My Personal Development Plan

Table of contents

Introduction Areas that need development Your strengths Your action plan Key contacts Resources

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Created by Business Link 30 July 2011 16:38 If you would like to come back and see how much you have improved, or update your current list of actions, please visit My Business at businesslink.gov.uk

My Personal Development Plan | Created on 30 July 2011 16:38 Crown copyright 2010

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Introduction
To help ensure success for your business, a company owner needs to have a broad range of skills relating to management and leadership. Based on your current role and situation, this tool has prioritisedthe most important areas that you need to concentrate on and will point you in the right direction for furtheradvice and training Don't forget that as long as you have saved your plan online, you can visit our website at any timeto update your plan and see how much your skills have improved. This tool has been based on the National Occupational Standards for Management and Leadership. View the full standards at http://www.management-standards.org.uk - Opens in a new window

Areas that need development

Skills that need some development

Communicating Decision-making Information Management

Problem Solving Leadership Thinking Strategically

Reviewing Negotiating Involving Others

You have lower scores for the skills needed in each of the following areas. This doesn't mean that you cannot do these tasks or haven't done them well in the past. It simply means that in order to be truly successful in these areas, you may need to brush up on some skills and get some advice on how to go about the following actions. 1. Recruit, select and keep staff Excellent performance in this area results in being able to: talk with colleagues who are leaving your area of responsibility to identify and discuss their reasons for leaving regularly review the work required in your area, identifying any shortfall in the number of staff, skills or experience consult with others to produce or update job descriptions and person specifications consult with others to agree methods, timings and responsibilities in the recruitment and selection process judge whether the recruitment has been successful and identify any areas for improvement

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In order to improve in this area, you may want to get some advice on: how to measure staff turnover, the effects of high and low staff turnover and how to address any problems how to review the workload in your area to identify any shortfalls and the different options for addressing them what job descriptions and person specifications should cover different stages and methods in the recruitment and selection process why it is important to give fair, clear and accurate information on vacancies how to take account of equality and diversity issues, when recruiting, selecting and keeping colleagues Download full details of the Recruit, Select and Keep Staff Unit from the MSC website (PDF) - Opens in a new window 2. Lead change Excellent performance in this area results in being able to: communicate your vision of the future, the reasons for the change and the benefits to everyone involved make sure the people responsible for planning and implementing change understand their responsibilities set and prioritise objectives for the change identify strategies for achieving the vision and communicate them clearly to everyone involved communicate progress to everyone involved and celebrate achievement identify and deal with obstacles to change In order to improve in this area, you may want to get some advice on: the main models and methods for leading organisational change and their strengths and weaknesses principles and application of risk assessment how to use different leadership styles and behaviours for different circumstances the political, bureaucratic and resource barriers to change, and the techniques for dealing with these how to use different methods of communication in various circumstances stakeholder expectations and how they influence the change process Download full details of the Lead Change Unit from the MSC website (PDF) Opens in a new window 3. Promote equality and diversity in my business Excellent performance in this area results in being able to: identify the business' and your personal responsibilities and liabilities under equality legislation review the diversity and needs of the business' current and potential customers review the diversity of the workforce in comparison to the local or national population ensure that your business has a written equality and diversity policy that is clearly communicated to staff and stakeholders
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ensure that the equality and diversity policy is supported by an action plan ensure that systems are in place to monitor, review and report on progress In order to improve in this area, you may want to get some advice on: the business case for ensuring equality of opportunity and promoting diversity the different forms which discrimination and harassment might take how and where to identify the business' and your personal responsibilities and liabilities under equality legislation how to identify the diversity and needs of your workforce and your current and potential customers how to communicate a written equality and diversity policy to staff and stakeholders what should be covered in an action plan Download full details of the Promote Equality and Diversity in your Business Unit from the MSC website (PDF) - Opens in a new window 4. Manage risk Excellent performance in this area results in being able to: ensure that your business has a written risk management policy that is clearly communicated to all relevant people establish and regularly review risk criteria seeking views of staff and stakeholders collect and evaluate information from across the business on how identified risks have been dealt with encourage people to take acceptable risks and to make and learn from their mistakes ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to support effective risk management monitor and review effectiveness In order to improve in this area, you may want to get some advice on: types of risk and the key factors which drive them key stages in the risk management process how to develop a written risk management policy, what it should cover and when to revise it how to communicate the written risk management policy to staff and stakeholders the types of decisions and actions that might be taken in relation to identified risks how to establish effective systems for monitoring the risk management process Download full details of the Manage Risk Unit from the MSC website (PDF) Opens in a new window 5. Develop a strategic business plan Excellent performance in this area results in being able to: establish a clear, achievable and compelling vision, which sets out where the
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business should be going identify and prioritise strategic objectives that are consistent with the vision of the business balance risk with desired outcomes and innovation with tried and tested solutions delegate responsibility for achieving goals and allocate resources effectively identify measures and methods for monitoring and evaluating the plan In order to improve in this area, you may want to get some advice on: the principles of strategic management and business planning what a written strategic plan should cover how to identify potential risks in relation to the achievement of objectives how to develop strategic objectives that are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-based) how to delegate responsibility and allocate resources how to develop methods for monitoring and evaluating performance against the plan Download full details of the Develop a Strategic Business Plan Unit from the MSC website (PDF) - Opens in a new window

Your strengths
The skills you scored highest in

Monitoring Planning Consulting

Evaluating Presenting Information Prioritising

Valuing and Supporting Others Analysing Setting Objectives

You have scored highly in the skills needed for each of the following areas. This means that you have the capability and existing knowledge to carry out any of these associated tasks though you may still want to get some help along the way (see our list of contacts). 1. Map my business environment You have the ability to obtain crucial information to support planning and decision making eg information on your customers, competitors, market trends, new technologies and legislation Download full details of the Map my Business Environment Unit from the MSC website (PDF) - Opens in a new window 2. Plan the workforce You are able to consider the strategic objectives and plans of the business to decide whether the workforce should be expanded, maintained or contracted
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Download full details of the Plan the Workforce Unit from the MSC website (PDF) Opens in a new window 3. Develop operational plans You have the skills that will allow you to develop and implement an operational plan, which will help achieve the objectives in the strategic business plan Download full details of the Develop Operational Plans Unit from the MSC website (PDF) - Opens in a new window 4. Put the business plan into action You are able to agree measures for success, carefully monitor the implementation of the plan and make adjustments along the way Download full details of the Put the Business Plan into Action Unit from the MSC website (PDF) - Opens in a new window 5. Develop working relationships with stakeholders You are aware of the roles, responsibilities, interests and concerns of colleagues and stakeholders and work with and support them in various ways. Download full details of the Develop Working Relationships with Stakeholders Unit from the MSC website (PDF) - Opens in a new window

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Your action plan

The following plan includes the actions you have previously selected and links to suggested resources. Action 1. Recruit, select and keep staff Resources When

Complete Find local courses about within 3 recruiting, selecting and keeping months staff from the learndirect website - Opens in a new window Find local events about recruiting, selecting and keeping staff from our events directory Opens in a new window

2.

Lead change

Complete Find local courses about leading within 3 change from the learndirect months website - Opens in a new window Find local events about leading change from our events directory - Opens in a new window

3.

Promote equality and diversity in my business

Complete Find local courses about within 3 promoting equality and diversity months in your business from the learndirect website - Opens in a new window Find local events about promoting equality and diversity in your business from our events directory - Opens in a new window

4.

Manage risk

Find local courses about managing risk from the

Complete within 6 Page 7

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learndirect website - Opens in a new window Find local events about managing risk from our events directory - Opens in a new window 5. Develop a strategic business plan

months

Complete Find local courses about within 6 developing a strategic business months plan from the learndirect website - Opens in a new window Find local events about developing a strategic business plan from our events directory Opens in a new window

Key contacts
Acas: Acas runs training sessions on a wide range of employment topics. Many of these are specially designed for smaller businesses. Tel: 08457 47 47 47 Website: www.acas.org.uk - Opens in a new window Learndirect: Learndirect can offer you free advice on courses, careers, funding and childcare. Search through 936,468 courses throughout the UK. Tel: 0800 100 900 Website: www.learndirect-advice.co.uk - Opens in a new window Investors in people: The Investors in People Standard is a business improvement tool designed to advance an organisation?s performance through its people. It is flexible enough to apply to any organisation and sets a standard for good practice in matching what people can do and are motivated to do, with what the organisation needs them to do.
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Tel: 020 7467 1900 Website: www.iipuk.co.uk - Opens in a new window

Resources
Find out if you are elgible for any grants or support on our Grants and Support Directory website - Opens in a new window Find a professional body or trade association using our contacts directory - Opens in a new window Find a business support organisation using our contacts directory - Opens in a new window Find a sector skills councils for your specific industry at the Skills for business website - Opens in a new window Read the employer's guide to training providers on the Learning and & Skills Council website - Opens in a new window Read guidance on 360-degree appraisals on the Chartered Institute of Management Institute Management website - Opens in a new window Find details of regional and local organisations on the British Chambers of Commerce website - Opens in a new window See which organisations participate in networking on the Higher Education and Research Opportunities website - Opens in a new window Read about e-learning and search for e-learning providers on the e-learning centre website - Opens in a new window Read about mentoring on the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation website - Opens in a new window Locate workplace training or seminars in your area on the Acas website - Opens in a new window Related guidance on businesslink.gov.uk

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Skills and training for directors and owners - Opens in a new window How to find a training provider / course - Opens in a new window Control staff turnover - Opens in a new window Create a written statement of employment - Opens in a new window Recruiting and interviewing - Opens in a new window Meet the need for work-life balance - Opens in a new window Benefits of flexible working - Opens in a new window Taking on staff - the options - Opens in a new window Prevent discrimination and value diversity - Opens in a new window Identifying and managing risks to your business - Opens in a new window Prepare a business plan - Opens in a new window

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