETAIL OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS

Strategies to Enhance Personal

and Core competencies
Functional/Technical skills
Professional Competencies. Analytical Thinking
Leadership skills
1. Implement a double-checking system Creativity
Project Management
for important tasks into my daily Critical Thinking
Problem Solving/ Decision Making
routine Communication
Time Management
2. Breaking down complex tasks into Integrity / Values
Accuracy/Attention to Detail
smaller and manageable chunks Understands environmental issues

3. Take short breaks between tasks to Consider the Impact of:

Personality Type
maintain concentration. Learning Style
Optional Competencies
Influence/Negotiation
Service
Optional-Supervisors
Goal Setting
Stress Management
Action Steps: Timeline for Completion

Implement a double-checking system into my Over the next 1 month

daily tasks

Break down complex tasks into smaller and Over the next 1 week

manageable chunks

Take short breaks between tasks to maintain Over the next 1 week

concentration

REFERENCES
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Doyle, A. (2021, March 13). These are the communication skills employers look for in
employees. The Balance. https://www.thebalancemoney.com/communication-skills-list-
2063779

Elder, L., & Paul, R. (2010, October). Universal intellectual standards.

https://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/universal-intellectual-standards/527

Folkman, Z. (2023). The EXTRAORDINARY LEADER. Zengerfolkman. Retrieved December 7,

2023, from https://assessments.zfco.com/Administration/ViewReport.aspx?rid=24887a2e-
621a-42e0-991d-5305fbe1af7d.

Mindtools. (2023). How Good Are Your Project Management Skills?. MindTools.
https://www.mindtools.com/a29u54f/how-good-are-your-project-management-skills

Optimalthinking. (2022, September 24). Interpersonal Communication Skills Assessment quiz.

OptimalThinking.com.
https://www.optimalthinking.com/personal-optimization/communication-skills-assessment/

Psychology today, LLC. (2023). Psychology Today: Health, help, happiness + find a therapist.
https://psychologytoday.tests.psychtests.com/bin/report?
req=MTF8MzIwOHw0NjEyNjY0MHwwfDE&refempt=

MindTools. (2023). Self Assessment. https://www.mindtools.com/aoubxrt/how-good-is-your-

problem-solving

Queendom. (n.d.). Attention to Detail Test. Attitude & Lifestyle tests.

https://www.queendom.com/queendom_tests/transfer

World, P. (2023, September 14). How does over thinking impact our decision-making power?.
Psychologs Magazine | Mental Health Magazine | Psychology Magazine | Self-Help
Magazine. https://www.psychologs.com/how-does-overthinking-impact-our-decision-
making-power/