IDP: Introduction

The beginning of the year is often a time of renewed focused on planning and growth.  When it comes to career development, the Individual Development Plan, or IDP, is my preferred tool for documenting that plan.  Back in Episode 002, I introduced the concept and named the various components of an IDP and what type of information you include in them.  For the next few episodes, I will be taking a deeper dive into the IDP.  If you would like to follow along and create your own IDP as this series progresses, I have an IDP template available if you reach out to me via the Contact Form on ManagingACareer.com.

The Individual Development Plan is a roadmap for your career.  If you think about planning a road trip the first thing you usually do is figure out where you want to go.  After that, you look at what routes are available and choose which one you will take.  Next you determine in which cities along the way that you might want to visit some of the local attractions or where you need to book a hotel.  Basically, you start with the big picture and break it down into smaller and smaller pieces of the trip.

The IDP follows a similar flow.  The beginning of the document is the Vision Statement which represents the end destination of the plan.  The Roadmap section covers what the various stops will be along the way.  The Action Plan is similar to which roads you will take.  Together, they set your course and keep you focused on the things you need to achieve to ensure that you stay on track for your career.

Beyond anything, the most important aspect of the document is that it’s for YOU.  It's your career and the plan should be in alignment with YOUR goals.  And when those goals change, you should update your IDP.  Every job you take, every promotion you get, every work assignment you accept should be evaluated against your IDP and how those changes help you get one step closer to your destination.  If they don't provide some benefit that helps you along your career path, you should consider turning them down.

If you haven't put thought into your career plan, whether formally documented in an IDP or not, you can still progress, but that progression will often be dictated by the company you work for.  I usually describe this as having your career happen TO you.  It can still be considered a successful career, but it is usually much less fulfilling with a lower level of job satisfaction.  Also, if your personal investment is low, you will likely reach a plateau earlier in your career.

If an IDP is the most important tool for career advancement, the second most important resource for success is to have a network of people who support your growth.  As you talk with your manager, your mentor, or your career champions, be sure to communicate with them the content of your IDP.  By knowing your goals, when they encounter opportunities that match up with those goals, they can make you aware of them.  As covered in Episode 013 - A Little Bit of Luck, I subscribe to the Seneca quote that luck is when preparation meets opportunity.  If you have been working the Action Plan in your IDP and your strong network can bring those opportunities to you, you will be in the best position to take advantage of that luck.  Review Episode 029 - Building A Network for ways to find those champions.

This episode, we've taken a look at what the IDP is and why it should be important to you.  In the next few episodes, I will be taking a look at each of the sections and giving some insights into how to fill them out.  If you have questions about the IDP, please reach out to me via the Contact Form on ManagingACareer.com and I will try to answer them as part of this series.