This Is Why Professionals Fail at Career Development Planning

This Is Why Professionals Fail at Career Development PlanningThis Is Why Professionals Fail at Career Development Planning2Career development planning is crucial for job seekers and young professionals. Most people look for companies that offer professional development. The 2014 Global Workforce Study by Willis Towers Watson found that career advancement opportunities are among the top driving forces for employees, according to mora than 32,000 respondents.So what can you do when these options arent available with your employer or you are stuckverzierung between jobs? Many people try to create their own career plans, but they fail.Heres why your career development planning falls apartMost of us lack a sense of self-awareness.Self-awareness is about developing a deeper understanding about why you feel a certain way, how you behave in particular circumstances, and picking up on what truly motivates you. Most people fail to cultivate this and start career development planning that falls flat.Why? Because they either make a plan they cant execute since they dont know how they work best, or because they cant identify what they want to change about themselves to make progress.Solution Develop a sense of self-awareness by defining your goals and values before making a plan. Similar to how you need a destination during a trip, you also need a starting point.So how does one become more self-aware? It requires some minor changes that will have major results. Perform self-awareness exercises.Journaling, for instance, is a great habit to form. It encourages you to document everything, so when you are looking at little things like snacks you eat or those little thoughts that pop up, you may notice some trends worth fixing.For example, if you tend to engage in negative self-talk, you notice that you may be hindering your own sense of confidence. And that may lead to unhealthy snacking. You can uncover a lot about yourself when you record your habits and review them.Review yo urself in a professional way. Step outside of your head and consider what your managers, colleagues, and peers might suggest that you could improve on. Its a thought experiment, not a pity party or a distribution policy to beat yourself up. This can be productive because you consider other peoples perspectives of you.It doesnt account for uncertainty.Every trip has a destination. You need a target to aim for from the get-go. To start career development planning, define what, where, and who you want to be.Once you do this, you can do some gap analysis- a look at the qualifications and skills you need to reach that target. Break down each aspect and create a strategy that involves uncertainty. Most people forget to factor in reality- the fact that obstacles emerge and unforeseen circumstances arise more than anyone can expect.Solution Make a flexible plan that includes several alternative paths in case a few fall through.For example, if you need a certification, research several busin esses that are accredited and offer the training you need. Imagine what would happen if you didnt get accepted to a few of these programs. Do you quit? Of course not. You should have several others to apply to.In short, be prepared with a plan B, C, and D.Goals arent SMART.A lot of people dont make goals clear, measurable, or realistic. Even worse, they dont assign deadlines. SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound) are more than just a trendy buzz term- its a goal-setting technique that is very effective.It forces you to hone in on specific ideas and to assign a deadline. How can you feel accountable and driven by a vague goal you have bouncing around your head?Solution Write your goals and keep them visible. Its one of the best ways to be successful.A 2015 Dominican University of California study found that more than 70 percent of the participants who sent weekly updates to friends reported successful goal achievement, compared to 35 percent of tho se who kept their goals to themselves without writing them down.Use visualization techniques and consistently perform it as a habit. When you can run through a fully imagined thought experiment about what success will look and feel like, you will maintain a high level of motivation and persevere through all the tough obstacles you are bound to encounter.Communities, like a professional organization or social group, are great resources. Join one so you can surround yourself with ambitious people to stay motivated. You will even hold yourself accountable to them, as well as yourself, when you openly discuss your plans.Setbacks often derail everything.Believe it or not, you cant just walk onto a basketball court and slam dunk like Michael Jordan. You wont publish the next Harry Potter on your first submission. And your dreams of running a marathon will trip at the starting line if you think you can do it in a day.Setbacks happen, and too many people quit and spiral into negative self t alk. They also dont factor in the hours of blood, sweat, and tears it takes to achieve a goal.Solution Look at these setbacks not as failures, but as learning opportunities. Adopt a growth mindset, where you understand that talents and abilities can be developed through effort and persistence.Setbacks dont make you dumb. They dont prove youre destined to fail. They give you a chance to consider what went wrong and how to better execute the task next time.Seek out feedback from people you respect and trust. Take notes and review what stands out as a common recurring piece of advice. For example, if you failed to land a big sale, write down what others notice and what you notice could have been improved.Finally, let go and move on.Find more job search tips here.Readers, which career development planning pitfall have you encountered? How do you plan your career development strategy?Mike Moradian is the executive director of HonorSociety.org, an honor society that recognizes academic ac hievement and provides valuable resources and tools to its members. Connect with Mike and HonorSociety.org on Twitter at HonorSocietyorg.