Whether you are at school, studying or working: your development remains an important part of your life. Until you retire, and beyond. You always have dreams and ambitions. Things you want to learn. Whether they are short-term or long-term goals, it can help to make a personal development plan. That is why such a PDP is a common instrument for working on personal development within organizations. But how do you make a POP, and what exactly do you do with it?
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Your goals in three steps
A personal development plan roughly consists of three steps:
1. What are you good at and what not? What tasks or activities do you like?
2. What is your goal for the distant or near future?
3. What concrete steps do you take to achieve your goal?
In this way you determine exactly how you want to develop in the coming period. For example via an education or course, or a learning experience. You often discuss these learning objectives and approach with your manager. This gives them an idea of your ambitions and the side you want to grow up in. But a PDP can also be very useful for yourself: for example because you don't know what you want, how you want to develop or even whether your current job is the right one.
From vague to concrete
Step 1 is usually very concrete, but your goals are often vague. That's okay. As long as you think of concrete steps that will help you achieve that vague goal. For example, you may want to 'grow in your position'. That in itself says nothing. But if you take a look at experienced colleagues and what exactly makes them better in some ways, you get a clearer picture of what you can or want to learn.
SMART
In addition, you can keep your goals concrete and realistic by applying the SMART method when you formulate them: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound. They are concrete, you know where you can work towards and your plan is feasible.
Free coaching with your POP
Would you still like some help with your POP? Then you're in luck: together with our training partner TWST we offer five free learning trajectories, and 'Working on your personal development plan' is one of them! In addition, you will be personally guided by one of our experienced coaches.
Interested? Read more on our website and sign up.
More information
Do you have questions about your personal development? Feel free to contact our specialists. We are available every working day from 8.00 to 18.00 via sc@unie.nl and 0345 851 963.
