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Personal Development Planning

A Personal Development Plan (PDP) is intended as a tool for you and your reviewer to share as part of

an on-going dialogue to support your development at the University. The document may be a useful

basis for one-to-one discussions with your line manager or reviewer. Personal Development Planning is

used in leadership and management development programmes across the University, whilst some

individuals use a PDP framework on an informal basis to shape a structured approach to their own

development.

Unlike performance review, which focuses on your performance in your current role, a Personal

Development Plan focusses more on the individual as a whole and provides an opportunity for you to

reflect on your own personal and career aspirations, (which could be within your current role or moving

beyond it, to consider other opportunities).

Personal development planning is a systematic approach to continuously develop your skills and to

identify and address both short and long-term development goals. Realistic and sensible planning will

ensure that you have the necessary skills and knowledge when opportunities to progress or develop

arise.

The PDP process is designed to help you reflect on the qualities you feel are your strengths, along with

those areas you would like to focus your development upon. We encourage you to be honest and to

challenge yourself to find the right development options for you in your role. You may also want to keep

in mind the wider context at the University and general trends in the Higher Education sector.

How to create your personal development plan:

We have provided a PDP Form as a framework for you to construct your Personal Development Plan. In

conjunction with this you may wish to use the PDP Model illustrated below as a framework to help you

construct your plan.

We encourage you to think about all four areas of the model, including job-specific aspects, so that you

can be sure you have considered a full range of capabilities when designing your Personal Development

Plan. Look to identify options which are challenging but achievable and that will benefit you, your

Department/School and the broader University.

Remember to consider any personal or professional development that you are currently undertaking or

have already planned. This will help you to balance the right development options that fit your needs in

your career at this moment in time.

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PDP Model:

Individual Organisational

Self-awareness, organisation & presentation

- Taking responsibility for the impact of your

personal style

- Assertiveness & confidence

- Development of a network of peer-mentors

- Managing time, making decisions and

addressing problems

Respecting people, their needs & perspectives

- Giving & receiving feedback

- Handling issues effectively

- Embedding values of equality, diversity &

inclusivity practices into every day experiences

Taking responsibility for learning & development

- Adapting to change

- Willingness to see beyond the immediate

- Willingness to try new and different approaches

Understanding own and others’ role in relation

to work in the University

- Knowledge of own role within the organization

- Representing the University

- Understanding priorities of other people and

departments

Working within Higher Education

- Knowledge of the wider context in Higher

Education

- Knowledge of University strategy

Embedding Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity

across the University

- Knowledge & application of equality, diversity &

inclusivity policies

- Involvement in developing an inclusive culture

Leadership & Teamwork Technical / Professional

Flexibility in leadership style, adaptable to

context & people

- Acquiring skills to coach and support the

development of colleagues

- Influencing across and influencing upwards

- Managing conflict

- Developing a work environment which promotes

equality, diversity & inclusivity

Developing a learning culture / environment

- Communicating expectations

- Sharing, collaboration and interaction

- Supporting peers

- Understanding and managing the impact of

change on self and others

Encouraging curiosity & creativity

- Working across structural boundaries

For example, professional qualifications and job

related skills and capabilities.

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Your PDP plan may include:

Short term goals

To meet your immediate needs

Medium term goals

To meet the changing needs of your role and to equip you for the future

Long term goals

To meet your longer-term career objectives

It is important to keep it up to date and to review your PDP - to check your progress, see whether you

are happy with the development opportunities provided and to set future targets / adapt the targets you

already have. A personal development plan should be flexible and will be adapted by you over time, as

your expectations, perspectives, challenges and experience change.

Who provides the development?

There may be scope for you to develop your current role to incorporate additional areas of responsibility,

which satisfy your career development aspirations. However, this may not always be practicable or

appropriate. Undertaking a PDP will help you identify training and development activities to enable you to

apply for other roles within the University, or beyond it as well as considering your current training needs.

These training needs will then be considered by your School / Department in conjunction with the wider

team. Requests will be considered in relation to the operational needs of your role, the needs of the

wider team and the resources available.

Examples on the types of development that may be available are provided in Development Activities.