5 Steps to Creating and Achieving Your Personal Development Plan

A personal development plan helps you to grow and achieve.  So why do so few people take the time to create one?  Two potential reasons are:

• Lack of know how
• Fear of limiting themselves

There are 5 key steps in creating a personal development plan

1. Do a personal stock-take of your strengths and development needs.  As well as your own assessment get the input of others.  They can often see talents that you don’t

1. Think about what development will help you most in achieving your goals

1. Decide which methods of delivery will have greatest impact on your learning

1. Set out a calendar of development events for the next 12 months

1. Put an accountability structure in place to ensure you follow through

So what are the benefits of creating a personal development plan?

1. You give a clear message that you take your contribution to business success seriously

1. You can start to work on the areas that are less developed so that you become even more of an asset to your employer

1. If things are not progressing as you would like career wise you can demonstrate to a potential new employer what you can contribute with real impact

1. You take informed choices about the type of roles you pursue rather than leaving it to chance

1. You continue to grow, be motivated and stretch yourself to achieve what you desire