Professional Improvement:

NORTH AMERICAN WEED MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION WEED CONTROL MANAGERS PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES A weed control manager's personal improvement opportunities are only limited by himself or herself. It is a matter of making yourself aware of these opportunities and taking advantage of them. While we all probably do what is required and participate in some additional learning opportunities, for most of us it is not a planned process to address our weak points in being a well rounded and professional weed control manager. This is as equally important if you are managing a one person operation, yourself, or if you are managing a large staff.

Outlined here is a process to develop a personal improvement plan.

1. The first step in this process is to assess what it takes you to be a well-rounded professional manager.
2. The second step is to determine what areas you have weaknesses and what areas that you need to keep updated.
3. The third step is to identify improvement activities that will aid you in becoming that well rounded professional weed control manager.
4. The fourth step is to put together a plan and to schedule personal improvement activities for the next year.

Kur and Pedler believe that the greatest improvement in supervisory performance will occur through self-development, using selected organization development techniques. They agree that self-development " is the most complex, difficult form of learning" but they emphasize that it " results in more mature, more competent individuals. " They advise that such learning takes place at three levels:

Kur, C. Edward, and Mike Pedler, " Innovative Twists in Management Development," Training and Development Journal, June 1982, pp. 88-96.

PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT SELF-TEST

Completion of the Personal Improvement Self-Test will assist you in the first two steps in the personal improvement process. It lists some possible work activities as a well-rounded professional weed manager. After selecting and adding those work activities that you determine applicable to your situation, indicate yourcurrent and desired proficiency levels. The work activities that have a desired proficiency level higher than your current level are work activities that should be addressed in your personal improvement plan. Your plan should also include key work activities that require on-going training to keep yourself updated. Instructions on completing the self-test follow:

1. Enter an 'X' in the " Yours" column after each " Possible Work Activity" that will make you a well-rounded professional manager. List on the last page additional work activities that you consider essential.
2. Study the described proficiency levels at the bottom of the first page.
3. Place an 'X' in the appropriate cell to indicate your current proficiency level for each of your selected work activities.
4. Place an 'X' in the appropriate cell to indicate your desired proficiency level for each of your selected work activities.
5. Then place a check mark in front of your indicated work activities that have a higher desired proficiency level than your current proficiency level. These are the work activities that you should be addressing in your personal improvement plan.

PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

The most important reason for a well prepared personal improvement plan is to improve your ability and confidence in being a professional weed control manager. It is also a record of the training you have received. You can use the plan and record of past training to keep your supervisor or board, informed of your strengthened knowledge and abilities. You may want to prepare a long range plan, but annual plans are needed to guide your personal improvement process.

REQUIRED TRAINING - List the training that you plan to take to meet your state or provincial requirements.

OTHER FORMAL TRAINING, COLLEGE COURSES, AND READING & VIDEOS - Include those improvement activities that will strengthen your weaknesses and keep you updated in other areas. Some of the general areas that should be considered are:

MEMBERSHIP IN ASSOCIATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES - List the regional, state or provincial, national and international associations which you are an active member and ones you plan to join. Some that you might consider are:

PRINT THIS FORM FOR PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT SELF-TEST

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