Personal Effectiveness Objectives for today’s lesson Look at a method for identifying learning and development needs Identify your own learning and development needs by carrying out a personal/professional skills audit using the above method Produce your own personal/professional development plan

Looking at methods for identifying learning and development needs A technique that could assist you with identifying your learning and development needs is a: GAP analysis This technique is only as good as the time, effort, information, and thought you put into applying it

Looking at methods for identifying learning and development needs To start applying GAP analysis techniques you need to consider your: current skills profile skill areas you possibly need to improve Communication Influencing etc Realistic time scales for said improvements

GAP analysis could help you go from A to B

GAP analysis Where am I now Where would I like to get to How am I going to “Bridge the GAP”

GAP analysis steps Examine and describe where you would like to get to: the levels of knowledge and skills required the attitude required of the person undertaking this role Do not base this too closely on a specific job in a specific company, or an individual doing said job

GAP analysis steps Examine and describe where you are now in relation to where you want to get: the levels of knowledge and skills you already have your current work attitude

GAP analysis steps Is there a training or development GAP between: the levels of knowledge and skills you already have your current work attitude AND THE levels of knowledge and skills required for where you would like to get to the attitude required of the person undertaking the role you would like to move to

Bridging the GAP List what needs to be done From minor matters that need only a small amount of effort to possibly acquiring a range of additional skills Rate the list in terms of priorities You will not be able to do all the list instantly so some clear thinking is needed on priorities

Bridging the GAP Put some timing to it Having established priorities you need to consider when thing are to be done What is urgent What can be postponed without causing problems What can be addressed in parts (Perhaps something can be done early on, but “follow up” actions also need to be undertaken at a later date )

Bridging the GAP Consider the most suitable methods This needs to relate quite closely to timing What training is required What new “hands on” experience is required Do I know a suitable “Mentor” Can I get a suitable “Sponsor” Should/can I join a professional body etc

Bridging the GAP Calculate the cost Not only in terms of money but also in terms of: How will it affect you doing your current job The effect on your social life The effect on your private/family life The ability to do non-employer related “jobs” such as DIY and Gardening etc

Bridging the GAP Link it to an action plan The net result of these deliberations needs to be documented and turned into a plan: A weekly action plan Tasks to be undertaken on a given week Desired outcome from completing a task Actual outcome of completed task Date for starting task Date for completing task

Bridging the GAP Link it to an action plan (cont.) The net result of these deliberations needs to be documented and turned into a plan: Follow on task(s) from completed task Comments on an individual task Weekly achievement summary Reasons for a task not being completed on target date Feedback from course review sessions

Bridging the GAP Do a survey of the job postings from at least two or three major job sites Print out all the job postings for positions you might want to have at some point in the future. Take it all the way up the line to CEO and President, if that is your mission List all of the job responsibilities, duties, tasks and functions List all of the experience, skills and knowledge required List all the keywords or industry buzzwords. Note where you are now in relation to where you want to be in the future. Take note of any and all gaps, both present and future. Then checkmark all the gaps that you can change

Milestone decisions As you make progress with the actions on your plan you will have to make decisions Decision making techniques will be covered in detail in a later lesson, though a brief look at one of these methods ... SWOT analysis ... will start the ball rolling and get you used to combining together techniques to assist you with your personal effectiveness development

SWOT analysis S Strengths W Weaknesses O Opportunities T Threats

Using a SWOT Analysis in Your Career Planning

Using a SWOT Analysis in Your Career Planning To construct your own SWOT analysis to set a course for your career planning, examine your current situation. What are your strengths and weaknesses? How can you capitalize on your strengths and overcome your weaknesses? What are the external opportunities and threats in your chosen career field

Using a SWOT Analysis in Your Career Planning Strengths- Internal positive aspects that are under control and upon which you may capitalize in planning ·Work Experience ·Education, including value-added features ·Strong technical knowledge within your field (e.g. hardware, software, programming languages) ·Specific transferable skills (e.g., communication, teamwork, leadership skills ·Personal characteristics (e.g., strong work ethic, self-discipline, ability to work under pressure, creativity, optimism, or a high level of energy ·Good contacts/successful networking ·Interaction with professional organizations Weaknesses- Internal negative aspects that are under your control and that you may plan to improve ·Lack of Work Experience ·Low GPA, wrong major ·Lack of goals, lack of self-knowledge, lack of specific job knowledge ·Weak technical knowledge ·Weak skills (leadership, interpersonal, communication, teamwork) ·Weak job-hunting skills ·Negative personal characteristics (e.g., poor work ethic, lack of discipline, lack of motivation, indecisiveness, shyness, too emotional

Using a SWOT Analysis in Your Career Planning X T R N A L Opportunities Positive external conditions that you do not control but of which you can plan to take advantage ·Positive trends in your field that will create more jobs (e.g., growth, globalization, technological advances) ·Opportunities you could have in the field by enhancing your education ·Opportunities you could have through greater self-knowledge, more specific job goals ·Opportunities for advancement in your field ·Opportunities for professional development in your field ·Geography Threats Negative external conditions that you do not control but the effect of which you may be able to lessen ·Negative trends in your field that diminish jobs (downsizing, obsolescence) ·Competitors with superior skills, experience, knowledge ·Competitors with better job-hunting skills than you ·Competitors who went to schools with better reputations. ·Limited professional development in your field, so it’s hard to stay marketable ·  Companies are not hiring people with your major/degree

Always Remember What lies behind us and what lies before are tiny matters compared to what lies within us Oliver Wendell Holmes