Background
Mack B has taken a new job that requires using some of the more advanced capabilities of an electronic spreadsheet program. In his former job, he used the same program every day, but never had to use anything but its most basic functionality. He is unfamiliar with the advanced features. He recognizes he must quickly get up to speed on these advanced features so that he can excel in his new position.
Initial Development Plan
1. Title
Learn advanced features of Excel. |
2. Purpose
To be proficient in my new job, I need to be able to set up formulas and perform complex calculations in Excel. Knowing how to use this and other advanced features will make me more valuable as my department's resource for data analysis. |
3. Measures
For each analysis I'm assigned, track the time it takes to complete the job. |
4. Actions and Due Dates
Take the intermediate course in Excel. |
Complete by May 31. |
5. Support
6. Follow Up
Update the plan on May 31, after completing the above actions. |
Notes on the Development Plan
This is a straightforward development plan. Mack B lacks certain technical knowledge required to do his job proficiently. He plans to take a course that teaches him to do what he currently cannot do.
Because this plan is so straightforward, is it necessary to have a written plan at all? Can Mack B not just go ahead and do the obvious - take the course and learn what he needs to learn? Probably. However, it should be noted that the process he follows for this simple development plan is the same process employees would follow for more complex development needs. And the same principle applies here as it does to the more complex situations: If behavior does not change, development has not occurred.
A Month Later
Having completed the course, Mack B wants to make sure he successfully "transfers" what he learned back to his job. Sitting in front of his computer, how can he make sure he properly and efficiently applies what was taught in the course to his analytical work?
This raises the very useful point that there are two types of development actions: (a) "backstage" actions where you learn about the skill you are trying to develop and (b) "live" actions where you actually do something different on the job to put the new skill to work. Mack B has completed his "backstage" action. Now he needs to go "live."
Here are some of the "live" actions he initiates:
4. Actions and Due Dates
Use formulas for every analytical job. Avoid doing calculations manually. |
Ongoing |
Keep list of formulas and definitions (cheat sheet) at workstation. |
Ongoing |
Learn shortcuts by keeping in touch with classmates from intermediate course. |
Ongoing |
6. Follow Up
Continue tracking time required to complete analytical jobs. Set improvement targets. |
Notes on the Updated Plan
Here is where it would be useful to have a written plan. Writing down your plan forces you to think about how you are going to apply new learnings on the job. It is easy to say you will take a course to learn how to do formulas in Excel. What is not so obvious is what you will do differently after the course to begin using formulas in your day-to-day work. Writing out your plan helps. It helps you think of ways to apply what you have learned. It also serves as a reminder after the course itself begins to fade in your memory.
Mack B has added three actions to his plan: disciplining himself to use the formula feature and not perform calculations manually, keeping a cheat sheet of formulas and their definitions for handy reference, and keeping in touch with classmates from the course to trade information about shortcuts and other useful techniques.
He also updates the Follow Up section of his plan. He will turn his measure into a kind of scoreboard and set targets for improving his proficiency.
