This is a solution of HND Business Developing Manager Assignment, describe about the must have skills for developing manager.
A) Assessment of Management Skills Performance
I undertook a skill gap analysis pertaining to the skills that are related to the management and those that should be possessed to become an effective manager. I think that it is of significant importance that one checks if he/she has the capability to be able to achieve the dream followed by them, because in case a person is unable to lead himself from the point of start-up, it is possible that the individual will not be able to become a successful manager. I learnt the various essential skills that a manager is required to demonstrate and evaluated my skills against the standards so as to understand the areas that I am skilled in and the areas that I need to work upon.
The self – assessment was carried out for understanding learning process and my performance as far as the skills of the manager are concerned. The various skills that are deemed necessary in management are evaluated through marking done from scale of 1 to 10, where 10 refers to competency in the skills, while 1 shows need of improvement in that particular skill.
Time Management
I have been a great supporter of the necessity of punctuality as well as in-time delivery of task. In the present situation, with regards to the particular skill, I would rank myself at an 8. I ensure that the work is completed before the time so that I get time to go through the completed task for ensuring effectiveness. I have the habit of maintaining a diary, where I schedule my work and make sure that I give the required time to every task and try not to over or under schedule. However, due to the bent for effectiveness and timely work, I sometimes deny on some tasks. I think I need to improve upon this aspect for being more efficient in time management
Leadership Skills
A manager should be able to lead by example. They should be innovative in the tasks that they are required to perform and work on improving the task efficiency by trying various methods of achieving a goal. I believe that I possess this skill, since I was the section leader in the school as well as batch leader in the college. At various times, I have been elected by the people for leading the groups. Therefore, I give myself a rank of 9 in this aspect.
Skills of Research and Analytics
Although I have always made attempt to be quite pro-active to identify the probable issues, I would give myself a ranking of 8, since I think that I need to learn better use of advanced analytical tools.
Decision?making skills
There are a lot of things and actions that depend on the decisions taken by the managers. (Harwell, 2009) I rank myself at a 9 in this skill. I ensure that there are timely and proper decisions take and I consider several aspects before making a concluding remark.
Planning and Organising Skills
A manager should possess skills so as to be able to plan and organize effectively. (Management Centre Europe, 2013) “Planning involves setting goals and objectives and formulating strategies as well as developing action plan for implementation.” (Entrepreneur and Entrepreneurship) As soon as a plan is designed, it is required to be organized in a manner that it assists in smooth implementation. In these regards, I am quite particular. I commence a task with effective planning and organize it before its implementation. Hence, I give myself a rank of 10 here.
Awareness of Market and Financial Ability
In addition it is required that a manager is capable of thinking financially, like, wage calculation, estimation and computation of cost of materials, etc. I make all the efforts for having market awareness; I believe that there is need of learning more about the financial facet, especially, the detailed computations. Thus, I give myself a rank of 8 here.
Communication and People Skills
It is necessary that they have communication and people skills, such that they are able to effectively deal with people, together with management of any kind of disputes. I would rank myself at a 9 in this skill. I think that I have demonstrated triumph in management and resolution of disputes that involved different people in school, college, or friend group. I am fond of communicating with people and I like listening to others before I arrive at conclusion.
Largely, as per my evaluation, it appears that I have most of the skills that a manager should possess; however, need to improve time management, research and analytical skills, and financial ability.
b) Personal Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
Success is likely to be achieved if the talents are utilized to the best possible extent. In the similar manner, there will be lesser problems to be faced in case there is awareness about the personal weaknesses, since if the weaknesses are managed, they would not adversely impact the work that is carried out. The best way of being able to identify the strengths, weaknesses, as well as conducting analysis of the threats and opportunities, which flow from them is the use of the technique of SWOT analysis. (Mind Tools, 2014)
The reason that the SWOT analysis is quite powerful is that, with just giving some time of thinking, this technique might help in uncovering opportunities, which one might not have been able to discover otherwise. Through gaining understanding of the weaknesses, one can effectively undertake management and elimination of threats, which may otherwise hurt the capability of moving forward. Looking at oneself through the SWOT framework, one might commence separating self from the others, and subsequently develop the specialized abilities and talents that are needed for career advancement. (Brooks, 2013)
Strengths
The strengths in the equation of SWOT represent what is done better by the person and the skills and traits that make a person unique. The various strengths that I have with regards to the managerial skills are leadership skills, decision-making skills, planning and organizing skills, and communication and people skills. I believe that these would be quite helpful in making me a good manager. In addition to these, there are several strengths that I believe that I possess and would facilitate performance in various spheres of career. I ensure a strong follow through. I have a strong sense of articulation and hence I am able to be expressive and communicative. There is balance that I effectively maintain in work-life perspective that helps me to evenly distribute my time to both personal and professional lives and hence there is minimum mental pressure. I am quite ambitions, which supports the accomplishment of the tasks that I desire to achieve and motivates me to keep up the high spirits.
Weaknesses
The weaknesses faction of the SWOT technique inspects the various domains needed by an individual for improvement and that would set them back at the time of selection of the career. (Brooks, 2013) My weaknesses in relation to the various managerial skills include poor market awareness and financial ability, time management, and research and analytical skills. I am consistently making efforts towards being able to overcome these weaknesses through taking training in the finance, reading and studying more of market related news, and taking coaching for effectively using the research and analytical tools. With respect to time management, I am making consistent attempts to be able to manage time by effectively completing tasks and thus being able to accommodate all of the important jobs. Even though I regard compulsiveness as my strength, it sometimes leads me to begrudge being given tasks that is stress of several jobs as well as requirement for doing all of the jobs effectively could lead me to think unkind about people or the situations that create the task. Another weakness that I feel can cause obstruction is that I become impatient at times and at those times I am weak in tolerating the ones who take time in understanding or do not understand. To overcome this, I perform various exercises that help me retain my patience. At the times that I have a lot of work pressure, I tend to be disturbed because I feel that I cannot handle several tasks at one time.
Opportunities
I like to communicate with people, understand them, counsel them, and provide such resolutions in disputes that all the involved parties are satisfied with the decision. Keeping this in mind, I believe that I can be an effective manager in the human resource department, which mostly handle the problems and concerns of the people and deal with people aspects. While doing the self-analysis, I think that it would be a good option to request others that they provide feedback about what they think of me as a person and a manager. Another area of opportunity is that of receiving coaching and training in the market awareness and usage of research and analytical tools. To gain better understanding of the role of the manager an how to effectively perform in the role, I would take an opportunity of learning from others who have the respectable managerial positions. Next opportunity identified is that of enhancing my ability of managing the need for completing the jobs quickly and effectively so as to be able to perform better.
Threats
The threat section of the SWOT technique considers the external factors, which might hurt a person’s effectiveness. With the advanced courses and options, there are several people who now have the degree of becoming a manager, and hence there is increased competition, which might lead to e not being able to attain the position that I want to. At the time of execution of tasks, I might be faced with time pressure that may disrupt my planning of self-improvement, since it propels me back towards my usual habit of delaying tasks due to time pressure perspectives.
While the various strengths that I possess, would help me in the effective accomplishment of my aims and objectives, the weaknesses my hinder the flow and hence it is important to keep working on the various ways that can reduce or eliminate the weak points.
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c) Setting and Prioritising Objectives and Targets
It is important that the objectives and targets are set and prioritised so as to develop the potential. There are several benefits derived out of personal goal setting. These objectives and targets provide clear as well as focused direction and hence provide a sense of purpose and security. It helps in maximising the use of time because of being aware of what needs to be achieved and when. By knowing what is required, there is high enthusiasm because then we are tending to achieve the objectives that we have set for ourselves. There is success most likely when the objectives are set because steady move towards it as well as achievement of the results one actually wants. With the set goals, the self-esteem is boosted, and there is increase in the confidence and belief in the ability of making things happen and provide feel of being in control. (Nikitina)
The objectives and targets that I have include
- Attaining the training on the financial abilities by the end of the year 2014.
- Maintaining time effectiveness schedule so as to check the improvement in time management and be able to take up additional two tasks per day by July 2014.
- Completing the training on the usage of research and analytical tools by August 2014 and then learning to apply it to the project in September 2014. The point of evaluation would be the accuracy of the results derived from using the tools.
- Working on the various managerial skills so as to demonstrate improvement.
- Attaining a managerial position in a reputable organization in the field of human resource by March 2015.
- Achieving 5% higher grades in the upcoming tests.
- Working more on the exercises of attaining patience to be tested by being able to control on impatience at two instances in a day.
- Working on the creative and innovative aspect by carrying out the next project in an innovative manner.
I believe in setting and prioritising goals since they help me concentrate better on my career, help me deal with stress and anxiety, give me more of self-confidence, help me perform better with an outlook, an overall, give me a sense of satisfaction. The above objectives are listed in priority and I have drafted them using the SMART technique. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. These objectives help me get clear insight of my goals in a bird’s eye view and help me plan my career effectually.
d) Managerial and Personal Skills Support to Career Development
The prime step towards development of career goals is assessment of one’s own individual characteristics – the managerial skills, various interests, the dislikes and the likes, the strengths and weaknesses and then matching the person’s profile for a particular career objective. (Developing Your Career) The career that I want to make is that of a human resource manager. To become an effective human resource manager, the essential skills required are that of organization, multitasking, communication, people management, Conflict Management and Problem Solving, and change management. Looking at the self-assessment that I conducted on the various managerial skills and the SWOT analysis, I can say that the skills that I have would help me in becoming an effective human resources manager, as most of the requisites are already owned by me.
An HR manager needs to follow a sequential approach. They should have files organized properly, strong skills of time management, as well as personal effectiveness. (Bruce, 2006) Going back to the self-assessment, I ranked myself at a 10 with regards to planning and organizing skills and hence my skills suit well to the career that I have chosen. The HR manager is expected to communicate with the top management, with parallel managers, with the potential employees, as well as with several existing employees. Most of the time, the communication is done in writing, or through addressing a large or small group, and nowadays, also through the medium of social media. Therefore, the HR managers are required to be convincing, believable, and caring. (Bruce, 2006) I rated myself at 9 in the aspect of the communication skills and in addition, I have received several accolades for my writing skills, therefore, I would be able to do well in this skill set as well.
It has to be admitted and understood that all the people do not get along with all others. There are several conflicts that occur amid people in a workplace. The HR manager should be able to resolve such issues and provide good and balancing resolution. (Bruce, 2006) I ranked myself at a 9 in people skills where I think that I have demonstrated triumph in management and resolution of disputes that involved different people in school, college, or friend group. I am fond of communicating with people and I like listening to others before I arrive at conclusion.
Various companies currently are in a state of flux constantly. There has been a squash demonstrated in the hierarchies and companies have several generations, ranging from four to five, which works side by side. (Bruce, 2006) There are several changes that are taking place and it is important that an effective HR manager accepts these changes and conduct change management. One of my strengths is that of flexibility and hence I adapt myself to changing for good.
e) Personal Development Plan
Personal development plan helps the people for taking charge of the learning. Learning involves both processes- proactive as well as reactive, framed, drafted, and prioritised for supporting instantaneous needs of development and the ambitions of longer term. The Personal Development Plan (PDP) that follows would help in identifying the main learning and development areas, which would facilitate in either acquiring new skills or hone on the current skills as well as behavioural features so as to improve current role performance, deal with predictable modifications in their present function, and deal with aspirations of career in the direction of a future role.
Plan
Objectives
- Attaining a managerial position in a reputable organization in the field of human resource by March 2015.
Activities to be undertaken to become HR Manager
- Attaining the training on the financial abilities by the end of the year 2014.
- Maintaining time effectiveness schedule so as to check the improvement in time management and be able to take up additional two tasks per day by July 2014.
- Completing the training on the usage of research and analytical tools by August 2014 and then learning to apply it to the project in September 2014. The point of evaluation would be the accuracy of the results derived from using the tools.
- Working on the various managerial skills so as to demonstrate improvement.
- Achieving 5% higher grades in the upcoming tests.
- Working more on the exercises of attaining patience to be tested by being able to control on impatience at two instances in a day.
- Working on the creative and innovative aspect by carrying out the next project in an innovative manner.
Target Date for Achieving Objectives
The target date for achieving the main objective of becoming a lead in human resource management is March 2015.
Milestones
- July 2014 – Improvement on Time Management
- August 2014 - Training on the usage of research and analytical tools
- September 2014 - Achieving 5% higher grades in the upcoming tests.
- December 2014 - Training on the financial abilities
Evaluation
The evaluation will be done in the following months so as to understand the progress of the plan and the improvements and achievements that are set in the plan. The dates that the evaluation will be conducted are:
31st July
31st August
30th September
31st October
30th November, and
31st December
After checking the status of the progress on the evaluation dates, it would be further identified if a new plan has to be put into place to overcome the failure of the plan or if the date of the plan has to be amended so as to incorporate expected delays or extend timelines.
References
- Brooks, C. 2013. Personal SWOT Analysis: Finding Your Career Strengths & Weaknesses. Available at: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5543-personal-swot-analysis.html
- Bruce, S. (2006, July 18). The 9 Essential Skills of Human Resources Management – How Many Do You Have?. Available at: http://hrdailyadvisor.blr.com/2006/07/18/the-9-essential-skills-of-human-resources-management-how-many-do-you-have-2/
- Developing Your Career. (n.d.). Available at: http://www.boe.ca.gov/exams/workingyourwayup/career.htm
- Entrepreneur and Entrepreneurship. (n.d.). TT Entrepreneur Weeks 1, 2 3 .
- 2009. How to Become a Manager — 13 Skills You’ll Need. Available at: http://blog.makingitclear.com/2009/06/24/managerskills/
- Laidre, A. 2010. Top 5 Characteristics of a Successful Entrepreneur. Available at: http://www.iplanner.net/business-financial/online/how-to-articles.aspx?article_id=entrepreneur-characteristics
- Management Centre Europe. 2013. 6 Key Skills Every Manager Needs. Available at: http://www.mce-ama.com/six-key-skills-every-manager-needs/
