Professional development plan: goals, motivation, and implementation steps

Professional Development Plan: Goals and the Motivation to Achieve Them The three main goals of my professional development plan (PDP) are to acquire the practical skills needed to problem-solve, to acquire the ability to think critically and communicate so as to promote positive change, and to develop strong leadership skills so as to be an expert in the field of leadership. The motivation to achieve the first goal is that problem-solving is a big part of being a business leader, as there are always new challenges and issues that arise; to address them well, one must be able to identify and address these problems without fail. The motivation to achieve the second goal is that unless one can think critically, i.e., gather the relevant information and assess it, one will not be able to accomplish the first goal of problem-solving. The motivation to achieve the third goal is that to succeed in the first two goals and to implement change effectively, one must be able to lead others and to communicate the reasons for change; the greater the expertise I have developed on this front, the better situated I will be to maintain a high level of leadership throughout my career.

Steps to Take The steps I intend to take to accomplish the first goal of being able to problem-solve include developing my patience and taking control of my emotions. When problems arise, emotions can quickly interfere and prevent one from addressing the problem logically and rationally (Di Leo, Muis, Singh & Psaradellis, 2019). Thus, to prevent that from happening, I need to engage in emotion control, which can be done by by expressing oneself creatively so as to work out the feelings we have in a positive way (Fancourt, Garnett, Spiro, West & Mullensiefen, 2019). When the feelings start to get out of hand, it is time to process them so that they are not getting in the way of solving problems. I can write a poem, or draw a picture to vent out some of the feelings. I can make music, or build something. The point is to regulate the emotions by bringing them into order. Instead of creating, I could even simply expose myself to a dramatic work of art that can help me to purge negative emotions through the process of catharsis (Bing & Kim, 2021). Thus instead of reacting in an emotional way to a problem, I can face it calmly and with reason. By clearing out the emotions, I can make sure my mind is free of impediments, and this will help me to face problems better while also addressing one of my main weaknesses discerned in my personal SWOT analysis. Making art more central to my life is therefore a big step I will take to help me achieve this first of my goals.
For the second goal, the steps I intend to take include engaging in logic problems to help me build up my critical thinking skills. There are many resources to choose from in this regard. There are also many games that can help, according to CommonSense.org. the game Quandary, for example, is one that helps people apply ethical decision-making to problems that do not have simply solutions (CommonSense, 2021). Another game that comes recommended is Think Like Churchill, which is described as “an excellent tool for studying the events and ethics that guide pivotal moments in history” (CommonSense, 2021). The point of playing these games and engaging in these exercises is that it helps to orient the mind and will towards identifying the problem, obtaining information, sorting the information for relevancy, and applying the right solution. To help in this step, another thing I need to do is work on defining my worldview, so that I know the framework that I apply to things when things go wrong. If I do not know how it is I actually see the world, it can be a bias when I attempt to think critically about what is going on. I need to define the way I see things so that I am aware of what mental blocks or biases I may be falling prey to.
The steps I intend to take to achieve the third goal include spending more time listening to others and asking for help from mentors. Not knowing when to stay quiet and not asking for help are two of my weaknesses according to my personal SWOT analysis, and they prevent me from becoming a great leader. Leaders listen a lot and also ask for help when they need it (Van Quaquebeke & Felps, 2018). To facilitate in this step, I can use my Personal Learning Network (PLN) as a resource for when I have questions and also to practice listening. There are many people in my PLN who have a lot of experience as a leader and who can offer me a lot of great insight if I am willing to reach out and listen. I intend to reach out with some of the questions I have to start developing my willingness to contact a mentor, listen and learn. Using Technology Obviously, technology is going to be a big part of the promotion of the completion of my goals. It is relevant to each of the three goals. For instance, in the first goal, the steps I need to take including working on my patience and sorting through my emotions so that they do not get in the way of problem-solving. One way I decided I can do this is by seeking a cathartic experience, and I can do this by watching a film that has a reputation for producing the cathartic effect. Thanks to various platforms like Netflix or HBO Max, I can watch a film or show wherever I am on my mobile device. Or I can listen to a piece of cathartic music, such as a symphony by Beethoven or Brahms. I can use Spotify to bring up music like this and I can listen to it while I am at work to help me sort out my feelings. Taking the time to do this will increase my patience, too, as it means I have to sit back for a few minutes and process what I am filling with the help of some creative material that I can bring up on my phone. Therefore, technology will help me to achieve my first goal.
It will also be a part of my plan to achieve my second goal. After all, I highlighted the need to engage in critical-thinking development by playing games like Think Like Churchill, which is something I can do online. Without digital tools like this, it would be harder for me to work on critical thinking development, as I am constantly on the goal and do not have a lot of time to look up print material. The Internet offers a lot of options of this nature, which will allow me to hop on and hop off as time permits. I can save progress or simply pick up a new challenge when I am able. They can be short or long, but the point is that I have the technological means to access these critical-thinking games to help me become better in this department.
Finally, I can use technology for the third goal, especially when it comes to seeking out mentors and listening to what they have to say. That is why I developed my PLN using social media platforms, after all. MotivationHub on YouTube is a great channel for giving me access to inspiring lessons from other leaders that I can listen to while I am driving to and from work. This will also help me to build my emotional capital, so that I can be better developed emotionally speaking (Cardon, Huang & Power, 2019). Additionally, The Startup Chat on Facebook is a great place to go for contacting others in the field of business who have been there and done that. There is a lot of sharing and learning that goes on in that chat room, and I look forward to listening to what others have to say there. Without these technological tools and social media platforms, I would be hard-pressed to find real-world mentors who can give me the insight I need and answer the different questions I have from time to time. How These Steps Reflect Consideration of Personal Strengths and Weaknesses A key strength of mine is that I work well under pressure. Some people crumble, due to bad emotions, when the going gets tough. For me, I thrive on that pressure. So this is a strength I can use when the situations become tense. It also means that I do not have to worry about taking a few moments during these times to relax and process the emotions so as to be able to get back to work in a more logical and rational way. I can pop on some music on Spotify or set an hour or two aside to watch a film that can help me have a cathartic experience, or I can tinker with a building project to help me get out some feelings. Because I work well under pressure, I will not be overwhelmed by taking time for this, as I know that when I get back to work I will have the stamina and drive to finish things on time. The one weakness I have to be on the lookout for is the emotional one. When I am feeling drained or without passion, it is time for me to step back and do something creative or expose myself to some creative works of art. This will help give me the fuel and support to get back on track.
Another one of my strengths is that I have a strong tendency towards investigative skills, which means I am good at researching and have a strong attention to detail. This is very important for me, as it will help me in my critical thinking development as I work on my second goal. This will help me as I engage in my critical thinking development games and pay attention to the issues and details that will help me sort through the relevant data and make good decisions. My big weakness that might come into play here is that I do not always manage time well, and games can become addictive. I have to be sure to give myself a maximum time allowance for playing these games, even if they are meant to build my skills because I still have work to do and a life outside of work that I have to maintain.
Finally, communication is a strength of mine, and this will help me when I go to seek out answers from mentors in my PLN. I will be able to communicate effectively what it is I am going through and what I want to know. I will be able to bring others into the discussion because I am good at connecting with people in this way—so there are no worries on that front. The only weakness that relates to this issue is that I sometimes talk too much and do not always ask for help when I need it. I need to remember to listen once my question has been asked and allow others to provide their perspective on things so that I can ruminate on that input. I also have to remember to be humble and if I feel like I am butting up against a wall it means it is time to turn to my PLN for guidance and information. Timeline The timeline I expect to use for completion of my goals is based on my one-year development plan. I think a year of focusing on building these skills is a good timeline for growing, changing and cementing that change. Therefore, for my first goal, I am focusing on starting the habit of incorporating cathartic art into my life by building up a library of go-to sources that I can use. Within three months time I want my library to be extensive. At the same time, I want to have a chest of four games that I can go to for developing my critical thinking skills. By the halfway point, i.e., six months, I also aim to have made contact with 12 different PLN sources who can help me in my mentoring needs.