Have you ever heard someone say they have a five-year plan? Maybe you laughed and thought, “I barely think about tomorrow, let alone five years from now.” But listen up, sis, if you don’t take control of what the future looks like, who will? Now is the time to put a plan in motion that will set you up for success in the future. For September’s Self-Improvement Month, let’s harness the power of creating a personal growth plan.
The Benefits of a Personal Growth Plan
A personal growth plan can have a significant positive impact on your personal development. The forethought and detail you include in a plan make it a powerful tool for self-improvement.
How To Create Your Plan
A personal growth plan will only work if it reflects your personal goals and desires. So, start with self-reflection. Take an honest look in the mirror to assess your strengths and weaknesses. A little self-assessment can go a long way in your goal-setting journey. What you learn will help you identify self-improvement opportunities.
Develop SMART Goals
The best way to execute goal setting exercises is with the SMART format. Using the SMART format, you’ll give yourself a clear path to self-improvement.
- (S) Specific: Begin by writing a specific goal; it clearly articulates an expected outcome and may even include a few action steps.
- (M) Measurable: Write the outcome with a clear success metric that indicates your target. Think of a number you want to reach or a percent increase/decrease you want to achieve.
- (A) Achievable: Be realistic about your expected results. Stretch goals can be motivating, but unrealistic goals can be discouraging. Your realistic goal indicates a baseline you identified in the self-assessment and a paced improvement strategy.
- (R) Relevant: Make sure your goal is relevant. It should align with your purpose.
- (T) Timely: Finally, assign an expected completion date for each goal. A deadline makes the goal time-bound, which creates accountability and a clear indicator of progress.
Support Goal Setting with An Action Plan
Within your personal development plan, you should include an action plan with each goal. Your concisely written goal gives a big-picture overview of what you want to achieve. However, if you add more detail, you will know the step-by-step actions required to achieve those goals.
- List activities you will do in relation to each goal
- Include the frequency for which you will engage in the activities
- If necessary, give each action its own success metric that supports progress toward the goal completion
Set Purpose-Driven Goals Rooted in Passion
As you complete the goal setting process, do a little self-reflection on your purpose—why do you do what you do? Your personal goals must align with your purpose. Subsequently, your action plan should reflect your passions so you will feel motivated by what you do.
Progress Tracking
The metrics don’t lie. Measurement is included with your personal growth plan to ensure accountability to yourself and your personal goals. So, stay committed to progress tracking, sis.
At defined and specific intervals, you will complete progress tracking. At a minimum, commit to assessing progress quarterly. During these check-in points, you will consider how your action plan indicates your progress. Check the progress on each metric you have set.
- Are you completing the activities you outlined in your step-by-step action plan?
- Have you met any mini milestones?
- What is your progress toward the goal’s defined measurement?
Your answers motivate you to keep going. If you’re making positive advances toward your goal – celebrate. If your goal is proving harder than expected, consider making adjustments.
Celebrate the Self-Improvement Journey
When your goal-setting is complete, it will be your turn to boast about your five-year plan. Just remember to stay nimble in life’s uncontrollable circumstances. There will be bumps along the way—give yourself grace. Self-improvement is within reach, but it takes time. Adjust action items in your plan as needed, but take accountability for achieving your goals. Along the way, remember to celebrate your progress.
Self-improvement is a journey. Your personal development plan is the roadmap to get you there. It’s time to shape your future through deliberate and thoughtful personal development.
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