There are few times in history when so many Australians considered their personal and career development at once. The Coronavirus pandemic has caused life to slow down for many people. Some have faced job loss and many found themselves spending more time at home, reflecting on their future career.
Many have taken this as an opportunity to create something new; to start working towards that goal that has bubbled away in the background, but never had time to put into practice. If this is you, and you want to achieve success, you need a plan. Without a plan, it’s just a dream. Many people who have achieved success in their business, sporting, or personal lives have identified what they want and then worked out how they can get there.
A good personal development plan maps out your path to achieve success. Follow our tips on preparing a plan that helps you achieve your goals.
#1 Goal Setting
When you write out your goals, make sure you give them a deadline. Without a deadline, you’re less likely to take action. Spend a little time daydreaming and picture yourself achieving the goal. If your goals are challenging, remind yourself of why you’re working through the hard yards to get there.
#2 Know the Steps You Are Going to Take
A big goal requires a series of steps to achieve. Treat these steps as mini-goals. As you achieve each one, you’re one step closer to achieving the end game. It may take some research to prepare your steps. For example, your goal may be to change careers. To achieve this you may need to complete some study or courses as one of the stepping stones. You could start by researching potential study options and register your interest.
#3 Take Into Account Any Threats and Opportunities
It’s important to recognise that circumstances change. And these are changing times so there’s a chance that external factors may influence your ability to achieve your goals. While it’s impossible to know every potential external factor, there are some threats and opportunities you can foresee. For example, you can guess that you may procrastinate at some point. Make a note in your plan on how you will get back on track. To beat your procrastination, you could find an accountability partner who keeps you focused.
#4 Use Your Network
It can seem daunting to achieve lofty goals on your own. Think about who in your support network can help you achieve your goal. Your development plan could list people you know personally and professionally who may assist you in achieving some steps of your goals.
#5 Don’t Forget to Review Regularly
Goals can fall by the wayside if we don’t remind ourselves of them regularly. Life can get busy and achieving goals falls down the priority list. Without re-reading your plan regularly, you may think your goal is unattainable. But if there’s a plan of attack, you can see the steps you need to take to get there. You’re far more likely to be successful.
While looking ahead is important, so is looking behind. Recognising your achievements to date helps propel you to complete the remaining mini-goals. Don’t forget to celebrate your progress for a shot of motivation.
Your Personal Development Plan
Your personal development plan will only be as successful as the amount of effort you put into developing and reviewing it and, of course, working towards it.
You may not have much time in your schedule to work towards your goal, but with only 15 or 30 minutes per day, you can still make good progress. Consistency is the key.
If you need help with preparing your Personal Development Plan, contact PeopleSense by Altius on 1300 307 912 or (08) 9388 9000 or contact us online.