Making A Personal Development Plan [In 5 Steps!]
Sometimes you should just go with the flow.
But having a plan will put your life on track.
Everyone should have a personal development plan.
A personal development plan outlines the following:
- What is important to you?
- What do you want to achieve?
- What do you have that can help you?
- What do you need to do and develop?
Things just flow better with a good plan, they save you time and effort.
Having a guide for every step of the way is going to keep you on track.
We make personal development plans in our line manager courses, so they can improve themselves alongside their employees.
How to Create Yours
Sounds like a complex plan that will be hard to pull together!
But there’s a simple approach to creating your personal development plan.
It’s also important to note that its elements need not be set in stone.
Certain unforeseen factors will arise, and you’ll inevitably need to pivot at some point.
The plan is a guide, it shouldn’t take away your flexibility and ability to adapt.
So, follow these 5 steps and make your own personal development plan.
1. Define Your Goals
Your plan always begins and ends with what you want to accomplish.
Remember to segment your desires from your goals!
Make a list of all your goals, short term and long term.
SMART Goals are a great format for this, and will make it easy to pick which is best to tackle first.
We will filter them down later!
2. Prioritise
The next step is to prioritise.
What is most important?
What will make other bits on the list easier to complete?
Prioritise your list ruthlessly.
Focus on the most important and most impactful goals first.
3. Set A Deadline
As a professional, you know how effective deadlines are at making you move.
It’s the same with goals.
You can have a list of goals, but if you don’t set deadlines, it is unlikely you will finish them.
Instead of saying, “I’ll learn to code someday,” say, “I’ll finish that coding course in three months.”
Be realistic when setting deadlines.
This will also help you to overcome procrastination by organising your tasks!
4. Get support wherever you can
We all need a good support system.
Let’s say you want to switch careers.
Is there someone who’s experienced in that field you can go to for advice?
Speaking it through with someone that is actively listening will help you clarify what you need, and why.
If not, you can even go online and find groups for virtually everything.
You’ll be surprised at how accommodating people can be!
5. Review and adapt
Your personal development plan isn’t set in stone.
Take the time to review what seems to be working and what areas you’ll need to adjust.
The best laid out plans require a level of adaptability, so be prepared to pivot!
Reviewing your plan regularly will allow you to be resilient as you persevere towards your goals.
Conclusion
Taking the time to create a plan is always better than lying around dreaming of a life you could have.
It takes time, effort, and perseverance to achieve any goal.
Having a plan in your back pocket will make it all the easier for you.
