Personal Development Portfolio: Enhancing your strategic proficiency in the workplace
“The last three sessions of the personal development Portfolio touched on crucial areas like corporation and influencing, as well as negotiations and consulting skills. Integrating these topics into the Personal Development Portfolio sessions was vital in clarifying my goals, deepening my understanding, and honing invaluable training abilities. I anticipate that these experiences will positively impact both my academic journey at MSM and my future career path. This class has been transformative, and I'm grateful for the chance to delve into various aspects of personal growth and development.”
This is how current Master in Management student Edith Gyekye from Ghana experienced the final three workshops of the Personal Development Portfolio: Cooperation skills, Influencing skills and Consulting skills. Fellow peer Allan Hernandez Ibarra from Mexico adds to that: “The way these classes were taught made a big difference for me. We did a lot of group activities and role-playing. This hands-on approach helped me learn how to communicate effectively in a team. Getting to apply these skills in practice rather than just listening worked well for me.”
The Personal Development Portfolio (PDP) is an essential component of the MSM Master in Management programme, designed to offer insights and skills tailored to enhance participants' effectiveness both during their studies at MSM and in their future professional careers.
Edith particularly enjoyed the interactive nature of the workshops: "The teamwork and teambuilding included in the workshops were an important lesson for me. As a management student, knowing and understanding the dynamics of collaboration and the ability to work effectively in diverse team is key to my professional growth."
"Another highlight for me was knowing the basic social skills like: knowing how to use interventions, the art of asking questions (purpose, effect, and time) and interviewing. I deeply believe that this will help me a lot in the data collection stage of my thesis."
Allan agrees that the workshops teach skills that impact other areas of business: "The consulting sessions combined lectures with case studies and discussions. The case studies were particularly useful, applying theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, improving my analytical skills."
Both Edith and Allan expect that the fruit of these workshops will positively impact not only the rest of their academic journey at MSM, but their future career path after graduation as well. Edith mentioned: "The Personal Development Portfolio class has been nothing but an educative and an eye-opening experience that has given me the opportunity and power to do more. I am looking forward to implementing all my learning experiences in my personal and professional development." Allan adds to that saying: "Overall, the workshop's interactive and practical approach made learning much more effective and enjoyable. It's given me valuable tools I can use in my professional life going forward."
About the Personal Development Portfolio
The Personal Development Portfolio (PDP) programme consists of six separate one-day workshops spread out through the Master in Management Academic Year. The purpose of the PDP programme is to acquire insights and to train skills specifically oriented on participants' effectiveness during their study at MSM as well as in their future professional career. The workshops contain a balanced mix of acquiring knowledge and training skills.
The first three workshops are focused on acquiring a deeper understanding of oneself in terms of personal strengths and areas for development; understanding yourself, managing yourself and developing yourself. The second part of the programme consists of three workshops that focus more on being more effective in social interaction situations; communications skills, influencing skills and consulting skills.
Some of the concepts and tools from the programme may have been introduced to the participants before, but the workshops will help them to deepen their understanding and consolidate their ability to use these tools and skills to maximise their future workplace success. The takeaways from this programme consist of practical, impactful learning experiences that can be applied directly as well as later on in the participant's future career. The experiences will be analysed further in a detailed self-reflection report at the end of the programme.
The main overall objectives of the Personal Development Portfolio are:
- To acquire insight in one's own personal strengths and weaknesses
- To acquire insight in several conceptual and practical frameworks for successfully managing oneself and others
- To improve specific self-management skills
- To improve specific managerial skills in relation to cooperation with colleagues
- To create a fundament for further professional skills development
Do you also want to join the Master in Management and fast-forward your career to higher levels? Click here for more information about the programme, the curriculum, the available scholarships and the admission requirements. You can also chat with current students and alumni and get first-hand insights in how they have experienced the programme. The next intake will start in September 2024.
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