Personal Development Plan (PDP) is a continuous and lifelong process, that requires constant reviews, to enhance relevancy, employability, skills, knowledge upgrade and understanding.
Personal development is very important in every stage of human life just like growth is key to every stage of life. As a professional, it is therefore very important to have a Personal Development Plan (PDP) that is well-structured to ensure that you are not left behind in your career, by peers and colleagues.
A robust PDP should address your education, career and post-retirement age. It should critically consider your strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threat to accomplishing the plans.
Many thoughts do fly through your memories on how to plan the next phases of life but it is essential that you write them down and give them a deep thought before arriving at a solid road map that you will be committed to.
The following are some of the factors you should consider when making a PDP
Positive Expectation
The is a very important ingredient as it builds boldness and self-confidence in the plan that you have documented to follow. Positive expectation is a morale booster that keeps you anticipating a happy and successful ending. It toughens your body and mind to focus on success, it puts courage behind your wings when there is a storm and the winds are contrary.
Vision
The vision of what the end is going to be is very key in putting the puzzles of education, career and life together. You can not keep on beating the empty air. Don’t attempt to keep playing a game that has no goal post because you cannot determine when you score a goal. It is shared frustration commencing on a journey that has no mileage or destination. It is your vision that determines the provision.
When there is no vision, then the tools, skills, materials and every other thing that are needed is uncertain. You should consider and be clear about the vision for your Personal Development Plan either short-term, mid-term or long-term.
Let your vision be SMART objectives, that is they should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound.
Opportunities and Threat
What are your character, behavior or habits traits? These can determine whether your PDP will be accomplished or not. A person that is constantly violating the rules, regulations and the constitution may disqualify himself from leadership roles.
If you plan to live long, then you have to consider your habits; do you smoke, eat anyhow or participate in things that are injurious to your health? These are threats that will undermine your plans to live long.
However, there are some low-hanging fruits actions you need to start today that will eventually accelerate your speed to your Personal Development Plans;
You may need to do more savings today, you may have to improve on your education , exercise 30 minutes every day or perhaps change your circle of friends. All these may be opportunities to gallop into your PDP.
Review
You need to step back at intervals to check your progress. Is the reality you are seeing an indicator of a successful PDP? Don’t hesitate to write down the extent of progress you have made.
An athlete that wants to do a record long jump will always step back to take an exciting long jump. You need to step back to invigorate and re-evaluate yourself.
The kind of reviews will depend on some factors – the time you have available, money and other resources to achieve the vision. The circumstances around you might change but make sure you do the necessary review.
A setback in the process of your Personal Development Plan does not mean a total failure but it offers you and an opportunity to step back and take a record jump into the future you desire.
SOURCE: MSBM
IMAGESOURCE: PEXEL
