🧭 7 Steps to Design and Development Plan That Actually Moves Your Career Forward
Stop waiting for your company to define your path and start designing your own.
CONTEXT
Most Individual Development Plans (IDPs) gather digital dust.
They're often treated as a box-ticking exercise, filled with vague goals and disconnected from real growth. But a good IDP can be a powerful tool. Not just for career progression, but for clarity, confidence, and conversations that matter.
Gallup found that employees who strongly agree they’ve had meaningful performance conversations are 4x more likely to be engaged. A thoughtful IDP can be your roadmap to make those conversations productive and personal.
That’s why an Individual Development Plan (IDP) is so valuable. Not as a corporate formality, but as a tool for self-alignment. Whether you’re trying to get promoted, shift industries, or feel more energized day-to-day, an IDP can help you take ownership of your growth.
METHODOLOGY: The 7 Building Blocks of a Powerful IDP
🪞Start with Reflection
What season of life are you in? What are you optimizing for: income, impact, learning, flexibility?
Pro tip: Use the 4-lens framework (job, career, vocation, hobby) to guide this step.🔍 Get Clear on Strengths & Gaps
Use feedback, performance reviews, or even a skills inventory to identify what’s working and what’s holding you back. Consider your personality as well. If you want to explore it further, check out Natascha's post "Team Personality Tests" where you can find many tests to choose from.🎯 Set One Clear North Star Goal
Choose a 6–12 month goal that aligns with your reflection. Make it specific and motivating.
Example: “Become a people manager,” “Ship a solo product,” “Build cross-functional influence,” "Transition to a different area".🧩 Break It Down into Focus Areas
What 2–3 skills or experiences do you need to get there?
Think: stakeholder management, storytelling, technical depth.📝 List Tangible Actions
Link each focus area to a habit, project, or stretch opportunity.
Example: Join customer calls, lead a retrospective, mentor a junior teammate.🤝 Define Support Systems
Who can help? A manager, mentor, or peer? Set check-ins and ask for feedback.
Remember: Accountability turns goals into progress.🔁 Review Quarterly
Treat your IDP like a living document. Revisit it every 3 months. Adjust as needed.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
An IDP won’t solve all your career questions. But it will create clarity and forward momentum.
In a world of shifting roles and fuzzy job titles, intentionality is your superpower.
As Gilbert might put it: your job may change, your career may zigzag, but your growth is yours to design.
Career clarity doesn’t come from waiting for your next performance cycle. It comes from taking ownership. An IDP isn’t about chasing a title. It’s about designing work that moves you closer to who you want to become.
Your job may change, your career may zigzag, but your growth is yours to design.
So ask yourself: “Where do you want to grow next and what’s the first step to get there?”
Let us know! We’d love to hear how you're approaching your development and what has worked for you!
📚RESOURCES SHOUT OUT
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert