Understanding that your current or future role may rely on more draining Talents for you, it is important to find ways to develop coping strategies and compensatory skills to fill the gap.
We encourage you to first Explore your Plum Profile on your own Explore your Plum Profile with Others. You can also bookmark cards with key insights and ideas to add to your Focus On plan.
Now it is time to set your development goals and take action.
Building your development plan
Below are some tips on completing your Plum Development Worksheet to prioritize your goals.
Development Goals |
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There are several approaches you can take to choosing a goal:
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Specific Actions |
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Breaking your goal down into specific actions gives you a clearer picture of what you actually need to do. Aiming to be “more adaptable” is a good first step but will not get you very far because “more adaptable” can mean a lot of things. How do you choose the specific actions you want to take?
Pick developmental suggestions that:
Use the 70-20-10 method: 70% of learning is experience-based; on-the-job activities and assignments. 20% of learning is through others; coaches, mentors, job shadowing, and feedback. 10% of learning is through formal channels; seminars, webinars, reading, courses, etc. |
Obstacles |
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What are some obstacles or derailers that may impede you in your goal progress? For example, strong attention to detail could mean that you find it challenging to delegate work to others. Tip: Setbacks will inevitably happen in development. Focus on practicing the behaviors that will improve your skills first, regardless of whether you immediately achieve success. |
Talents to Leverage |
| Research shows that leveraging our natural strengths is a more impactful (and enjoyable) development process. Which Talents can you leverage to meet your development goals? |
Timelines and Key Milestones |
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Setting measurable goals help to hold us accountable. Reaching milestones also gives us a sense of our progress. What are some realistic, yet challenging timelines or milestones that you can attach to your goals? Tip: Put reminders in your calendar for your key milestones. It can be easy to forget about your development when you’re busy with everyday work. This will act as a reminder to make development a priority. |
Resources |
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Often, the best resources are people - your boss, a trusted colleague, a family member, etc. They can provide you with feedback and hold you accountable. An organization you work for may also have resources you can leverage, such as a mentorship program or training programs for specific skills. |
Next Steps |
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Checklist for assessing your Development Worksheet
Review this checklist to ensure that your personal development plan is as strong as it can be:
[ ] Focus on areas that will help you achieve short- and long-term career goals.
[ ] Ensure your development goals push you out of your “comfort zone”.
[ ] Select strategies that leverage on-the-job activities, opportunities for coaching from others, and formal methods of learning (e.g., courses, reading).
[ ] Select Talents to leverage.
[ ] Ensure you have measurable metrics to support progress.
[ ] Share your plan with your boss, colleague, friend, or significant other and incorporate their feedback.
[ ] Share your plan with others who may be able to help support your goals.
