Stop using SMART and use your smarts instead (Part 2): Cooking up your PDP menu.

If you are struggling with coming up with a personal developmental goal then read Part 1 first. But if you've come up with at least one then you're ready to read Part 2.

Defining and deciding on one personal development goal can be overwhelming enough, but multiple personal developmental goals? Now your head’s hurting before you’ve even started and though maybe (or especially when?) given a structure by your company, this might make you close down your thinking to new ideas. Let alone thinking how to juggle them all and create some kind of personal development plan!

Stop! You’re approaching it all the wrong way.

Think of yourself as a top chef putting together a balanced menu for the diners - a well-portioned, well-seasoned set of personal development goals that complement each other and will nourish you, your team and your organization/planet.

It should contain enough spices or seasoning to keep your interest but not be too hot that you can’t eat the whole plate or confuses your palate. Yet it can’t be so bland that you get bored halfway through the eating. Like a dining experience most people can’t manage much more than 3-5 courses, and some courses are lighter than others. Note that the courses should complement each other and not work at odds with one another.

So how do you go about creating an exquisite balance and distribution of goals for that perfect ‘meal’? Here’s one approach.

Now when it comes to planning how to eat your meal; remember you don’t eat all the courses at once!

Often the appetizer and entrée happen in quick succession with some respite before tackling the main meal. This pause between courses is a great time to reflect upon what you’ve eaten already. You might need to change your order for your main course at this point to help balance out your menu more.

When it comes to the main meal it might take more time to eat because you have to cut it into bite-size chunks. To get the full advantage of how all the tastes mingle be sure to vary the components of the dish in each mouthful. Savor the flavors; take time to chew.

There’s often a longer break between the main dish and the next. It allows you some time to digest the larger plate you’ve just eaten. It might make you rethink the next tastes you want to experience from those cheeses – some are sweet, some are more sour, some may appeal to your need for umami.

Dessert is often served quite quickly after the cheese and biscuits because you don’t want to feel so full that you can’t manage it. The good thing is that once you’ve started it, though your stomach might be resisting, your head will be telling you that it’s too yummy to stop now so let that belt out one more notch and get stuck in! You know you want to. :)

Occasionally to cleanse the palate water is drunk between courses. Likewise maybe you need to get, not just time, but also some neutral feedback to help you reset and bounce back between achieving your PDP goals.

But whatever the menu you chose for yourself let me wish you bon appetit!