Friday 22 February 2013

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 - in plain English

"What is really a personal development plan?", you ask? The official Wikipedia response* to the process around 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."

My explanation would be: "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."

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 is it that 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 might be huge benefits, for both you and your employer, if everything ends up as planned. Should you finish the course as a project management professional, as an example, you can be referred to as the project management expert in your company and also be involved in different interesting projects. Added values equally for both parties.

Normally, there are three types of motivation techniques to write a personal development plan:

1. A business related formal personal development plan: This is often an action plan linked to a yearly interview or perhaps an action plan following a training. In terms of motivation, it is very important resonate with all the goals, even those suggested via your manager. 2. A private-related motivation, this is a formal or informal plan. If you are planning to become a professional writer in the following 10 years, it usually is useful to complete a formal planning. 3. A combination of the above mentioned. Nonetheless one question is still open: how could you do it?

The right way to write a powerful personal development plan

Answer the next questions (not necessarily in this particular order):

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 create this self development plan? Consult the top part of this article, if you would like some tips.

2. What to write down? There can be commonly five-seven main categories of a self development plan:

1. Objective 2. Success criteria (How would you know when you have succeeded? Can you use the certificate of completion after your course? Be concrete.) 3. Action plan (What will I really do to accomplish those goals?) 4. Implementation (In what way will I practice the things I have learned?) 5. Timeline (or deadline) 6. Objective category/Skill (especially useful, if you have a mix between business and personal related goals) 7. Objective priority (Including a weighting system)

3. How to write?

2. Goal: Apply reflection time to think about your objectives. This may be, for example, linked to a training or following a 360 Feedback Process.

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 outline: If you'd prefer to combine an objective with a key activity, You should use the following formula: I commit to [Verb] + [Precise Goal] + [Frequency Per Week] + [Optional: duration] + [Purpose] = Action

4. Action: Research on some specific actions. Look at your company's training catalog. Ask people close to you what their favourite course was on topic X. Use Amazon and search for particular keywords to obtain additional ideas. Look at some Educational Media available (internet, podcasts, iTunes U) ... 5. Put your signature on the personal development plan, even when it is just for your personal use. 6. Print out a copy for your office.

4. When to write the plan? If business related, this would depend on the circumstances. Is this plan related to your annual objectives? Has it been initiated during a training course? During a 360 Feedback process? In every case, you ought to be informed in advance.

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.

Keep to the planning, shoot for some progress, not perfection by tomorrow. You'll be more satisfied and for that reason more motivated to keep going. Last, however, not least, be sure you treat yourself occasionally!

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?




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