Three Reasons Why You Need a Purpose & Professional Development Plan
When is the last time you sat down and thought about where you want to go in your career? It's easy to just stumble into a new role, position, or promotion, but without a plan, how do you define what it is that you truly want and how you're going to get there? Over 50% of professionals feel stuck and don't know how to advance in their career. Whether it's because their employer doesn't offer many career development and advancement opportunities, systemic challenges, the lack of skills/credentials, or simply not knowing where to begin, many Americans feel stuck professionally and don't have a plan for how to move forward. This is why it's so important to have a professional development plan.
A professional development plan is a guide that defines and outlines the vision, goals, action steps, and skills that will assist you in growing and developing your career. Creating a professional development plan enables and empowers you to take proactive control over the direction of your career by helping you consider your aims in life and set goals that will help you pursue your purpose and maximize your potential. The purpose is to help you narrow down the ultimate role or career that aligns with your calling while identifying and learning the skills that are required to get you there. There are many benefits one can gain from creating a professional development plan.
Creating a professional development plan helps you be intentional by proactively identifying obstacles and challenges that might hinder your career growth. When you are aware of these obstacles, you put yourself in a better position to overcome them by determining strategies to minimize or avoid them altogether. For example, if your goal is to advance to a higher position within your company but you lack leadership experience, you may decide to take an online course or training or read books specifically targeted to develop these skills.
Professional development plans can help you boost your skills, confidence, and credibility by developing your competency for current and future roles. Identifying opportunities to learn and increase your skill set. and staying up-to-date on industry trends increases your worth and the value you have to offer your employer. Knowing and communicating that value will make all the difference when it comes to showing up, performing well, and seeking and advocating for future opportunities.
As the world of work continues to change and new AI tools continue to be introduced, it's important to stay on top of new trends and develop skills that help you remain relevant, competitive, and attractive in today's workforce. With the introduction of these new tools, many employers are prioritizing upskilling and reskilling their workforce. The key to staying ahead of the curve is to not wait until you are forced to make a move. Professional development helps you proactively forecast these changes and plot your next course of action.
While a professional development plan is critical to your career success, the plan on its own is not enough. It must be predicated on purpose. Your purpose grounds you and serves as the foundation for your choices and decisions, paving the path for your vision and future direction. That is why at The Purpose & Work Institute, we've developed a Purpose & Professional Development Plan that helps you align your purpose with your career vision and goals so you can determine the right steps that will assist you in designing a meaningful and fulfilling career. Sign up below to download a free copy of the Purpose & Professional Development Plan.
