Five killer Apps for a Professional Development Plan
Seriously, an applicant asked me recently if there were some killer apps for a professional development plan that he could use. I was unsure how to respond – did he want the app that would provide him a 3 year professional development plan, the app that would give him a professional development plan sample, or the app that would provide him professional development plan examples? So many choices.
I know I am not that tuned into iPhone, Blackberry, or other Smart phone apps, but I was certain, given my focus on professional development coaching and management coaching that there were no apps for him. However, since he asked, I thought it would help if I framed my answer in his terms.
App # 1 - Natural Talents
The first app you need to have for an effective professional development plan will help you to understand what your natural talents are, why you have them, and how you can maximize your talents in a work setting. For instance how effective is your attitude toward others, are you a balanced decision maker, or are you effective at evaluating others?
App # 2 - Behavioral Preferences
The second app will help you to understand what your behavioral preferences are – for instance are you a problem solver, do you like to interact with others, how persistent and steady are you, and what is your preference for standards and protocol? Your behavioral preferences help to determine the type of position and work environment you will work best in – fast, fun, steady, or slow.
App # 3 - Values and Drivers
The third app helps you to understand how your values can influence how you stand up for your own rights, how you balance the need for economic return, your ability as a strong leader, or your need for structure and order. Your motivational preferences help to determine as well the type of position, work environment, and people you will prefer to work in.
App # 4 - Skill Strengths
The fourth app looks at your skill strengths – your educational background, your occupational focus – how skilled you are at your trade and what your potential for improvement will be if you develop additional skills related to your talents, behavioral preferences, and values.
App # 5 - A 3 Year Professional Development Plan
The fifth app helps you to pull each of the prior four killer apps into that 3 year professional development plan. Why 3 years? Well, I have observed a regular change in professional development for clients that runs roughly in 3 to 5 year cycles. I have not conducted research in this – it is anecdotal – enough to suggest that it is reasonable to work on a 3 to 5 year professional development plan that tracks your natural talents, behaviors, values, and strengths and to understand how this awareness can help you to adapt various work roles and tasks to your talents.
Make sense? Give it a try, and if it works perhaps we can approach all those Smart Phone developers with our professional development plan apps. I understand there is a huge market for them. If you'd like a preview of your talents, behaviors, and values we can help with that.
