Build a personal development plan for career progress

What is a personal development plan (PDP) in the workplace?

Simply put, a personal development plan (PDP) is your roadmap to professional growth. It helps you proactively identify the skills and knowledge you want to develop to enhance your performance and open up new career opportunities.

You might have a PDP that’s part of your organisation’s performance management process, or you might choose to create one independently. Company-mandated PDPs are typically designed to ensure a consistent level of development across the workforce. On the other hand, a self-directed PDP is guided by your own career ambitions. 

It’s important not to confuse a PDP with a performance improvement plan (PIP). A PIP is reactive and usually used to address underperformance, while a PDP is proactive. Personal development plans are about continuous learning, development, and positioning yourself for long-term career success.

Why a personal development plan is important

Ever feel like you’re working hard but not sure if you’re actually making progress? A personal development plan eliminates that uncertainty by providing a clear roadmap for your career journey. Here are some key benefits of having your own personal development plan: 

• Career clarity and motivation: A PDP gives you a clear view of where you are now, where you want to go, and what you need to do to get there. This clarity can be a powerful motivator.

• Career advancement: A well-structured PDP supports both immediate performance and long-term career growth. When used effectively, it can fast-track promotions, increase your earning potential, and lead to stronger performance review results. 

• Reduced career anxiety: Having a structured plan builds confidence and reduces uncertainty. As you develop new skills and capabilities, you’ll feel more in control of your career path.  This sense of direction can lead to better job satisfaction and improved workplace performance.

• Support from your organisation: Your PDP also helps your managers and mentors understand how best to support you, while also aligning your development goals with broader business goals. 

How the value shifts throughout your career

A personal development plan looks different depending on where you are in your career: 

• Early-career professionals can use a PDP to build foundational skills, explore potential career paths, and develop strong habits around goal setting and reflection.

• Mid-career professionals often use their PDP to step into leadership roles, take on greater responsibility, or pivot into new areas of interest. 

• Senior professionals benefit by staying aligned with evolving business needs, mentoring others, and continuing their own learning in a strategic, focused way.

Wherever you are in your career, a PDP gives you a clear path forward. 

Personal development plan goals and ideas

Make sure you set SMART goals in your personal development plan. These goals should be realistic, achievable and aligned with your career ambitions. Whether you're just starting out or stepping into a senior leadership role, setting the right goals is key to unlocking your next opportunity.

What are SMART goals?

SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Using this framework helps you set clear and realistic goals that keep you focused and motivated.

Examples of realistic PDP goals

Here are three examples of SMART goals you could include in your personal development plan:

• To improve communication skills: Complete a business writing course and lead two team meetings by the end of the quarter to build confidence in verbal and written communication.

• To gain leadership experience: Take the lead on a cross-functional project in the next six months and hold monthly check-ins with a mentor to reflect on progress.

• To upskill through learning: Enrol in a [specific] course (e.g. data analysis, Agile certification) and complete all modules by [date], with a plan to apply learnings in a current project.

Considerations when setting goals

To ensure your goals align with your aspirations, it's helpful to look at them from a few different perspectives. Here are some considerations to help guide your goal-setting process:

• Career stage: Choose goals that fit your current level, whether you’re early-, mid-, or senior-career.

• Industry-specific goals: Focus on skills relevant to your field, such as learning a new programming language for tech or leading a campaign strategy for marketing.

• Horizontal vs vertical development: Horizontal development means broadening your skills by learning across disciplines or gaining cross-functional knowledge. Vertical development is about moving upward by growing your leadership or decision-making capabilities.

• Stretch vs foundation goals: Foundation goals strengthen your current performance, like mastering a tool or process. Stretch goals push you outside of your comfort zone to prepare you for future challenges, such as leading a team or presenting at an event.

   

How to write a personal development plan: 5 key components

An effective personal development plan helps you grow with intention. Whether you’re building your first PDP or refreshing an existing one, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. Self-assessment: Understand where you’re starting from

First, reflect honestly on your current skills, strengths, and areas for growth. A self-assessment helps you get clear on what you’re doing well and where you could improve. This is an important step that sets the foundation for your goals.

You can use formal tools such as:

• SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)

• Skills gap analysis

• 360-degree feedback

• Personality assessments (e.g. DISC, MBTI)

Or start with simple reflection questions like:

• What tasks energise me, and which ones drain me?

• What skills do I get positive feedback on?

• Where have I struggled recently, and why?

• What career achievements am I most proud of?

2. Set clear, measurable goals: Define what success looks like

It is important to have a clarity around what success looks like for you. Vague goals like “become a better communicator” or “grow my leadership skills” are not helpful and in the long run can leave you feeling like you’ve made no progress. Instead, use the SMART goal framework to ensure your objectives are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

• Example of an unclear goal: Improve public speaking.

• Example of a SMART goal: Deliver a 10-minute presentation to the team by the end of next quarter and receive feedback from at least two colleagues.

Include a mix of short-, medium-, and long-term goals (from 3 months, up to 3 years). Having a layered approach ensures you keep momentum while working towards bigger aspirations.

3. Actions: Outline the steps to achieve your goals

Once your goals are defined, break them down into specific actions. Think of these as the ‘how’ behind each goal. This step turns ambition into a plan you can follow.

For example, if your goal is to earn your certification in project management by the 31st of November, some of your actions may include:

• Research 3-4 providers in your city

• Enrol in a course by the 4th of April

• Complete 2 modules a week

• Book a time for the exam.

4. Timelines: Create a realistic schedule

Every meaningful goal needs a deadline to keep you accountable and help you track progress. However, it is also important to be realistic and anticipate the challenges that may arise along the way, for example competing priorities or lack of time. Create a timeline that challenges you without setting you up for failure.

You can plot your goals on a simple timeline, or utilise platforms like Notion, Trello, or even a Google Doc. These tools make it easier to stay organised, track actions, and maintain visibility over your development. Build in checkpoints or progress reviews every month or quarter to keep things on track.

Aim to balance quick wins with longer-term efforts, as those short-term victories give you momentum to tackle the bigger goals that take months or years to achieve.

5. Support and resources

Developing new skills is easier if you have support. Think about what may be best for you and your learning; you may like to have a mentor to bounce ideas off, access specific training courses, regular check-ins with an accountability partner for feedback, or even just dedicated time to focus on learning.

Before locking in your plan, we recommend that you ask your manager, mentor, or a trusted colleague for feedback. You could start this conversation by saying:

• “I’ve been thinking about where I want to grow this year. Can we discuss how that fits with team priorities?”

• “I’ve identified a few goals that I think will help me develop and contribute more, can I please get your feedback or support on these?”

These conversations may offer helpful insights or challenge your assumptions in a constructive way, allowing you to refine your goals and action points.

Personal development plans in job searching and interviews

Your personal development plan isn’t just for your current role, it can also be utilised when you're exploring new opportunities. Here are some ways that you can use your PDP to strengthen your job search:

• Use your PDP to identify skill gaps: Review your plan to spot any experience or skills you’re still developing. This can help you target the right roles, tailor your applications, and proactively upskill in key areas.

• Discuss your PDP in interviews: Mentioning your development plan in interviews demonstrates that you take ownership of your growth. You could share specific goals you’ve set, what you’ve learned, and how it’s influenced your career direction.

• Highlight development milestones on your resume and LinkedIn: Include completed courses, leadership experiences, or mentorships to demonstrate initiative.  Showcasing continuous improvement helps communicate your career momentum.

Your PDP is your career roadmap

Whether you're just starting out, navigating a transition, or aiming for leadership, a personal development plan will help you clarify your goals, focus your efforts, and stay accountable. By identifying where you want to grow and mapping out how to get there, you’re better equipped to make meaningful progress, respond to change, and take ownership of your development. 

For practical tips on setting meaningful goals and navigating the next step in your career, read our career goal setting blog and browse our latest career advice.