A Personal Development Plan in Plain English

By Jessie Chatwin


If you would like build a personal development plan which enables you you to actually achieve your objectives, solid preparation will be the answer. Preparation already gets underway with your interest of reading this article, and that means you seem to be a great step ahead! However, there is also a much more to it. Suppose I showed you the way to use some great preparation techniques to develop a powerful personal development plan that takes you on the way to your big goals, what do you think?

A personal development plan - decoded

You may well ask: "What is really a personal development plan?" The official Wikipedia answer* to the process about the personal development plan is the following: "Personal development planning is the process of creating an action plan based on awareness, values, reflection, goal-setting and planning for personal development within the context of a career, education, relationship or for self-improvement."

In my simple terms: "A personal development plan is a plan of action that gets you from where you are right now to where you want to be in future. This may incorporate learning hard skills (like project management skills) along with soft skills (like active listening)."

Is it a little clearer now? Can it be complicated to generate a personal development plan? It can be. Everything could be complicated. In my humble view, it is also a question of mindset. Hence....

...why do we need a personal development plan?

Consider two benefits right this moment. Ready? There can be great benefits, both for you and your employer, if everything ends up as planned. In the event you finish this program as a project management professional, for instance, you can be referred to as the project management expert within your company and be engaged in different interesting projects. Added values for both parties.

There can be huge benefits, for both you as well as your employer, if everything ends up as planned. In the event you finish the course to be a project management professional, for instance, you can be referred to as the project management expert within your company and also be involved in different interesting projects. Added value for both parties.

1. A business related formal personal development plan: This is often a action plan linked with an annual interview or maybe action plan after a training. In terms of motivation, you will need to resonate with all the goals, even those suggested via your superior. 2. A private-related motivation, this may be a formal or informal plan. Should you decide to be a professional writer within the next 10 years, it could be helpful to do a formal planning. 3. A combination of the above mentioned. However the question remains, how can you get it done?

Easy methods to develop a powerful personal development plan

The right way to write a powerful personal development plan

When I make a personal development plan, I personally use the subsequent questions as a guideline to prepare myself best as well as make this plan as useful as you can. Otherwise, I risk to lose the red thread. It doesn't matter how much motivation I have, without a logic plan, I'm not really getting very far.

1. Why should I want to write this personal development plan? Consult the top of this post, if you want a few recommendations.

1. Why do I want to write this self development plan? Refer to the top of this article, if you would like some tips.

1. Goal 2. Success criteria (How will you know you succeeded? Can you use the certificate of completion after your course? Do you have KPIs in place? Be concrete.) 3. Action outline (What will I actually do to achieve those objectives?) 4. Implementation (How will I practice what I learn?) 5. Timeline (and deadline) 6. Goal category/Skill (especially useful, when there is a mix between business and personal related goals) 7. Goal priority (Weighting system: Discuss with your superior which goal is currently most vital. Hopefully the two of you agree.)

3. How to write?

3. How to write?

1. Profit from your company's templates, if available. You possibly may also re-purpose them for your personal objectives. Otherwise, simply use a straightforward spreadsheet initially with the key categories stated previously.

3. Goal & Action outline: If you like to combine a goal with a key activity, I recommend you utilize the following formula: I commit to [Verb] + [Precise Goal] + [Frequency Per Week] + [Optional: duration] + [Purpose] = Action

3. Goal & Action plan: If you like to combine a goal with a key activity, I suggest you use the following formula: I commit to [Verb] + [Precise Goal] + [Frequency Per Week] + [Optional: duration] + [Purpose] = Action

4. When to write? If business related, this will depend on the situations. Is this plan linked to your annual objectives? Has it been triggered during a training? Throughout a 360 Feedback process? In all cases, you ought to be informed beforehand by your management.

5. What to draw? Finally, yes, I really believe plans should not only consist of words and numbers. Make a drawing on a different page, simply for your own personal use. Draw a picture or a symbol that you just link with your desired outcome of the plan. It does not have to be pretty.

5. What to draw? Finally, yes, I do believe plans should not only contain words and numbers. Make a drawing on another page, just for your own private use. Draw an image or even a symbol that you just link to your desired outcome of the plan. It does not have to be pretty.

What should you do once it is on paper?

Has the question on "What is a personal development plan?" been answered for you personally? What is your opinion about this type of detailed preparation? Does this make sense?




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment