Reference no: EM133157200

Develop and maintain professional competence

Those in a management position should never assume that professional development isn't as important to them as it is for those they manage. Competencies in the workplace refer to a set of skills, attributes or behaviours that are used to decide an individual's effectiveness or ability to perform a job - this includes having a leadership position. Workplace competencies can be behavioural, for example, having excellent verbal communication skills; or technical, which may refer to the ability to resolve conflict. These are all very important in a good manager or leader.

You should be able to document your own development needs, priorities and plans by using the standards of competency that applies to your role.

In general, competency can be improved by:
• Observing those around you - this may be particularly helpful when starting a new job or learning a new skill
• asking questions to improve your knowledge - gaining expertise and insight from those who are more experienced than you
• improving your soft skills - this may involve thinking of how can you improve your attitude, or communicate more effectively
• improving the quality of your work - rectify any mistakes that you've made previously
• learning new skills or technology to improve your skills - this may be needed as result of industry trends or feedback you receive from other employees

Activity: Research and discuss
List the ways in which you maintain your professional competencies either in your current workplace or a position you have previously held.
Research the term "Competency Standards" and provide a list of tools that could be used to assess personal competency standards.

It is good to create a culture of feedback within the workplace so that it is sought actively on an ongoing basis and not to rely only on feedback that is provided in a random manner or at performance management discussions.
To obtain this volume and consistency of feedback the team should:
• Include ‘feedback' as a standing topic at all meeting, briefings, debriefings.
• Ensure new team members are advised of the role of feedback in the team and the need for them to contribute to it.
• Ensure there is a variety of feedback options available so there is plenty of opportunity to provide feedback - as well as meetings etc the team can use casual discussions, text messages, phone calls, emails, non-verbal communication (‘thumbs up', a smile).

Activity: Research and discuss
List the type of tools that you could use to obtain feedback from employees, colleagues and clients.
Have you ever been given feedback that has enabled a positive change in your work practices?

Activity: Practical
You will now be establishing a professional development action plan which you might choose to undertake.
The tasks are as follows:
Create an action plan (use an online template if required) for the following:
• A professionally presented and up-to-date resume.
• Joining a professional network that relates to your industry or one that you are interested in.
• Creating a professional profile on a social media or network such as LinkedIn, establishing networks within the network and posting or showing interaction within the network.
• Undertaking at least one professional development activity that will help you in your job or college life.This could be an online webinar on study skills or a beginner course in Spanish.
• Create a one-year plan to show where you would like to be professionally in 1-3 years from now. Show measurable goals, milestones and explain how these can be achieved.
• Present your work at the end of the content delivery of this unit. You may choose to complete some of your activities in preparation for your assessment.