“How do I reduce turnover in my organization?”
“Why do I keep losing my best team members to the competition?”
“How do I grow the skills I need to inspire and guide my team?”
As a leader in a manufacturing organization, questions like these might weigh on your mind every day. But you might struggle to find solutions to problems like these or feel like you lack the skills to elevate your team to the next level of success.
It’s Time for a PDP
This is where a personal development plan comes into play! A personal development plan, or PDP, is a strategic framework that outlines your goals, actions, and milestones toward self-improvement. A PDP essentially acts as your roadmap to success, and provides a structured way to approach your goals. A PDP is a valuable tool for leaders, managers, coaches, or anyone else who wants an organized method for setting and achieving goals.
Building Your PDP
To create your own PDP, the first step is assessing yourself. Think about your strengths, weakness, what you want to accomplish, and what skills you want to learn or improve. Don’t be afraid to take plenty of time to reflect, especially if you’re new to self-reflection.
Once you’ve evaluated yourself as a leader, you’ll have the foundation for setting meaningful goals. When setting goals as part of your PDP, be sure to focus on actionable, measurable goals. Instead of simply saying “I want to reduce turnover,” set a specific metric you can review at a later point.
When setting your goals, you should also break them down into steps. There are many small steps you need to take to reach a larger goal, and outlining them in your PDP can make your path feels manageable and actionable. Like with your larger goal, each step should involve something measurable, like mastering a new skill or gaining a certification.
Embrace Constant Learning
Once you’re assessed yourself and set your actionable goals, you can use your PDP to follow the road to success. However, improving yourself can be a lifelong process. You might make mistakes or encounter roadblocks along the way. At some point, you might even realize you need to take yourself in a fresh direction. Even with a PDP, you should always be willing to learn and adapt.
While pursuing the goals outlined in your PDP, you should also find time to reflect and evaluate. At various points in your plan, like when you complete a step toward your goal, take a pause and think about what you’re learned so far. You might also consider getting feedback on how progress so far or where you can still improve.
By embracing lifelong learning and the courage to change, you’ll open yourself up to even more ways you can change your behavior, grow your skills, and find success.
At Manufacturing Greatness, Trevor Blondeel works with manufacturers to connect the top to the shop floor. If you’re ready to improve your own organization, contact Trevor to learn how Manufacturing Greatness can help you build stronger leaders and develop a dynamic, high-performing workplace.