How to Create a Personal Development Plan: 3 Examples

Personal Development Plan

For successful change, it is vital that the client remains engaged, recognizing and identifying with the goals captured inside and outside sessions. A personal development plan (PDP) creates a focus for development while offering a guide for life and future success (Starr, 2021).

This article introduces and explores the value of personal development plans, offering tools, worksheets, and approaches to boost self-reflection and self-improvement.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Goal Achievement Exercises for free . These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients create actionable goals and master techniques to create lasting behavior change.

This Article Contains

What is personal development 7 theories, coaching in personal development and growth, how to create a personal development plan, 3 examples of personal development plans, defining goals and objectives: 10 tips and tools, fostering personal development skills, 3 inspiring books to read on the topic, resources from positivepsychology.com, a take-home message, frequently asked questions.

Personal development is a fundamental concept in psychology and encompasses the lifelong process of self-improvement, self-awareness, and personal growth. Crucial to coaching and counseling, it aims to enhance various aspects of clients’ lives, including their emotional wellbeing, relationships, careers, and overall happiness (Cox, 2018; Starr, 2021).

Several psychological models underpin and support transformation. Together, they help us understand personal development in our clients and the mechanisms and approaches available to make positive life changes (Cox, 2018; Passmore, 2021).

The following psychological theories and frameworks underpin and influence the approach a mental health professional adopts.

1. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

As a proponent of the humanistic or person-centered approach to helping people, Abraham Maslow (1970) suggested that individuals have a hierarchy of needs. Simply put, they begin with basic physiological and safety needs and progress through psychological and self-fulfillment needs.

Personal development is often found in or recognized by the pursuit of higher-level needs, such as self-esteem and self-actualization (Cox, 2018).

2. Erikson’s psychosocial development

Erik Erikson (1963) mapped out a series of eight psychosocial development stages that individuals go through across their lifespan.

Each one involves challenges and crises that once successfully navigated, contribute to personal growth and identity development.

3. Piaget’s cognitive development

The biologist and epistemologist Jean Piaget (1959) focused on cognitive development in children and how they construct their understanding of the world.

We can draw on insights from Piaget’s stages of cognitive development, including intellectual growth and adaptability, to inform our own and others’ personal development (Illeris, 2018).

4. Bandura’s social cognitive theory

Albert Bandura’s (1977) theory highlights the role of social learning and self-efficacy in personal development. It emphasizes that individuals can learn and grow through observation, imitation, and belief in their ability to effect change.

5. Self-determination theory

Ryan and Deci’s (2018) motivational self-determination theory recognizes the importance of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in personal development.

Their approach suggests that individuals are more likely to experience growth and wellbeing when such basic psychological needs are met.

6. Positive psychology

Positive psychology , developed by Martin Seligman (2011) and others, focuses on strengths, wellbeing, and the pursuit of happiness.

Seligman’s PERMA model offers a framework for personal development that emphasizes identifying and using our strengths while cultivating positive emotions and experiences (Lomas et al., 2014).

7. Cognitive-Behavioral Theory (CBT)

Developed by Aaron Beck (Beck & Haigh, 2014) and Albert Ellis (2000), CBT explores the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and behavior.

As such, the theory provides practical techniques for personal development, helping individuals identify and challenge negative thought patterns and behaviors (Beck, 2011).

Theories like the seven mentioned above offer valuable insights into many of the psychological processes underlying personal development. They provide a sound foundation for coaches and counselors to support their clients and help them better understand themselves, their motivations, and the paths they can take to foster positive change in their lives (Cox, 2018).

Coaching in Personal Development

The client–coach relationship is significant to successful growth and goal achievement.

Typically, the coach will focus on the following (Cox, 2018):

  • Actualizing tendency This supports a “universal human motivation resulting in growth, development and autonomy of the individual” (Cox, 2018, p. 53).
  • Building a relationship facilitating change Trust clients to find their own way while displaying empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard . The coach’s “outward responses consistently match their inner feelings towards a client,” and they display a warm acceptance that they are being how they need to be (Passmore, 2021, p. 162).
  • Adopting a positive psychological stance Recognize that the client has the potential and wish to become fully functioning (Cox, 2018).

Effective coaching for personal growth involves adopting and committing to a series of beliefs that remind the coach that the “coachee is responsible for the results they create” (Starr, 2021, p. 18) and help them recognize when they may be avoiding this idea.

The following principles are, therefore, helpful for coaching personal development and growth (Starr, 2021).

  • Stay committed to supporting the client. While initially strong, you may experience factors that reduce your sense of support for the individual’s challenges.
  • Coach nonjudgmentally. Our job is not to adopt a stance based on personal beliefs or judgment of others, but to help our clients form connections between behavior and results.
  • Maintain integrity, openness, and trust. The client must feel safe in your company and freely able to express themselves.
  • Responsibility does not equal blame. Clients who take on blame rather than responsibility will likely feel worse about something without acknowledging their influence on the situation.
  • The client can achieve better results. The client is always capable of doing and achieving more, especially in relation to their goals.
  • Focus on clients’ thoughts and experiences. Collaborative coaching is about supporting the growth and development of the client, getting them to where they want to go.
  • Clients can arrive at perfect solutions. “As a coach, you win when someone else does” (Starr, 2021, p. 34). The solution needs to be the client’s, not yours.
  • Coach as an equal partnership. Explore the way forward together collaboratively rather than from a parental or advisory perspective.

Creating a supportive and nonjudgmental environment helps clients explore their thoughts, feelings, and goals, creating an environment for personal development and flourishing (Passmore, 2021).

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A personal development plan is a powerful document “to create mutual clarity of the aims and focus of a coaching assignment” (Starr, 2021, p. 291). While it is valuable during coaching, it can also capture a client’s way forward once sessions have ended.

Crucially, it should have the following characteristics (Starr, 2021):

  • Short and succinct
  • Providing a quick reference or point of discussion
  • Current and fresh, regularly revised and updated

Key elements of a personal development plan include the following (Starr, 2021):

  • Area of development This is the general skill or competence to be worked on.
  • Development objectives or goals What does the client want to do? Examples might include reducing stress levels, improving diet, or managing work–life balance .
  • Behaviors to develop These comprise what the client will probably do more of when meeting their objectives, for example, practicing better coping mechanisms, eating more healthily, and better managing their day.
  • Actions to create progress What must the client do to action their objectives? For example, arrange a date to meet with their manager, sign up for a fitness class, or meet with a nutritionist.
  • Date to complete or review the objective Capture the dates for completing actions, meeting objectives, and checking progress.

Check out Lindsey Cooper’s excellent video for helpful guidance on action planning within personal development.

We can write and complete personal development plans in many ways. Ultimately, they should meet the needs of the client and leave them with a sense of connection to and ownership of their journey ahead (Starr, 2021).

  • Personal Development Plan – Areas of Development In this PDP , we draw on guidance from Starr (2021) to capture development opportunities and the behaviors and actions needed to achieve them.
  • Personal Development Plan – Opportunities for Development This template combines short- and long-term goal setting with a self-assessment of strengths, weaknesses, and development opportunities.
  • Personal Development Plan – Ideal Self In this PDP template , we focus on our vision of how our ideal self looks and setting goals to get there.
“The setting of a goal becomes the catalyst that drives the remainder of the coaching conversation.”

Passmore, 2021, p. 80

Defining goals and objectives is crucial to many coaching conversations and is usually seen as essential for personal development.

Check out this video on how you can design your life with your personal goals in mind.

The following coaching templates are helpful, containing a series of questions to complete Whitmore’s (2009) GROW model :

  • G stands for Goal : Where do you want to be?
  • R stands for Reality : Where are you right now with this goal?
  • O stands for Options : What are some options for reaching your goal?
  • W stands for Way forward : What is your first step forward?

Goal setting creates both direction and motivation for clients to work toward achieving something and meeting their objectives (Passmore, 2021).

The SMART goal-setting framework is another popular tool inside coaching and elsewhere.

S = Specific M = Measurable A = Attainable/ or Agreed upon R = Realistic T = Timely – allowing enough time for achievement

The SMART+ Goals Worksheet contains a series of prompts and spaces for answers to define goals and capture the steps toward achieving them.

We can summarize the five principles of goal setting (Passmore, 2021) as follows:

  • Goals must be clear and not open to interpretation.
  • Goals should be stretching yet achievable.
  • Clients must buy in to the goal from the outset.
  • Feedback is essential to keep the client on track.
  • Goals should be relatively straightforward. We can break down complex ones into manageable subgoals.

The following insightful articles are also helpful for setting and working toward goals.

  • What Is Goal Setting and How to Do it Well
  • The Science & Psychology of Goal-Setting 101

Fostering Personal Development Skills

1. People skills

Improving how we work with others benefits confidence, and with other’s support, we are more likely to achieve our objectives and goals. The following people skills can all be improved upon:

  • Developing rapport
  • Assertiveness and negotiation
  • Giving and receiving constructive criticism

2. Managing tasks and problem-solving

Inevitably, we encounter challenges on our path to development and growth. Managing our activities and time and solving issues as they surface are paramount.

Here are a few guidelines to help you manage:

  • Organize time and tasks effectively.
  • Learn fundamental problem-solving strategies.
  • Select and apply problem-solving strategies to tackle more complex tasks and challenges.
  • Develop planning skills, including identifying priorities, setting achievable targets, and finding practical solutions.
  • Acquire skills relevant to project management.
  • Familiarize yourself with concepts such as performance indicators and benchmarking.
  • Conduct self-audits to assess and enhance your personal competitiveness.

3. Cultivate confidence in your creative abilities

Confidence energizes our performance. Knowing we can perform creatively encourages us to develop novel solutions and be motivated to transform.

Consider the following:

  • Understand the fundamentals of how the mind works to enhance your thinking skills.
  • Explore a variety of activities to sharpen your creative thinking.
  • Embrace the belief that creativity is not limited to artists and performers but is crucial for problem-solving and task completion.
  • Learn to ignite the spark of creativity that helps generate innovative ideas when needed.
  • Apply creative thinking techniques to enhance your problem-solving and task completion abilities.
  • Recognize the role of creative thinking in finding the right ideas at the right time.

To aid you in building your confidence, we have a whole category of articles focused on Optimism and Mindset . Be sure to browse it for confidence-building inspiration.

With new techniques and technology, our understanding of the human brain continues to evolve. Identifying the vital elements involved in learning and connecting with others offers deep insights into how we function and develop as social beings. We handpicked a small but unique selection of books we believe you will enjoy.

1. The Coaching Manual: The Definitive Guide to the Process, Principles and Skills of Personal Coaching – Julie Starr

The Coaching Manual

This insightful book explores and explains the coaching journey from start to finish.

Starr’s book offers a range of free resources and gives clear guidance to support new and existing coaches in providing practical help to their clients.

Find the book on Amazon .

2. The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level – Gay Hendricks

The Big Leap

Delving into the “zone of genius” and the “zone of excellence,” Hendricks examines personal growth and our path to personal success.

This valuable book explores how we eliminate the barriers to reaching our goals that arise from false beliefs and fears.

3. The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are – Brené Brown

The Gifts of Imperfection

Brown, a leading expert on shame, vulnerability, and authenticity, examines how we can engage with the world from a place of worthiness.

Use this book to learn how to build courage and compassion and realize the behaviors, skills, and mindset that lead to personal development.

We have many resources available for fostering personal development and supporting client transformation and growth.

Our free resources include:

  • Goal Planning and Achievement Tracker This is a valuable worksheet for capturing and reflecting on weekly goals while tracking emotions that surface.
  • Adopt a Growth Mindset Successful change is often accompanied by replacing a fixed mindset with a growth one .
  • FIRST Framework Questions Understanding a client’s developmental stage can help offer the most appropriate support for a career change.

More extensive versions of the following tools are available with a subscription to the Positive Psychology Toolkit© , but they are described briefly below:

  • Backward Goal Planning

Setting goals can build confidence and the skills for ongoing personal development.

Backward goal planning helps focus on the end goal, prevent procrastination, and decrease stress by ensuring we have enough time to complete each task.

Try out the following four simple steps:

  • Step one – Identify and visualize your end goal.
  • Step two – Reflect on and capture the steps required to reach the goal.
  • Step three – Focus on each step one by one.
  • Step four – Take action and record progress.
  • Boosting Motivation by Celebrating Micro Successes

Celebrating the small successes on our journey toward our goals is motivating and confidence building.

Practice the following:

  • Step one – Reflect momentarily on the goal you are working toward.
  • Step two – Consider each action being taken to reach that goal.
  • Step three – Record the completion of each action as a success.
  • Step four – Choose how to celebrate each success.

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others reach their goals, check out this collection of 17 validated motivation & goal achievement tools for practitioners . Use them to help others turn their dreams into reality by applying the latest science-based behavioral change techniques.

Personal development has a rich and long history. It is underpinned by various psychological theories and remains a vital aspect of creating fulfilling lives inside and outside coaching and counseling.

For many of us, self-improvement, self-awareness, and personal growth are vital aspects of who we are. Coaching can provide a vehicle to help clients along their journey, supporting their sense of autonomy and confidence and highlighting their potential (Cox, 2018).

Working with clients, therefore, requires an open, honest, and supportive relationship. The coach or counselor must believe the client can achieve better results and view them nonjudgmentally as equal partners.

Personal development plans become essential to that relationship and the overall coaching process. They capture areas for development, skills and behaviors required, and goals and objectives to work toward.

Use this article to recognize theoretical elements from psychology that underpin the process and use the skills, guidance, and worksheets to support personal development in clients, helping them remove obstacles along the way.

Ultimately, personal development is a lifelong process that boosts wellbeing and flourishing and creates a richer, more engaging environment for the individual and those around them.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Goal Achievement Exercises for free .

Personal development is vital, as it enables individuals to enhance various aspects of their lives, including emotional wellbeing, relationships, careers, and overall happiness.

It promotes self-awareness, self-improvement, and personal growth, helping individuals reach their full potential and lead fulfilling lives (Passmore, 2021; Starr, 2021).

Personal development is the journey we take to improve ourselves through conscious habits and activities and focusing on the goals that are important to us.

Personal development goals are specific objectives individuals set to improve themselves and their lives. Goals can encompass various areas, such as emotional intelligence, skill development, health, and career advancement, providing direction and motivation for personal growth (Cox, 2018; Starr, 2021).

A personal development plan typically comprises defining the area of development, setting development objectives, identifying behaviors to develop, planning actions for progress, and establishing completion dates. These five stages help individuals clarify their goals and track their progress (Starr, 2021).

  • Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory . Prentice-Hall.
  • Beck, A. T., & Haigh, E. P. (2014). Advances in cognitive therapy and therapy: The generic cognitive model. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology , 10 , 1–24.
  • Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond . Guilford Press.
  • Cottrell, S. (2015). Skills for success: Personal development and employability . Bloomsbury Academic.
  • Cox, E. (2018). The complete handbook of coaching . SAGE.
  • Ellis, A. (2000). Can rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) be effectively used with people who have devout beliefs in God and religion? Professional Psychology-Research and Practice , 31 (1), 29–33.
  • Erikson, E. H. (1963). Youth: Change and challenge . Basic Books.
  • Illeris, K. (2018). An overview of the history of learning theory. European Journal of Education , 53 (1), 86–101.
  • Lomas, T., Hefferon, K., & Ivtzan, I. (2014). Applied positive psychology: Integrated positive practice . SAGE.
  • Maslow, A. H. (1970). Motivation and personalit y (2nd ed.). Harper & Row.
  • Passmore, J. (Ed.). (2021). The coaches’ handbook: The complete practitioner guide for professional coaches . Routledge.
  • Piaget, J. (1959): The Psychology of intelligence . Routledge.
  • Rose, C. (2018). The personal development group: The students’ guide . Routledge.
  • Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2018). Self-determination theory: Basic psychological needs in motivation, development, and wellness . Guilford Press.
  • Seligman, M. E. (2011). Authentic happiness using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment . Nicholas Brealey.
  • Starr, J. (2021). The coaching manual: The definitive guide to the process, principles and skills of personal coaching . Harlow: Pearson Education.
  • Whitmore, J. (2009). Coaching for performance . Nicholas Brealey.

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Develop Good Habits

36 Personal Development Goals Examples for Work and Life

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If you’re like many other people, you probably make a resolution or two at the beginning of each year to try to improve yourself in some way– get a promotion , start a family, get in shape–things of that nature. And if you’re like many other people, that resolution probably becomes history by January 15th.

However, this common focus on self-improvement derives from our desire to be in the driver’s seat of our own lives and be successful in all of our endeavors.

And it’s true that focusing on continuous personal development will greatly improve your chances of being successful in every area of your life, however, simply having any type of goal will not do you any favors unless you follow through by acting on it.

Having clearly defined personal development goals ( as opposed to only having resolutions ) is a great way to start improving your performance in any area of your life, yet the benefit that you derive from it depends on the effort you put forth in achieving it.

I know that once I stopped making vague intentions (lose weight, save money, spend more time with the family), and started to make specific and actionable personal goals, not only did I start achieving my goals and noticing improvements in my life, I also realized the importance of tracking my progress and measuring my success to keep myself motivated to consistently better my life.

In this post, I am going to give you 36 examples of personal development goals both for your career and personal life that will help you cultivate widespread success.

If you'd like a few resources that can teach you all the skills on this page, then I recommend checking out these platforms to learn any skill.

  • Masterclass (You can read the review of it here .)
  • Skillshare (You can read the review of it here .)
  • Udemy (You can read the review of it here .)
  • Coursera (You can read the review of it here .)

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

What are Personal Development Goals?

Personal development goals are those that are made in an effort to improve your outcomes and overall experience in life. 

A personal goal can be any milestone related to improving yourself through skill acquisition , character building experiences, interacting with other people, improving your perception of yourself and your abilities, or how you envision the possibilities for your future.

The purpose of having personal development goals is to continuously create a better life for yourself.

These life goals impact you in both tangible and intangible ways. While some personal development goals may relate to improving your ability to be patient with other people, others may have to do with advancing your education in some way.

Some of your personal development goals may clearly fall into a “personal” or “professional” category, however, many can easily overlap into both categories because ultimately, who you innately are as a person remains the same whether you’re at work or at home.

Your “soft” skills –such as your ability to motivate yourself and your capacity to feel empathy toward others–will help improve all areas of your life.

Now that we've defined personal goals, let's talk about the specific ones you can work on developing to improve your life.

Personal Development Goals Related to Your Career

1. build and improve professional relationships.

You spend a lot of time with your colleagues, so it is important to build good relationships with them. After all, team cohesion relies on mature working relationships, as people typically work better together if there’s a personal element to their relationship .

Having positive professional relationships can lay the foundation for your ultimate success. Because each person’s role in your organization either directly or indirectly affects your performance, it’s important for you to nourish these working relationships so you can work in harmony with others.

To improve your professional relationships, help other members of the team whenever you can, and engage in open and honest communication with your colleagues. (And if you're not an effective communicator, these 11 strategies can help improve your communication skills .)

Doing so will help you build trust and strengthen your relationship with the people at work, which will make your professional life much more enjoyable.

While it is also important to develop positive relationships with people in your field who work with different organizations (which we will address later), don’t neglect those who are on your own turf.

How to Achieve This Goal

To build and improve your professional relationships, you will need to practice good workplace habits . Not only will this help you develop better relationships with your colleagues, it will also help increase your level of work satisfaction. Be sure to welcome diversity , both in cultures and ideas, by listening to what others have to say in your workplace.

Factor various insights into your decision-making processes and recognize that you can learn something from everyone . If the people you work with can see that you value them and what they bring to the table, you will be more likely to have a good relationship with them.

2. Improve Your Time Management Skills

Throughout your professional career, you’ll face deadlines and competing tasks that fight for your attention every day. As your workload increases, it may seem impossible to be able to get everything accomplished.

In these instances, your ability to manage your time will be tested. Having effective time management skills will help increase your productivity and efficiency, decrease your stress , and  allow you to have more time to dedicate to other endeavors .

Make sure that you’re keeping track of how you spend your time if you feel like time management is an issue for you ( this app can help you do this).

Schedule a specific amount of time for every item on your to-do list and don’t allow interruptions during these times. This will help you be more efficient, and once you get the hang of working this way, it will become second nature.

Now, if you'd like to discover additional resources related to time management and productivity, then I recommend checking out the other articles we've published on this site:

  • The Eisenhower Matrix: How to Use 4 Quadrants to Make Important vs. Urgent Decisions in Your Life
  • The 80/20 Rule: How to Apply This Principle to All Areas of Your Life
  • The Pomodoro Technique: How to Manage Your Time in 25-Minute Blocks
  • 27 Best Books on Productivity and Time Management
  • The Rock, Pebbles, and Sand Story About Time Management

We’ve provided you with the tools you need to improve your time management, but having these tools without having the skills to properly use them doesn’t quite cut it.

Think of it like this: you could have the highest quality set of knives and most innovative oven on the market, but if you don’t know how to cook, those tools won’t automatically make you a master chef.

So what underlying skills do you need in order to effectively manage your time? Research shows that there are three skills in particular that will make your time management efforts successful, including:

  • Being aware that time is a limited resource and being realistic with how long it takes to accomplish a task
  • Having the ability to organize your daily tasks, schedule, and goals in a sensical way
  • Being able to monitor the use of your time on an ongoing basis and adapt to changing priorities as needed

With this in mind, take these steps to improve upon these three skills:

  • Time yourself at work for every task you do for about a week. Keeping track of how you spend your time can be a huge eye-opener.
  • Put your most important tasks at the beginning of your daily schedule and fill in the rest like Tetris. If you have a really short break somewhere, throw that 5 minute task right there into your schedule.
  • Have a backup plan in case your day gets a little jumbled… which it often will.

3. Improve Your Emotional Intelligence

When emotional intelligence (EQ) first hit people’s radars, it was the answer to a puzzling question: How do people with mid-range IQs outperform those with the highest IQs almost three-quarters of the time?

People originally thought that one’s IQ was a direct indicator of their success. However, decades of research uncovered that a high EQ is an element that brings star performers to the top.

This means that your EQ has a huge impact on your professional success. When you have a high EQ, you are better equipped to understand your own feelings and the feelings of others, which helps you relate to people.

Not only does this improve your communication skills, but it also gives you the social competence that’s needed to understand other people’s emotions, behaviors, and motives so you can respond appropriately and successfully manage your personal interactions.

One interesting thing about people with a high EQ is that they have a large emotional vocabulary. While everyone experiences emotions, very few can accurately identify them as they happen, which becomes a problem because unidentified emotions are easily misinterpreted, leading to irrational decisions and ineffective actions.

However, those who have high EQs can understand their emotions, and they have a large vocabulary of “feeling words” to do this. So, while others may say they feel bad, a person with a high EQ would be able to identify if they’re frustrated, hurt, overwhelmed, etc.

The more clearly you can define your emotion, the more insight you have into what caused your feelings and how you can address them.

To learn more about this topic, here is a seven-step process on how to improve your emotional intelligence.

Additionally, having a good sense of self-awareness is the most important component to being able to develop a high EQ. With a high level of self-awareness, it will be easier for you to recognize how other people perceive you and adapt to social situations as needed.

One effective way to increase your self-awareness is to keep a mindfulness journal , which will help get you in the habit of living in the moment and being aware of yourself and your surroundings.

4. Define Your Own Success

You don’t have to abide by everyone else’s definition of success . You can define what being successful and happy mean to you , which will help you clarify what you need to do to achieve it.

Once you dig deep to uncover your values and purpose and career aspirations , you will recognize that if you try to chase everyone else's idea of what success is, you won’t achieve it. ( Discover your core values with the help of these core value quizzes. )

In doing this, you have to make it a point to not compare yourself to other people . The things that you see other people have don’t define or impact your success. You’re the only one who can decide if you have achieved your goals thus far.

And if you want to be more successful, here are 12 rules to live by.

There isn’t one universal definition of being successful. To define your own success, you need to observe and recognize the characteristics that make you unique from everyone else in the world and celebrate them. The Huffington Post offers three steps to defining your success:

  • Figure out what makes you, YOU. What makes you unique? One way to reflect on this is to write your personal mission statement .
  • Remove your limiting beliefs and open yourself up to taking risks and reaping the rewards.
  • Keep doing whatever you have to do to help you be your best self. This involves practicing self-care , increasing your love for yourself (and here are some more tips for loving yourself more ), and living an authentic life to your true self .

5. Find New Challenges

Finding new challenges in your current position will help keep your job interesting and fulfilling.

This personal development goal shows your ambition and can be especially helpful for your organization if they’re frequently coming up with new ideas that are never acted on or no one supervises to ensure any type of follow-through.

personal development plan essay | leadership development plan example pdf | examples of measurable goals for employees

Finding new challenges could be as easy as revising that employee handbook that hasn’t been touched since 2005, or as complex as proposing and creating a prototype for a new product.

Finding new challenges for yourself will also help you show your leadership abilities and could lead to further progress within your organization.

If you need a jumpstart, here are 129 30-day challenges you can use to improve your personal and professional life.

The first thing you need to do to find new challenges is to take the initiative to talk to your boss about your current responsibilities.

Inquire about other projects you can get involved with and try to provide a fresh perspective on issues as they arise. Doing so could lead to job advancement in the future, which will certainly offer new challenges.

Secondly, find new challenges by focusing on yourself rather than constantly trying to impress your employer . If you are always in the mindset that you’re working for someone else, you may become bored and lazy with your work.

Remember that your work reflects on you , not just your employer, and when you think of your work as being for yourself , you’re more likely to challenge yourself to continuously improve .

6. Don’t Be Passive

Passive behavior occurs when you put other people’s preferences or needs ahead of your own. While sometimes this is necessary to build relationships, it can become a problem if you are consistently passive in a way that allows it to become a barrier to your success.

If you like to avoid conflict, you probably tend to be passive. If you simply allow things to happen without standing up for yourself or offering a logical argument in return, others will see this and start taking advantage of your willingness to please.

In doing so, you may accept an offer that would be unacceptable by other people’s standards, which could negatively impact your performance and even your organization.

While being passive in the short-term may make you feel good because you are getting other people’s approval, it is damaging in the long-run because it will require you to make larger sacrifices to maintain these relationships.

If you want to take a more active approach in your career, start by writing your career goal statement . This will give you a clearer vision of the professional life you want and how to achieve it.

Also, you can avoid being passive by communicating directly with people ( don’t be shy! ) and being genuine when you’re talking about how you feel about things. You can certainly be assertive without being aggressive by being clear and straightforward with people.

7. Develop a Growth Mindset

People who have a growth mindset believe that they can continue to develop their talents throughout life.

These people are often able to achieve more than those with a fixed mindset, who believe that they were born with their abilities already set into place and therefore don’t invest time or energy into learning new skills.

People with a growth mindset are continuously aiming to better themselves, and are therefore able to break away from complacency and achieve their goals.

Watch the video below for a quick overview of growth mindset, how it can help you and the 11 actionable strategies you can use to develop it.

In a professional environment, people who have a growth mindset often share information, collaborate well with others, look for feedback, strive for innovation, and are able to admit their mistakes.

On the other hand, those with a fixed mindset are less likely to take risks for fear of failure or embarrassment. They don’t look forward to the potential learning opportunities from trying new things because they think they were born with the maximum amount of talent they will ever have.

Those with a fixed mindset can develop a growth mindset by embracing imperfection and altering their viewpoint on challenges. This is advantageous in the workplace because it offers a greater opportunity to become successful.

If you'd like to develop this quality, there are many resources out there that can help you. First, here are 7 exercises that can help you develop a growth mindset , and h ere are 27 habits you can adopt to support you on this journey as well.

By cultivating self-awareness, seeking out learning opportunities and challenges, and being mindful about valuing the process of everything that you do rather than just the end result, you can stop your limiting beliefs that your talent and abilities are finite.

Additionally, h ere are 20 growth mindset examples that will help you fully understand the importance of having this trait, which can help motivate you to make a genuine effort toward adopting it. You can also check out these growth mindset journal prompts if you're already journaling.

Finally, check out these growth and fixed mindset quotes to encourage you to continue to learn throughout your life. And–if you have children–you can get them started on the right track by teaching them how to develop a growth mindset .

8. Grow Your Network

People do business with others whom they know and trust. And the truth is, “companies” don’t make business decisions, people do. Having a strong professional network can help you advance in your career in ways that you would not be able to do alone.

Not only can networking lead to connections with people who can help you enhance your expertise and knowledge, it can also help you stay on top of potential opportunities for advancement in your career.

In order to grow your network, you need to be willing to put yourself out there in new situations, which may feel uncomfortable at first.

However, once you do it a few times, not only will you get used to it, but you will start running into the same people multiple times at networking events, which will help you strengthen your network as it grows.

Actively look up networking events in your area and GO. Even if you have to bring a co-worker so there is someone there you know, GO.

You can also grow your network through social media , however, having that personal face-to-face time is invaluable when you’re trying to learn about someone and really attempting to make a valuable connection.

Read this post to learn how to create SMART goals that focus on networking.

9. Tweak Your Work Life Balance

Having a healthy work-life balance is an important part of living a happy life . Not only will taking sufficient breaks from work have a positive effect on your wellbeing, but it will also influence your productivity by improving your performance while you’re working.

Create boundaries between your professional and your personal lives that are strong, yet realistic.

To you, this may mean sticking to an 8-hour work-day, or it could mean leaving work at work and leaving home at home (i.e. not checking your work email while having dinner with your family).

Having a healthy work-life balance will help you maintain your professional motivation and allow you to work smarter , not harder .

One of the first steps to achieving this goal is to work efficiently while you’re at work so it doesn’t have to spill over into your personal life. Here are 26 smart hacks to help increase your work productivity.

It’s also smart to go into each week with a plan so you don’t end up wasting time wondering what you should do next–or feeling so overwhelmed that you just sit there and do nothing. Here are 7 steps to help you plan out your week so you can stay focused.

10. Improve Upon Your Weaknesses

Make your biggest weakness into your biggest strengths by being aware of areas in which you can improve and focusing directly on them.

Being able to recognize your weaknesses shows self-awareness and strength in your character. But what do you tell potential employers when they ask about your weaknesses? Do you tell them the solid steps you’re taking to improve upon them?

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You won’t improve without accepting that your skillset isn’t perfect and then creating a strategic plan for improvement. ( A personal development plan template can help you! )

If you can take concrete steps to turn your weaknesses around, not only will you be a role model for other professionals, you will also be engaging in self-improvement.

This is not to say that your biggest weakness has to turn into your biggest strength, but being aware of the areas in your work where you have room for improvement and trying to bridge that gap is a constructive personal development goal.

First, practice some activities in self-awareness so you can gain this important characteristic, such as:

  • Asking yourself “Why?” three times
  • Label your emotions
  • Go for a walk
  • Keep a journal

Secondly, it is important to get guidance from someone you trust . In doing so, you may be able to learn about some weaknesses that you have but may not have noticed.

And for some things? You really just need to get good enough . It’s alright if you’re never an expert at every task involved in your company–but some tasks are important enough to gain minimal competence, just so you can understand the comprehensive work of your company.

For example, let’s say you’re an internet entrepreneur…but you have very few technology skills.

You can trust your employees to take care of the technology piece, but you’ll still want to learn just enough so you can tell if they’re doing their jobs as they’re supposed to and you know if your expectations for their outcomes are realistic.

11. Pursue Ongoing Professional Development

This is another personal development goal that will keep you on top of your game at work.

Employers are often reluctant to invest the money in sending their employees to seminars or conferences, but engaging in professional development will help you maintain your competence in your field and excel when faced with the competition .

This continuing professional development can take the form of listening to the best business podcasts and reading the best business books .

Ensuring that your professional skills remain up-to-date in our rapidly changing world is critical to your long-term success . Think of your five-year plan .

Your education certainly doesn’t stop with your diploma, and staying abreast of changing trends in your industry will help you be an in-demand candidate for prospective future employers.

You can engage in continuous learning on your own by seeking out opportunities for webinars and new research and things of that nature.

You can also look for senior executives at your job whose job may be your goal to obtain one day and ask if you can spend some time shadowing them to learn what they do on an everyday basis.

But if you want to be able to attend and participate in more intensive trainings, you may need to learn how to ask your boss how your company can fit that into their budget.

And to convince anyone of this you have to have a strong argument as to why or how your attendance at this conference will benefit the entire company and what kind of knowledge you can bring back from it.

So do your research first and approach your boss with a strong argument in mind as to how spending this money will benefit the company.

12. Learn How to Motivate Others

If you want to be a leader in your industry, it is important to know how to motivate your team members. Otherwise, your organization will go through periods of struggle with productivity and overall morale.

If you aren’t in a leadership position, you can still look for opportunities to bring to your leaders’ attention that address motivation if you feel that this is an obstacle in your workplace.

If you are able to enhance the motivation of your team or have a positive impact on the work ethic of the employees, you will be helping to maximize the effectiveness of your organization.

Here are 9 ways you can motivate others. Part of doing this is to challenge people and be encouraging when they start to make progress .

You want to set others up to be in a position where they’re ultimately motivating themselves, and sometimes this requires prompting them to do some self-reflection as to why they are doing the job that they’ve chosen and what they’re ultimately working toward.

And if they’re still not quite sure, try to get the person to create a vision for their future so they can have a more clear picture of what they want out of life.

You can teach them about making vision boards to help them think about their future or add some inspiration to their current work as they make connections to where it may be taking them for the future.

Personal Development Goals for Self-Growth

13. enjoy life more by taking it less seriously.

A lot of people fail to keep the bigger picture in mind on an everyday basis. The majority of us are fortunate to have been born healthy and into families that could provide us with our basic needs. However, many still get caught up in the small things that happen and completely forget about how well-off they are.

Think about someone you know who earns a large salary, but still gets mad at small inconveniences. Taking life less seriously will help you be happier, reduce stress, and make you a more enjoyable person for other people to be around.

If you’re able to move past the small and insignificant things that happen, you will get more enjoyment out of life. Laugh at unexpected inconveniences, laugh at yourself when you make a mistake , and laugh because it will reduce the amount of stress that you’re putting on your body.

“Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.” — Elbert Hubbard

There are several things you can do to take life less seriously. Practicing gratitude is a great place to start since it will help you focus on the good things in your life. This will also help you m aintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity.

Try to let go of any stress, worry, or anger so you can live in a more relaxed state of mind. Be mindful of the stress in your life and do your best to rise above it. As you know, there a lot of things in life that you have no control over.

Align yourself to a brighter and lighter version of you by adding humor to your life , learning to be comfortable with feeling vulnerable, and spending more time enjoying life.

14. Engage in Self-Care

You can’t be an effective partner, mother, cousin, or friend to anyone if you don’t take care of yourself first. Too often, people fail to take care of their own basic needs, either because they’re too busy or they’re not making it a primary concern.

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Learning how to engage in proper self-care and making it a priority in your everyday life will greatly improve your life and the lives of the people with whom you interact. You can’t take care of anything else in your life to the best of your ability until you take care of yourself.

Check out 274 self-care ideas here . Some of my personal favorites that I feel apply universally are:

  • Find a creative hobby that you enjoy
  • Write in a journal
  • Reward yourself when you do something positive
  • Spend time drawing in an adult coloring book
  • Declutter your living space
  • Learn vital self management skills

15. Be Proactive

Things will go wrong in life–it’s inevitable. These negative situations can either have a large impact on your life, or they could be a bit inconvenient. This all depends on whether you’re pro active or re active .

If you always wait to react to problems until after they have already presented themselves, it expands the associated challenges and adds additional stress to your life.

On the other hand, if you’re proactive, it will minimize the issue and give you more stability because you will be facing a challenge that you were prepared for. It’s easier to remain relatively undisturbed if you’re proactive because you’ll always feel like you’re in control of your circumstances.

Being proactive is about being a good problem solver and being solution-focused. It’s about not wasting time and getting things done ahead of time by anticipating issues that may arise or being ahead of the game when it comes to an emerging trend in your industry.

Surround yourself with other people who are driven to increase your probability for success.  You cannot have people around you who drag you down and expect to keep the motivation to be proactive, rather you need to associate with like-minded people who also want to stay ahead.

Doing so will also keep you abreast of new research or best practices in your field because you will be able to learn from the people you’re around, and they will be able to learn from you.

16. Practice Patience

It can be tough to be patient, especially if you tend to be short-tempered. However, this is something that can be managed with practice.

It’s beneficial to maintain your patience during times of despair because it will help you keep a calm state of mind, which will allow you to effectively problem-solve without being impacted by frustration.

Also, having continuous patience will help you make decisions that will be beneficial for you in the long term because you won’t rush yourself into making decisions that will suit your needs for instant gratification.

One way to ensure that you are practicing patience is to stop to think critically before making any decisions . Taking the time to do this will help you avoid having to re-do work, make corrections, or do something that you later regret.

Here are some concrete steps you can take to become more patient. A big part of practicing how to be patient is exactly that– practicing .

I know this may sound like a unique thing to work on because it’s not really tangible–you’re not practicing how to play the piano or practicing perfecting a perfect recipe of some sort. However, practicing patience is not as passive as it sounds.

You can practice by focusing on your breathing, finding the silver lining in the extra time that you’ve been given while you’re waiting for something, and learning to battle feelings of anger and frustration that really are the negative aspect of being impatient.

Looking for some inspiration? Here's a collection of our favorites quotes about patience .

17. Say “Goodbye” to Toxic People

Do you have negative people in your life who drain you of your energy and confidence? Or, can you think of some people who are constantly complaining or judging others in some way?

These people are known as being “toxic” and you should avoid having them in your life as much as you can .

Toxic people will hold you back from achieving your goals. Because putting an end to any relationship is difficult, and you may not want to completely cut ties with a friend from childhood (for example), you can make a concerted effort to spend a minimal amount of time with them rather than completely cutting them off if you feel that would be more appropriate.

Instead, surround yourself with uplifting people who will inspire you and support you in being the best version of yourself . Spending your time with like-minded people will make it easier for you to achieve your ultimate goals in life.

Don’t sit around waiting for toxic people in your life to change. Rather, establish boundaries and maintain them by being comfortable with saying “no” to them . Don’t allow yourself to be pulled into someone else’s crisis just because they’ve been in your life for a long time.

Sometimes it’s ok (and necessary) to let go of the past and old relationships and move on with your life rather than holding onto them because the person has been a friend since childhood.

People grow in different directions and while you may be able to have a mutually beneficial relationship with someone at one point in your life, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the relationship should last forever.

Keep in mind that toxic people have a tendency to keep coming back into your life if you let them, so once you decide a relationship of any kind is over, make sure to be firm with that decision.    

18. Accept Your Reality

You may feel like you know yourself, but have you accepted yourself and your life? Have you settled for “less than” what you hoped? Failing to connect with reality may keep you stuck in jobs, relationships, or even living situations that are just not right for you.

You will always be a work in progress and it is perfectly acceptable for you to make mistakes, but in order to make some sort of progression in your life, it is important to accept your reality if you're not living your dream.

Accepting your reality is one of the best things you can do for your future. Even if your current situation is awful, the first step to making positive changes is acknowledging and accepting it in its current state and then identifying the specific things you can do to improve it. Otherwise, you will remain unhappily complacent.

Dealing with the bad stuff takes a lot of practice, but you have to do it in order to make it to the good things.

To accept your reality, you have to own responsibility for your mistakes and acknowledge any role you played in getting to where you are today, whether it’s good or bad. What have you done in the past to foster success? What about failure?

You don’t have to beat yourself up about your past mistakes, just look for lessons in them . And make sure to give yourself credit wherever it’s due.

Accepting your reality means accepting all of it–starting with your competencies. Focus on your positive characteristics because even if you aren’t where you want to be right now, you’re sure to have done some good things that have put you ahead of where you could be.

19. Don’t Let Your Past Define Your Future

A lot of us have a terrible past, and you may believe that your goals are out of reach due to your undesirable history. Perhaps you’re discouraged, you feel unworthy, or you may even be embarrassed by your past.

But it doesn’t take too much research to find success story after success story of people who were able to overcome their past struggles and become very triumphant .

Don’t let your past be an obstacle to achieving the future that you dream of. Rather, commit to your goals and realize that change can occur at any point, and you have endless opportunities for transformation.

Sure, it can be hard to let go of the past, especially if you believe it makes up such a large part of your identity. However, it can be done.

If you’re trying to deal with negative emotions from a past trauma and you want to be heard or understood, you can talk about your experiences with people, but you also have to identify how those experiences are now causing emotions that are holding you back.

Once you identify your limiting emotions, you can think about what positive motivating factors you may have to help you move past those feelings.

Then, create new, positive experiences to replace the negative things that have happened in the past so you can reinvent yourself and live a happy and fulfilling life.

20. Let Go of Your Limiting Beliefs

Holding onto limiting beliefs will delay your progression because you will be stuck inside of your comfort zone, unwilling to try new things or take any risks.

While you may have a fear of failure or you are scared you’re going to get hurt in the process of working toward your goals , these thoughts cannot mark the end of the road to your success.

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You could have limiting beliefs about a variety of things, ranging from finances to relationships to your own abilities. The key is to identify the beliefs that are holding you back, overcome them, and replace them with positive thoughts that support your path to success.

To learn more, here is a step-by-step guide on how to identify and overcome your limiting beliefs . You will first need to overpower your limiting beliefs with empowering thoughts that can help you move past these roadblocks.

Do this by questioning your beliefs. Are you sure they’re true? Do you have any evidence or are you making an assumption? Are you thinking in “ all or nothing ” terms?

Being honest with yourself about your beliefs and thinking outside the box to find potential new solutions can help you realize that your beliefs probably started out as being ideas, then turned to opinions, then cemented themselves in your belief system.

It takes a lot of self-reflection and challenging your own thoughts to move past your limiting beliefs, but doing the work is worth the reward because whatever is holding you back has tangible consequences, whether it’s preventing you from pursuing the job of your dreams, keeping you in an abusive relationship, or anything in between.

21. Set Personal Boundaries

If you’re like me, you have a hard time saying no to people. You want to please those who come to you for help or who need you to do them a favor. However, it’s important to remember that you’re not an endless resource to be used by other people.

You have to know your limits so you have enough time and energy for the things that you need to accomplish. Once you know where your limits stand, set strict boundaries for others and stick to your guns.

This could mean boundaries in romantic relationships, with your family members, friends, or even in the workplace. Setting clear personal boundaries is an important part of ensuring that your relationships are mutually supportive and respectful.

If you have weak or undefined boundaries, you will be left vulnerable and others may take you for granted. However, with strong boundaries, you’re setting the limits for what’s acceptable behavior from the people with whom you associate.

Learn to recognize when the boundaries that you have set are being pushed and be direct about that.

With a strong sense of self-awareness, you will notice when your boundaries are being pushed because you will feel yourself becoming resentful toward the other person .

When this happens, if you have a proper sense of self-respect, you will not feel guilty about sticking to your boundaries.

If you want to learn how to set boundaries, you can start small. For example, let your friends and extended family know that you’re turning your phone on silent every night at 8pm and won’t look at it again until 6:30 the next morning–at the earliest.

This is a good first step to learning how to set boundaries with your time. A next step to consider may be to stop checking work emails when you’re at home. Work at whatever pace of progress feels right to you.

For more on this, here is a 7-step process for saying “no” to people and the requests for your time .

22. Become an Active Listener

We listen to people talk every day, so you would probably think that everyone is pretty good at it. However, this is not the case–in fact, research shows that we only remember about 25% of what we hear.

So when you’re talking to your boss, coworkers, family, and friends for, say, 20 minutes—and you’re speaking for 10 of those minutes–they will only remember 2.5 minutes of what you said. This also means that when someone is telling you something that’s important, you’re most likely going to miss parts of it.

Learning how to actively listen is a skill that pretty much everyone could benefit from. When you improve your listening skills, you can improve your productivity , your influence on others , and your negotiation and persuasion skills.

Also, part of being a great communicator is being a great listener. You give off a good impression to others when you lend them a listening ear, which helps you earn trust.

When you are actively listening, not only are you showing the speaker that you want to understand what they’re saying, you’re also offering empathy and support, which builds stronger relationships.

To improve your active listening skills , mimic the speaker’s body language and ask questions to make sure you’re understanding what they’re saying .

You don’t want to interrupt the person who is speaking, but nodding along in agreement and repeating back to them what you heard are effective ways to show the speaker that you are engaged in the conversation.

Also, maintain eye contact and ask clarifying or follow-up questions so they know that you’ve been paying attention to what they’ve been talking about. Try to have some empathy while you’re listening so you can feel what the speaker is trying to relay.

23. Learn to Let Go

Holding on to the past will prevent you from becoming the person that you want to be. But, letting go of things that have happened is much easier said than done.

In fact, I think we have all heard someone say at some point in our lives, “let it go” and, if you’re like me, it makes you even madder than you were before.

While it seems counterintuitive, Psychology Today reports that painful feelings can ultimately be comforting, especially if most of your past is painful, because these unpleasant emotions become part of your identity, making them nearly impossible to let go.

However, if you carry the negative things from your past around with you for the rest of your life, it will only act as a burden and ultimately hold you back from living a fulfilling life. Remember the lessons that you take away from your hardships, but let go of the emotional weight that you’re holding on to .

A large part of letting go involves learning how to forgive . This doesn’t mean that you have to forget what someone else has done to hurt you, it simply means that you will not allow their actions to have a negative impact on your future. 

Offering forgiveness is therapeutic when you’re trying to move past something, and if you share this forgiveness with the offender, it may motivate that person to seek moral growth, and improve themselves as a result of your forgiveness.

Aside from learning how to forgive, it’s important to always remember that the only thing you can control are your own actions and feelings .

Don’t waste your energy trying to dictate the paths of other people, and don’t worry about what other people’s opinions are of you. Just focus on being your best self and living the life that you want to live from start to finish.

24. Build Resilience

Even for those who are relatively self-aware, life’s challenges can come at a surprise. But learning how to move through these painful times in a healthy way can help people bounce  back more quickly–or at least start moving in a positive direction.

When you’re resilient, you are able to cope with adversity and adapt when a situation doesn’t go the way that you expected.

Having resilience is the difference between feeling powerless and being able to stand up to your problems with confidence and bravery. When you can recover quickly from a problem , you will come out on the other side a stronger person.

Having resilience is what helps you cope with whatever comes your way and just focus on what you can learn from the experience. 

This personal development goal can help you in any area of your life, as it will prevent you from becoming easily overwhelmed and allow you to use your strengths to recover from challenges.

Many people use journaling as a way to build resilience, as this exercise helps you explore your thoughts, stop ruminating on past experiences, and it gives your thoughts structure by organizing them on paper. This can help you gain a new perspective and a sense of control over your past.

Journaling can also help you find the silver lining in things as you have the opportunity to purposefully think of positive things that may have come out of an upsetting experience.

For example, if you got in a fight with your partner, it may have brought some significant issues to light , allowing you both to open up to each other’s points of  view. 

25. Wake Up 30 Minutes Earlier

Waking up early, energized, and with a purpose is a huge key to success .

The most successful people are known for waking up early and getting a strong start to their day. Because of this, a great personal goal that could really enhance your life in all domains is to start waking up earlier than  you’re used to.

Set your alarm to get up early –at least 30 minutes before usual. There are many benefits to being an early riser, such as giving yourself time to eat a healthy breakfast , get some exercise , or complete some productive work before other people are awake and the chaos of your day begins.

Waking up earlier than is necessary gives you quiet time to focus on anything that is important to you.

If you're aiming for waking up at 5A, watch teh video below to learn about the 7-step process for training your body and mind to wake up at that hour.

Studies have shown that people who wake up early tend to procrastinate less and get ahead of the game as opposed to their later-sleeping counterparts. So, if you want to get ahead, this is one simple change you can make that can give you a head start.

The first step to being able to wake up early is to make sure you’re going to bed at a reasonable time and getting a good night’s sleep .

If you try to go to bed at the same time every night, you will eventually start to wake up at the same time each morning, without needing an alarm clock.

If you need to, you can make this change gradually by starting to set your alarm 10 minutes earlier than usual, and then 20, and so on.

Once your body gets into this routine, you will become a natural early bird and wonder why other people waste so much time in the morning staying in bed or hitting the snooze button.

If you're having trouble with your morning routine in general, then this step-by-step resource can help .

Personal Development Goals for a Performance Review

26. improve operation processes.

While operations processes can look quite different depending upon the industry in which you work, the underlying concept is the same for all organizations of any size.

The operation process involves turning inputs (raw materials, information, labor, money, etc.) into outputs (products, services, customer satisfaction , etc.)

Companies that can figure out how to do this well end up with a competitive advantage. Because of this, every component of an operations process has to be closely monitored so management can determine if their team is working at an optimal level of performance.

Well-designed operations process goals can help teams stay informed of all necessary information, standard operating procedures, and training.

And, ultimately, when these processes are done well, they are what make an organization successful. If you’re at the helm of this, you’re on the right path toward professional success.

The best way to improve operation processes is to streamline them . Look at how your organization works and identify if there are any areas where you can improve efficiency. It’s important to not stay stuck in your old ways because that’s what has “always worked” before.

Technology and businesses are constantly evolving, meaning there are new methods and tools available to streamline operations to increase workers’ productivity .

Another thing you will want to keep in mind to improve business operations is to fix small problems before they become big ones. Some seemingly insignificant glitches in your system can turn into a setback that can end up wasting a lot of time and being expensive to fix.

So, make an effort to reduce any issue that you can identify within your organization. One way of doing this would be to create a new protocol guide for your team and then review its impact on a regular basis, tweaking the processes as needed.

Here are some specific examples of how a business can improve their operations processes.

27. Improve Clients’ Service Experiences

Goals related to clients’ service experiences with your organization involve greater engagement and client satisfaction.

These types of goals may involve elements such as creating more self-service online features on the organization’s website, reducing phone hold times, or improving the timeliness of client follow up.

This type of goal will be highly individualized based on your industry, but whether you are dealing with retail clients in a small business setting or your clients come in the form of the kindergarten students that you teach, you can always find a way to improve others’ experience when they’re on the receiving end of your organization’s services.

Here are a variety of ways to improve clients’ service experiences that can apply to a diverse group of industries.

But, in addition to this, it’s important to make sure that the employees are able to show that they truly care about their work and stand behind the company especially when they’re interacting with those receiving your services or buying your products.

To do this, you need to ensure employees have a sense of intrinsic motivation to do their job. When employees are intrinsically motivated to do their job, they will:

  • Respect and enjoy the process of the work rather than simply receiving a paycheck
  • Find pleasure in their everyday tasks
  • Show a sense of enthusiasm for their work
  • Seek opportunities to learn
  • Welcome challenges
  • Live up to their potential

For more information, read our examples of SMART goals for small business .

28. Improve Employee Morale

You don’t have to be in a leadership position to boost employee morale. When employees have a positive attitude about their environment at work and believe they can be successful in their job, employee morale naturally increases.

When working among other people, you can have an impact on the working environment and encourage a positive morale. For example, you can:

  • Praise your fellow co-workers for their hard work or success
  • Avoid using negative language or expressing complaints without offering a possible solution
  • Do something as simple as keeping your office door open or putting a bowl of candy on your desk to make fellow employees feel welcomed when approaching you

The culture of an organization cannot be changed by just one person, however, without at least one person making an effort to improve employee morale, no changes will ever occur. Do your part in creating positive general norms in your workplace.

The most effective way to improve employee morale is to demonstrate it yourself. Your own positive attitude about your work will be contagious to everyone around you. Go out of your way to point positive aspects of your job out to other people– no matter how small they are.

For example, if the company buys a new Keurig for the breakroom, make the effort to point that out to someone in passing. Add as much positivity to your workplace as you can to negate any negative attitudes that tend to hang around there .

This video offers some more great ideas on how to improve employee morale.

29. Offer Solutions to Problems

Pointing out problems that are occurring within your organization time and time again gets exhausting for those who have to listen to you.

Instead, be proactive about coming up with solutions to challenges that arise before complaining about the problem in the first place.

For example, let’s say that you’re finding frequent mistakes in your coworkers’ reports and you’re having to spend time going back and fixing them.

If your method of attempting to deal with this problem involves complaining directly to your boss about your coworkers’ mistakes, you’re just going to sound like you’re whining or speaking poorly about others with whom you work.

There’s not much worse than sitting around wasting time talking about problems without planning on doing anything about them.

If you notice a problem at work, have an honest conversation with the offending coworkers about these mistakes, what can be done to improve their work, and what (if anything) you can do to help.

This way, when you do talk to your boss about the problem, you can report the action you’ve already taken to try to ameliorate the issue.

Don’t play the blame game , because remember, you’re a part of a team. This means that ultimately, everyone is responsible for the company’s success.

This video talks more about the importance of offering solutions rather than just problems.

30. Make Your Boss’s Job Easier

You were hired to make your boss (and their boss) successful. And the first step to making that happen is to understand exactly what is expected of you and how you should deliver on those expectations. Get to know your boss and his or her preferences so they don’t have to go back and correct your work.

In doing this, it’s important to maintain a sense of personal responsibility and stay accountable for your work . If you commit to something, make sure to follow through with it. By doing so, you’re letting your boss know that they can count on you.

One way that you can make your boss’s job easier is to stay ahead of your work. When you’re given a deadline, be sure to have your work completed at least one day in advance .

This will allow your boss to have some time to go over the work on their own schedule rather than waiting until the last minute when you finally turn it in.

Some other ways to make your boss’s life easier include:

  • Learn how he/she operates, what they need from you, and how they want it done. Doing so will help you meet their expectations.
  • Know your boss’s goals so you can help ensure they’re met.
  • Be resourceful and respect your boss’s time. For example, if you have a question about health insurance, ask someone in HR. Save your time with your boss to talk about work-related issues that involve collaboration between the two of you–not questions that should be directed toward someone else.
  • Stick to your promises. Better yet– under-promise and over-deliver.

Here are some more useful tips on how to make your boss’s job easier.

31. Expect Change

Being flexible and accepting of change is critical in today’s job market. In fact, it’s estimated that by 2030, the average person who is entering the workforce will have to learn entirely new job skills between eight and ten times before they retire.

As jobs evolve, the uncertainty regarding what skills will be needed in the future also changes, which makes it hard to be able to predict an organization’s future needs.

Because of this, it’s critical to be flexible and prepared to change paths at any moment. It’s important to be aware of the inevitable changes that are yet to come and the fact that the responsibility of keeping up with trends and new technology has shifted to workers rather than employers.

Being a lifelong learner allows for personal employability, which is important to focus on now since it will be a principal component of employment moving forward in this age of rapid automation.

Having a personal goal of continuous skill development will become increasingly important as some of the more traditional jobs become replaced by emerging technology.

Being successful in the future job market will be less about current knowledge and more about your willingness and capacity to learn and evolve while your role is potentially redefined .

This is where the importance of being able to easily adapt to waves of disruption is already extremely important. Furthermore, you need to stay on top of your skillset and always be on the lookout for anything new happening in your industry.

To “level up” your skills, we recommend three resources:

Finally, here are some growth strategies for being more flexible and adaptable in the workplace.

32. Be Resilient

Being resilient is important for a variety of reasons.

Being able to bounce back from adversity helps you develop the tools you need to protect yourself from overwhelming situations and it helps you stay balanced when times get tough. 

Resiliency can also help with the prevention of mental health issues down the line. 

Having resiliency and cognitive flexibility is also important for your short-term success at work. While some are born with a better ability to deal with unpredictable change than others, this skill can be learned .

And, through your learned resilience, you will be able to develop an internal toolset to help you manage stress and find ways to use your inner strength that you may not have even known you had during the times that you need it the most.

Resilience can be built up with time as you make your way through difficult experiences in life.

It’s beneficial to be able to develop the ability to determine when you can draw from a difficult life event and then be able to use that experience to your advantage during future stressful times.

You can work toward the goal of becoming more resilient by increasing your self-awareness , getting exercise, and switching up your normal routines.

Getting daily exercise encourages your body to release chemicals such as dopamine, opioids, serotonin, and endorphins that not only make you feel good, but also increase your ability to learn .

Also, adding some variety to your routine promotes cognitive flexibility because doing new things makes your brain have to quickly adapt to and work with new stimuli.

Here is some helpful information on the importance of having resilience in the workplace.

33. Develop Transdisciplinary Skills

This term is often used in school settings, but it also applies to your career performance . Having an understanding of your entire organization from various perspectives as well as understanding the synergy and alignment between all of the departments is becoming progressively important in businesses.

There are a few ways you can improve your transdisciplinary skills at work.

One would be to schedule coffee dates with people who work in other areas of the organization where you can talk about each of your responsibilities and how you contribute to the success of the business. Or, you could spend some time shadowing a coworker who has a different job title than you do.

Knowing more about how your company works as a whole can help you understand and appreciate how your efforts fit into that puzzle.

One thing you will recognize while you’re working on this goal is the four stages of learning . There is probably a lot that goes on in your company that you’re unaware of, which also means you’re unaware that there is even so much to learn.

But once you start talking with other people and getting to know how processes work in the business, you will likely uncover a huge gap in knowledge that you would have otherwise never realized you had.

Here are some good ways to learn about other areas of your organization , such as:

  • Volunteering for projects
  • Joining informal work clubs or groups (like a sports league)
  • Researching about the history of your company

34. Improve Your People Management Skills

An important component to generating innovation in your workplace is being able to collaborate with your team .

Despite your assigned level of leadership within your organization, being proactive in leading by example in your willingness to be a team player and actuate progress in the people working with you is essential to the success of your team.

Therefore, being an influential employee who can manage people–even if it’s not done in an “official” manner–is a significant skill to have in today’s work environment.

Effective people management skills are necessary for both current and future leaders who want to improve efficiency and communication at work. Building the skills that are required in order to effectively manage others can help you uncover your strengths as well as find areas in which you could improve.

Here are a few examples of how you can practice your people management skills, even if you aren’t their designated manager:

  • Have empathy for your coworkers during periods of conflict by imagining yourself in their shoes in order to assess how they may feel and consider what your behavior may look like if you were in their position
  • Give your colleagues positive (and constructive negative) feedback
  • Recognize your colleagues when they do work that’s beyond what is expected of them
  • Encourage an inclusive work environment by involving everyone and allowing all team members to have the time and space to share their ideas and opinions
  • Create an environment of cultural humility ( formerly known as cultural competence ) to improve communication, respect, and encourage collaboration

Here is a video that explains some more ways you can improve your people management skills.

35. Stay Informed and Teach Others About Emerging Communication Channels

Having clear channels of communication and creating a culture of welcomed feedback is a critical element of having a successful organization.

Innovative apps, social media avenues, and new methods of communication are steadily surfacing in today’s workplace–and many companies have started to reduce their overhead costs by having their employees work remotely if it isn’t necessary to maintain a large office space.

The increase in physical distancing among team members on an everyday basis that was trending even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the use of new modes of communication, productivity apps , and video conference calls.

To stay ahead of the game, it’s essential to stay informed and literate with new communication tools and be a pioneer in educating your colleagues about which new technologies can increase (or decrease) the efficiency of your unique work .

Doing this will demonstrate your commitment to excellence to your employer.

Here are some actionable steps you can take to keep up with emerging channels of communication in the workplace:

  • Do some research every two to three months on new communication channels available
  • Outline the current productivity and communication tools your company uses and assess what’s working and what areas could use some improvement
  • Present new options to your team if you believe there is a tool that could increase your communication or productivity
  • Lead training sessions on any new tools that are implemented

To learn from those who are already successful in keeping up with these trends, here is how some top CIOs stay up-to-date with technology .

36. Be Confident in Your Decisions

It’s difficult to develop strong decision-making skills, but it’s essential to your performance in an organization. If you think about the thousands of decisions that you make every day , you can recognize their positive or negative consequences.

Having the skills that you need to increase the positive results you achieve is a fundamental part of being productive in your job.

Developing strong decision-making skills will offer you that chance to increase positive outcomes and decrease the consequences of your mistakes. However, there is a learning curve to gaining this skill– it takes time to learn from your mistakes so you can make better decisions in the future.

There are a few things that you can do to increase the confidence in the decisions that you make, such as:

  • Limit your choices. Having too many options for any decision is overwhelming, so narrow them down as best as you can.
  • Do a cost-benefit analysis (weigh the pros and cons) before coming to your final decision. This will help you uncover any potential opportunity costs that you may incur if you decide on one thing over another.
  • Set a time limit for making a decision. This will prevent you from mulling over a decision for 10 hours that should take 10 minutes.
  • Do as much research as you can before making a decision– including talking to other people who have some more experience than you do. For example, I recently had to purchase a new dryer so I called the company in my town who fixes appliances and asked them what machines they get called on the most and the least often to work on. That narrowed down my options really fast.

Here is a video with some more information to help you improve your decision making skills.

Final Thoughts on Personal Development Goals

Your brain and thinking methods both have an impact on every aspect of your life. The personal development goals discussed in this article are all dependent on your ability to retrain your brain to think (and therefore act) in new ways.

Your brain is flexible and can quickly adapt to reaching your new goals when you use the right approach and become more goal-oriented . Take a moment to think about your personal development goals and which of the aforementioned are the most important to you.

If you have had some other goals on your mind, how can you incorporate some of these personal development goals into your own to leverage your success?

Reaching one goal can easily open a door to work on another of its kind or help you recognize another area of improvement you may be able to work on in your life.

To tie things up, writing down your goals in the form of professional goal statements can help you stay focused on your purpose . For specific examples, check out these posts:

  • 8 SMART Goals Examples for Your Nursing Career
  • 9 SMART Goal Examples for Teachers
  • 7 SMART Goals Examples for Administrative Assistants
  • 15 Leadership SMART Goals Examples for Your Workplace

Finally, if you want to take your goal-setting efforts to the next level, check out this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step process that will help you set effective SMART goals .

personal development plan template for goals

Connie Mathers is a professional editor and freelance writer. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and a Master’s Degree in Social Work. When she is not writing, Connie is either spending time with her daughter and two dogs, running, or working at her full-time job as a social worker in Richmond, VA.

examples of personal development goals | personal development plan examples professional personal development objectives for work examples

Maximize Your Potential With a Personal Development Plan

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Personal development fosters individual growth while enhancing skills and self-awareness. It can facilitate adaptability to life’s changes, maximize your potential and contribute to fulfilling your personal and professional aspirations. The result can lead to a more enriched and purposeful life. But maximizing your potential requires a sound and strategic approach, which is where creating a solid personal development plan and template can assist you.

What is a personal development plan? 

A personal development plan (PDP) provides a structured and strategic approach to reaching your personal goals. It provides you with an opportunity for self-assessment, making the planning process itself an opportunity to better understand your drives, goals and needs.

Moreover, PDPs are actionable. By setting goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (that is, SMART goals), you develop a proactive means toward personal growth. And paying careful attention to your plan throughout the process gives you the opportunity to assess your success.

Here are eight aspects of personal development to keep in mind while creating your individualized plan:

  • Self-awareness and reflection: Discover your true self with greater understanding of your strengths and weaknesses as well as values, drives and goals.
  • Skill acquisition and knowledge: Commit to lifelong learning to gain new knowledge and develop new skills and enhance existing ones for greater empowerment and satisfaction.
  • Emotional and mental health: Build resilience while managing stress and developing emotional intelligence .
  • Physical health: Emphasis on improving health, including a better diet, proper sleep, exercise and other self-care regimens to enhance overall well-being.
  • Relationships: Build and expand your personal network through development and better communication skills and empathy.
  • Financial literacy : Relieve unnecessary stress and burdens with a personalized money management plan.
  • Time management and productivity : The best time management strategies will increase your productivity while freeing up personal time.
  • Spiritual growth: Noted speaker Jim Rohn considered spiritual growth key to personal development , whether that’s through religion, meditation or a connection to nature and the universe.

By identifying these aspects of overall well-being, you can embark on a personal development plan suited to your individual goals and needs.

What are the benefits of a personal development plan?

The decision to create a PDP is your first step toward achieving your goals. It shows a commitment to inner growth and a desire to lead a happier and more fulfilling life. As you dive in, you will develop a clearer understanding of yourself. This clarity fosters self-awareness through introspection. Your plan is not a “wish list” but rather a process of designing a more purposeful existence.

Your plan also provides clarity in making decisions that align with your values and goals. This calibration of your inner and outer worlds enhances personal motivation with a renewed sense of purpose. Monitoring your growth in desired areas of personal development likewise builds resilience as you see yourself more confidently clearing hurdles and navigating setbacks.

Furthermore, a professional development plan emphasizes continuous learning. This augments your adaptability skills so that perceived threats seem more like opportunities. You develop a growth mindset that builds your character and makes you more attractive to others, both personally and professionally. Every task becomes easier as you build a more enriched, empowered and purposeful life.

How do I create a personal development plan?

Crafting a PDP requires commitment. You must be willing to devote quiet time to deep introspection of who you are and who you want to become. With this understanding, you can set specific goals tailored to your personal growth. Each goal should be paired with strategic actions that are stepping stones toward your self-actualization.

It sounds like a lot to take on—but embarking on this journey does not need to be difficult. A personal development plan template provides structure, acting as a roadmap to guide you one step at a time on your lifelong journey.

Use this personal development plan template to get started.

Let’s begin with a personal development plan example to use as your own template.

1. Create a vision statement

Think deeply about what you aspire to and what inspires you. Make a list in multiple columns that addresses where you want to go and what truly motivates you on a daily basis. Then, narrow that list down, crossing off items where desire and motivation don’t align. Start from what remains to develop your personal growth vision statement.

2. Commit to a deep self-assessment

Now that you have brought into alignment what you want to achieve and what motivates you to get there, assess yourself. Identify your personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats—that is, perform a personal SWOT analysis . Just as these analyses help businesses assess their standing, they also help individuals in developing a plan for personal development.

3. Set SMART goals

Next, set personal development goals for yourself. But remember: Goals are not wishes or dreams. Setting goals for personal development is simple, but it requires discipline. Set your personal goals with the SMART goal strategy in mind—determine goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. To facilitate the ease and success of this stage, consider using a goal-setting worksheet .

4. Determine action steps

Now that you know where you want to go, the challenge lies in getting there. Determine the course of action to achieve what you desire. Some personal development goals may only need a few action steps. Others may require more. The point here is to map out the actions you need to take to achieve your personal goals. Set realistic deadlines that help keep you on track, adhere to them and adjust only when necessary.

5. Use all available resources

Putting step 4 of your personal development plan into action may be the most difficult. Thankfully, you do not need to attempt it without guidance. Experts can assist you. Take time to use available resources such as personal development courses and personal growth books . These proven experts will do more than guide you with tools and strategies; they will inspire you during your growth journey.

6. Track your progress

Tracking your personal development progress is vital to your plan. If you used a SMART goal worksheet to set deadlines, review the tasks regularly to ensure you are staying on track while also setting future goals. You may consider keeping a daily journal. If you choose this method, consider expressing gratitude in your journal, which can provide personal development benefits.

7. Review and adjust

Tracking your daily progress also offers you the opportunity to review and adjust your personal development plan. Go back and look at your worksheet and journal each week with time set aside for a monthly review. If you did not meet your goals, don’t be hard on yourself. You may simply have aimed too high starting out. Adjust your goals and timelines accordingly. And when goals are met, set new ones in incremental steps that adhere to the SMART goal-setting approach.

Ready to maximize your potential but still want help creating your personal development plan? The Win the Day Accelerator, hosted by James Whittaker, can help! The 8-part program is designed to unlock your full potential and help you achieve extraordinary results, personally and professionally.

Photo by mimagephotography/Shutterstock.com

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Bryan Lindenberger

Bryan enjoys the digital space where arts and technology meet. As a writer, he has worked in education, health and wellbeing, and manufacturing. He also assists smaller businesses in web development including accessibility and content development. In his free time, he hikes trails in central Florida.

  • Bryan Lindenberger https://www.success.com/author/bryan-lindenberger/ What Is a Mentor? How to Unleash Your Potential Through Mentorship
  • Bryan Lindenberger https://www.success.com/author/bryan-lindenberger/ Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: What’s the Difference and Which Do I Need to Build?
  • Bryan Lindenberger https://www.success.com/author/bryan-lindenberger/ How to Use ChatGPT: Working With Generative AI
  • Bryan Lindenberger https://www.success.com/author/bryan-lindenberger/ Top 5 ChatGPT Alternatives: When to Use Them and Why
  • Bryan Lindenberger https://www.success.com/author/bryan-lindenberger/ Goal Setting for Kids: Empowering Future Achievers to Reach Limitless Goals

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Development Plan Templates to Map Personal and Professional Growth

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Personal or professional development requires a clear roadmap, and that’s where development plan templates come in. Development plans can help guide a person’s growth, a team’s progress, or an organization’s progress. And this guide will give you the knowledge, tools and insights you need to create a development plan that leads to lasting success, whether you’re a professional or a team leader.

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What is a Development Plan Template

A development plan is a structured and intentional framework designed to guide the growth, improvement, and advancement of individuals, teams, or organizations. It outlines specific goals, objectives, and strategies to improve skills, knowledge, and capabilities over a defined period. Development plans can be applied in various contexts, including personal and professional development, career advancement, team building, or organizational growth.

Essentially, a development plan template is a pre-designed structure or format for designing a systematic and organized plan. Individuals and organizations can customize development plan templates to meet their specific needs and goals, making them flexible tools. They provide a structured and efficient way to plan and track progress.

Key Components of a Professional Development Plan Template

A well-structured professional development plan template typically includes the following seven key components:

1. Employee information

  • Name, position, department, and other relevant identification details.
  • Current role, responsibilities, and any additional information that sets the context for the development plan.

2. Professional goals and objectives

  • Clearly defined and measurable goals that align with the individual’s career aspirations and organizational objectives.
  • Objectives that highlight the specific skills, competencies, or knowledge areas to be developed.

3. Development areas

  • Identification of specific areas for improvement or growth. This could include technical skills, soft skills, leadership abilities, or industry-specific knowledge.
  • Recognition of strengths that can be leveraged and areas that need improvement.

4. Action steps and strategies

  • Detailed action steps outlining how the individual plans to achieve the identified goals.
  • Strategies and activities that support skill development, such as training programs, workshops, mentorship, or on-the-job experiences.

5. Timeline

  • A realistic and achievable schedule for completing each action step.
  • Milestones or checkpoints to assess progress at regular intervals.

6. Resources and support

  • Identification of the resources needed to support the development plan, including financial resources, time allocation, and access to training materials.
  • Support mechanisms such as mentorship, coaching, or collaboration with colleagues.

7. Performance metrics and evaluation

  • Clear criteria for measuring success and progress toward goals.
  • Methods for assessing performance, including self-assessment, feedback from peers or supervisors, and quantitative metrics.

8. Review and reflection

  • Scheduled times for reviewing and reflecting on progress and adjusting the plan if needed.
  • Opportunities for feedback and discussions with supervisors or mentors.

Development Plan Templates

Development plan template, professional development plan, employee development plan, individual development plan, career development plan, personal development plan, what makes a good development plan template.

A good development plan template should have several key attributes.

Clarity and simplicity : The template should be easy to understand, with clear and concise language. Avoid unnecessary jargon or complexity to ensure broad accessibility.

Customization : The template should be adaptable to various contexts, allowing individuals or organizations to tailor it to their specific needs.

Comprehensive sections : Include sections for personal or organizational details, goal setting, action steps, timeline, resources, and evaluation.

Inclusion of performance metrics : Clearly define how progress will be measured and evaluated. Include specific metrics or criteria for assessing success and areas for improvement.

Visual appeal : Use a visually appealing format with clear headings, bullet points, and sections to enhance readability.

Accessibility : Make the template easily accessible, whether in a digital or printable format, to facilitate regular updates and reviews.

7 Types of Professional Development Plans for Employees

A professional development plan for employees can be tailored to their needs, career stage, and organization goals. Here are some common types of professional development plans:

1. Skill development plan

Focuses on developing specific skills relevant to the employee’s current role or future career aspirations. Involves targeted training, workshops, or certifications to improve technical or soft skills.

2. Leadership development plan

Designed for employees aspiring to leadership roles. Includes activities such as leadership training, mentorship programs, and opportunities to lead projects or teams.

3. Career advancement plan

Geared toward employees with a desire to advance in their careers. Outlines steps and milestones for climbing the corporate ladder, including acquiring additional qualifications or experiences.

4. Cross-training plan

Involves learning and mastering skills beyond the employee’s current role. Develops versatility and prepares employees for diverse responsibilities.

5. Mentorship or coaching plan

Establishes a structured relationship between the mentor and employee. Aims to provide guidance, share insights, and facilitate professional growth.

6. Performance improvement plan

Developed for employees facing performance challenges. Outlines steps to address weaknesses and improve performance through targeted training and support.

7. Succession planning development plan

Identifies and develops employees for future key roles within the organization. Includes a focus on building skills and experiences necessary for leadership positions.

How to Implement Professional Development Plans Across the Organization

An effective professional development plan involves a few key steps.

1. Individual assessment

Get employees to evaluate their current skills and strengths in relation to organizational goals.

2. Goal alignment

Clearly define individual professional goals aligned with both personal aspirations and organizational objectives. Make sure that these goals contribute to the overall success of the organization.

3. Create the development plan

Structured plans are created outlining specific actions and timelines for achieving professional goals.

4. Allocate resource

Identify resources, such as training and support, needed for successful plan implementation.

5. Implementation and support

Actively engage in planned activities within a supportive organizational environment.

6. Regular review and adjustment

Carry out periodic reviews and adjustments to the development plan based on progress, feedback, and evolving organizational and individual needs.

Create Development Plan Templates with Creately

Creately ’s visual collaboration platform offers a variety of features ideal for creating and collaborating on development plans.

Interactive workspaces

Creately offers interactive, shared workspaces where teams can collaborate in real-time on visually laying out and organizing development plans. Its infinite canvas lets you host even multiple development plans, action plans and more. Attach files or embed multimedia elements directly on the canvas or via per item notes panel to consolidate relevant information.

Versatile drawing tools

You can create visually appealing development plans with Creately’s range of drawing tools, including shape libraries for over 70 types of diagrams, automatic drawing with Plus Create, preset color themes, and styling options. With Creately VIZ ’s AI capabilities, you can now automatically generate diagrams to expand your ideas.

Its versatile table shape makes it easy to merge cells, customize margins, and insert shapes. This makes it easier for you to format and customize your development plan template as needed. You can also use it as a frame and turn it into an action plan or Kanban board, where you can assign tasks, track progress, and assign roles.

Real-time collaboration

Multiple users can work on the development plan template simultaneously with synced previews, live mouse tracking, and more. Contextual comments can be used to add comments and feedback directly on the board.

Customizable templates

Get a head start with pre-designed templates for development plans, career plans, and for multiple scenarios spanning across industries with in-app templates libraries and the template community.

In conclusion, a good development plan is like a roadmap for personal and professional growth. By embracing this proactive approach, individuals and teams can navigate their journey toward success and adapt to changes. A development plan template isn’t just a document; it’s a dynamic tool that evolves with your goals and experiences, guiding you towards your best self.

Join over thousands of organizations that use Creately to brainstorm, plan, analyze, and execute their projects successfully.

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Amanda Athuraliya is the communication specialist/content writer at Creately, online diagramming and collaboration tool. She is an avid reader, a budding writer and a passionate researcher who loves to write about all kinds of topics.

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A Personal Development Plan (PDP) Guide & Template

What is a personal development plan.

Personal development is an ongoing process that drives you to improve your knowledge, skills and experience, so that you can achieve your goals. A personal development plan (or PDP) is a method of focussing your goals into achievable steps, which helps you keep track of your personal development.

Download Free PDP Example/Template

Why Should I Create a Personal Development Plan?

Your plan may be aimed at your education, career or personal goal, or a mixture of all three – that is up to you to determine. Whatever the case may be, a good plan will provide you with a clear sense of focus. It helps you map out a path towards your goals, strategise a plan to achieve them, record the actionable steps you will take, and set a timeframe for completing them. Focussing your goals into a PDP helps you maintain your vision, keep on track to achieve your targets, and reflect on your progress.

Simply put, a PDP can help you build a clear understanding of what you want to achieve and how you are going to achieve it.

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A clear plan can also support your positive mental wellbeing and improve your level of satisfaction. It can provide a sense of direction, purposefulness and a feeling of success as you start to fulfil your potential. All of these can have very positive impacts on your mental health. 

Therefore, discovering what your goals are, getting organised and giving yourself a sense of direction can be incredibly beneficial. This article will give you an understanding of how to write a personal development plan, as well as provide you with a handy template to support your development journey.

How to Write a Personal Development Plan

There are seven steps to writing a PDP:

  • Set yourself goals.
  • Prioritise those goals.
  • Set yourself deadlines for when you want to achieve them.
  • Recognise threats and opportunities.
  • Develop your skills or increase your knowledge.
  • Use your support network.
  • Measure your progress.

person filling in PDP diary progress

1. Set Yourself Goals

The first step is to set yourself goals . Think about what you want to achieve, whether that’s within a few weeks, within a year, or over your lifetime.

Deciding what you want is not only the first step in planning, it’s also the hardest. Once you’ve figured out what you want to do, that goal will provide clear direction and a structure for your resulting plan.

At this stage, your goals will feel big. You might be wondering how you are ever going to achieve them. Don’t worry – the next step is to prioritise and turn those goals into smaller, actionable steps that will support you on your way to achieving them.

2. Prioritising Your Goals

Now that you have your goals, the next stage is to break them down into smaller steps. When doing this, it’s important that your goals are SMART:

  • Specific. Avoid large, ambiguous steps. These won’t support you on your way to achieving your goals. Insted, make sure that your goals are specific and clearly highlight the skill, knowledge or experience you want to develop.
  • Measureable. You need to be able to monitor and reflect on your progress. Therefore, your goals need to be measurable, such as by setting a goal to develop your SEO knowledge with a measurable target of growing your website traffic by a set, defined percentage.
  • Attainable. Your goals need to be achievable and realistic. You need to think about if it is something you can realistically achieve with the time and resources you have. If not, you will likely be setting yourself up for failure. 
  • Relevant. It’s important to keep your overall goal in mind and make sure that every step you take is supporting you to achieve it. You don’t want to be spending time doing things that don’t get you where you want to go.
  • Time-bound. Set yourself key targets to achieve and deadlines in which to achieve them. This will help you stay focussed on achieving your goals. However, it’s important to make sure you are realistic in what you can achieve in any given period. Don’t try to achieve everything all at once. It’s unrealistic and you won’t be setting yourself up well to achieve them. Remember that personal development is a journey – your PD plan can continue to grow and develop as you take those steps towards your goals.

Once you have your goals, you’ll need to prioritise them. 

In your PDP, you should be setting yourself mini goals to make the big ones happen.

For example, if you wish to pursue a career in academia as a senior lecturer and then a professor, a necessary step to succeeding in this goal is to achieve a PhD. So that would be one of your long-term goals. You then need to break it down into steps, such as:

  • Learn about the PhD application process.
  • Find a suitable university and supervisor for a PhD.
  • Look at routes for funding.
  • Find studentships to apply for or apply to your university of choice.
  • Write and submit your PhD application.

3. Set Yourself Deadlines

Knowing when you want to achieve a goal is crucial, and picturing your future is an important source of motivation and inspiration.

Having goals and a set deadline will drive your motivation to achieve them. For example, if your goal is to buy a home, knowing when you want to achieve it will help you calculate exactly how much money you need to save each year in order to get your deposit. The same is true for your skills, knowledge and experience development. As mentioned above, setting realistic and time-bound goals are essential to achieving them. 

One good way to understand more about achieving your goals is to speak to those who have previously trodden a similar path. Learning about  their experiences can help you understand key barriers to, or methods of, success that may also be applicable to your PDP.

typing up a personal development plan

4. Recognise Threats and Opportunities

When considering your goals, you should identify your own strengths, consider areas of weakness you can develop, look at the opportunities available to support you in achieving your goals, and any threats that may hinder you in your progress. This is called a SWOT analysis. Note that these threats may be external or they may be core skills that you can develop as part of your PDP.

For example, a lack of motivation could hinder your plans to apply for a PhD. However, once you’ve identified your tendency to procrastinate or lose focus, you can put in place methods that will keep you motivated.

There are also going to be things that you could do, and connections with people or resources you could take advantage of, that will help you on your way. These are your opportunities that you should commit to doing.

For example, if there’s a conference coming up, take advantage of that. Go along and network, stay up to date on the latest knowledge, or even present a paper. These are all opportunities that could help you achieve your goals.

5. Develop Yourself

Once you have an idea of what could help or hinder you, this is when you can capitalise on those opportunities you recognised. Make an action plan about how you’ll make that progress.

Whatever it is that hinders you, there’s a way to stop it. Your plan is the first step to making sure you stay on track. 

So, why not take a look at how to upskill yourself , develop transferable skills in today’s rapidly changing jobs market, or even discover an online learning opportunity .

6. Use Your Support Network

The next thing you need to realise is that:

You don’t have to do everything by yourself.

And you shouldn’t. The support network around you is a valuable asset, so use it and don’t underestimate it.

In your PDP, list the people who can help you. This could be a financial advisor, a friend, or a colleague. People are often so happy to help you, more than you might realise.

friends supporting PDP

7. Measure Progress

After you’ve achieved some progress, whether it’s big or small, take time to reflect on how far you’ve come.

Recognising what has gone well is an effective way to bolster your motivation and remain dedicated.

And after a setback, this is another time to take stock.

Wallowing – briefly – is a good way to feel what you need to without holding on to it. Holding onto sadness, anger or frustration, however, will only deter you. These emotions will take you nowhere and will only hinder you.

You should also spend a little time figuring out why it went wrong. Can you identify a skills or knowledge gap? 

 If you can, then you can get yourself back on track by focussing on your next step. This will reignite your sense of purpose and help you regain control, which is integral to making progress.

Continue to reflect on your progress. You can gain significant insight from your reflections and this can help you grow. Remember that you should update your plan where necessary. Don’t overload it at any one time but, once you have achieved your small steps, reflect and then update your plan to focus on your next move.

Free Personal Development Plan Example & Template

In this article, we have discussed how you can create your own personal development plan, so you should now feel ready to start considering your goals and developing your own plan. To help you produce an effective personal development plan, we have created an editable template that you can use. Take a look at our example PDP, and download your free template below:

Further Resources:

  • How to Upskill Yourself
  • What are Personal Development Goals for Work?
  • Using Key Phrases in Performance Reviews & Appraisals
  • Resilience Quiz
  • Resilience in the Workplace: What are the Benefits and How Can Businesses Develop It?
  • How to Stand Out in a Virtual Interview: Preparation Tips
  • What is CPD? A Guide to Continuing Professional Development
  • Writing A Professional Development Plan – Example & Template
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Personal Development Plan (PDP) plus template

Personal Development Plan (PDP) - Toolshero

Personal development plan: this article explains the personal development plan (PDP) in a practical way. Next to what it is, this article also the benefits, how do I write it, a The full guide and personal development plan template to create a personal development plan and started and get closer to your goals. Enjoy reading!

What is a personal development plan?

A personal development plan is an approach, or action plan, through which you can determine the following:

  • Your personal development goals (development opportunities)
  • Strengths and weaknesses
  • The areas that need improvement and development to achieve your goals
  • What actions are needed to achieve your goals
  • How to monitor progress
  • Which things can hinder progress

The personal development plan, PDP in short, is a form of self-evaluation and self-reflection that is frequently applied in education, but also in the personal and professional life of many individuals.

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Developing and executing a PDP is a useful method of self-development for many people.

Benefits of a personal development plan

The benefits of using a PDP include:

  • Developing clear SMART goals both short term goals and long term goals
  • Improving your employability in your work environment
  • Improving performance
  • Increasing your motivation
  • Improving your mental well-being
  • Reducing stress
  • Contributing to your IKIGAI
  • Maximizing your potency

Many people see personal development as a train journey from point A to point B. In reality, a career and your development is not at all like a train journey: you stop several times, get off and on again at sometimes unforeseen moments.

Whether it’s your personal career or your personal life, it’s good to occasionally assess your situation and reconsider your goals, strengths weaknesses opportunities and threats. Investing in sustainable development and identifying areas for personal development is perhaps the best investment there is.

How do I write a personal development plan? The full guide

All development plans are different, as it is precisely tailored to your personal situation. In education and work life, PDPs have a certain format. Employers can also customize their own versions for employees and have their own procedures and processes to tailor the PDP to their employees.

Regardless of what a PDP is used for, there are some general steps that can help you write a PDP. In any case, these steps include:

  • SWOT Analysis
  • Career Goals Analysis
  • Competency Analysis
  • Action plan
  • Personal Development Plan Template

Follow the steps below and keep a record of all the output. The result of each of the steps should be used as input for the final personal development plan template.

Step 1: perform a personal analysis

The first step in the process of drawing up a personal development plan is to do a personal analysis. It is important that you have a clear picture of yourself, because only then can the ideal career direction be determined. The personal part of this analysis consists of two parts:

  • Getting a clear picture of your personality
  • Gaining insights into your own core competencies through a SWOT analysis

Personality

Before you can start planning a career, you need to know where you want to go. That seems easier said than done for many people. By performing a personal analysis you can find out what motivates you, who you really are and where your strengths and weaknesses lie.

To find out, you can use various self-assessment tools, such as the MBTI test ( Myers Briggs Personality Test ), or the Big Five Personality Test .

SWOT analysis

A SWOT analysis reveals an organization’s strengths and weaknesses and helps identify opportunities and threats to the business. This method can also be applied to your personal situation.

By recognizing your strengths, you can focus your efforts on what you are good at. Understanding weaknesses will help you know what to avoid and what you might need help with.

All input together helps to identify opportunities for your long-term career.

To conduct a personal SWOT analysis, ask yourself a series of questions based on the four quadrants of the analysis. Sample questions are shown below.

  • What are you really good at?
  • For which skills do you receive recognition?
  • What skills do you have that others don’t?
  • What do you do better than the people you work with?
  • What are you most proud of when it comes to your own skills?
  • Do you have access to skills, resources, or connections that others don’t?

Weaknesses in the personal development plan

  • What are you less good at? What skills do you struggle with in your professional and personal life?
  • What do you do only because you have to? For example because of job requirements?
  • What does someone else identify as your weakness?
  • Where do you feel vulnerable?
  • Where do you miss experience, connections or resources that others have?

Opportunities

  • In what ways can you best use and utilize your strengths?
  • What opportunities exist for people with the same strengths as you?
  • Would you most like to do something that you are good at? What is that?
  • How can you minimize your weaknesses?
  • If you had no weaknesses, what would you most like to do?
  • How do you see the career opportunities in your professional environment? Perhaps in a different industry or sector?
  • Which trends influence the course of your career?
  • What common threats should you be aware of?
  • If you don’t work on weaknesses, can they threaten your career? Or cause problems and new challenges?
  • What setbacks are you likely to face in your career development?
  • What obstacles are encountered by others following a similar path?

Step 2: determine which goals you have for your career

Now that you have a clear and detailed vision of your strengths and weaknesses, it’s time to think about where you want to go.

This is an important step in developing a personal development plan. Divide the long-term ambitions you have into key career goals that will enable the achievement of these aspirations.

Take the time to decide on the path you are going to walk. Think about the following questions:

  • What do you plan to achieve? What ambitions do you have?
  • Why are these plans important to you?
  • What is at the heart of your decision?
  • Does this ambition make you feel like you’re contributing? To other people? To society?
  • What emotions come up when you think about these career plans?
  • How do you want others to see you?

Formulate the objective(s) using the SMART Goals method. In this way you ensure that the goal remains attainable and realistic. A BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) is difficult to define in a way that is feasible, relevant and time bound.

Step 3: perform a competency / skill analysis

With the development of your objectives, the basis is ready for the personal development plan.

In addition to this, it is essential to have a good understanding of the skills and competencies you need to achieve your vision and purpose.

The next step, therefore, is to think about the skills you are currently missing and which ones you need to develop. It is also important to define why this is important for achieving your goal.

Think about the following questions:

  • What specific skills do you need to perform the job you envision?
  • Is it possible to gain experience before arriving at the ultimate goal?
  • What additional skills do you need to grow in your chosen path?
  • For example, do you need a foreign language to function because you are going to work abroad?
  • Are there any job requirements in the job description that you are currently missing?
  • What can you do to develop these capacities?

Step 4: draw up an action plan

You are now finally at the point of drawing up an action plan . In the action plan you include all the objectives and interim results that you need to achieve the goal.

Step 5: Fill in the Personal Development Plan template

You have collected all the input you need to complete a personal development plan in the previous steps. Congratulations! You can now start working towards the ultimate goal.

Download the Personal Development Plan template

Summary personal development plan.

A personal development plan helps you achieve personal goals and career choices. The complete plan consists of a few tools, such as the SWOT analysis, SMART goals and a personality test.

These techniques are combined to develop a plan that is as personalized as possible, ensuring personal and professional growth.

The use of a personal development plan, or PDP, has many advantages. Thus, it helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses. This knowledge is the basis for your personal growth plan.

In addition, it helps you identify areas where you need to improve, what your precise goal is and what you need to do to achieve it. It also helps to provide insight into what can hinder your progress and how to deal with this.

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It’s Your Turn

What do you think? Do you recognize the explanation about a personal development plan? Do you use this plan for your own personal development? Do you find this a clear tool for achieving personal goals? What other things would you like to see added to this method? Do you have any tips or comments?

Share your experience and knowledge in the comments box below.

More information

  • Eisele, L., Grohnert, T., Beausaert, S., & Segers, M. (2013). Employee motivation for personal development plan effectiveness . European Journal of Training and Development .
  • Beausaert, S., Segers, M., & Gijselaers, W. (2011). The Personal Development Plan Practice Questionnaire: the development and validation of an instrument to assess the employee’s perception of personal development plan practice . International Journal of Training and Development, 15(4), 249-270.
  • Beausaert, S., Segers, M., Fouarge, D., & Gijselaers, W. (2013). Effect of using a personal development plan on learning and development . Journal of Workplace Learning.
  • Beausaert, S., Segers, M., & Gijselaers, W. (2011). The use of a personal development plan and the undertaking of learning activities, expertise-growth, flexibility and performance: The role of supporting assessment conditions . Human resource development international, 14(5), 527-543.

How to cite this article: Janse, B. (2022). Personal Development Plan (PDP) . Retrieved [insert date] from Toolshero: https://www.toolshero.com/human-resources/personal-development-plan/

Original publication date: 04/15/2022 | Last update: 09/15/2023

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How to Craft a Personal Development Plan that Inspires Meaningful, Long-Term Results

Overview : This in-depth guide provides a comprehensive 7-step roadmap to create a customized personal development plan template to help you actualize your true potential. It also provides a personal development plan template you can use (with examples).

______________

I leaped into the personal development world with a copy of Tony Robbins’ Personal Power program in the early 1990s.

If you’re old enough and living in the States, you know the one I’m talking about (late-night infomercials).

I was 18, and this audio program made a measurable difference in my outlook and behavior.

From that moment onward, I was hooked on personal development.

I jumped from seminar to seminar, book to book. Investing every possible moment I had, I covered a lot of ground in my first five years.

Reflecting over 30 years on my journey, I now see I was missing several vital ingredients essential for long-term, healthy development back then.

In this guide, I will share with you lessons learned and provide a roadmap for crafting a powerful Personal Development Plan. (Also, toward the bottom of the guide, you can download a personal development plan template and an example plan.)

Let’s dive in …

What is a Personal Development Plan?

A personal development plan is like a business plan for an individual. A personal development plan creates a roadmap for an individual’s growth in key categories of life and work.

There’s no set formula or template for creating a personal development plan.

Your plan can be a half-page, a full-page, or 20 pages long. It’s entirely up to you.

To clarify, “individual development plans” are generally more geared toward career development than a personal development plan (or “self-development plan”), but they all share common attributes.

The primary question a Personal Development Plan helps answer is:

Where am I going to place my available time and attention?

Personal Development Definitions

If you examine most people over a decade, you’ll observe little or no change in their development and behavior.

Development implies a permanent change in the structure of your being including your body, brain, or consciousness.

Just because you adopt a new habit , for example, doesn’t mean you have or will grow from it. If this new habit leads to internal growth over time , however, it will facilitate your development.

It’s all too easy to believe we’re developing when we’re not. I know I deceived myself for many years and there’s evidence of this throughout personal development communities.

Reading books in this genre, for example, doesn’t mean you’re developing. You might just be acquiring more ideas.

Personal development books can potentially provide a roadmap for development in certain areas, but real development comes through practice and repetition .

Our behavior and the development of skills, aptitudes, and desired tendencies are where we can observe signs of permanent change.

Personal Development Is Not Self Help

Self-help implies there’s something wrong with us.

The multi-billion-dollar self-help industry profits by subconsciously communicating these “deficiencies” to its unsuspecting audience.

Actual personal development is how humans realize more of their innate potential.

In an ideal environment, this process happens naturally .

Because this perfect environment doesn’t exist in society, the call for personal development is an individual’s choice. It’s up to each individual to say “yes” to their hero’s journey .

Why Personal Development Plans Are Important

When you don’t have a vision, a plan, or a goal, where does your attention go?

For most people, attention goes to entertainment and distraction. Sight, sound, and motion captivate our brains.

Television series, films, video games, social media, sports, and stock prices hook the primitive parts of our brains.

Even if you’re an overachiever who defines yourself by accomplishments and external status, your attention likely gets fixated on more work, higher productivity, and making more money. That’s fine, but this effort doesn’t necessarily support our personal development goals.

When entertainment, distraction, and workaholism consume our attention, something doesn’t feel right within us.

We may not identify it, but a deeper part of us isn’t fulfilled.

Focusing on Growth Needs

Psychologist Abraham Maslow noted that when individuals mainly focus on meeting their basic human needs like physiological needs, security, fitting in, and being liked and respected, they become neurotic.

Self-actualizing individuals, in contrast, are more focused on their growth needs.

Their motivation stems from an internal directive called intrinsic motivation instead of being driven by external forces. (All of our basic human needs are external.)

To have a full and meaningful life requires us to open to deeper aspects of ourselves.

A personal development plan can help us do just that.

But most people don’t know what’s available to them. I certainly wasn’t aware of the options when I started my journey.

Youthful enthusiasm and naivete guided those early years.

If you go to personal development seminars or read books in this genre, you may only think within the confines of the illustrations these resources provide.

personal development plan roadmap

7-Step Roadmap to Creating Your Personal Development Plan

Before we jump in, here’s a quick overview of the steps for creating your personal development plan:

Step 1: Discover the Human Potential Landscape Step 2: Envision Your Future Self Step 3: Select your Current Areas of Focus Step 4: Determine Your Key Practices Step 5: Establish Personal Development Goals Step 6: Set Your Schedule for Deliberate Practice Step 7: Monitor Your Ongoing Progress

Step 1 is what’s missing from many people’s approach to personal development.

So we’ll start our journey with a larger vision for our human potential.

Note : Toward the bottom of this guide, you can download a personal development plan template based on this roadmap.

Step 1: Discover the Personal Development Landscape

One thing I was missing from my personal development journey was a roadmap of the terrain. How can you navigate through your development without a map?

Every good explorer has one. Such a map shines a much-needed light on the diverse areas of our potential.

A reliable map of human potential wasn’t readily available in the early 90s.

The fields of transpersonal psychology, developmental psychology, integral theory, and neuroscience, however, were converging on one.

Theorist Ken Wilber played a major role in synthesizing many fields of research into a cohesive whole.

Personal Development Categories

In my experience, I’ve found it helps to take an integrated approach to your personal development plan.

That is, know your menu of options so you can select from multiple areas that interest you.

To create a map for our development, we need to know the categories available to us. These categories include:

  • Lines of Intelligence (also called Streams of Development)

Skill Development

Major life categories, behavioral change, personality development.

Let’s look at each of these categories in more detail.

personal development plan

Available Lines of Intelligence

While we used to associate “intelligence” with IQ; we now know there are many forms of intelligence.

One popular model comes from the pioneering work of Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner and his Multiple Intelligence theory. 1 Gardner, Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences , 2011.

In Gardner’s model, there are now nine lines of intelligence:

Logical-mathematical intelligence : logic, abstractions, reasoning, numbers, and critical thinking. This intelligence is associated with IQ and intellectual aptitude. This line is also referred to as cognitive intelligence as explored in Jean Piaget’s research.

Linguistic intelligence : words, languages, reading, writing, telling stories, and memorizing words.

Intrapersonal intelligence : to know oneself including one’s strengths and weaknesses, emotional triggers, and motivations. One’s ability to be introspective and self-reflective. Psychologist Daniel Goleman popularized this as  Emotional Intelligence .

Kinesthetic intelligence : one’s ability to control one’s body and one’s skill in using it. Also called body intelligence or body-mind connection.

Musical intelligence :  sensitivity to sounds, pitch, rhythms, tones, meter, melody, etc.

Visual-spatial intelligence : spatial judgment and the ability to visualize and imagine with the mind’s eye.

Interpersonal intelligence : sensitivity to others’ moods, feelings, temperaments, motivations, and their ability to cooperate with others. Goleman popularized this as  Social Intelligence .

Naturalistic intelligence : sensitivity to one’s environment; the ability to recognize flora and fauna; nurturing and relating to one’s natural surroundings.

Existential intelligence : sometimes called spiritual intelligence; relates to one’s understanding of oneself concerning reality or the cosmos.

personal development plan

Integral Theory’s “AQAL” Model of Human Development

Additional Perspectives from Developmental Research

Other developmental researchers have studied the stages of growth in morals, values, worldviews, emotions, contemplation, spirituality, needs, and psycho-sexual development.

Do you see the diverse range of our potential?

In  Integral Life Practice , Ken Wilber, et al. group these “streams of development” into four categories:

  • Cognitive development
  • Self-related intelligence (including basic human needs , morals, values, and self-identity)
  • Talent lines of development (including musical, visual-spatial, mathematical, and kinesthetic)
  • Everything else (including spiritual, aesthetic, emotional, psychosexual, and interpersonal)

We each have a different base level of development in each line of intelligence and an innate potential we can realize through deliberate practice.

Our environment often thwarts this potential in early childhood. As adults, our responsibility is to resume this upward march. A personal development plan can help us with that!

Skill development is a broad category that includes areas where you show interest and/or ability. You can develop skills for personal or professional reasons.

There are skills in problem-solving , communication , collaborating, drawing, computer programming, bookkeeping, writing, analyzing, martial arts, persuading, musical instruments, negotiating, learning , presenting, goal setting, listening, managing, planning, reasoning, and predicting, to name only a few.

All skills are associated with at least one line of intelligence listed above. With sufficient interest, practice, and the right methods, individuals can develop any skill.

One way to get more clarity on your natural skills is to take the free VIA Character Strength survey . Your natural strengths often translate to specific skills.

personal development plan template for goals

The Wheel of Life Exercise

In your pursuit of personal development, you may have come across the Wheel of Life .

The Wheel of Life is a standard tool that coaches use to illustrate the various categories of one’s life, measure an individual’s status in each area, and set goals to improve in those areas.

Your wheel might include physical health, relationships, social, finances , professional, personal growth, spirituality , creativity , and fun.

The message behind the Wheel of Life is that development occurs through conscious effort and being intentional about how you grow within these key categories.

Who doesn’t have behaviors they would like to change?

We all have set patterns of behavior that get entrenched by unconscious repetition.

Changing these habits requires repatterning the brain.

For lasting change to occur, we repeat the new habit or behavior over time under various conditions.

The time necessary to install a new habit varies; research suggests it takes 66 days on average. 2 https://www.spring.org.uk/2009/09/how-long-to-form-a-habit.php I’ve found that it’s usually much less.

Why do many personal development programs fail to produce long-term results? Because these programs are “one size fits all.”

Research shows there is a range of psychological types. In the Enneagram system, there are nine primary types and nine levels of development within each one.

Each type has varying propensities, habitual patterns, strengths, weaknesses, fears, and potentials.

If you want to create an effective Personal Development Plan, be sure you’re aware of your psychological type. Each type has a different pathway to higher development.

As a business coach to high-performing entrepreneurs for over 25 years, I went through and used most (if not all) personality tests on the market, including popular ones like Myers-Briggs (MBTI), Human Design Engineering (HDe), and DISC.

In my opinion, the Enneagram is the most efficacious, robust, and useful. (MBTI and HDE are insightful too.)

You can take a free Enneagram test here . You can find scientifically validated paid tests online as well.

After you get your results, read more about your type and see if it resonates. Then, look for ways to develop your type. (On the Enneagram Institute website, they offer “Personal Growth Recommendations” for each type.)

Step 2: Envision Your Future Self

Consider what the above information means about our potential: Developing any line of intelligence gives us greater sensitivity to the world around us.

We can now process information in new and deeper ways. Every time we grow in a line of intelligence, we perceive the world differently.

We are more aware than before. We have greater sensitivity to the world around us. Our possibilities are remarkable to ponder.

Nietzsche believed it was our destiny to be Ubermensch or Superman. An Ubermensch is an integrated or whole human being accessing his full potential.

Numerous researchers in developmental psychology have come to a similar conclusion, calling the final stage of development “Integrated.”

Maslow called this stage of development self-actualization and later, self-transcendence.

Cast Your Vision

Now, in Step 2, it’s time to create your vision for your future self .

Your vision (and personal development goals) will inspire you if it is true to who you are.

Sometimes we create a vision based on what we  should want or what we hope will gain approval from others—our parents, significant others, colleagues, or friends). Such a vision will lack inspiration and will feel meaningless to us.

Don’t worry about creating a “perfect” vision or the “right” vision. Just craft a sentence or two that inspires you right now.

Step 3: Select Your Current Areas of Focus

In Step 1, you see a diverse range of options available. Learning about these options can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. If you nailed your vision in Step 2, you have more clarity.

Now, depending on your level of clarity, Step 3 can either be the easiest or the most difficult part of this process.

Even when you have a compelling vision for your future self, selecting areas of development to focus on can challenge us because we have limited time and countless options.

We can’t do it all. Creating an aggressive or complicated personal development plan with many goals backfires over time. I can attest to this from personal experience.

An aggressive plan will create additional internal resistance that undermines your efforts.

Over-planning sets you up for failure and discouragement. Eventually, you will burn out (lose motivation) and abandon your plan.

Be Mindful of Your Available Time

We’ll discuss scheduling in Step 6, but consider how much time you have available to invest in your development.

Let’s say you only have 30 minutes a day.

Is it reasonable to expect to make significant changes in six areas of your life within three months?

Developing new skills, for example, may take a minimum of 15 minutes of daily practice.

To set yourself up for success, I recommend picking up to three areas to focus on within the next 90 days.

Where Should You Start?

Select the areas that interest you the most. You’ll learn faster in these areas and have an easier time staying engaged with your practice.

So the question is: What’s most important to you right now ?

What are the areas you are most interested in developing now ?

To help answer these questions, it helps to know what you most value .

Narrow Down Your Search

Be aware of the tendency to overthink the selection process.

Better to dive into something for a month or two and then determine it’s not for you than to analyze your options. Analysis, as the saying goes, often leads to paralysis.

If you’re still having trouble deciding, go with the classic categories of Body, Mind, and Spirit.

personal development plan

  • Body : pick an area that interests you like strength training, stamina, aerobics, or functional training.
  • Mind : select one to three topics you want to explore. Read relevant books for each one.
  • Spirit : consider focusing on gratitude, acceptance, kindness, compassion, meditation, or service to others.

I also recommend you include shadow work as part of an integrated program.

Include Important Lines of Development

While everyone is different and will create their plan to suit their needs, there are certain areas I believe to be foundational (for at least most people).

Cognitive Intelligence

Research shows that cognition is “necessary but insufficient” for other lines of development. For example, just because you have well-developed cognition doesn’t mean you’ll have moral intelligence.

One way to improve your cognition is to read books that challenge your understanding.

Emotional Intelligence (EI)

EI is, arguably, as important as cognitive development. EI relates to your physical and mental health, the quality of your relationships, and your leadership abilities (including self-leadership ).

One way to grow your emotional awareness is by practicing sitting meditation . In the context of your personal development plan, meditation is a skill-building exercise. You are developing the skill of attention .

Intrapersonal Intelligence

Your level of self-awareness and knowledge of yourself influences your behaviors, moral development, and psychological development.

The Enneagram system can support the development of intrapersonal intelligence. Another way is to practice self-reflection and journaling.

See this in-depth guide on developing intrapersonal intelligence .

Kinesthetic Intelligence

Your awareness of your body defines the degree of your connection to your instinctive self. The more connected you are, the more mental balance you experience (and vice versa).

You can develop your body intelligence through practices like Yoga and Qigong as well as dancing and functional training. You can also use centering exercises , grounding techniques , and Zhan Zhuang  to increase body awareness.

Of course, there are other important aspects of your development. I singled out these four because they influence so much of our behaviors and decisions. Also, many of us are unaware of the profound role they play in our life experiences.

Pushing Beyond Professional Development

One thing I’ve observed in working with high-performing individuals is they tend to focus only on professional goals.

Many of us want to profit from our self-development plan. I’m not suggesting there’s anything wrong with that. Developing your abilities and talents should make you more marketable and of greater value to others.

However, watch the tendency to invest exclusively in this area, denying other aspects of yourself that are still important to a deeper part of you.

If you create a diverse personal development plan, you’ll increase your chances of actualizing your plan. You’ll also find it to be a more rewarding experience.

Step 4: Determine Your Key Practices

Excellent books like Daniel Coyle’s The Talent Code and Anders Ericsson’s Peak: The New Science of Expertise  show that talent isn’t born but cultivated through deliberate practice .

Once you have selected the areas of your Personal Development Plan, the next step is to determine your practices.

These practices are the actions you are committing to doing consistently to develop in your particular areas of interest.

Examples of Practices

For example, if you want to improve your writing, write at least 1,000 words every day and edit what you write ruthlessly .

Want to learn to play the guitar? Pick up your guitar for at least 15 minutes every evening.

Want to increase your strength? Determine your training routine and follow through three or four days per week.

You may not know what practices to follow in the beginning. At first, you’ll research different topics through books, videos, and articles.

This exploration will help you to pick your practices. You may also consider hiring a coach or trainer to help you establish your practices.

Step 5: Establish Personal Development Goals

Another common mistake people make with their personal development plan is to set BIG goals.

Big goals are useful for businesses but suboptimal for your self-development plan.

A big goal might be to master a particular instrument within 12 months. Such a goal will go unrealized.

As Sun Tzu wrote in The Art of War , “Every battle is won before it’s ever fought.”

To win the battle for your development in the war of distraction, set mini-goals instead.

Mini goals help you build momentum because they’re more readily achievable than big goals.

Yes, have a big vision . But only set mini personal development goals that are fun, engaging, and manageable.

Examples of Mini-Goals

Instead of mastering an instrument, for example, perhaps you establish a mini-goal like learning how to read sheet music or comfortably playing your favorite song.

If you’re just starting with strength training and you can only do ten consecutive push-ups, perhaps you set a goal of 30 push-ups.

If you want to improve as a public speaker, maybe you set a mini-goal to speak in front of a crowd at least once a week.

If you’re getting into meditation, and you can’t sit comfortably for more than a few minutes, maybe you commit to sitting for just 2 minutes once or twice a day for the next 21 days.

These types of personal development goals will inspire your practice and help you build positive momentum.

Step 6: Set Your Schedule for Deliberate Practice

Once you know your practices, ensure you block off sufficient time for making progress.

Many people struggle with scheduling for two primary reasons:

  • They underestimate how long things take. They get too ambitious with their expectations.
  • They don’t honor their calendar unless it involves other people. Time scheduled for ourselves is the first thing to get bumped.

Watch out for both of these common patterns. If you don’t honor your time, I can assure you, no one else will.

Ground Your Plan to Reality

So first ask, How much time can I reasonably commit to my personal development plan?

The question isn’t what you should do; it’s what you think is reasonable and practical in the course of your busy life.

This infographic from Inc. illustrates how 500 chief-level executives spend their day. The average business leader invests 30 minutes a day in personal development—right before bed.

For most people, the two easiest periods to carve out time for your personal development plan are early morning and late evening.

Both of these times share the same two qualities:

  • There are fewer distractions and
  • You don’t have to interrupt your work/life flow to jump into your practices.

The key is to find times when you can be consistent and then establish a daily rhythm with your practice.

This way you don’t have to make a daily decision of whether or not to practice. You just practice!

Just 10 to 15 minutes is sufficient when you have a busy schedule. On the weekends, you can carve out additional time.

Step 7: Monitor Your Ongoing Progress

Feedback facilitates the learning process. Athletes and musicians excel when they have experienced coaches to provide the right practices and effective feedback .

In Daniel Coyle’s examination of exceptional talent, he found that having a masterful coach was one of the common denominators for producing talent. 3 Daniel Coyle, The Talent Code , 2009.

Be Aware of Your Overall Mindset

One reason many people fail to develop is because they have a fixed mindset . Individuals with a fixed mindset are more driven to avoid looking foolish than by the desire to learn. They evade any constructive or critical feedback from others.

In contrast, someone on the path to self-mastery accepts failure and mistakes as part of the learning process.

In The Art of Learning , chess master and tai chi champion Josh Waitzkin explains how he became a tai chi champion by challenging superior opponents.

Instead of sparring with opponents of equal or lesser ability, he sought more skilled martial artists. He was often defeated, but he learned quickly.

The Important Role of Attention

Other than outside feedback, the other key to monitoring your progress is to increase your awareness as you practice.

The goal is to become fully present-minded with your practice. (To assist in this process, try using something like The Mastery Method to increase your mental alertness and self-awareness.)

When you bring more awareness to your practice, you ignite an internal feedback loop that facilitates faster learning.

How to Develop Awareness

One way to develop greater awareness is through mind training.

Breathing techniques and meditation help develop parts of the brain (prefrontal cortex region) associated with awareness.

It’s also important to enter a centered state before you practice. It only takes a minute or two, and it will speed up your results.

Do Periodic Check-Ins

Finally, check in with your personal development plan often.

Scan it weekly and revisit it each month to see if there are any adjustments you want to make.

Are you making progress toward your personal development goals? If not, why not?

Evaluate and make course corrections as needed.

Your Personal Development Plan Template (Fillable)

personal development plan template

To help you create your plan, I’ve designed a personal development plan template based on the roadmap and principles outlined above. The template is fillable.

Your free kit includes:

  • Print-ready PDF of this guide
  • Fillable personal development plan template
  • Personal development plan example that’s already filled in

Download your free personal development plan kit below.

Note: After you enter your email, you’ll be redirected back here. Links to your free assessment templates will be right here.

Build Your Own Personal Development Plan Template

If you would prefer to create your own template, it’s easy to do so. Just include the following elements we just discussed:

  • Personal vision (the results from Step 2)
  • Areas of focus (the categories selected in Step 3)
  • Skills (you’re in the process of developing)
  • Practices (you’re using to develop your skills and lines of intelligence from Step 4)
  • Mini goals (associated with your skills from Step 5)

All of this information can fit on a single-page template. It will take effort to set up your plan, but once you do, it requires little energy to maintain and update.

Ready? It’s time to create your own Personal Development Plan.

Make Your Personal Development Plan Clear and Practical

It’s important to keep your personal development plan as simple and concise as possible.

The more complicated and robust your plan becomes, the less likely you are to follow through.

For years, I kept my plan on my desk. A 10-second glance at the document was often all I needed.

I used to help my clients create elaborate results plans that often grew into large report-sized documents. We found they were less functional the bigger they became. Eventually, we reduced these plans down to a single page.

Keep your plan to a single page if possible. A one-page personal development plan makes it easy for you to check in often.

Books Related to Personal Development (General)

personal development plan template for goals

Mastery by George Leonard

personal development plan template for goals

The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle

personal development plan template for goals

The Little Book of Talent  by Daniel Coyle

personal development plan template for goals

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck

Books Related to Personal Development Plans

From my experience, the most neglected step in the process of creating a Personal Development Plan is understanding the terrain of human potential—what I attempted to briefly summarize in Step 1.

Here are a series of books that opened my mind to greater possibilities years ago.

personal development plan template for goals

Integral Life Practice  by Ken Wilber, et al.

personal development plan template for goals

3 Vital Stages of Self-Discovery

A Practical Guide to Joseph Campbell and the Hero’s Journey

How to Change Your Mindset from Fixed to Growth

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The ultimate personal development plan guide + free templates

Sophie Heatley, Content Writer

| 19 Sep 2018

| 8 min read

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The ultimate personal development plan guide + free templates

This is where personal development comes in. Personal development is about stopping you from getting stuck in a rut. About getting you out of that comfort-is-cool mentality and helping you take the next steps in your career. 

Personal developing planning might seem tedious. It may make you think of those charts endorsed by supper nanny for naughty kids, but they’re more than worth your time. Don’t mock star stickers, they may just be the solution to your career stagnancy. 

Here are a few simple guidelines to help change the way you think about personal development and put you on the right path to achieving your career goals.  

What is a personal development plan? 

Personal and career development plans are projects that help you excel in your personal and professional life. PDPs are forward thinking projects which show you the what, where, how and when of personal growth. They highlight what your strengths and weaknesses are, where you need to improve, how to do so, and by when. 

There are some essentials that you need not miss if you want to successfully enhance your career and/or personal life. Here, you’ll find a few personal development plan ideas to help with your project. 

With a personal development plan, you can figure out the following:

  • What your aims are.
  • Why these aims are important to your values (in the short-term or long-term).
  • What your current situation is.
  • The skills, knowledge or competencies needed to take you to the next step.
  • The activities or training you can partake in to meet those requirements.

How to structure your personal development project

man planning personal development with post it notes

Once you’ve got the gist of what you’re looking for, go into more depth. Why do you want this? And how will you achieve this?

Step one: What is your purpose? 

So, first off all, the numero uno aim is establishing the purpose of your personal development project.

In order for you to do this, you should identify your current professional situation in relation to your potential in your current field of work. 

What are your strong points? Are you good at creative problem-solving, computer programming, managing, collaborating? Which of these can you work on even more?

This can be sorted independently, or with the help of your manager, a friend, a colleague, or even a mentor. 

You can do this by writing a list of ten things that are important to you or ten goals that you want to achieve. For example:                                                      

Step two: Define what is important to you

Aside from figuring out your potential, you should also ask yourself what you are honestly interested in pursuing. Just because you have the potential to achieve something in your sector does not mean that you should take that path. Especially if it doesn’t actually appeal to you. 

Your purpose should be motivated by passion and professional or personal desire, not just pure obligation.

Your career potential should be analysed in relation to your own value system. For instance, the impact taking new career steps will have on your private life or any constraints and obstacles that may arise due to a change in responsibility. This could be an increase or decrease in liability or a change in the characteristics of your job role. 

woman putting money in a piggy bank as part of personal development plan

After having identified what you wish to achieve, and if it aligns with your own values and career prospects, you have to figure out the development needs. 

Step three: What are your development needs? 

Here, you might want to start thinking about personal development plan procedures and who you want to involve in your personal career development planning.

Step three is where you should brainstorm all your personal development and career plan objectives and ideas, the potential business benefits of your personal development, and how you could go about achieving these objectives and ideas. 

Step four: Get your team involved! 

Personal development plan objectives don’t have to be kept a secret. In fact, it is highly recommended that you involve your manager in your personal development plan so that you can have someone support you.

Collective development plans can be just as motivational as personal development plans, especially if you share the same goals as your colleagues and managers. Managers also need to work on renewing their skills and updating their business know-how. 

Group development projects can be a wonderful team bonding exercise! They can evolve into grander, business development plans. With your dedication and motivation, the scope of any career development plan can impact the fate of your company. 

There is always room for improvement. Help one another! 

people brainstorming their personal development plan in a meeting

Writing a personal development plan can take time. But, don’t be put off by comprehensive planning! It can be a healthy (and necessary), stimulating challenge! 

Your plan, unlike your list of goals, should be practical. Once you have a solid understanding of what you aim to achieve, you must figure out how you will achieve it. What do you need to change or improve?

Nobody likes analysing their weaknesses, but this is a must if you want to transform them into strengths.

Step five: Time to make a plan of action! 

An action plan is not an inventory of dreams or goals. It is an extensive, realistic to-do list. Your action plan could cater for short-term results or long-term results, depending on your goals. For lengthier procedures and personal development plans, five year plans are also a popular choice, especially if you plan on remaining loyal to your current company. 

Fail to plan, plan to fail…

Make an action plan template. You can make a template using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or good old pen and paper poster making. Whichever method you choose, creating a personal action plan template is essential if you truly want to take the next steps in your career. 

You have to take responsibility for your personal development project. You may have mentors and managers on your case, but only you have the power to make those improvements. 

There are a few things you should ask yourself when planning your personal development schedule. Steps three and five align here, as your brainstorm will help you to ask the right questions when forming your plan of action: 

1. Are you under-qualified? 

This is an educational question. Do you need to acquire new qualifications to open up new career avenues? Do you need to do an online course? Do you require an NVQ? 

2. Do you need extra training in your sector? 

This is a vocational question. Do you need extra training in your sector, regardless of qualifications, to achieve your objectives? 

3. Are there other occasions or opportunities for career enhancement?

This is a more general question about what you can do in your own time. 

Examples of such independent personal development plans include:  private reading, presentations, networking events, community events, group meetings, work shadowing, shift rotation (to see how other areas of your sector work, and thus broadening company awareness)

Having completed steps one to five, you should have started to formulate an accurate and achievable route to enhancing yourself and your career. 

Step six: Give yourself a realistic deadline

Finally, set yourself a deadline. Whilst your personal development project should be fulfilling, we all need a little bit of pressure to get us where we need to be. 

Give yourself a clear timeframe for each goal. To begin with, set mini goals to avoid distraction.

Let’s say you only have 30 minutes each day to do this. That’s more than enough! Developing new skills can take a minimum of 15 minutes daily practice . You just have to be consistent.

Keep it up! 

Block off a bit of time for your practice each day. This may just be reading a book on personal development at your desk  over lunch – you can count researching relevant books as part of your project - or doing an online course at home before dinner. 

Likewise, 30 minutes shadow work a day or listening to an audiobook during your commute to work could also be part of a successful, integrated programme. 

Whatever it may be, narrow down your search by selecting an area which interests you most to get the ball rolling. This will help you stay engaged during the primary stages of your project.

Influential leaders dedicate on average 30 minutes per day to personal development. How does your day compare to this infographic ? 

A personal development plan template  

Whilst the above may seem a bit wordy, your schedule doesn’t have to resemble a dissertation on personal enhancement. You can make quick and easy personal development plan templates. 

The following templates can be catered to individual goals, for work, or for managers working on a larger scale. They can be adapted to suit short and long-term projects too:

mind of a winner personal development plan template

Read next: 360 degree feedback template + what you need to know

And here's a fuller checklist provided by the Chartered Management Institute .

cmi personal development plan template

Or, for five year plans , you may have a more in-depth graph…

high speed training personal plan development template

To summarise, take note: 

  • Figure out what is important to you.
  • Decide what developments need to be made.
  • Find out what opportunities are available to help you achieve this. E.g. training, coaching, courses, personal research etc. 
  • Participate in these opportunities.
  • Create a sound method of monitoring and maintaining your progress, and be aware of any obstacles that you may have to face – think ahead. 
  • Evaluate and review your outcome. 
  • Enjoy your personal development project. 

And then… Go from strength to strength! 

There aren’t really any negatives involved in putting together a personal development plan. Unless, that is, you don’t enjoy putting in a bit of extra effort. 

Personal development processes can be fulfilling and motivational. They’re a great way to monitor how new learning activities have improved your knowledge, skills and understanding. Tracking your progression can boost your confidence. 

Personal development plans can build self-esteem by illuminating all the areas in which you have improved and enhanced your skills. They can show you just how capable you are of taking the next steps in your career or personal life. 

Just like that old friend who always give you that little push, or a personal manifesto to remind you of what you stand for.

Look at it this way, personal development plans serve as loyal reminders. They help you to keep tabs on your progress, but more than anything, they enable you to create your own vision and establish goals that suit your life plan.

Learn how you can boost productivity and motivation with Perkbox

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Boost productivity and motivation with our reward and recognition guide

We've put together this guide to give you the tools you need to plan, create and review your very own reward and recognition strategy.

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Create an Effective Personal Development Plan in 7 Steps [2024]

  • January 5, 2024
  • In Career Development

How To Create A Personal Development Plan

Crafting a personal development plan is a vital step in achieving your goals. Learn how to create a comprehensive plan in 7 steps, including self-assessment, goal setting, identifying development areas, creating an action plan, tracking progress, seeking feedback and support, and reflecting and adapting for continuous growth and improvement.

Table of contents

What is a personal development plan?

Who needs a personal development plan, 7 steps to create a personal development plan, step 1: self-assessment, step 2: set clear goals, step 3: identify development areas, step 4: create an action plan, step 5: implement and track progress, step 6: seek feedback and support, step 7: reflect and adapt, faq: personal development plan.

A personal development plan (PDP) is an action plan that individuals can use to identify their individual goals, strengths, weaknesses , areas for improvement, and the necessary steps to achieve their goals. It is a method of focusing one’s goals into achievable steps, which helps in tracking personal development.

The plan can be aimed at education, career, personal goals, or a combination of these. It provides a clear sense of focus, helps in mapping out a path towards goals, strategizing a plan to achieve them, recording actionable steps, and setting a timeframe for completing them.

The process involves identifying strengths, setting realistic goals, planning the necessary resources and time, and taking action to work on the goals that have been set. 

Effective Personal Development Plan

A personal development plan can be beneficial for a wide range of individuals, including employees, professionals, students, and anyone seeking to enhance their personal and professional growth. Here’s a breakdown of who can benefit from a personal development plan:

  • Employees : Employees can use personal development plans to identify areas for improvement, set career goals, and enhance their skills . Supervisors and employees often work together to complete the development plan, but employees are ultimately responsible for taking the initiative for their professional development.
  • Professionals : Professionals in various fields can utilize personal development plans to identify strengths and weaknesses, set career objectives, and enhance their leadership and personal skills through activities such as formal training, 360-degree feedback, mentoring, and coaching.
  • Students : Students can benefit from personal development plans to set academic and personal growth goals, identify areas for improvement, and develop skills that will be valuable in their future careers.
  • Individuals seeking personal growth : Anyone interested in self-improvement , self-awareness, and achieving personal goals can use a personal development plan to focus on their internal state, identify their values and beliefs, and work on weaknesses while playing to their strengths.

Creating an effective personal development plan is crucial for anyone looking to grow and improve themselves. Here are 7 key steps to consider when creating your personal development plan:

Identify your strengths, areas for improvement, opportunities, and challenges. What do you want to achieve in the short term and long term? This self-evaluation will assist you in recognizing areas for growth and establishing achievable objectives.

  • Strengths: These are the positive attributes, skills, and qualities that you possess. They could include leadership abilities, communication skills, creativity, adaptability, or specific technical expertise.
  • Weaknesses: These are areas where you may need improvement or where you feel less confident. They could encompass skills gaps, emotional intelligence, time management, public speaking, or any other aspect of personal or professional life that you perceive as a challenge.
  • Opportunities: These are external factors or situations that could be leveraged to your advantage. They could be career advancement opportunities, chances to learn new skills, networking prospects, or positive trends in your industry or personal life.
  • Threats: These are external factors that could potentially hinder your progress or success. They might include economic downturns, industry shifts, personal obstacles, or anything else that poses a risk to your goals and well-being.

This self-assessment lays the foundation for identifying areas for improvement and setting realistic, achievable goals. It provides a clear understanding of where you currently stand and what you aspire to achieve, enabling you to create a targeted personal development plan that aligns with your ambitions and potential for growth.

Once you have a good understanding of where you stand, it’s time to set clear, achievable goals. These goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Whether it’s improving your skills, advancing in your career, or enhancing your personal relationships, having clear goals will keep you focused and motivated.

  • Short-term and long-term goals: Short-term goals typically cover a period of 1-2 years, while long-term goals extend to 3-5 years or beyond. Short-term goals could include acquiring a new certification, improving time management, or enhancing a specific skill. Long-term goals could involve career advancement, starting a business, or achieving a significant personal milestone.

Based on your self-assessment and goals, identify the areas where you need to develop. This could be acquiring new skills, improving emotional intelligence , enhancing leadership abilities, or simply working on your personal well-being. Be honest with yourself and prioritize the areas that will have the most impact on your overall growth.

  • Acquiring new skills : Identify specific skills that are crucial for your short-term and long-term goals, such as project management, public speaking, or leadership training.
  • Improving emotional intelligence (EQ) : Enhancing emotional intelligence can significantly impact personal and professional relationships, job satisfaction, and overall well-being. This includes developing skills in self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, and social skills.
  • Enhancing leadership abilities : If your long-term goals involve attaining a leadership position, focus on developing leadership qualities, decision-making skills, and the ability to inspire and motivate others.
  • Working on personal well-being : Achieving a better work-life balance, reducing stress, and enhancing overall well-being can contribute to your personal development and long-term success.

Once you know what you want to achieve and the areas you need to develop, create an action plan. Break down your goals into smaller, actionable steps and set deadlines for each. Identify resources, courses, mentors, or support systems that can help you along the way.

  • Determine your objectives : Clearly define what you want to achieve and the areas you need to develop. This could be related to personal growth, career advancement, skill enhancement, or any other aspect of your life that you want to improve.
  • Break goals into smaller steps : Once you’ve identified your objectives, break them down into smaller, manageable steps. This makes your goals more achievable and helps you track your progress more effectively.
  • Set deadlines : Assign realistic deadlines to each of the smaller steps. This creates a sense of urgency and aids in maintaining your focus.

By following these steps, you can create a comprehensive action plan that will guide you toward achieving your objectives while providing a clear roadmap for your personal and professional development.

 Set aside time to work on your development goals, and regularly review your plan to ensure you’re on track. Be flexible and open to modifying your plan as necessary.

  • Put your plan into action : Allocate dedicated time to work on your development goals. Regularly working on your action plan is essential for making tangible progress.
  • Regularly review your plan : Set aside time to review your action plan regularly. This allows you to assess your progress, identify any challenges, and make adjustments as needed.
  • Be flexible and willing to adjust : Flexibility is key. Be open to making adjustments to your plan as required. Circumstances may change, and being adaptable allows you to refine your approach and stay focused on achieving your objectives.

With these steps, you can effectively put your plan into action, monitor your progress, and make necessary adjustments to ensure you stay on track toward achieving your personal and professional development goals.

Seeking feedback and support from mentors, colleagues, or friends is crucial for personal and professional growth. Their perspectives can offer valuable insights, help individuals stay accountable, and provide guidance in setting and achieving goals. Mentors, in particular, play a significant role in encouraging and enabling another person’s professional or personal development by helping them focus their efforts and set goals

Reflecting on your progress, celebrating achievements, learning from setbacks, and using this reflection to adapt your plan and make necessary changes are essential components of a successful personal development journey. This dynamic approach ensures that you stay aligned with your evolving goals and aspirations, and it empowers you to make continuous progress.

Additionally, learning from setbacks and failures is crucial for growth. By reflecting on what went wrong, what could have been done differently, and what can be learned from the experience, you can avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

Q: Why is personal development important?

A: Personal development is important because it allows individuals to assess their own personal qualities and skills. It helps them set goals, improve themselves, and reach their full potential .

Q: How can I create a personal development plan?

A: Creating a personal development plan involves self-reflection and improvement. It is a written account that doubles as a detailed action plan used to fulfill academic, personal, or career-based goals. It helps individuals establish their aims, recognize their strengths and weaknesses, and identify areas for improvement .

Q: What are some common questions to consider when creating a personal development plan?

A: When creating a personal development plan, it can be helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

  • What are my goals and aspirations?
  • What are my strengths and weaknesses?
  • What skills do I need to develop?
  • What steps can I take to achieve my goals?
  • How will I measure my progress?
  • What resources or support do I need?
  • How will I stay motivated and accountable?
  • How will I overcome obstacles or challenges?
  • How will I celebrate my achievements?  

These questions can help guide your thinking and planning process.

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How To Get the Most Out of Your Personal Development Plan Template

If you have begun the journey of completing the personal development plan template, know that you are taking an impactful step toward building a better life.

By pinpointing the goals most important to your success and providing you with a step-by-step roadmap for reaching those goals, the personal development plan template offers a significant leg up when it comes to helping you become the best version of yourself.

To help you make the most of all the benefits this innovative template has to offer, here are a few tips for how to get started.

Don’t have your Personal Development Plan Template Yet? Download it here for free!

1. Set Your Main Goals

Before you can begin working toward a better you, it’s first important to prioritize the goals that you have for yourself. Keep in mind that you don’t want to set so many goals at once that they become overwhelming and prevent you from making any real progress. Instead, choose a few personal development goals that are most important to you and start with those.

2. Identify Your Current Strengths

Identifying the strengths that you bring to the table accomplishes two things. For one, it helps you highlight the skills and abilities that you have available to help you reach your goals. Second, figuring out your strengths can also help you pinpoint the weaknesses that might be holding you back.

3. Decide on Your Key Areas for Development

After identifying your current strengths, the next step is to identify the areas in your life that are in need of further development if you want to reach your goals. What is it that is holding you back from reaching your main goals? If you can thoroughly answer this question then you’ll understand the improvements that need to be made in order for your ideal life to become a reality.

Ready to set and jumpstart your personal development plan? Try my Goals Quickstart Masterclass today!

4. Research the Skills You’ll Need to Achieve Your Goals

Every unique goal requires a specific set of skills, knowledge, or qualifications to reach. Once you’ve researched your goals and found what is required to reach them, you’ll be ready to start attaining those requirements and begin making real progress toward your goals.

5. Start Taking Action

Having set your primary goals, highlighted the areas in your life that need further development, and researched the skills and knowledge that you will need to acquire, it’s time to get to work and start putting your personal development plan template into action by taking real, measurable steps toward the goals you have set for yourself.

6. Give Yourself a Clear Timeframe for Each Goal

A goal without a timeframe is one that you can endlessly put off and is hardly a real goal at all. Set a clear timeframe for each of your goals that are challenging yet doable and you are sure to be much more motivated.

7. Track Your Progression

The final step in the personal development plan template is to keep track of your progress. Tracking your progression toward your goals offers the benefit of helping keep you motivated by showcasing the progress that you’ve made as well as the benefit of letting you know if you start falling a little behind. Whatever tracking your progression might look like for your specific goal, it’s incredibly helpful to keep a record of your progress in some form or another.

How to Jumpstart Your Personal Development

Setting and accomplishing a significant goal for yourself is obviously no easy task.

The right approach, however, can certainly make it much easier than it otherwise would be. If you’ve begun to complete the personal development plan template, I want to be the first to wish you the best of luck on your challenge.

For additional help improving your ability to meet your goals and work toward your ideal life, feel free to check out my Quick Goals Master Class today !

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About Brian Tracy — Brian is recognized as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today. He has authored more than 60 books and has produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs on sales, management, business success and personal development, including worldwide bestseller The Psychology of Achievement. Brian's goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. You can follow him on Twitter , Facebook , Pinterest , Linkedin and Youtube .

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Status.net

Individual Development Plan [Examples & Templates]

By Status.net Editorial Team on June 15, 2023 — 10 minutes to read

An individual development plan (IDP) is a valuable tool that helps you identify your goals, strengths, and areas for growth. By creating and regularly reviewing your IDP, you can align your personal development with your professional aspirations, ensuring continued growth and improvement in your career. When crafting your IDP, it is important to include your specific short-term and long-term goals, identified skills to develop, and the necessary resources or support. You may also wish to set specific timelines or milestones to track your progress. To simplify the process, we have provided a complete IDP template and a detailed example to guide you in creating your own. By following this guide, you will be well on your way to designing a strategic professional development plan that will unlock your full potential and elevate your career.

What Is an Individual Development Plan?

An individual development plan (IDP) is a tool designed to help you identify your professional development needs and set clear goals for personal growth. IDPs can improve your overall job satisfaction and performance, and they are often used by employers to support employee development and retention.

In an IDP, you should include a thorough assessment of your current skills, as well as a list of areas where you would like to develop further expertise. This may involve identifying your strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for growth. To maximize the effectiveness of your IDP, it’s important to set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals that focus on your desired outcomes and actionable steps to achieve them. Related: 60 Self-Performance Review Goals Examples

Implementing an IDP in your office can be a valuable way to boost employee performance, job satisfaction, and long-term career development. Consider encouraging your team to create individual plans by providing resources and guidance, scheduling regular progress meetings, and offering relevant training and development opportunities.

The Importance of Individual Development Plans

Employee engagement and retention.

An individual development plan (IDP) is a valuable tool for improving employee engagement. By investing in your employees’ professional development, you show that you care about their long-term goals and career success. This can lead to higher job satisfaction, increased motivation, and ultimately, better retention rates.

Career Growth and Succession Planning

IDPs can also support career growth and succession planning within your organization. By actively identifying your employees’ strengths and areas for improvement, you can help them pursue their career aspirations. Moreover, you can align their professional goals with the needs of your company, ensuring a pipeline of qualified candidates for key positions in the future.

Performance Improvement

Implementing IDPs can lead to significant performance improvements as well. By setting clear expectations and measurable objectives, employees are better equipped to focus on their areas of growth. Additionally, regular performance reviews and monitoring of their progress can help keep them accountable and invested in their development. This not only benefits the individual employee but also contributes to the overall success of your organization.

Components of an IDP

Goals and objectives.

When crafting your Individual Development Plan (IDP), it’s crucial to establish clear goals and objectives. Ensure that your objectives are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) to set a strong foundation for success. Consider both short-term and long-term aspirations as you outline your desired milestones.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Identifying your strengths and weaknesses is vital in developing a well-rounded IDP. Your strengths can be areas where you naturally excel, such as communication skills or proficiency in software like Excel. Recognize and list your weaknesses, as well, to help you target areas for improvement and growth.

Action Steps

Once you have determined your goals and assessed your strengths and weaknesses, it’s time to outline action steps. These are specific, manageable tasks that will lead you toward accomplishing your objectives. Be thorough in your planning, and ensure that your action steps provide a clear path toward achieving both short-term and long-term goals.

Establishing realistic timeframes for each action step is essential in holding yourself accountable and measuring progress. For each action step, set a target completion date. Remember to give yourself enough time for each action, and be prepared to adjust your timeframes as necessary throughout the implementation process.

Creating an Individual Development Plan

Self-assessment.

Begin by conducting a self-assessment to evaluate your current skills and identify areas for improvement. Use performance reviews as a starting point and consider the following steps:

  • Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses
  • Determine your career goals and desired outcomes
  • Identify skill gaps between your current abilities and future goals
  • Create a plan to address these skill gaps

Related:  20 Examples of Strengths for Self Evaluation

20 Self-Evaluation Weaknesses Examples

Mentorship and Feedback

Seek out mentorship and feedback from colleagues, supervisors, or industry professionals. It can be tremendously helpful to have experienced individuals provide guidance and advice. Use their feedback to:

  • Refine your self-assessment and skill gap analysis
  • Gain insights into industry trends and opportunities
  • Develop new skills or further improve existing ones

Establish regular check-ins with your mentors to track your progress and maintain accountability.

Career and Skill Development

Explore development opportunities to acquire new skills and enhance your career prospects. Consider the following options:

  • In-house training programs
  • External workshops, seminars, or courses
  • Professional certifications
  • Online resources and self-paced study materials

Remember to align these opportunities with your self-assessment results and feedback from mentors.

How to Create IDP

To create your own IDP, consider including the following key components:

  • Personal Information : Your name, job title, department, and contact details.
  • Current Skills Assessment (Strengths) : A list of your skills, experience, and areas of expertise.
  • Development Needs Assessment (Weaknesses) : Areas where you would like to improve or develop new skills.
  • Objective Statement : A clear statement of your career goals and what you hope to achieve through your IDP.
  • Goals : Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound goals to work towards.
  • Action Plan : Concrete steps, resources, and support needed to achieve your goals.
  • Timeline : A timeframe for achieving each goal, including benchmarks and milestones.
  • Progress Tracking : A system for monitoring your progress and adjusting your plan as needed.

IDP Template 1

For example, let’s say you’re a marketing professional seeking to improve your digital marketing skills. Your IDP might include the following:

  • Example of Objective Statement : To become a versatile and skilled digital marketer within two years, proficient in key areas such as content marketing, search engine optimization, and social media advertising.
  • Improve content marketing skills to the level of industry best practices within six months.
  • Achieve Google Analytics certification within three months.
  • Develop a comprehensive understanding of search engine optimization, with the ability to implement effective strategies within nine months.
  • Attend online courses, workshops, and relevant industry events to learn from experts and gain practical experience.
  • Seek opportunities to collaborate with colleagues on digital marketing projects and initiatives.
  • Allocate time each week for self-study and practice of new skills.

IDP Template 2

Let’s say you’d like to get a promotion in your marketing department. Your IDP could look like this:

Objective: Become a Marketing Manager in the next two years.

Performance improvement plan: Improve project management skills and acquire higher-level marketing certifications.

Skills development:

  • Learn advanced project management techniques
  • Complete professional certification in digital marketing

Mentorship and coaching: Work closely with your manager or a senior colleague to get guidance on project management and marketing strategies.

Goal Setting:

  • Complete a project management course within six months.
  • Obtain a professional marketing certification within one year.
  • Successfully lead at least three major projects by the end of year two.

Action Steps:

  • Research and sign up for a suitable project management course.
  • Study for a professional marketing certification exam.
  • Request to be assigned to key projects as project lead.
  • Project management course: completed within six months
  • Marketing certification: obtained within one year
  • Lead three major projects: completed by the end of year two

Tracking and evaluation: Regularly review your progress with your manager, seeking feedback on your performance and adjusting your IDP as needed.

Implementing IDP in the Workplace

Manager’s role in idp process.

To implement an Individual Development Plan (IDP) in your workplace, it is crucial to understand and emphasize the manager’s role. As a manager, you should collaborate with your employees and HR to develop personalized IDPs. This will help your employees reach their professional goals while contributing to the organization’s success.

During the IDP process, you’ll assist your employees in setting realistic goals aligned with their career aspirations as well as the objectives of your organization. It’s essential for you, as a manager, to offer guidance, provide resources, and create a supportive environment that encourages growth.

Monitoring and Adjusting IDP

An effective IDP is a flexible and dynamic tool that requires ongoing evaluation. To ensure successful implementation, regularly monitor your employees’ progress towards their objectives. Schedule periodic performance reviews, solicit feedback from both employees and supervisors, and adjust the IDP as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key components of an idp.

An individual development plan (IDP) includes a clear set of goals, a timeline for achieving them, and actionable steps to help you get there. The key components are:

  • Objective – Identify your long-term career goals.
  • Skills – Determine what skills you need to develop or improve on.
  • Action Steps – List specific activities to enhance your skills and work towards your objective.
  • Timeline – Establish deadlines for completing each action step.
  • Measurement – Identify benchmarks to gauge and track your progress.

How do you create an effective IDP?

To create an effective IDP, follow these steps:

  • Self-assess: Evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, and career aspirations.
  • Set SMART goals: Choose specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound objectives.
  • Identify the necessary skills: Determine the competencies and qualifications needed to achieve your goals.
  • Develop action steps: Map out detailed activities, courses, or projects to improve the required skills.
  • Collaborate with your manager: Seek feedback and support from your manager to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
  • Monitor and revise: Regularly review your IDP to update your goals and make adjustments as needed.

What are some common goals in an IDP?

Common goals in an IDP can vary, depending on your career aspirations. Examples include:

  • Developing leadership or managerial skills.
  • Gaining expertise in a specific field or industry.
  • Enhancing communication or presentation skills.
  • Learning a new technical skill, such as software programming or data analysis.
  • Building networking or collaboration abilities.

How can you track progress in an IDP?

To track progress in your IDP, establish regular check-ins with yourself and your manager. Monitor your progress by comparing your achievements to the benchmarks and deadlines set in your plan. Update your IDP as needed to reflect changes in your objectives, skills, or action steps.

What is the role of a manager in an employee’s IDP?

A manager plays a critical role in an employee’s IDP by:

  • Providing guidance and support in setting realistic goals.
  • Offering resources, such as training and mentorship opportunities.
  • Facilitating regular check-ins to assess progress and address challenges.
  • Advocating for the employee’s growth and development within the organization.
  • Encouraging the employee to own and take responsibility for their career development.

How can an IDP contribute to career growth?

An IDP contributes to your career growth by providing a structured framework for personal and professional development. By setting clear goals, identifying required skills, and planning actionable steps, you gain a deeper understanding of your aspirations and what it takes to achieve them. Your IDP can also help you navigate potential opportunities within your organization and chart a path for long-term success.

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How to Create a Personal Development Plan

Quick Navigation:

What is a personal development plan?

What to include in a personal development plan, how to create a personal development plan, personal development plan template.

If you have a vision for what you’d like your career to look like in the future, you should consider creating a personal development plan. Making a specific plan can help you to ensure that your goals become a reality. Learn more about what a personal development plan is and how you can create one to help you succeed in your career goals.

A personal development plan is a set of goals and objectives you create to help you achieve the life you want. Creating a personal development plan involves setting goals, analyzing your strengths and weaknesses, creating objectives and reviewing your progress. You can use a personal development plan to help you work on achieving your desired career goals or your vision for any area of your life. 

A personal development plan typically includes the following:

  • Statement of purpose or goals
  • List of strengths
  • List of areas to develop
  • Analysis of threats to development
  • List of development options or opportunities
  • Clear objectives
  • ‘Start doing’ and ‘Stop doing’ lists
  • List of people who can help
  • Benchmarks for reviewing success

Since personal development plans are based on your individual needs, you can include or delete any sections that you pref. Including these standard sections, however, helps guarantee that your plan is clear and complete.

Consider using these steps to make your personal development plan:

1. Firstly, determine your goals

The first step in creating a personal development plan is determining your long-term or end goals. You can do this by envisioning what success or happiness looks like to you, or asking yourself where you’d like to be in two, five or 10 years. Make a list of these goals as you think of them.

In writing down your vision for the future, you might end up with multiple goals for multiple areas of your life. It can help to create a mind map to categorize your personal development goals, such as dividing career goals, health goals and goals for other aspects of your personal life into different plans or sections of your overall plan. If you have many large goals listed after this step, you may need to prioritize what is most important and save some goals to work on at a later date. 

2. Secondly, identify your strengths and weaknesses

After deciding what your long-term goals are, perform a self-assessment to evaluate your current strengths and weaknesses. A thorough and honest assessment will help you create objectives to achieve your goals. You can use these lists to plan how to use your strengths as much as possible to achieve your goals and what areas you need to develop in order to be successful.

3. Thirdly, look for development opportunities

Once you know what your weaknesses are and what your areas of development are, you can begin to find ways to improve. If you need to learn a new skill, for instance, you could look for online classes, find a mentor, ask your supervisor for an opportunity to practice that skill or set aside time each day to spend learning it.

It is good to find as many learning or development opportunities as you can, and then you can determine which ones are best for you and set clear objectives for taking advantage of those opportunities. If any of them turn out not to be possible for you, you may still have other viable options left from your research.

4. Next, identify any threats

Just as important as identifying ways you can improve is being aware of anything that might hinder your improvement. Understanding any threats to your development can help you to include them in your plan and solve those problems before they occur to promote your best chance of success. Common threats to consider are time management, costs and the ability to maintain a work-life balance.

5. Fifthly, set clear objectives

After your analysis of your goals, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, you can determine specific objectives that will help you reach your goals. It is helpful to use SMART goal criteria for this step. SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. These criteria help to ensure that you can and will achieve your objectives.

Many personal development plans include a ‘start doing’ and ‘stop doing’ list of actions during this step. As a result of your previous analysis, you can create a clear list of things you need to start doing and things you need to stop doing in order to achieve your goals. These lists should be in addition to your specific objectives.

An important part of creating objectives is determining a clear timeline or deadline for each one. Required or expected completion dates help motivate you to work and provide clear benchmarks to assess your progress. It can also help to plan small rewards for yourself as you achieve your objectives to give yourself motivation.

6. Then, consider seeking help

Personal development plans often include a list of people who might be able to help you with your development. Consider any friends, family members, colleagues, teachers and supervisors who might be able to mentor you, connect you with learning opportunities or check on your progress. Letting others know of your development goals and objectives can increase your motivation as well as provide you with opportunities, support and guidance.

7. Finally, review and refocus

In addition to setting deadlines for your objectives, you should set regular checkpoints in your personal development plan for you to assess your progress. Use these benchmarks to determine if your plan seems successful. If you are moving toward your goals faster or more slowly than you expected, you can then adjust and refocus the plan as necessary.

You can use this template as a starting point for creating your personal development plan:

Long-term goals

[Use bullet points or small paragraphs to clearly define what your end goals are.]

[If necessary, include this section to show which goal(s) you are focusing on first.]

[Use bullet points to create a list of your strengths.]

[Use bullet points to create a list of your weaknesses.]

Possible learning opportunities

[Use this section to record your research into opportunities for developing your goals or improving your weaknesses.]

[Make a list of anything that might prevent you from achieving your goals.]

[In this section, write down clear objectives, or actions that you will take to achieve your goal. Include deadlines or timelines for each one. You should have a variety of objectives, such as how you will use your strengths, how you will improve your weaknesses and how you will circumvent any obstacles.]

Start doing

[Make a list of things you need to start doing to achieve your goals and objectives.]

[Make a list of things you need to stop doing to achieve your goals and objectives.]

People who can help me

[Include a list of people who can be resources of development or support for your plan.]

[Leave room in your plan to assess and record your progress. You could make a list of what is working well and what might need to be changed.]

personal development plan template for goals

The Ultimate Personal Development Plan Template That Will Get You Noticed

  • What is a personal development plan?
  • How to use a personal development plan
  • How to make a good personal development plan
  • Personal Development Plan Template
  • What are personal development goals?
  • Best practices for setting personal development goals
  • Examples of most common personal development goals
  • Personal development goals for work examples
  • Common mistakes to watch out

Employees look for training and personal development opportunities at their respective companies. The lack of these opportunities is one of the main reasons they decide to quit. HR professionals and team leaders can avoid this using a personal development plan template to help employees reach their personal development goals. In such a case, it would be a win-win situation for both the company and the people working there. 

A proper template ensures you help individual employees work on their weaknesses and build up their strengths. This is a direct way to set personal development goals and find the shortest way to reach them.

According to a survey , 94% of respondents said they would stay at the company longer if it invested in their careers. In addition, professional and personal growth leads to higher retention. Besides, 58% of employees claim that professional development contributes to their job satisfaction. Moreover, employees who feel respected, empowered, and as if they are making a difference are much more likely to stay in a company—those who don’t have less than a 35% chance of staying. 

A proper template ensures you help individual employees work on their weaknesses and build up their strengths. This is a direct way to set personal development goals and find the shortest way to reach them. It enriches their experience at work and has a positive impact on their career. 

On top of that, it also attracts new hires to your company. Almost 60% of millennials list development opportunities as key factors in applying for a job. As this is the case, it’s high time you work on your employees’ personal development.

Let’s take a closer look at a personal development plan and see how it correlates with personal development goals to tap into each employee’s power. Keeping that in mind, we should start with a personal development plan and later proceed to personal development goals for everything to make perfect sense. 

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A personal development plan (PDP) is an agreement between an employer and employee that outlines that team member’s objectives. It wants to empower employees to analyze their professional life and work on self-improvement. Employees can easily achieve goals when they have a clear picture of their performance. They understand what it takes to reach a specific milestone because of their personal development plan.

HR professionals and managers usually help employees create a personal growth plan. However, team members don’t need to wait for their next performance review to learn new skills and identify areas that require improvement. They can make a personal development plan themselves. Employees can establish short-term or long-term goals and set realistic deadlines to fulfill them.

Having a personal development plan template helps all parties. You can just fill in the required fields and create a clear plan for an individual’s development. Add an HR management tool to that equation, and you’re set to take your workplace to the next level.

  Related: Top 12 Performance Review Software in 2023 ‍

Remember that a PDP must be tailored-made for a specific employee. You can’t take someone else’s plan and expect it to work for them. Each person has different skills and experiences. The plan reflects that.

Why is it important?

 Personal development is all about a process of self-improvement. The plan helps employees:

  • Outline specific goals and what they should do to achieve them
  • Identify the strengths that ensure they grow in their personal and professional life
  • Recognize what skills they need to overcome their existing weaknesses ‍

It is essentially a roadmap that guides them through the process of achieving goals. ‍

What kind of benefits can you expect from a personal development plan? Here are the improvements you will see with a good PDP in place:

  • Boosts employee motivation – a personal development plan makes employees aware of their strengths and weaknesses. They can use their strengths to work more productively and learn how to minimize their weaknesses. This boosts their motivation and encourages them to do more. 
  • Minimize staff turnover – it can cost more to find a new hire than it does to retain an existing employee. You should give your employees a personal development plan template to show them you’re committed to their improvement. They are more likely to stay at the company if they have a plan.
  • Advances existing skills – employees create a career plan focusing on their development. They identify performance development areas so that they can grow in the workplace. While improving existing skills, they also acquire new ones to achieve career goals.
  • Improves goal-setting – a PDP outlines both long-term and short-term goals. Managers can teach employees how to break down those goals to make them more achievable.

A PDP benefits both the company and the employee. Introducing personal development plan templates makes the process easier for managers and HR professionals. ‍

Let’s see how you can use a PDP.

According to research , 74% of surveyed employees think they don’t progress at work due to a lack of development opportunities. You can help them reach their full potential with a personal development plan.

A PDP is an effective way to learn a new skill or master a particular one. Employees can also use it to boost their careers. They just need help from their managers or HR team members. ‍

If you’re a team lead or an HR professional, you can use a personal development plan to:

  • Conduct a skill-gap analysis – a PDP helps you understand which skills your employees lack. The company’s subsequent training efforts should strive to fill the gap.
  • Identify employees who want to grow – this plan also identifies team members who want a promotion. For example, let’s say your company is looking for a Project Manager. Instead of hiring someone outside the company, you can promote one of your employees.
  • Align employee goals with business goals – one-on-one meetings reveal individual goals. When you know a team member’s career growth plans, you can align them with business goals and help them grow. ‍

Related: 5 Meeting Agenda Templates to Use Right Away ‍

Remember, most employees crave professional development opportunities. If you disregard their development needs, you’ll have a team of dissatisfied members. How can a company grow when the employees aren’t happy?

personal development plan template review result

You should go through several steps to create an effective personal development plan. We’ll list those steps below.

  • Ask employees to perform a self-assessment

It all starts with us. We can’t grow or improve if we don’t reflect on ourselves. That’s why your employees must do a self-evaluation first. After all, they know their interests, professional life goals, skills, and knowledge best.

You can ask them the following questions to fuel their path to self-improvement:

  • How satisfied are you with your work progress?
  • Is there something you can do to reach your full potential?
  • What are your career goals? Do you have the skills to achieve them?

Employees can reflect on their performance and determine what they can do to develop personally and professionally. ‍

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  • Set clear goals

Every employee should know what they want to achieve in their career. If they don’t, you can help them set and achieve goals. These objectives should reflect their strengths and personal development plans.

When creating a PDP for your company, we suggest you focus on SMART goals. They are:

  • Specific – the goal should be precise and to the point. There’s no room for ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying, “I’m going to write an article this week,” your employee should say, “I’m going to write a 2,000-word B2B article.”
  • Measurable – there should be criteria that measure progress. You can agree on how you will assess whether they’ve achieved the goal.
  • Achievable – ensure your employees don’t set unattainable objectives. They should know if their skills and resources make it possible to achieve a goal.
  • Realistic – your employee should be willing to work towards achieving an objective. This depends on their skills, so they should evaluate them before agreeing to something.
  • Time-bound – encourage them to set a realistic deadline to meet their duties.

Setting these goals helps employees split their objectives into smaller, more manageable milestones. They complete a goal one step at a time which derives great pleasure and satisfaction. 

Related: The Best Performance Improvement Plan (+Template)

  • Determine which strategies to implement

After setting the goals, it’s time to consider how employees will achieve them. The strategies vary depending on the objective. For example, if an employee wants to work their way up the career ladder, they might want to attend an online course that helps them expand their knowledge. They should consider the skill set they need and the best way to build those skills.

  • Explore resources

Employees cannot achieve professional and personal growth without any further resources. It’s impossible to learn something new if you don’t have some help along the way. You can help employees determine which resources they need. Those resources include online courses, learning platforms, interactive flipbooks , conferences, niche-specific articles, webinars, and even training. Look at their personal development plan to figure out what can benefit them.

If you follow the above steps, you can make a good personal development plan for your employees. One thing that can help you—having a personal development plan template.

As your company grows, you’ll have to focus on more and more employees. Each of those employees requires their own plan. Not to mention, you must follow their career development and growth after the goal-setting process. What can you do to make the process more manageable? You can use a personal development plan template. PDP in HR is a popular way to track personal and professional development progress and make adjustments along the way.

Using a template for personal development needs is quicker and more efficient. Imagine if you need to create personal development plans for every employee. This would be time-consuming. Don’t make this mistake—use personal development plan templates. These PDP templates help you create a clear picture of your employee’s goals and the steps they should take to reach them.

You won’t need to worry about missing important information that can affect your employees' personal development. We have prepared a personal development plan template to jumpstart your team members’ success! The PDP template is concise and identifies areas your employees need to answer to achieve success. 

You can use the following personal development plan template to help your company grow with talented individuals.

Personal development plan template ‍

Employee name: _________________

Position and title: _________________

Date: _________________

Development area: _________________

Personal development goals: _________________

Top strengths: _________________

Areas to improve: _________________

Development opportunities: _________________

Action plan: _________________

Skills and knowledge needed for personal growth: _________________

Necessary resources: _________________

Evaluation period (how often will you check the progress): _________________

Deadline: _________________

Review (How am I doing): _________________

Personal development plans are the way best to get to know your employees and see how your company can influence their success and growth.

Here is a filled-in PDP sample you can use as an example of what a completed personal development plan template should look like:

Employee name: John Doe

Position and title: Social Media Manager

Date: July 30 2022

Development area: Time management

Personal development goals: Organize my time better to help my team members and learn how to prioritize tasks

Top strengths: Social media planning and delivery, communication skills, writing engaging content

Areas to improve: Time management and organizational skills

Development opportunities: Become a team leader of the company’s social media department

Action plan: Use to-do lists to better organize my day, track each task’s progress, report my progress to a supervisor

Skills and knowledge needed for personal growth: Time management and leadership skills

Necessary resources: Online courses about social media marketing, tools to better track the performance of social media posts and analyze our audience

Evaluation period (how often will you check the progress): Every month

Deadline: Three months from today

Review (How am I doing): N/A (to be completed every month)

Use personal development templates like this to make the process of creating a PDP for employees simpler and more time-efficient!

How to get started with a template

Achieving personal growth is easier with personal development plan templates. But the journey doesn’t end there. You must also take certain steps to ensure your employees are improving and meeting their goals.

Here are some strategies you can take after an employee submits their personal development plan: 

  • Review the plan immediately – make sure to go over an employee’s plan. You must check if their goals are attainable and clear.
  • Remind employees to check the plan periodically – a team member might forget what areas they need to improve. You can remind them to read their plan to see if they are working on the right skills.
  • Assess their improvement so far – you can plan a one-on-one meeting with an employee. Ask them to be honest and tell you how they are doing, if they need additional help and which changes they see.
  • Determine their success – personal development plans are about creating specific goals. The plan would be futile if you don’t check if an employee has made progress towards their goals.
  • Decide what to do next – if you find any issues, you must devise a solution. Don’t abandon your employee—show them you're committed to their success!

When you know all about the personal development plan, it is time to proceed to the next crucial step, setting personal development goals. These two aspects come toe-to-toe and are vital for making goals and planning a reality.

‍ What are personal development goals?

Personal development goals, or self-improvement goals, are the objectives people set to improve themselves in many ways, including habits, mindset, skills or even work ethics.  Although personal development goals are not necessarily connected to the job setting, they can help people improve their professional and personal lives.

Some of the most common areas for personal development goals include:

  • change of mindset
  • improving hard skills
  • working on social skills
  • character building

How can they help people?

Working on personal development goals has many benefits, but here are five areas where it can help employees the most:

Better focus  

One of the biggest benefits of setting personal development goals is a better focus and a clear sense of direction. Clear goals inspire people to act and easily decide on their next steps. This pushes them to be proactive and get more things done in their personal and professional lives.

Free time endlessly scrolling on the phone without a clear purpose or spreading work throughout the day is easy. Specific goals will motivate people to become more proactive and efficient.

Increased productivity

Goal setting teaches individuals prioritization techniques. This way, it is much easier to decipher what matters the most and take care of it instantly. Another major advantage has concrete, measurable goals to work towards. This makes it possible to evaluate people’s success precisely and encourages them to keep improving. The more goals they tick off, the more satisfied they will be. Over time, this will also increase general productivity. 

Better professional relationships

Self-improvement goals can improve the quality of people’s relationships with their colleagues and business partners. By becoming a better version of themselves, they're inspiring everyone who gets in touch with them to do the same. Their growth mindset is reflected in others as well. As a consequence, positive relationships in your team could dramatically improve. People in self-development tend to be better listeners and more compassionate toward others.

Improved work-life balance

Employees that don’t have a healthy work-life balance are prone to burnout more than others. That’s why this aspect shouldn’t be neglected. Employees should be encouraged to pursue their passions and learn new skills that don’t have to be work-related. Personal development goals can help people find time for themselves and remember who they are outside of their job. Consequently, they will become more motivated, and their productivity at work will improve.

Career advancement  

Finally, working on personal development goals can positively affect professional life and bring professional success to everyone. Many skills are transferable, meaning one can use them in other areas. Communication skills, soft skills, and creativity — are all crucial for success at work. New skills can help employees better serve customers and even get promotions. Sometimes working on personal development goals can bring insights and ideas that can revolutionize how you work.

As an HR or business mentor, your job is to share some resources on goal-setting with your team. Of course, each person’s goal will be different, but here are some universal strategies that everyone can benefit from, regardless of their goal.

Here are some points you can ask your employees to do:

  • Identify what you want

 This is a fun exercise you can do as a team. According to one statistic, employees engaged in meaningful activities are 87% less likely to leave the company.

You can ask them the following questions:

  • What goal would make the biggest difference in your life? 
  • Is that goal in alignment with your vision for the future?
  • What is something you’ve always wanted to learn but never seemed to have enough time for?

This exercise helps them connect with their personal development goals deeper, which will help them commit. When it becomes hard, and it feels like quitting, it's important to connect with your why and remember why you started.

  • Set milestones for your goal

Big goals are not only frightening, but they can also be too vague. The next step is to break your personal goals into achievable milestones.

There are three good reasons to do so:

  • The goals become more doable.
  • You feel more motivated to work towards your goals.
  • It's easier to measure your progress.

For example, someone's personal development goal could be to learn French. That's too vague. That person would be much more motivated if they created smaller goals for each month or week. 

  • Set a day and time to work on your goal

As Michael Hyatt once said: What doesn't get scheduled, doesn't get done. Set yourself up for success by turning your goals into plans. It means that you should allocate time and space where you will be dedicated to working on your goal.

It will be much easier if your goal becomes part of your routine. It doesn't have to take a lot of time, especially in the beginning. The most important thing is to make it a habit.

How to Build the Best Employee Development Plan

The 90-Day Review Template to Keep Your Business on Track

personal development plan template

Here are the most common personal development goals related examples: 

  • Improving your communication skills . This goal can improve professional relationships, the atmosphere of the whole team, as well as the results you get with clients.
  • Mastering time management - Time management is one of the most important skills for your own success. Today it's even more challenging due to the distractions around us. One can learn different time management strategies from books, but it's important to try them and choose those that work in your life.
  • Mindfulness - Mindfulness is one of the most effective stress management techniques, and everyone in the corporate world needs it. Your mindfulness practice could consist of meditation, visualization, breath work, or sitting silently for a few minutes every morning.
  • Developing a growth mindset - A growth mindset is essential for success. Maybe you need to work on your mindset if you've been stuck lately. Some of the ideas include journaling, affirmations, or reading self-improvement books.
  • Networking - One of the common goals is to grow your network and meet more people. This can be done through organizing networking events or joining clubs and communities on the topics that interest you.
  • Learning a new skill - The best way to keep your brain sharp is to challenge yourself to learn a new skill! Choose something that interests you, whether crochet or graphic design and be patient with yourself because every new skill takes time.
  • Creative thinking - Many people don't know it, but creativity can be learned! You need to give yourself space to let your mind wander, and ideas will come. There are also different exercises to boost your creativity, from design thinking to creative writing.
  • Reading habit - One of the most common New Year's goals is: I'd love to read more books this year! Reading has many benefits, and it can be a life-changing habit. It's important to set realistic goals for yourself. Your first goal shouldn't be to read one book a week. Instead, your goal should be to get into the habit of regularly reading.

We'll now go into more detail and show you how to set personal development goals properly.

Improving leadership skills

Leadership is one of the most valuable assets that can benefit your employees in many ways. According to Forbes , it helps employees boost productivity, engagement, and independence.  ‍

Here is how your organization could help employees improve this skill:

  • Organize internal workshops - You don’t need famous motivational speakers and leaders to organize a successful workshop. You can also organize internal workshops where managers and executives share their practical experiences with younger employees.
  • Organize leadership challenges - It’s important to understand that one doesn’t need a title to be a leader. It’s about behavior and the way you treat others and tackle problems. To make it more fun, you could organize leadership challenges where each employee has to do one small task that shows leadership capabilities.

Become a better networker

If one of your team member’s goals is to become a better networker and create stronger relationships, you should first ask them to define what it means for them and why it's important. Next, they should list actions that will get them there. The steps should be concise and easy to follow.

The list may look like this:

  • Read a book about communication
  • Talk to people that are great networkers
  • Practice being an active listener
  • Commit to going to networking events every month
  • Reach out to your new connections

They should also set some milestones, for example, I want to meet 10 new people by the end of this month. And then, you can create a plan of how they will do it. If you know that someone in your team lacks accountability, you can encourage them to share their goals with your other colleagues so you can support each other. 

As an HR, you could also introduce your team to the concept of an accountability buddy. It means that each person gets another person that keeps them accountable. They’re here to support each other and track their progress together.

Common mistakes to watch out for when setting development goals

common mistakes in personal development plan template

Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when they set personal development goals:

The goal is not measurable

One of the first rules of goal setting is that personal goals should be clear and measurable. If people can't measure your progress, how can you know they're going in the right direction?

Some might say that certain goals are simply not measurable, and that's true. However, in that case, you can help people track their activities. They can measure how much time they dedicate to the goal weekly to ensure they're on the right track.

The goal is not something people want

The worst thing is to choose a personal development goal just because it's something that's "good for people" and "should be done". Achieving personal development goals requires time and dedication. That's why it's essential to help your employees choose a goal that's meaningful to them.

People don't have the right mindset

A positive mindset is crucial for continuous self-development. Even if some goals are out of people’s comfort zones, they can still work on those. Many people have limiting beliefs that prevent them from achieving their highest potential.

The rule is - if you want to succeed, it's essential that you believe that you can do it. If you lack self-confidence, you won't be motivated enough, leading to procrastination.

Now that people have set their personal development goals, it's time to do an honest assessment and see where they currently are. The best way to do it is during one on ones with employees.

Take some time to think about the following topics and encourage people to be honest with themselves. Here are some questions to ask employees should ask themselves:

  • Did I allocate enough time to my personal goals?
  • Did I have all the resources I needed for achieving this goal?
  • What were the biggest obstacles?
  • What can I do differently next time?
  • Where can I get the support when I need it?

Even if they haven't achieved their goal, they should be patient with themselves. They can start again, but this time with a better strategy and more support. 

On the other hand, what if people achieve all personal development goals with success?

First, take time to celebrate and congratulate your employees. Too many people take their success for granted and always look for a new challenge. Right now, they should be proud of how far they've come!

Here are some things you can ask your employees:

- ‘’If you enjoyed working on this skill, you may want to take it to the next level. You can challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone once again and become even better at it. At this point, you may even consider getting a certification or something similar.’’

 - ‘’Or, you can choose a completely different area to work on. If you worked on your physical health, you could now switch to emotional intelligence or the other way round.’’

Conclusion: Personal Development Plan and Goals

Helping your employees work on their personal development plan creates a positive workplace. Employees are satisfied to see their company cares about them and doesn’t see them just as “seat-fillers.” With an effective personal development plan template, you can easily discover each person’s skills and weaknesses. You get to grow the talent you already have and nurture an impressive company culture.

As you can see, self-growth is a never-ending process. There's always room for improvement. Adopting a growth mindset and entering the field of personal development could be one of the most positive things you've done for yourself. If you're a manager or business owner, you should encourage your people to set personal development goals. They will not only make your employees happier and more productive, but they will influence everyone around them in a positive way.

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FAQ: How to Set Personal development goals

A personal development plan (PDP) is the practice of consistently adding new skills , knowledge and competencies to yourself in areas of your choice. It is a clear and documented outline that shows what you aim to achieve to attain better fulfillment and growth. A personal development plan does not have to be restricted to your career alone, as it also concerns your finances, education, relationships and other interests.

What is a personal development plan example?

A personal development plan could simply be 'Get a promotion at work next January'. To achieve this, you need a detailed plan to guide (documented) and steps to get the promotion. Such steps will include: taking a management training course, requesting a performance appraisal with HR, networking better with the line manager, etc.

What are the key elements of a personal development plan?

A personal development plan should include the following elements:

  • A clear reason showing why you want to achieve your plans.
  • A defined vision of where you want to be.
  • A defined timeframe to help you prioritize the different areas of your PDP.
  • The skills and resources you need to meet up with your plans.
  • Your expected milestones to keep you on track.

What are individual development goals examples?

Some of the most common personal development goals include learning a new skill, developing a positive attitude, breaking bad habits, effectively managing your time, etc.

What are the 5 areas of personal development?

These are the 5 main areas of personal growth:

  • Mental (working on your mindset, learning new skills)
  • Social (working on your communication and networking)
  • Spiritual (inner peace, meditating)
  • Emotional (emotional intelligence, personal boundaries)
  • Physical (physical health, proper self-care, fitness)

What are 3 goals for your career development?

The following 3 goals can influence your ongoing professional development: becoming a better communicator, enhancing your networking skills and learning leadership skills.

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Define your goals with this free development template

personal development plan template for goals

If you want to be successful, creating specific goals and action plans is essential. This is true whether measuring success in one’s personal or professional life.

The same principles hold when mentoring or leading someone.

A development plan template helps create a personal career path or framework for employees to reach their fullest potential.

This article will discuss the many benefits of development plan templates. We’ll also share a simple development plan template that can be used with monday.com Work OS to help achieve goals or support a business, team, or employee.

Get the template

Let’s quickly go over a definition for the star of our blog.

What is a development plan template?

A development plan template helps define an overarching goal and create a step-by-step list of tasks required to achieve it.

If a development plan is a roadmap to success, a development plan template is the roadmap to creating that plan .

Why use a development plan template?

personal development plan template for goals

The most significant benefit of a development plan template is creating a clear, visual definition of a team or corporate goal and the objectives necessary to reach that goal.

Goals have a direct effect on thoughts and actions.

Setting a goal helps focus energy on the required objectives and may even increase persistence toward success. Research suggests writing down goals is especially important, as it can help make them feel more concrete or attainable.

Development plan templates help define personal, project, or company-wide goals. The diverse applications for these templates make them especially powerful.

What are some examples of development plan templates?

Using a template for a development plan makes things quicker, easier, and more efficient. It also ensures crucial details are not accidentally missed. Whether planning for a project or launching a new stage in one’s career, this is true.

Some examples include:

1. Career development plan template

A career development plan helps start or go further in one’s desired industry. Professional development can look different depending on the career path stage.

The next career development steps will look very different for an entry-level sales rep versus a seasoned project manager versus a CEO.

There’s no definitive “right or wrong” career development plan. Each can be tailored to fit one’s unique wants, needs, talents, and situations.

A career development plan template helps track progress. While a raise or promotion is almost always a good thing, knowing how that good news moves one toward ultimate career goals makes it even more exciting.

2. Personal development plan template

Learning and development can happen outside of the workplace. A template for personal development goals lets team members create a realistic timeline and block out time to learn something new or work towards a significant milestone.

These templates prompt users to write SMART goals and record actionable steps for achieving them, like all development plans.

3. Employee development plan templates

personal development plan template for goals

Use employee development plans as company-wide instruments or tailor them toward one employee, depending on the need. These templates help create a roadmap for growth for employees or lay out expectations for growth ahead of performance reviews.

A strong development process helps foster employee engagement. 

Skill gaps may be identified on a particular team. Candidates within the organization can help grow into those gaps .

An employee development plan defines the necessary objectives for those team members to succeed and grow. These types of development opportunities can increase workplace morale.

4. Project management development plan

Once the project goal has been developed, a project management development plan template helps map the scope, establish clear objectives, and create an initial outline or schedule.

This plan can then be shared with team members and stakeholders to get feedback before using the ideas to create more formal documents, such as a project charter .

monday.com’s development plan template

monday.com’s development plan template provides a starting point for creating objectives post-goal definition. Other monday.com tools can be used to make career development or project management even more manageable by:

  • Centralizing and planning projects: A work software helps organizations centralize communications, documents, and task tracking to support efficiency and consistency. Customize templates and views to meet specific project needs and work remotely to brainstorm, plan, and schedule efforts.
  • Team collaboration: Leave notes on boards, tasks, or documents, and use color-coding to alert others to changes in status. monday.com supports a variety of workflow automations to help move tasks seamlessly through various processes, helping to achieve goals faster.
  • Performance monitoring: The project overview option lets teams see where all tasks are at any given time. Easily monitor performance and make more informed decisions about future actions. View information related to the development plan in various formats or leverage other monday.com templates and dashboards for an at-a-glance understanding of the progress.

Our development plan template pairs well with all of these functions to help you achieve success with goals.

However, development plans aren’t suited to every planning situation. So let’s look at a few other templates to help articulate goals.

Related templates to development plan templates

Whether creating an action plan to enact solutions or a roadmap for bringing a product to market, starting with a template reduces the amount of work and helps create a go-to document.

1. Action plan template

An action plan is a detailed roadmap that outlines the steps necessary to achieve a specific goal. The monday.com action plan template provides the framework for your plan. Simply fill in details specific to attaining the goal. This template allows assigning tasks to team members, tracking progress, and clearly outlining how individuals should accomplish particular tasks.

2. Employee training plan template

personal development plan template for goals

Our employee training plan template makes the onboarding process easier and more efficient. Well-trained employees work to help companies succeed in everything they do, from achieving short-term objectives to lowering overhead expenses and increasing profits.

The monday.com template provides a framework to ensure the onboarding process best suits each new employee’s development.

3. Product roadmap template

Our product roadmap template helps define clear goals for products before and after launch. The template also helps visualize a product from idea to go-to-market readiness.

As the roadmap evolves, it’s easy to edit and update. This helps the team stay on track and up-to-date, ensuring everyone knows their responsibility and works together to achieve a positive result.

Templates can act as a guide for drafting almost any document, and they often help to know exactly what to include.

But not all answers are obvious. Let’s explore some commonly asked questions.

FAQs about development plan templates

How do you write a development plan?

Before creating a development plan, consider who it’s for and what purpose it should serve. Think about short- and long-term goals. Brainstorm by writing those goals down and reflecting on them to get a clear visual picture. Then use a template to put those ideas into a format that’s easy to understand and reference.

What are the critical components of a development plan?

Easily obtained short-term objectives and a more challenging long-term goal are the most crucial components of a development plan. Other vital features include deadlines, alternative solutions, and how each will be measured and tracked.

What are the stages of development planning?

The stages of development planning include:

  • Gathering information
  • Issuing paperwork to relevant parties
  • Drafting the initial plan
  • Examining the plan and (potentially) collaborating with involved parties to make adjustments
  • Executing the final plan

Define and achieve goals with monday.com’s development plan template

A development plan template helps define and achieve goals across various applications. The monday.com template makes planning easier and faster by ensuring projects start with a solid foundation.

Project managers and business leaders are using the development plan template from monday.com to streamline the process of defining and achieving their goals. Are you ready for more efficient goal setting?

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Effective Personal Development Plan | 7 Steps To Create with Free Template in 2024

Effective Personal Development Plan | 7 Steps To Create with Free Template in 2024

Jane Ng • 29 Jan 2024 • 8 min read

Do you need help in your personal or professional life? Do you struggle to keep up with the fast-changing world around you? If so, you’re not alone.In today’s fast-paced world, it’s more important than ever to keep learning, growing, and developing yourself.

That’s why you need a personal development plan . Although many people understand the importance of self-improvement, only some know how to execute it. 

Therefore, in this article, we’ll explore the 7 steps to creating a successful personal development plan that can help you achieve your goals and become the best version of yourself.

Table of Contents

What is a personal development plan, why do you need a personal development plan, steps to create an effective personal development plan, what hrm can help to create a personal development plan, a personal development plan template, frequently asked questions, key takeaways, tips for better engagement.

  • Self paced learning at work
  • Continuous improvement examples
  • Change management process
  • What is project management?
  • Constructive criticism examples

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A personal development plan (also known as an individual development plan) is a guide to help individuals identify their strengths, weaknesses, and areas of improvement, and create a roadmap for achieving personal and professional goals. It is a tool for individuals to plan their personal growth and development over a defined period.

Check out: Use live word cloud generator to brainstorm better for your personal development plan.

personal development plan template for goals

The personal development plan typically includes

  • An assessment of the individual’s current situation
  • Individual goals and objectives
  • Strategies for achieving those goals
  • A timeline for implementing those strategies

It may also include a plan for acquiring new knowledge or skills, improving existing ones, and developing new habits or behaviors.

Individuals can use personal development plans at any stage of their career or life journey to identify areas for improvement, build on their strengths, and create a clear path toward their desired outcomes.

By reflecting on your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement, a personal development plan can help you better understand yourself and your potential. From there, you can create a clear roadmap to achieve your goals, enabling you to improve your quality of life and achieve success in your career.

personal development plan

Thus, if you’re willing to get started today, learn the next step-by-step to have an effective personal development plan!

1/ Identify your Strengths and Weaknesses

Identifying your strengths and weaknesses is the foundation of creating an effective personal development plan. This process requires you to take a close look at your current skills, knowledge, and personal qualities to gain a better understanding of where you excel and where you could improve.

To begin, make a list of your current skills, and knowledge, such as communication skills, problem-solving skills, time management skills, and personal traits like leadership, creativity, and empathy.

Next, ask yourself the following questions:

  • What are my strongest skills and qualities?
  • What areas do I need to improve?
  • What skills or qualities do I need to develop to achieve my goals?

(While assessing your strengths and limitations, be honest with yourself and try to approach this exercise with a growth mindset. Instead of seeing weaknesses as failures, consider them as opportunities for improvement and development.)

Finally, prioritize your areas for improvement based on their importance to achieving your goals. 

For example of a personal development plan, If your goal is to transition into a management position, it’s essential to prioritize developing leadership, management, and communication skills rather than solely focusing on advanced skills. 

By taking time for the self-assessment process, you can understand what your strengths are and where you need to focus your efforts to achieve your goals.

2/ Set Goals 

After identifying your strengths and weaknesses, you need to set specific and realistic goals that align with your self-assessment.

To begin, think about what you want to achieve in the short term and long term. Your short-term goals should be achievable in 3 – 10 months, while your long-term goals should be achievable within the next 2 – 5 years. When setting your goals, make sure they are specific and measurable. 

Set a particular aim, such as “take a public speaking course to improve my presentation skills,” rather than a general goal like “improve my communication skills.” This way, you’ll know exactly what you need to accomplish to reach your goal.

It is also critical to verify that your objectives are practical and achievable. Consider factors like your available resources, time limits, and personal commitments. Establishing unachievable goals can lead to feelings of anger and disappointment, which can limit your growth.

Finally, review your goals regularly to ensure that you are on track to achieve them. With specific and realistic goals, you can stay motivated and focused on your personal development journey.

personal development plan template for goals

3/ Create an Action Plan

After identifying your goals and assessing your current situation, it’s time to create a roadmap to achieve your objectives, which may involve acquiring new skills, developing existing ones, or changing your habits and behaviors.

Here are some key details to consider when creating an action plan:

  • Learn new skills: Depending on your goals, you may need to learn new skills to achieve them. For personal development plan example, if your goal is to advance your marketing career, you may need to develop new digital tactics or embrace the trend of using AI to create creative content. Identify the specific skills you need to acquire and plan for how to learn them. You can take courses, attend workshops or seek mentorship from someone with appropriate expertise.
  • Improve existing skills: You may need to develop existing skills, along with learning new ones. For example, if you want to improve your public speaking skills, you may need to practice in front of others and ask for feedback. So choose the skills you need to improve and create an approach to accomplish this.
  • Change habits and behaviors: Sometimes, achieving our goals requires us to change our habits and behaviors. For example, if your goal is to improve your health, you may need to change your diet or exercise routine. So, you need to identify the inappropriate habits and behaviors you need to change, then set specific goals, and actions or seek support from others for that.

You should also consider the following suggestions to create the most realistic action plan possible:

  • Break down larger goals into smaller steps: It can be overwhelming to tackle all at once. To make it manageable, break down your larger goals into smaller steps. This will make it easier to track your progress and stay motivated.
  • Determine the resources required: Consider the resources you will need to achieve your goals such as time, money, support from others, or any specific tools or materials. Be realistic about what you can accomplish with the resources you have available.
  • Evaluate and adjust your plan: You may need to adjust your plan based on new information or unexpected challenges. So you should regularly evaluate your progress and be willing to make changes as needed.

personal development plan template for goals

4/ Establish a Timeline

A timeline helps you stay on track and motivated to achieve your goals.  

Here are some details when establishing a timeline for your action plan:

  • Break down your action plan into specific steps: You first need to break down your action plan into specific steps. Each step should be clearly defined and manageable.
  • Set specific deadlines for each step: Once you have identified each step, set specific deadlines for completing them. How much time do you need for each step? If something unexpected happens, how does it affect your timeline?
  • Prioritize steps:  Choose the most critical steps that will have the greatest impact on the goals, and make sure they get the attention they deserve.
  • Use a calendar or planner: Use a calendar or planner to schedule each step of your action plan. (Consider using color coding or other visual aids)
  • Be responsible with your deadlines: You can share your timeline with a trusted friend, family member, or mentor, and ask them to hold you accountable for meeting your deadlines.

5/ Monitor your Progress

You can use a journal, a goal-setting app, or a spreadsheet to track your progress. Regularly monitor your progress toward your goals and adjust your plan if necessary.

You can use a journal, a goal-setting app, or a spreadsheet to track your progress. And don’t forget to celebrate your successes along the way. This will help you stay motivated to continue working towards your goals. You can treat yourself to something you enjoy or share your successes with others.

However, don’t be upset if there are mistakes or failures. Remember that setbacks and failures are a normal part of personal development. Use any failures as an opportunity to learn and grow. Reflect on what went wrong, and use that knowledge to adjust your plan moving forward.

6/ Get Supports

Achieving success is never easy. When you’re having a hard time, you’ll be in dire need of support, which could be emotional support, practical support, or accountability. 

So don’t hesitate to reach out to your support system. This may include friends, family, mentors, or coaches. Be clear about what you need from them and how they can best support you.

7/ Reflect and Review

Reflecting and reviewing your progress is a crucial step in the personal development process. So take time to reflect on your progress towards your goals. Consider what is working well and what areas need improvement.

Also, consider your goals and action plan to see if they are still aligned with your values and aspirations to make any adjustments needed.

In addition to the previously mentioned support, it’s important not to overlook the potential benefits of seeking assistance from Human Resource Management (HRM). HRM can be an excellent resource for creating a personal development plan, as their professionals are specifically trained to provide support to employees in their career development. 

personal development plan template for goals

They can offer valuable guidance on the skills and knowledge needed to achieve professional goals, tailoring their advice to the individual’s needs with:

1/ Training and Development Programs

HRM can offer various soft skills training , technical skills training, and development programs that can help you acquire new skills, or develop existing ones. 

2/ Career Counseling and Coaching

They can help you discover your strengths, limitations, and career goals through career counseling and coaching. They can also assist you in developing a tailored action plan for reaching your career objectives.

3/ Performance Management

If you want to track your progress and ensure that you are meeting your personal development goals, HRM can provide performance management services to help. This can include regular feedback sessions, Q&A sessions, goal setting, and performance evaluations.

To help you create an effective personal development plan, we have created a sample of a personal development plan.

And don’t forget AhaSlides can also be a valuable aid in seeking feedback from others or drawing inspiration from customized templates to support the development of your personal plan.

What are the key areas for self development?

Key areas include Mental Health, Social and Spiritual connection, Emotional and Physical well-being.

How to set up a personal development plan?

Firstly, you should find the key area needed improvement, then work with a coach or mentor to assemble a plan, then finally form a personal development goal.

Why is a personal development plan important?

A proper PDP helps you to reflect your goals, your values and your purposes, so that you know exactly what’s needed to be done on your career path!

A personal development plan is an essential tool for achieving personal and professional growth. It allows you to take the right approach toward achieving your goals and provides you with a roadmap for success. With a well-crafted personal development plan, you can unlock your full potential and achieve your dreams.

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Successfull Leadership Development Plan | 2024 Reveals

Building a Personal Development Plan: A Comprehensive Guide for Employees and Managers

Penny Locey December 22, 2023 Talent Management, Career Advice, Career Management

In any recent study on retention and engagement , companies’ perceived investment in employees’ personal development is one of the top factors in employees’ investment in the company. Organizations that actively support employees’ personal development are more likely to retain top talent. Employees appreciate employers who invest in their growth, fostering loyalty and a sense of belonging.

Recognizing the importance of individual growth, both employees and managers are turning to Personal Development Plans (PDPs) as a strategic tool to align personal aspirations with organizational objectives. When employees can discuss what matters to them now and in the future and match it with what the organization needs, both have a win-win. And when those discussions result in documented steps and an action plan, they are much more likely to succeed.

What is a Personal Development Plan?

Pdps: a strategic framework for growth.

Personal Development Plans (PDPs) outline an individual’s goals, aspirations, and actionable steps for continuous personal and professional improvement. These plans are dynamic, evolving with changes in an individual’s career, skills, and organizational needs. PDPs serve as roadmaps, guiding employees through their professional journey by providing a clear vision of where they want to go and how they plan to get there.

Key Components of a Personal Development Plan:

  • Delineate the long-term vision – what is it that matters to the employee to achieve? What motivates them?
  • Establish short-term and long-term objectives that align with both personal ambitions and organizational needs and strategies.
  • Define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals.
  • Identify current skills and competencies and those needed for future roles or responsibilities.
  • Develop plans to acquire new skills through training, mentorship, or hands-on experiences.
  • Outline specific activities such as training programs, workshops, conferences, and courses that contribute to skill enhancement.
  • Include both technical and soft skills development to ensure a well-rounded professional growth.
  • Establish a realistic timeline for achieving each goal and milestone.
  • Break down larger objectives into manageable tasks with associated deadlines.
  • How will the manager support the plan? What other people need to contribute?
  • Define a process for obtaining feedback from peers, mentors, and managers.
  • Regularly evaluate progress and adjust the plan as needed to address changing circumstances or priorities.

The Relationship Between PDPs and the Performance Review Process

Certainly, performance reviews provide feedback useful to individuals in assessing their skills, contribution, employee brand and strengths. However, an increasing number of companies separate Personal Development Plans and discussions from the Performance Review process. The intention for those firms is that PDPs provide a structured and forward-looking approach to individual growth and should be focused on future development, motivation, and what matters to the employee. Separating those from evaluation can allow for more wide-open discussion. When an employee is new or not performing up to speed, then the performance evaluation informs a more immediate term PDP.

In either scenario – whether the discussion is part of the performance review or separate- by aligning personal aspirations with organizational goals, PDPs contribute not only to the professional development of employees but also to the overall success and sustainability of the organization. Recognizing and investing in the potential of individuals during performance reviews is a strategic move that pays dividends in terms of employee satisfaction, engagement, and long-term organizational success. Using the PDP is beneficial to the performance review process in the following ways:

Focused Discussions:

Entering a performance review also having had prior development planning conversations and PDPs allows both employees and managers to assess areas where job crafting (changing some of the duties, the approach to the role, or who they work with) could improve motivation and performance. It also improves their ability to focus on specific strengths and achievements to capitalize on going forward, and learning or changes in approach that can improve results.  

Alignment with Organizational Goals:

Integrating personal development goals into the performance review process can help employees see the impact of their work on the organization’s overarching objectives more clearly, a key factor in engagement.  They and their managers can also discuss business-focused goals for the following year in the context of how they advance the organization’s agenda, as well as how these can be used to at the same time help the individual develop.

Skill Gap Identification:

Performance feedback can be incorporated into PDPs since it can identify gaps in skills and competencies required for current and future roles. This information is invaluable for both employees and managers in crafting targeted development plans that address specific needs. When PDPs are viewed across an organization, they can also provide a view of organizational talent gaps.

Continuous Improvement:

By integrating personal development discussions into performance reviews, or doing both separately, organizations foster a culture of continuous improvement. Asking employees to reflect on their achievements, learnings, and areas for growth, and requiring PDPs can set the expectation that even employees who are high performers and love their jobs can and should develop. contributing to ongoing individual and organizational success.

Practical Tips for Employees

Conduct a self-assessment:.

Conduct a thorough self-assessment to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Seek feedback from peers, managers, and mentors for a well-rounded perspective. It is also important to reflect on your long-term career goals during your self-assessment, considering both personal and professional aspirations to guide the development of your PDP. A few key questions to ask yourself:

  • What would career success be for you now?
  • What aspects of your work excite/interest/ energize you? Has this changed?
  • Are you getting enough of those? How well does the current work match your strengths, motivators, or values?
  • What skills would you like to use more?
  • What do you want to achieve in the next 2-3 years? What long term career goals do you have?
  • What difference would you want to make? To whom/what?
  • What would you like to do/learn about but have not had the chance?

Set SMART Goals:

Setting goals in any format is great, but to ensure you are setting yourself up for success, it is important to make sure your goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART). It is also helpful to break down larger your goals into smaller, more manageable tasks, creating a step-by-step plan that facilitates progress tracking. It is much easier to check off a smaller goal and being able to see the progress as you go makes it seem less daunting and keep track of the progress you have made, rather than trying to see the big picture while tackling all the small aspects of a large, overarching goal.

Continuous Learning:

Identify and enroll in relevant training programs, workshops, and conferences to enhance your skills. Embrace a growth mindset, actively seeking opportunities for cross-functional training to broaden your knowledge and expertise.

Networking and Mentorship:

Build a robust professional network within and beyond your organization. Seek guidance from mentors who can offer valuable insights and advice based on their experiences, contributing to your holistic development. Join professional groups in your field, go to conferences, and use LinkedIn to identify people who could assist you in achieving your career goals.

Practical Tips for Managers

Encourage open communication:.

Cultivate an environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their career goals and development needs. It is important that you conduct regular check-ins with team members, rather than only discussing development and performance during the annual performance review process. This will provide opportunities to understand their progress, address challenges, and offer support and to keep the lines of communication open, fostering trust and honest feedback/discussion.

Provide Resources:

Allocate resources, such as time, budget, and training programs, to support employees’ development initiatives. It is important to ensure that employees have access to the tools and training necessary for their growth, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to their success.

Recognize and Reward Progress:

It is critical that progress is not forgotten about. Make sure to acknowledge and celebrate achievements and milestones reached through the PDP. It is important to Implement a system for recognizing and rewarding employees who actively engage in their personal development, reinforcing the organization’s appreciation for continuous improvement, as that will ensure it does not get overlooked. It is also a great catalyst to recognize and reward managers who are good at doing these conversations.

Facilitate Cross-Functional Opportunities:

Encourage employees to take on projects outside their immediate roles, providing opportunities to gain new skills and perspectives. Foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing across departments, creating a culture of innovation and adaptability.

Professional Development Plans: Essential for Individual & Organizational Success

Personal Development Plans emerge as essential tools for individual and organizational success. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement and aligning personal goals with overarching objectives, companies not only empower their employees to thrive but also position themselves for sustained growth and innovation. Investing in personal development is an investment in the future, where both individuals and organizations can flourish in tandem. As the saying goes, “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”

Keystone Partners has been helping companies of all sizes in all industries improve their performance review process and conduct successful career conversations. Interested in learning how Keystone can help with your career management and leadership-related needs? Contact us today to learn more ab

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How to write a professional development plan

Continuous development is important in a career, no matter your line of work. Whether it’s to keep up with technology or upskill for promotions, ongoing learning and training will only benefit you. 

This is where a well-structured professional development plan (PDP) comes into play. A PDP helps you stay competitive and relevant in your field, and ready to take advantage of any job opportunities that come your way. It serves as a guide, outlining your career objectives , the skills you want to develop, and the steps required to achieve them. 

Here’s how to create a PDP that will help you realise your career aspirations .

How to write a development plan

Creating a professional development plan takes time and consideration. You have to make sure it’s realistic and in tune with your overall career objectives – the things you want to achieve in your work life. Whether you’re just starting out in your career or looking to take the next step, here are some personal development plan examples to get you on your way.

1. Self-assess to find areas of improvement 

The first step of creating a PDP is self-assessment. This involves taking a look at where you are professionally, where you hope to be in the future, and any skill gaps that might be stopping you from getting there. To do a self assessment, begin by asking yourself these questions:

  • Where am I in my career? Are you a graduate just starting out , a mid-level manager aiming for a more senior role or someone looking to change into a new industry? Look at your current job responsibilities, achievements, abilities – and any feedback you’ve received from peers or supervisors.
  • Where do I want to be in X years’ time? Whether it’s a 5-year or 10-year plan, having a clear idea of where you want to be is important. This could be landing a leadership position , becoming an expert in your field, or starting your own business. Your goals should be achievable, pushing you to grow but remaining realistic.
  • What skills am I currently lacking? Identify the skills and knowledge gaps that are stopping you from reaching your goals. This could include technical skills relating to your industry, soft skills like communication, or broader like critical thinking .

Useful tools for self-assessment

  • The Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF): this provides information about sector-specific job roles and the skills required for them. You can refer to this when identifying the skills you need to develop.
  • Holland Code Assessment (RIASEC) : the Holland Codes refer to personality types. Determining yours can help you understanding what career path best match your interests and passions.
  • MBTI personality test: the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator can offer insights into your personality type, helping you understand your work preferences, communication style and how you interact with others in a professional setting. You can do free tests online to find out yours.

Case studies and examples

  • Maya is a marketing professional. After carrying out a self-assessment, she realised her lack of data-analysis skills was getting in the way of becoming a marketing manager . By identifying this gap, she was able to enrol in the right courses and take on projects at work that improved her ability to analyse digital marketing data specific to her industry.
  • Raj is an IT professional. Through the RIASEC model, he discovered his strong investigative interests, leading him to transition from a generalist IT role to a specialised career as a cybersecurity analyst , aligning his career path with his interests and skills.

2. Establish clear goals

Setting clear goals is an important part of your professional development plan . These goals should be short-term, mid-term and long-term, providing stepping stones towards your larger career objectives.

Short-term goals (within a year)

Short-term goals are goals you can achieve in a year. These might include finishing a course, learning a skill or networking with industry professionals . For example, a software developer might aim to learn a new programming language within six months.

Mid-term goals (2–5 years)

Mid-term goals are goals you can achieve in two to five years. They often build on your short-term goals. For example, the software developer building their own portfolio site after learning several coding languages.

Long-term goals (5+ years)

Long-term goals are goals you set out to achieve in the next five years or so. For example, the software developer being promoted to a senior independent contributer role at a leading tech company. 

3. Build strategies

Once you have worked out exactly what your goals are, the next step is to build strategies to help you achieve them.

  • Identify top development goals: focus on the goals that will drive your career forward. Prioritise them based on what will bring the biggest benefit to your professional growth.
  • Include a target date to achieve your goals: this helps in tracking progress. 
  • Identify resources required: determine what learning resources you’ll need to achieve your goals, such as a short course or mentorship . 

4. Create a timeline to achieve your goals 

It’s important to break down each goal into smaller tasks and add a timeframe, so your goals seem more manageable and you can stay on track . 

Example of a professional development timeline

  • Year one: complete a course 3D animation and attend at least three workshops and/or industry events.
  • Years two to three: use 3D animation skills to get a promotion. Mentor junior designers. Create an online portfolio of work. 
  • Years four to five: aim for a team leader position or build a freelance client base. 

Flexibility is key in any development plan. Give yourself options in case something doesn’t go to plan. If your goals change, adjust your timeline. Regularly review and update your plan to reflect your current situation, new opportunities and changes in the industry.

Professional development goals and organisational objectives

Your professional growth at a company should be tied to the goals of the organisation you work for. By matching your professional development with the organisation’s aims, you can play a role in the company’s success, which creates a win-win scenario that will skyrocket your opportunities there. 

Examples of beneficial alignment

  • Mutual benefit: when your professional development goals are in line with your organisation’s objectives, it benefits both parties. For instance, if your company is focusing on using generative AI for content, developing skills to harness that technology furthers your career and benefits your organisation.
  • More job satisfaction: employees who see their personal growth reflected in their work tend to be more engaged and satisfied. 
  • More opportunities for promotion: companies are more likely to promote from within when an employee’s skill set and ambitions align with the company’s future direction.

Use HR resources for professional development

Many organisations offer resources and budgets for employee development. Talk with your HR department to understand what’s available to you. This could include:

  • Free access to training programs and workshops
  • Sponsorship for professional courses or certifications
  • Opportunities for internal job rotations so you can learn new skills 

Some companies allocate a specific budget for each employee’s professional development. This can be used for attending conferences, enrolling in courses or buying educational materials. 

Professional development plan template

A well-designed PDP guides you towards achieving your professional goals. It includes key information such as short-term and long-term goals, action steps and timelines. Here’s a professional development plan example to guide you.

Short-term goals

Goal:  i mprove public speaking skills

Action steps:

  • Enrol in a public speaking workshop
  • Practise by presenting at team meetings

Measurement:

  • Receive feedback from peers and mentors.
  • Deliver a presentation to the whole department.
  • Complete the workshop in 3 months.
  • Present at a team meeting every month

Long-term goals

Goal: get  a managerial position in the marketing department

  • Develop leadership skills through training
  • Take on more responsibilities in current projects
  • Successfully lead a team project
  • Receive positive performance reviews and feedback from superiors
  • Achieve within 2–3 years.

Without a professional development plan, you may find yourself wondering what’s next in your career. It’s worthwhile taking the time to make one, assessing your skills and setting  structured goals , where your ambitions line up with your organisation’s objectives. A personalised PDP can help keep you motivated, driving you towards short-term goals and  moving you forward in your career . 

What do you write in a professional development plan?

In a professional development plan, you write specific, actionable goals along with strategies to achieve them, a timeline for completion and methods for measuring progress. This includes short-term and long-term goals, skills to be developed, resources needed and any potential obstacles.

What are the five steps of a professional development plan?

The five steps of a professional development plan are:

  • Perform a self-assessment
  • Establish clear, measurable goals
  • Build strategies for achieving these goals
  • Create a timeline for completing each goal
  • Regularly review and adjust the plan

What are the 4 key components of any professional development plan?

The four key components of any professional development plan are:

  • Your current skills
  • Your future goals
  • Action steps to take
  • A timeline 

Why is a development plan important?

A development plan is important because it gives you something to aim for and a roadmap for getting there. It helps to bridge skill gaps and encourages continuous personal and professional growth. It can prevent you from feeling stuck or stagnant in your career, and can move you closer to any larger aspirations. 

How do you format a professional development plan?

A professional development plan should be formatted with clear headings for each section: goals (short-term and long-term), action steps, measurement criteria and a timeline. It should be easy to read, with each goal and plan of action clearly outlined (see above examples).

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  1. How to Create a Personal Development Plan: 3 Examples

    1. Maslow's hierarchy of needs As a proponent of the humanistic or person-centered approach to helping people, Abraham Maslow (1970) suggested that individuals have a hierarchy of needs. Simply put, they begin with basic physiological and safety needs and progress through psychological and self-fulfillment needs.

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    Development Plan Templates to Map Personal and Professional Growth Updated on: 23 January 2024 | 7 min read Personal or professional development requires a clear roadmap, and that's where development plan templates come in. Development plans can help guide a person's growth, a team's progress, or an organization's progress.

  7. Free Personal Development Plan (PDP)

    There are seven steps to writing a PDP: Set yourself goals. Prioritise those goals. Set yourself deadlines for when you want to achieve them. Recognise threats and opportunities. Develop your skills or increase your knowledge. Use your support network. Measure your progress. 1. Set Yourself Goals The first step is to set yourself goals.

  8. Personal Development Plan (PDP) plus template

    The full guide All development plans are different, as it is precisely tailored to your personal situation. In education and work life, PDPs have a certain format. Employers can also customize their own versions for employees and have their own procedures and processes to tailor the PDP to their employees.

  9. Personal Development Plan: Powerful 7-Step [with Templates]

    Step 1: Discover the Personal Development Landscape Step 2: Envision Your Future Self Step 3: Select Your Current Areas of Focus Step 4: Determine Your Key Practices Step 5: Establish Personal Development Goals Step 6: Set Your Schedule for Deliberate Practice Step 7: Monitor Your Ongoing Progress Your Personal Development Plan Template (Fillable)

  10. The ultimate personal development plan guide + free templates

    A personal development plan template . Whilst the above may seem a bit wordy, your schedule doesn't have to resemble a dissertation on personal enhancement. You can make quick and easy personal development plan templates. The following templates can be catered to individual goals, for work, or for managers working on a larger scale.

  11. Create an Effective Personal Development Plan in 7 Steps [2024]

    Table of contents What is a personal development plan? Who needs a personal development plan? 7 steps to create a personal development plan Step 1: Self-assessment Step 2: Set clear goals Step 3: Identify development areas Step 4: Create an action plan Step 5: Implement and track progress Step 6: Seek feedback and support Step 7: Reflect and adapt

  12. How to Create a Personal Development Plan

    Establish your goals. Identify skills to learn. Create a step-by-step plan with a deadline. Find ways to measure progress. 1. Establish your goals. First, identify and list what your goals are. Consider all aspects of your personal growth, and choose a range of goals that are most important to you now.

  13. How to Get the Most Out of Your Personal Development Plan

    Set a clear timeframe for each of your goals that are challenging yet doable and you are sure to be much more motivated. 7. Track Your Progression. The final step in the personal development plan template is to keep track of your progress. Tracking your progression toward your goals offers the benefit of helping keep you motivated by showcasing ...

  14. Individual Development Plan [Examples & Templates]

    An individual development plan (IDP) is a tool designed to help you identify your professional development needs and set clear goals for personal growth. IDPs can improve your overall job satisfaction and performance, and they are often used by employers to support employee development and retention. In an IDP, you should include a thorough ...

  15. Personal Development Plan

    1. Firstly, determine your goals The first step in creating a personal development plan is determining your long-term or end goals. You can do this by envisioning what success or happiness looks like to you, or asking yourself where you'd like to be in two, five or 10 years. Make a list of these goals as you think of them.

  16. Personal Development Plan (PDP): With Templates & Examples

    ‍ ‍ What is a personal development plan? A personal development plan (PDP) is an agreement between an employer and employee that outlines that team member's objectives. It wants to empower employees to analyze their professional life and work on self-improvement.

  17. Individual Development Plan: 14 IDP Templates & Examples

    Individual Development Plans: 14 IDP Templates & Examples that Motivate By Michelle Martin, Feb 15, 2023 The terms Individual Development Plan and Employee Development Plan are often used interchangeably, but the outcome is the same: a document outlining a person's professional and career goals with an action plan to get there.

  18. Free Development Plan Template For Defining Goals

    Development plan templates help define personal, project, or company-wide goals. The diverse applications for these templates make them especially powerful. What are some examples of development plan templates? Using a template for a development plan makes things quicker, easier, and more efficient.

  19. Effective Personal Development Plan

    A personal development plan (also known as an individual development plan) is a guide to help individuals identify their strengths, weaknesses, and areas of improvement, and create a roadmap for achieving personal and professional goals. It is a tool for individuals to plan their personal growth and development over a defined period.

  20. [Free] Professional Development Plan Template and Guide for 2024

    HR can facilitate employees' continuous learning by helping them identify and set goals, create a learning plan, and seek out feedback and mentorship. Having a professional development plan template streamlines the process of employee development, ensures fairness and consistency, and aligns individual goals with organizational objectives.

  21. Building a Personal Development Plan: A Comprehensive Guide for

    Personal Development Plans emerge as essential tools for individual and organizational success. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement and aligning personal goals with overarching objectives, companies not only empower their employees to thrive but also position themselves for sustained growth and innovation.

  22. How to Create an Awesome Personal Development Plan

    1. Set Yourself Goals. The first step in creating a personal development plan is to set clear and specific goals. Think about what you want to achieve in the short term, medium term, and long term ...

  23. How to write a professional development plan

    1. Self-assess to find areas of improvement. The first step of creating a PDP is self-assessment. This involves taking a look at where you are professionally, where you hope to be in the future, and any skill gaps that might be stopping you from getting there.

  24. What Is Career Growth and How Does It Benefit Your Organization?

    Career growth is a plan filled with a strategy to get from one point to the next. Career development encompasses the tasks that help a person get from one point to the next. Both career growth and career development benefit employees and their employers in many ways. personal goals. Ultimately, it may improve their general happiness and well ...