Individual Development Plan Kit

Help each person grow with a plan they own: a well-run development conversation, one to three clear goals, learning activities that mostly happen on the job, and a short review every quarter.

Who it is for

• Managers, shift leads and supervisors who want to help their people grow and keep good staff.

• Business owners who cannot offer a new title every year but still want people to see a future.

• Employees who want to plan their own development and bring a clear plan to their manager.

• HR professionals looking for one simple, consistent development plan for every team.

The problem it solves

Most development plans are a form completed once a year, full of vague goals such as "improve communication" and a list of courses nobody attends. They are forgotten by spring. This kit gives you a five-step process that works: both people prepare, the conversation follows a clear structure with words to use, each goal is written so you will both know when it is reached, the learning is planned with named helpers, and a 20-minute review each quarter keeps it moving.

What is inside

Individual Development Plan Kit (PDF, 22 pages)

• Copyright and License, contents and how to use the kit (2 pages)

• What a development plan is, and what it is not, with words used (1 page)

• Five steps from conversation to review, with time and who leads each step (1 page)

• Step 1: Prepare, both of you (1 page)

• Step 2: The development conversation, a 45-minute guide with what to say (1 page)

• Handling difficult moments in the conversation, with sample responses (1 page)

• Step 3: Write development goals with Do, With, To, from vague to clear (1 page)

• Twelve example goals for retail, clinics, restaurants, trades, offices and warehouses (1 page)

• Step 4: Plan the learning, with a menu of activities and low-cost ideas (1 page)

• Step 5: Review every quarter, including what to do when progress stalls (1 page)

• Variations for different people and workplaces, and growth without a new job title (1 page)

• Common mistakes and a 30-day plan for rolling out plans across a team (1 page)

• Templates with prompts: preparation worksheet, development plan part 1 (goals), part 2 (activities), quarterly review (4 pages)

• Complete filled-in example for a leasing coordinator at a property management office (4 pages)

Word templates (13 pages): a one-page conversation guide, all four templates with prompts, and the filled-in example.

How to use it

1. Give the employee the preparation worksheet a week before you meet.

2. Hold the 45-minute conversation using the guide.

3. The employee drafts one to three goals and the learning plan; finish it together.

4. Book the quarterly reviews before the meeting ends.

Formats and file types

• PDF (US Letter, print or screen), 22 pages

• Word document (.docx), 13 pages, opens in most word processors

• Licensed for use within your organization

• A development plan is not a disciplinary or performance improvement document. Follow your company policy and the rules for your location; this product is not legal or HR advice.

Frequently asked questions