Your Individual Development Plan
To the extent that any of your career goals involve acquiring some new skills
or expertise, an IDP will be very helpful. Using the attached IDP form, begin
drafting your plan by incorporating the goals you formulated on the "Determine
Goals and Targets and Identify Obstacles" form and the relevant actions
from the "Identify Methods for Accomplishing Your Goals and Achieving
Your Targets" form. In selecting actions, try to achieve a balance between
formal training activities (e.g., courses, seminars) and other kinds of learning
experiences (e.g., work assignments, books). Also, include realistic timeframes
for completing your actions.
Individual Development Plan Forms
Various Individual Development Plan formats have been developed by different
organizations. No standard format exists, and you should discuss with your
mentor which format is best for you. Any IDP should include:
* Goals - both near-term and long-term
* Actions
* Timeframe for completing your actions
The formats (all in Microsoft Word) shown here were developed by:
* GSFC Financial and Resources Management
* Project Management Development Emprise
* Project Management Development Process PMDP/IDP
Your Supervisor's Role
Your supervisor is in an excellent position to support your development in
several ways by:
* Providing feedback on your performance in your current job and identify
your strengths and areas for improvement
* Acting as a mentor and coach
* Representing the organization's needs, goals and opportunities
* Letting you know what is happening around your Installation and within NASA
* Helping assess your advancement potential and your qualifications for other
positions
* Acting as a resource and referral for exploring your options
* Supporting your training and development, providing training opportunities
and funding if related to NASA's mission
