1 Personal development Subject background
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n the 20th century organization, people did not have to give too much attention to their own personal development. Line managers and job descriptions made tasks and responsibilities clear. If training was needed, the organization provided it. Career progression was simple: move up the ladder one step at a time, restricting yourself to organizations that were in the same field. In the 21st century things are likely to be different (although of course we never know). People will be managed inside matrix organizations – that means having a variety of people to report to. Empowerment will replace control. People will not rely on organizations to provide them with job-specific training, instead they will take responsibility for their own learning and development (perhaps in areas that are quite unrelated to their present job but that improve their employability in the future). Career progression will be based more on merit, and people will move more freely between organizations and jobs. There will be more job insecurity, but people will see multiple career paths as being open to them – not just a straight, corporate ladder. Learning will be continuous. The nature of managerial skills is also likely to change. Imagination and creativity will become more important. People skills (such as teamworking and influencing) will become much more necessary. The ability to cope with change and complexity will be important. Sensitivity to cultural differences and diversity will play a greater role. All of this points in one direction: self-managed personal development and continuous learning. Of course, this approach has it problems. The day-to-day demands of a job can sabotage learning opportunities. Lack of support from line managers may impede progress. There are difficulties in measuring the effectiveness of the process, but nevertheless the trend towards lifelong self-development as a career management tool seems unstoppable. Where does self-managed personal development start? It has to start with gaining a deeper understanding of your present context – the business environment, the market, the key challenges of your organization and the business plan. The next step is to consider your career path: how you got to where you are now, what your successes and disappointments have been, what you have learnt about yourself, and what your dream job would be if there were no constraints (family, geographical, qualifications, etc.). Then you need to identify any support mechanisms that are available to you: Is there someone who can act as your coach, helping you develop a particular skill? Is there someone who can act as your mentor, providing more general guidance and advice? Is there a role model who can inspire you at a distance? Is there a learning partner – someone like yourself who has similar development needs and who you can share ideas and experiences with? The fourth and final step is to look for day-to-day activities that provide opportunities for learning. These might include new projects, secondment to another part of the organization, computer-based learning, structured reading, attending conferences, work shadowing, job swaps, training courses and workshops, and deliberately placing yourself in new and challenging situations like giving a presentation or chairing a meeting. All this will inevitably lead to a process of self-analysis and reflection. You will become aware of your strengths and weaknesses, your various roles at work, your skills, the things you enjoy, your achievements and what you learnt in achieving them, your future options. This process will involve checking with others (colleagues, family and friends) to get feedback on your reflections and to see what they themselves think about you. Their input will provide some similarities and some differences, and both will send a message. You will finish with some kind of action plan that helps you to focus on what you want to achieve, how you will achieve it, who can help you in the process, any constraints you might meet, and a timeframe.
Useful websites http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/pdp http://worldwork.biz/legacy/www/downloads/Personal_Development_Plan.pdf http://www.businessballs.com
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