Strategic Personal Development Plan - Term Paper Example

? Strategic Personal Development Plan Table of Contents: Executive Summary -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 1. Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4 2. Benefits through a PDP ------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------6 3. Self-assessment of Current State-----------------------------------------------------------------8 4. Developing a PDP------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9 4.1. General Summary of PDP------------------------------------------------------------10 4.2. Identification of Current State -------------------------------------------------------11 4.3. Identification of Desired State -------------------------------------------------------14 4.4. How can I get there? --------------------------------------------------------------------15 Short-term objectives-------------------------------------------------------------15 Medium-term objectives---------------------------------------------------------16 Long-term objectives--------------------------------------------------------------16 5. Conclusion -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------17 6. Bibliography-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------18 Executive Summary The goal of this purpose is to develop a Personal Development Plan (PDP). It is necessary to understand both the need as well as the use of this plan before working on it. A Personal Development Plan would help in taking a step closer towards leadership and help in defining motives and reasons for pursuing that step. While creating a PDP, it is necessary to have adequate emphasis on academic, professional as well as personal areas of life. It is also equally important to understand and define the benefits that would be achieved by doing the exercise of PDP development. The process of creating a PDP also involves the identification of the current situation in terms of qualification, skills, abilities as well as knowledge. Once all this is identified, the process of writing the PDP can start. The process of documenting the PDP involves several different stages, such as the current state and the situation that one desires to be, the ways to reach that position and so on. It is critical to identify the desired state because based on that, objectives and goals required to reach that state are arrived at. To get clarity on goals, it is ideal to use SMART criteria. For convenience, it is also good to split up the objectives based on whether they are short term, medium term and long term as this makes it easier to monitor them and achieve them. In the conclusion of the PDP, the reasons for achieving the goals are highlighted and the methods adopted to find out the best possible way to achieve these goals are identified. Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs. Henry Ford 1. Introduction to PDP A Personal Development Plan (PDP) can be defined as a formal, structured and organized process which is undertaken by an individual in order to get a perspective on their own learning, performance as well as achievements and to help them plan for development of their career, education as well as personal life. A PDP should adopt many different approaches of learning that would help in connecting planning (the desire as well as the goal of an individual for learning), doing (developing a correlation between action and intent), recording (documenting thoughts, ideas, notions, experiences and events so that it is possible to understand the methods and outcomes of the learning process) and reflection (evaluating and judging the results of the process of learning). Personal development is just not a process that involves improving oneself and others, but it is also a process that involves practice and research. It involves a deep understanding of methods of personal developments, learning programs, tools and techniques of assessment and revaluations. PDP also should be according to the SMART criteria – which means it should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and have a timeline. By using the SMART criteria, it is possible to develop a PDP in an organized method. Most often, many of us face numerous cross points where we know the ultimate goal, but it is difficult to identify the method and the path that is needed to achieve that ultimate goal. In situations like that, working on a personal development plan helps in getting the correct perspective. PDP can work like a guidebook to achieving the goals and objectives in an organized and clear manner. With the help of a PDP, one can measure and track the progress, thus greatly enhancing the chances of success. There top reasons that led me decide on working on a PDP are listed as follows: 1. Focus: A properly documented PDP can help me focus on my priorities and my goals. It is necessary to have the correct focus on the goals, else, there is a high probability that the energy may be channelized towards something that ultimately does not contribute towards the goals and the objectives. PDP can help in achieving this focus because I would be able to identify whether I am focusing on the right aspects or not. 2. Clarity – A PDP provides clarity on a lot of aspects that are involved in achieving the goal and thus, removes all the ambiguity and vagueness that may be associated with the different stages of achieving the goal. 3. Get Perspective – Working on the various aspects that lead to the objective also helps in getting a better and more solid perspective about the objective. It also helps in widening the vision and understanding many core nuances of the ways in which the objective can be achieved. I have always noticed that understanding what I want to achieve empowers me to work towards it and to bring about the necessary changes that are needed to achieve the goal. Thus, this higher awareness helps me handle difficult situations and overcome it effectively. Therefore, understanding what I want to achieve will help me unleash the hidden potential and explore my creativity, talent and knowledge. It will help me discover more focus towards the final purpose. A PDP is a very comprehensive process because it can prove to be beneficial not just to the individual who creates the plan, but to the people around, such as the team at workplace. For the individual, the benefit is because through a PDP, the person can improve his/her skill level, knowledge and experience. For the organization, the benefit comes because there are enhanced employee capabilities, good planning, and higher capability of resource management and so on. Therefore, this enhanced performance along with a good level of work satisfaction, can also help in improved effectiveness of the organization. Therefore, I am writing my PDP so that I can achieve my professional, personal as well as academic goals and improve my abilities during the process. 2. Benefits through a PDP I decided to have a strong focus around the areas of academic, professional and personal life because these are the key areas that an individual needs to focus on. Working on these areas can help in achieving success not only in terms of objectives, but also in life and it also enhances the individual personality. Here are some of the benefits through a PDP Academic Life: Clearly understand what I am learning and why I am learning. Maintain and improve focus and motivation. Develop a better understanding of my method of learning and enhance it. Ensure that learning is a process filled with enjoyment leading to skill enhancement. Reduce and eliminate stress associated with learning. Understand the ways in which learning application can be done with respect to different contexts and scenarios. Develop reflective thinking and introspection in terms of academic performance. Professional life: More clarity on the professional life that I want to be involved in. Improve faith in decisions and go ahead confidently. More confidence in my own potential, capacity, skill and knowledge and readiness to face challenges in the work environment. Preparedness to get into the chosen career path. Develop skill to highlight my competency and potential with employers. Improved planning and problem solving abilities Developing positive attitude and optimism towards professional life. Personal life: Better understanding on personal thoughts, attitudes and preferences. More clarity on decision making related to aspirations. Cognizance on needs and ideas on how to meet them. Awareness about the unique contribution that I can bring about in personal sphere. Developing positivity and optimistic attitude. 3. Self-Assessment of Current State It is imperative to conduct a self assessment of the current state to get more clarity on skills, abilities, knowledge, potential and the competency that an individual possesses. This understanding is essential to begin the process of improvement and development. According to me, the academic background as well as the work experience that I have forms a good foundation for me to write and develop a PDP. I have been pursuing a post graduate degree in Management specializing in Operations from one of Moscow State University. In addition, I also have four years of experience in handling Operations at the Co-operative Hospital in Moscow, which is run by one of the largest co-operative associations. Here, I handled the administrative processes such as billing, equipment and inventory management and staffing operations. Through my qualification and experience, I have gained both knowledge and skills that can be applied in the Leadership course. Furthermore, the knowledge and skill can be enriched with the help of the new models and cases that are a part of the course module. Therefore, before working my PDP, I have to develop an understanding of both strengths as well as areas of development (weaknesses). I also need to understand the factors that would prove helpful in fulfilling my goals and the factors that may prove to be obstacles. 4. Developing a Personal Development Plan During the actual creation of a PDP, the first stage is to understand the current state, which is where I am currently. To assess that, I have adopted the methodology of AQAL (All quadrants and all levels) framework. The way in which I have adopted this framework has been represented below: Once this framework is developed, I gain a fair idea on my current situation and also discover what I want to do and what my goals and ambitions are. To arrive at this, I speculated and thought about the things that I prefer to do most in different avenues. I also narrowed down into three main areas that I need to consider more seriously for improved. Among the various areas, I chose those three because they are the ones that are most critical and in line with my goals. To set the goals, I tried to follow the SMART criteria to give it a very comprehensive perspective. The SMART approach states five main elements that will help in defining a goal. The aspects of SMART are; Specific: You have to have concrete and specific goals. Measurable: You need to identify specific entities that would help you in quantifiably measure your way to the goal. Achievable: You need to ensure that the goals are achievable and realistic. Relevant: You should ensure that goals are in line with your professional and personal developments. Time-Related: A timeline that will guide you through the path to achieving the goal. After identifying where I want to reach, the goal and objectives, I spilt up these objectives into Short-term, Medium-term, and Long-term. Splitting this makes it very easy to track the progress, and complete the tasks. This planning concludes the process of writing the PDP 4.1 General Summary of PDP The flow of actions in a PDP can be seen in the chart below. 4.2 Identification of Current State 1. Identification of Current State Academic What are my Strengths? What are my areas of improvement? 1. Pursuing Post-graduate Management degree in Operations. 2. I have a good understanding of which learning methods and approaches to learning work well for me 3. I have also developed good skills related to operational management. 4. I am a fast learner and I enjoy and look forward to learning new things. 5. I am a team player and I contribute effectively in a team environment. 6. I am also good at computer operations and handling technical matters. 1. I need more confidence when it comes to effective communication to a larger crowd. Thus, one key area of improvement is developing communication skills. 2. I also need to learn some more foreign languages to expand my knowledge and scope. 3. Another area of improvement is my organizational abilities so that I can handle responsibilities independently. 4. Keeping motivational levels high is another area of improvement. What could help me along? What may be the obstacles? 1. Indulge in of public speaking and communication to develop more confidence. 2. Study foreign languages 3. Participating in organizing events and activities 4. Reading self-help and motivational books. 1. Finding adequate resources 2. Time Management 3. Lack of responsibility and direction 4. Lack of focus and determination. What are my Strengths? What are my areas of improvement? Professional 1. Good Work experience 2. Comprehensive resume 3. Strategic planning and thinking 4. Potential to work hard 5. Good team player. 6. Innovative and resourceful 7. Willingness to take risk and face challenges 8. Loyalty and commitment to every opportunity 1. Not worked in senior management roles. 2. Lack of confidence at certain phases. 3. At times, lose focus if the responsibility is not interesting and challenging. 4. Battle high stress and tension at certain stages due to lack of time. What could help me along? What may be the obstacles? 1. Continue facing newer challenges to improve confidence and develop focus. 2. More participation in professional events to get better visibility and ideas of how senior management operates. 3. Improve on time management by dividing the day into different slots. 4. Read more case studies and articles related to Operations Management. 5. Maintain concentration during all the phases of a particular project. 1. Lack of proper resources and guidance at the professional environment that helps in improvement. 2. Get carried away because of the compensation factor rather than looking at it from a long term perspective. 3. Getting into the comfort zone of work without any new learning or skill development. 4. Excess stress can be a challenge during critical situations as it can affect productivity. Personal What are my Strengths? What are my areas of improvement? 1. I enjoy being in the company of people and love to socialize. 2. I am polite and I easily adapt in different social environments. 3. I enjoying helping out other people. 4. I have the ability to resolve any conflicts. 5. I have the potential to plan and work towards fulfilling an objective. 6. I have an optimistic attitude and bring about positive energy 7. I am open to learning to from my mistakes. 8. I am also open to getting feedback from others. 9. I try to overcome any weaknesses that I have. 10. Given the opportunity, I strive to overcome my fears. 1. There are a few situations where I lack confidence and hence, I move to the background. 2. Even though I am physical fit, I need to work on improving my physique to get more confidence. 3. Lack of self-esteem can make me nervous in certain particular situations. 4. Among academic and professional aspirations, personal development sometimes gets neglected. 5. At times, the initial reaction to any personal adversity is manifested in stress and emotional reaction, rather than reasoning. What could help me along? What may be the obstacles? 1. Involve myself more in sports and group activities. 2. Undertake personality grooming and development programs. 3. Develop the habit of reading newspapers as well as books that talk about being positive. 4. Improve on self-confidence by facing challenges openly. . 1. There may not be proper resources or appropriate guidance. 2. Too much involvement in professional and academic life may hinder personal development. 3. Lack of motivation may result in inactivity. 4.3. Identification of Desired State After the first step of identification of the current state was done, I understood my strengths and areas of development lay. Now, the next step was to decide on the desired state, which is what I really want to achieve. What do I like doing? Profession: I like to be involved in a profession where I get a good chance to interact with people. I love being in a people management role and I aim to innovate and contribute creatively. I also like to be in a work environment that is not monotonous and that brings forth challenges that help in constant improvement and skill enhancement. Hobby: In terms of hobbies and pastime, I like reading, interacting with people, travelling, going for walks and watching sports. I also love to discover new things and find out more information about them. Motivation for learning: The most important thing that keeps me motivated to learn and understand new things is my curiosity. Learning new things also stops me from getting into a monotonous routine and provides an opportunity for me to develop not just new skills but also equips me to face newer challenges. In addition, I also understand that learning is a continuous process and it is essential to maintain and improve upon the existing skills, especially because of rapid advancements in the field of technology. Preferred Method of study: I enjoy being in a class room atmosphere and learning. When that is not possible, I also learn at home with the help of books as well as online resources. To get more clarity, I have split my desired state into Professional, Personal and Academic spheres: In professional life, I hope to set up my own business and hope to become a successful entrepreneur. I have already realized I love handling an independent business where I do not have to depend on anyone else for my livelihood. However, before I embark on setting up my own business, I would also like to gain some professional experience by handling operations of a large business. All this while, the main objective is to engage in a career where I would love and enjoy what I am doing. In personal life, I want to lead a life that is characterized by integrity. The ideal situation would be one where I would be able to live happily along with people around me. This stage can be reached only when I develop and improve further. I want to improve my physique to have good personality. At the same time, I also would like to improve my intelligence quotient as well as emotional quotient. In Academic life, my first goal is to ensure that I complete my management degree in operations. I would also like to broaden the horizon of my knowledge and develop more understanding in the subjects that I have an interest in because that will come in useful in many different stages of my life. These three areas are the ones that an individual needs to have good clarity on because it helps in creating a comprehensive person. 4.4. How Can I Get There? The methodology that I chose in order to achieve the objective is my dividing my goals into short-term, medium-term and long-term objectives. Short-Term Objectives Objective Means Time Scale Evidence Schedule Get more involved in Personality development and confidence building activities Participate in personal development courses 2 days a week Feel confident in a group, lead effective communication After office Improve physique Exercise routine, healthy food, good Everyday Working out for half an hour per day; Avoiding junk food. Every day morning; regulating all three meals Develop a learning habit Read magazines and online articles Ever alternate days Think about using this information everyday Working days, 9-5 Time Management Allocate specific time slots for specific activities Everyday Monitor how time slots are followed Everyday – 9-5 Medium-Term Objectives Objective Means Time Scale Evidence Schedule Learn a foreign language (French) Online courses, educational CDs 8 months To be able to speak and understand French 3 days a week Improve Self-esteem Volunteer for more activities and come to the forefront 6 months To be able to lead an event with confidence Based on opportunity, at least once a week. Improve writing skills Practice writing business letters and articles 4 months Feedback from the superiors; Write good letters 4 days a week Long-Term Objectives Objective Means Time Scale Evidence Schedule Be a successful Operations Manager Get work experience in a large scale organization 2-3 years Lead the organization by example; Learn aspects of Organization Management Depending on joining the organization. Contribute effectively to the society Participate in corporate social responsibility, initiate voluntary work 1 year Outreach to the sections that need help in the society. Once a week Be an entrepreneur Narrow down on the industry and business and work towards it 3-5 years 5. Conclusion The Personal Development Plan is a means for me to reach my desired state and help me flourish in the academic, personal as well as professional avenues. It has also provided me with a good perspective of where I am currently and what I want to do further. At present, I am finishing the management degree and I have a clear idea of where I want to be five years down the line. The Personal Development Plan has also made me realize about the steps that I need to take to make sure that I reach my objectives and goals. In addition, I have also been able to think and document about the various short term as well as long term objectives that would help me reach my goal. One of the most important facts that I discovered by working on a Personal Development Plan is that right now I am just at the beginning state of my development process. The academic stage would mark the beginning and pave the foundation for further development. It has also helped me understand the level of skills that I posses and how to improve upon them. I have also been able to speculate and understand the areas of development as well as any obstacles that I may have to face. Thus, I can be better prepared to overcome these obstacles and also to improve on any weaknesses. Now that I have a goal and a plan ready in front of me, it has given me a strong determination to work towards my goals with the help of the PDP. Another noteworthy aspect is that working the PDP with not just help me reach my academic and professional goals, but it will also improve me as a person and enhance the integrity level. Overall, this exercise has proven to be one that is comprehensive and wholesome. Bibliography 1. Personal Development Planning. Accessed Oct 4, 2011 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_development_planning 2. Success Breeds Complacency; Personal Development Plan prevents it. Accessed Oct 4, 2011 http://www.self-improvement-mentor.com/personal-development-plan.html 3. What is a Personal Development Plan? Accessed Oct 4, 2011 http://www.thepersonaldevelopmentcafe.com/personal-development/all-about-personal-development/what-is-a-personal-development-plan.html 4. Introduction to Personal Development Plan. 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