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Personal Development Plan Templates

What: My Personal Development Goals

Consider the competencies that represent great performance in your current role and/or a role to
which you aspiree.g. as a student, as a daughter, as a working student, etc. Based on feedback
from your peers and/or other colleagues, select at least two (2) areas in which you would like to
develop in. You may focus only on your current role, or you might select one (1) area that applies
to your current role and one (1) area that is more aspirational. Write specific goals describing
how/what you want to change or improve specifically this semester.

Ask yourself: What can I do differently (or better) that would make the greatest positive impact in
my current role? What development priorities will give me the greatest leverage in improving my
individual leadership and performance?

Goal 1

Goal 2

Goal 3

How: Action Steps I Will Take to Meet My Development Goals

Identify what you need to stop doing, start doing and keep doing. These short-term actions will
contribute directly to your long-term goals i.e. career goals.

1. Plan your actions.

Implement something every day. What What new behavior will I try? Where will I push
situations, people, or events signal that right my comfort zone?

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now is the time to change my

behavior/attitude/outlook?

Every time I see the following situations: I will take the following actions:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

How: Action Steps I Will Take to Meet My Development Goals

2. Anticipate obstacles.

WATCH OUT: What barriers can I identify which might hinder me in pursuing my development
goals? How can I overcome these barriers?

Obstacle/Barrier Solution

1.

2.

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3. Leverage strengths.

HINT: I have great strengths upon which to draw from. Which of my strengths can I leverage to
help me achieve my development goals?

Strength How will it help me achieve my goals?

1.

2.

3.

Who: Resources and Support for Achieving My Goals

How will I draw on my family, peers, and others to track my progress, gather advice and feedback
and support my learning?

Who will I ask to support me? Who do I know who already possesses the competencies I want to
build?

With whom should I share my development plan?

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Accountability

When did I begin taking actions to meet my goals?

When did I start to see significant progress? (Milestone commitments)

How did my learnings influence me?

Acknowledgement
What was the impact of meeting my development goals in my life?

How did I celebrate every time I meet my goals?

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Personal Development Plan

(Insert Your Name Here)
Assess Your Current State
List your top five (5) skills (things that you do well):
1. ExampleKnowledge of accounting
2.
3.
4.
5.

List the five (5) values most important to you:

1. ExampleTrust
2.
3.
4.
5.

List your top five (5) strengths:

(To validate your list, ask yourself if family, friends, or coworkers would agree?)
1. ExampleGood listenerfamily and friends tell me
2.
3.
4.
5.

List your five (5) areas that most need improvement:

(To validate your list, ask yourself if family, friends or coworkers would agree?)
1. ExampleStaying focusedco-workers tell me I often wander
2.
3.
4.
5.

List five (5) priority interests:

1. ExampleSocial media
2.
3.
4.
5.

List five (5) priority wants:

1. ExampleMore time to read
2.
3.
4.
5.

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Identify Areas of Opportunities

ExampleGreater efficiency, accomplish more with less effort

What is your long-term goal?

ExampleBar Owner

What areas do your friends and colleagues see as opportunities?

1. ExampleExerciseJoin a fitness club or group
2.
3.
4.
5.

What organizations, clubs, or areas of interest look exciting and/or filled with potential?
How can you learn more?
1. ExampleBook clubTalk to Armi Anne, who has experience with book clubs.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Skills and Experience Needs

Based on the previous sections, which skills would be most helpful to my personal growth and
development?
1. ExampleLearning more about how to bake
2.
3.
4.
5.

Develop Your Action Plan

Based on the previous sections, list five (5) key goals. Key goals are longer-term aims, more general
than objectives. They may take a year or more to achieve.

(If youre unsure which area(s) you want to pursue, use the previous sections with blanks or general
responses, to create your list. In this case, your goals are to gain greater clarity about which areas of
potential opportunities or interests you want to focus on in the next year or two.)

List five (5) key goals:

1. ExampleBecome physically fit
2.
3.
4.
5.

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Objectives are specific actions that support your larger goals. Choose objectives that will have
the greatest impact on achieving your goals. Use the SMART system to define them:

Specific Can you clearly define the objective you want to accomplish?
Measurable How will you know when its complete?
Attainable Is it realistic, based on your current skills and experience?
Relevant How does it directly contribute to the goal youre pursuing?
Time frame Can you accomplish it within a reasonable time period?

Complete the plan below. Print, then post it in a prominent place. Review regularly to maintain
progress on achieving your goals.

INSERT YOUR NAME HERE JUNE TO OCTOBER 2015 PERSONAL

DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Specific Time Achieved?
Measurement Attainable Relevance
Objective Frame Y/N
Yes, need to First month,
check with work up to
Example: Track
my doctor to steady
Define and duration and Supports goal to
ensure my routine.
begin an frequency of become physically
plan is Maintain
exercise exercise fit.
appropriate. every
program. program.
Adjust plan month
as advised. thereafter.

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