A professional development plan documents the goals, required skill and competency development, and objectives a staff member will need to accomplish in order to support continuous improvement and career development. A professional development plan is created by the manager working closely with the staff member to identify the necessary skills and resources to support the staff member’s career goals and the organization’s business needs.
Professional development for staff members begins when a new member joins your team. In addition, all staff members should have a “living” professional development plan in place. Planning should not take place only after an staff member is identified as needing improvement. Professional development plans should be reviewed on an on-going basis throughout the year, with at least one interim review discussion between the staff member and supervisor prior to the end of the yearly performance review period.
Professional Development Planning Steps
Use the following steps to create a professional development plan with your employee. Feel free to use the example professional development plans (listed above) to assist you in the process.
Step One: Request a self-assessment from the staff member
Have the staff member complete a self-assessment of their interests, skills, values, and personality. Use the sample performance planning and self-assessment forms listed to the right to assist in the process. When evaluating the staff member’s responses, keep these questions in mind:
What skills, career opportunities, technologies interest the individual?
Do those skills/interests/goals support the organization’s needs and goals?
What are the short and long term steps to get there?
Step Two: Develop your assessment of the individual’s skill level
Based on the staff member’s self-assessment, their work record, and your own observations, determine the staff member’s skill level in the following categories:
Technical skills: skills needed to get the job done.
Social skills: how do they work with others?
Aptitudes: natural talents; special abilities for doing, or learning to do, certain kinds of things.
Attitude: outlook, feelings, mind-set, way of thinking, and point of view.
Step Three: Assess the department and organization’s needs
In order for professional development to be successful, the staff member’s needs and interests must be applied to address organizational objectives. The staff member’s career path must align with the organization’s workforce needs. In creating a professional development plan, consider the following goals:
Big Duke” goals
Departmental goals
Team goals
Individual goals
