What is a development plan?

A development plan is intended to provide guidance for ongoing support and development within your company, as well as to be reviewed periodically with your leader and career sponsors. It is essential to have an alignment meeting at the outset of the process to ensure you and your leader/sponsor agree with your overall goals and key action steps. It is important to keep your development plan confidential and kept separately from traditional employee files. A development plan is not a performance improvement plan but rather a plan that supports employee growth and development. It is likely that an employee’s growth will be associated with his/her business goals but they are not the same.

Five Simple Truths: Development

Below are five factors essential to driving your behavior change, polishing a strength and/or acquiring a new skill.

• Self-awareness/self-monitoring
• Desire/motivation to change
• Ability to change
• Energy and discipline to make changes
• Support systems available

Developmental Formula

Part of professional performance and development involves recognizing the key aspects of building a skill. The formula below describes the various additive components necessary for professional growth or skill development.

Core Components

• Knowledge is required to first understand the development need and to recognize alternative or new behaviors.
• Practice is required because adults learn by doing and demonstrating their skills.
• Attitude requires you to have a growth mindset as attitude is the key to persisting on your journey.
• Feedback is required to make course corrections, reinforce change and fine tune a well-rehearsed skill.