Personal Development Plan: Constructing Goals for Self-Improvement

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of personal and professional development, emphasizing the importance of goal setting and planning. It discusses the concept of personal and professional development, highlighting the value of short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals in achieving success. The essay further explores the significance of a personal development plan (PDP) and provides an example of constructing a PDP using specific goals. It also touches upon the use of SWOT analysis in achieving personal and professional objectives, underscoring how understanding strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats can aid in self-improvement and career advancement. The document concludes by emphasizing the role of self-improvement in fostering communication skills, positive attitudes, self-confidence, and increased employability, ultimately contributing to both individual and professional growth.

Personal development

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Task..................................................................................................................................................3
The concept of personal and professional development.............................................................3
Discussing the value of short-term goals....................................................................................3
Discussing the value of medium-term goals ..............................................................................4
Describing the value of long term goals.....................................................................................4
Discussing the value of a personal development plan and construct an example using goals....5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Personal development is a lifelong process in which people assess their skills, knowledge,
qualities in order to reach potential goals. The assessment, provides details information about
personal and professional development. To achieve goals in life one should use personal
development plan, also its aims and objectives must be taken into consideration. Further, the
study gives brief about short-term, medium term and long-term goals. At last, it gives description
on the value of a personal development plan to reach targets in life.
Task
The concept of personal and professional development
Personal development consists of various activities that will help to develop a person's
capabilities, abilities, potential, build human capital, enhance skills and qualities. The concept of
personal development planning is to plan goals and personal improvement within career,
education and for own improvement.
 It is helpful to make better decisions in order to gain personal development. The concept
says it is a guideline for successful life in the future. The key to personal development is
taking the right steps that help ensure about personal success (Admiraal and et.al., 2021).
Preparing a development planning checklist is the best way to monitor the individual
improvement. Setting goal and creating a plan will help to take full benefit of any
opportunity and make the most of potential.
 Developing personal vision is a clear idea to know the progress of an individual. Once it
is clear about goals start drawing up a plan and make the plan more realistic. It is often a
good idea to keep a record of development and improvement. By doing so, it will be able
to reflect on personal success at a later date.
 Professional development consists of activities to improve skills in order to facilitate
individual and district-wide development for the purpose of achieving professional goals.
This expands knowledge base and boosts confidence and credibility among young
professionals (Atılgan, 2021). It is the set of tools, resources and training sessions to
improve professional qualities and effectiveness. It will further help to learn new
techniques in professional field. Many fields require professional to participate in
continuing education and ongoing learning. This is for those who take part in leadership

sessions including technical and analytical skills. For career related opportunities, the
purpose of this plan, is to mandatory seek out professional courses and learning
opportunities. This development is a great way to stay up-to-date on skills and trends. Building a knowledge base, reflection, observing models and sharing expertise is
extremely important for personal and professional development (Chaube and et.al.,
2021). These all are helpful to analyse practice on the basis of new knowledge and
building up a long-lasting habit. Good preparation increases the chances of success and
decreases the risk of things going in wrong way. To develop a growth mindset one needs
to take steps to achieve something in professional life. Various approaches to
development includes consultation, academic sessions and educational purpose.
Discussing the value of short-term goals
Planning the goals plays a vital role in personal and professional development. A short
term goal is something anyone wants to achieve and accomplish soon in the near future. It means
today, tomorrow, this week, this month or year. Examples for short-term goals are as follows.
 To improve personality, communication skills and writing skills.
 Apply for nomadic job.
 Improve one soft skill.
 Achieve learning goals by reading more books.
 Attend a personality development seminar.
 Increase productivity level to achieve something in life.
 Learn time management and manage stress.
 Improve eating habits by having healthy food.
 Improve overall academic performance.
Short-term goals help in time management to achieve success. In order to develop
personal and professional life one should follow time management, proper planning, set a
quarterly performance goal. Always use smart technique when planning short-term goals related
to professional and personal performance.
Tracking budget will help in knowing financial security in the near future. When setting
a short-term goal always try to be straightforward as possible. Secondly, measure the goals by
using Smart technique and set time frame for target achievement. The goals should be relevant
based upon the right situation at right time. Soft skills are non-technical skills that impact work

and personal performance both. To some people who are introvert in nature it is advisable to
improve one soft skill. At workplace other struggle faced by people is productivity due to poor
time management skills. Honestly, this personal development study shows most of the people
have a few things to work on at every point in life (short term goals, 2021). So, it is essential to
improve such skills in short-term for future requirements. Creating a saving plan is comes under
a short-term goal, so idea is to set up finance tracking system first. Improving health habits is
also a part of short term target, here the idea is to create a goal in order to achieve fitness goals.
For this one need to step out of comfort zone and start practising in order get motivated.
Discussing the value of medium-term goals
A Medium term goals may take 2-3years to achieve success in personal and professional
development. It is essential to complete medium term goals to reach long term goals. In order to
reach goals one should always pay attention to them. It is gap between daily activities and long
term vision to achieve targets. Example of medium term goals.
 Becoming team leader in the company.
 Complete a bachelor's or master's degree.
 Earn a fashion designer certificate in fashion industry.
 Learn a new skill and increase knowledge level.
 Save up for a new house and car.
This goals can be achieved only after a sequence of short-term goals. Savings money
within 2-3 years is a clear example of medium-term goal. The value of moderate to mid-term
goals is that they evaluate the progress and also check out whether plan or choices need to
change. The medium-term goals are the large stepping stones that bring an individual closer
towards a long-term goal. Complete learning and training programs to receive certification is an
example of medium-term goal. Medium term goals shows when the vision are clear, it is easier
to stay committed and make daily progress. This range helps to prepare future career oriented
goals.
Describing the value of long term goals
Something that will take a long time to achieve targets is called long- term goals. The
objective of long term goals is to accomplish goals in the future, which requires time, efforts,
patience and proper planning. They are not something one can do this week or tomorrow or even
this year (Riis-Djernæs and et.al., 2021). To achieve long term goals an individual need a solid

foundation from short and medium range goals. It is a long process which needs patience and
proper management of time, accurate planning. The things that add true and fair meaning to our
lives is known as long-term goals. Long term goals are-
 Getting a PHD to achieve career goals.
 Getting a dream job.
 Paying off a house.
 To become CEO of an organization.
 Learn how to cook a variety of meals, specially Italian and Indian food.
 Opening my own art gallery.
 Map out a retirement plan.
Short-term and medium-term goal are build together to form a long-term goal. By
focusing on short-term goals one can achieve long-term goals (Howell, Perez and Abraham,
2021). This goal takes quite a bit longer thus, it could be a goal to be achieved in a year or
perhaps 5,10,or 20 years.
In addition, focus on various aspects of life in order to determine personal and
professional goals. This includes social, family, health, career, finance, learning, personality
development, professional improvement.
Discussing the value of a personal development plan and construct an example using goals
A personal development plan is also stated as PDP, it is an action plan that one can use to
identify individual goals, find out the solution about anything that hinder progress (Lejeune,
Beausaert and Raemdonck, 2021). Personal development is one of the deepest needs for human
being. This development plan evaluate the purpose and determine the habits to achieve
something good in life. This is a core learning process, required throughout the education system
and professional fields.
An individual can often develop a personal development plan to organize goals and make
them realistic. It also analyses strengths and weakness and improvement to meet desired goals. It
represents the plan of studies, career, lifestyle, profession, and about future targets (Mañosca,
2021). A PDP is a form of self-evaluation and self reflection which is used in higher education
and at the workplace. PDP improves performance, productivity, skills, positive attitudes,
knowledge. It provides clear information about goals and track overall progress. It enhances
mental well-being and reduce mental stress (Sims and Fletcher-Wood, 2021). The plan is usually

individual and straightforward in order to determine future ambitions. A clear plan is also
beneficial for mental stress as it is helpful to reduce anxiety.
The proper planning is needed to help in becoming dedicated and enthusiastic to learn.
To keep motivated on career progression personal development plan is needed (personal
development plan, 2021). The process of building the plan can take considerable time and
efforts. In order to plan personal development an individual must adopt action checklist like-
establish purpose or direction, identify learning benefits, analyse development needs, record the
outcomes and apply the correct step. For managers, it is a source to evaluate the performance
appraisals and objectives (Tannehill and et.al., 2021). For employees, it is a source of inspiration
and motivation and for students, it is source of qualification, new soft skills' improvement. PDP
create a supportive culture and promote positive growth. It supports the idea and technique that
learning is a lifelong and life-wide activity in order to achieve something.
Outline strengths and areas for improvement is the basic step in personal development
plan. After creating list examine the various points and group them to form clusters. Focus on
potential study, career and personal growth options and targets. The key concept of personal
development plan is to find out the specific action for the future requirements. Determine
personal improvement challenges is the major step to evaluate the different goals. This includes
professional, intellectual growth, physical health and overall lifestyle. Now it is good to find out
the obstacles that are affecting personal growth plan. At last, when an individual make progress
on any part of personal growth plan, take time and have patience to recognize it.
Using SWOT analysis to achieve personal and professional goals
 By using swot analysis one can easily understand about strength, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats at an individual level and overall analysis can be done (Van
Assche, Verschraegen and Gruezmacher, 2021). This analysis provides details about
current situation related to personal and professional development.
 Strength gives brief idea about abilities and achievements of an individual. Weaknesses
give information about areas one need to improve upon, bad habits, skills one struggle
with. This analysis provides brief idea about favourable factors that could give a
competitive advantage.
 It also gives idea about any external changes beyond control that could be a threat.

 Undertaking personal and professional development projects helps create independent
learners, who are more able to achieve higher education and those who are having career
oriented goals.
 Self-improvement creates individual and professional development which includes
communication skills, positive attitudes, self-confidence and increase employability.
 Constructing a student example in terms of personal development-
Goals Examples Time period Range
Educational goals Completing master's
degree
2 years Medium-term
Personality goals Improve
communication skills
1 years Short-term
Career goals Find nomadic job 4 years Medium-term
Professional goals Become a team
manager
7 years Long-term
Future goals Buying new car and a
house
8 years Long-term
CONCLUSION
focusing on individual personal and professional development plan enhances the qualities
one have and also provide overall strategy to achieve targets. Knowing about goals to achieve
success is long process and picturing future requirements is an important source of inspiration.
The report also results out the learning either from the training or from personal experience. This
study concludes about short, medium and long term goals. It also stated that keeping track of
progress will keep employees, students and individual motivated. Further, the study shows the
improvement tips to achieve personal and professional plan. At last, the report concludes
personal development plan by constructing an example using goals.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Admiraal, W. and et.al., 2021. Schools as professional learning communities: what can schools
do to support professional development of their teachers?. Professional development in
education. 47(4). pp.684-698.
Atılgan, D. S., 2021. Impacts of music education on different areas of personal development:
Impacts of music education. International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction. 13(3).
pp.3295-3317.
Chaube, A. and et.al., 2021. The role of current and emerging technologies in meeting Japan’s
mid-to long-term carbon reduction goals. Applied Energy. 304. p.117669.
Howell, E., Perez, S. and Abraham, W. T., 2021. Toward a professional development model for
writing as a digital, participatory process. Reading Research Quarterly. 56(1). pp.95-117.
Lejeune, C., Beausaert, S. and Raemdonck, I., 2021. The impact on employees’ job performance
of exercising self-directed learning within personal development plan practice. The
International Journal of Human Resource Management. 32(5). pp.1086-1112.
Mañosca, E. C. O., 2021. Parental involvement in home visitation: Its relation to students
personal development amidst the pandemic. EPRA International Journal of
Multidisciplinary Research. 7(6). pp.342-352.
Riis-Djernæs, L. M. and et.al., 2021. Should rehabilitation goals reflect all aspects of functioning
in relation to a biopsychosocial ICF perspective?. Disability and rehabilitation. 43(12).
pp.1669-1674.
Sims, S. and Fletcher-Wood, H., 2021. Identifying the characteristics of effective teacher
professional development: a critical review. School effectiveness and school improvement.
32(1). pp.47-63.
Tannehill, D. and et.al., 2021. Continuing professional development for physical education
teachers in Europe. European Physical Education Review. 27(1). pp.150-167.
Van Assche, K., Verschraegen, G. and Gruezmacher, M., 2021. Strategy for collectives and
common goods: Coordinating strategy, long-term perspectives and policy domains in
governance. Futures. 128. p.102716.
Online
personal development plan. 2021. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.topuniversities.com/blog/why-you-need-make-personal-development-plan>
short term goals. 2021. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.developgoodhabits.com/short-term-goals-examples/>

Appendix: Personal Development Plan
Skills to be developed Development plan Time period
Communication skills Attending various conference
seminar and a workshop.
1.5 months
Writing skills Practising 1500 words in order
to improve efficiency and
typing speed.
2 months
Time management Learning time management by
attending class for self-
improvement and also
applying rapid planning
method.
1.8 months