Do Your Leaders Have a Formal Self-Development Plan in Place?

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” ―Ernest Hemingway

Imagine how many people are comparing themselves to someone else. Really the only person we should be comparing ourselves to is who we were yesterday. When I think about it that way, a small change should do the trick, right? Somehow it all seems manageable when thought of from this viewpoint. How much time are we wasting trying to compare our development or success with another’s. I would suspect some could spend their entire life trying, and never reach that goal. Maybe it’s time to change goals.

The significance of personal and professional development?for present and ambitious leaders can’t be overemphasized. It’s the process of separating yourself from everyone else. It’s the path that carries you toward the goals you have yet to reach. When it comes to career growth, how much time do we set aside and devote for personal development? We must be intentional when it comes to developing ourselves. There is always something about ourselves we can improve on. The human potential is unlimited, so it’s impossible to reach a point of no growth. Your self-development needs are going to be different from others. Everyone is starting from a different point depending on their background and life experiences.

Remember you can’t begin to develop your leadership skills if you are struggling with the security of health, work, money, or family. Your basic needs of sleep, relaxation, activity, and exercise are important, and foundational, to developing your leadership skills. This statement is also true for the leaders who work for, or with you. Self-development is the process of learning new things and building new skills. Skills that help us increase our chances of success,?achieving our goals, and manifesting our dreams. Only you can decide what is important in your life. Make sure the skills you choose to pursue line up with your true North.

Here are five steps to managing your personal self-development following the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check/Study-Act) model. First, create a vision for where you want to be in the future, and why. This will become your personal-development True North. Every decision should then be aligned with this True North. Most of us find it easier to motivate ourselves to learn and improve if we have a purpose in doing so. Your personal vision will give you a clear idea of where you want to be in a few months or years, and why.?This is a crucial part of developing this purpose.??

Second, you want to plan your personal development journey. Once you are clear about where you want to be, you can start planning how to get there. Who do you need to meet??What books or podcasts should you listen to? What mentors do you need to reach out to, and on what topics? Drawing up a personal development plan is not essential, but it does make the planning process more realistic. I usually create a one-year plan with 90-day PDCA cycles.

Third, you need to carry out your plan.?It’s time to do something! Don’t wait to get started.?You can adjust as needed. It is often a good idea to keep a record of your personal development.?This is done in the fourth step: the “check” phase. By writing down key developments in your learning and development when they occur, you will be able to reflect on your successes later. Regular review of your personal development plans and activities will ensure that you learn from what you have done. The last step is to Act. Acting on these results is key. It will also ensure that your activities continue to move you towards your goals, and that your goals or vision remain relevant to you.

If the best time to start your plan was yesterday, the second-best time is today.?