Personal Development Plans can often be “something and nothing” – a paper exercise, but they can also be useful. I am a big promoter of writing plans and has put a yearly plan each january. But when are all the plans at their best?
- Identify clearly the difference between where you are now and where you want and/or need to be
- Link immediate (short-term) objectives and actions with longer-term, wider personal goals
- Have both a developmental (learning) perspective and a career management perspective
- Provide an appropriate level of stretch
- Are motivating and create a bias for action
- Are shared with your support network
- Can be monitored to check that progress is happening and how fast it is happening
Some useful questions to ask
Why do I want this?
How does this goal align with my personal values?
How does it align with the values of the organization?
What will I do when I have reached my goals? How should I celebrate?