Personal Development : Stage 2 ...Progress Measurement

To build and maintain momentum you need to be clear in your own mind what your motivations are. There is no point in aiming for something when you cannot appreciate or recognise when it has been achieved !

This leads to the Personal Rate Card. This will be used throughout the stages of your progress. It is not only your initial baseline, it will continue to baseline you at each stage of your progression and measure your Personal Value (PV).

 

To enable a robust measure of progress you need to know each of the steps and supporting personal attributes necessary to achieve your aspirations. Remember these attributes, as with any target, need to be stretching but achievable.

 

In the example below

 

i) Draw out where you want to be and the promotional steps to get there.

ii) Outline the attributes required for the position (take a steer from those already in position).

iii) Map out your current attributes at each stage

iv) Draw out the Action Areas to Progress to the next level. Once achieved these then become the Current Attributes at the next level.

 

Therefore as you progress at each stage your Action Areas to Progress should be more challenging. Do this and you will become more self motivated, improve your personal attributes and hopefully achieve the position you aspire to.

 

Progress Phasing	Attributes Required	Current Attributes	Actions Areas to Progress	Success Criteria	Achievement Own View	Achievement Referred
Baseline		Commercial Interpersonal Skills Assertive	Leadership People skills Confident Competitive
Team Manager	Leadership People skills Interpersonal Assertive Confident Commercial Competitive	Leadership People skills Assertive	Direction setting Political High level	Promotion Recognition Greater Responsibility Decisive
Unit Manager	Strategic Leadership People Skills Direction Confident High Level Political Competitive	Political Competitive		Setting strategies   Centre of politics   Giving direction
Department Head	Pragmatism High level Analytical Strategic Leadership
Head of Division

 

As you are developing your attributes you need must begin using these to help progress your journey. If you do not progress in line with your personal development you will not use the attributes to full effect and may become disillusioned and fall off the trajectory. 

PV is an assessment tool of progress against your personal aspirations. To make this effective it is important that throughout you honestly appraise your strengths and weaknesses as well as counsel other around you on their views. It is better to recognise these yourself than to have others point out a different and perhaps more accurate viewpoint.

You will gain greater respect from those around you if you openly recognise your strengths and weaknesses.

Recognising your qualities and attributes is just as important and absolutely key; as is the ability to know when to use these to full effect.

Do not disregard your personal qualities. These are what define you and how you are defined by others. We all have excellent qualities in one way or another and these should always be used to your advantage in your progression.  Regardless of the positions you attain in life continue to nurture your qualities. Dilution of these could lead to dilution of progress.

If you are not perceived in the right way, people will not invest in YOU the brand and the lack of a supporting network will only serve to undermine and inhibit progress. Encourage feedback from those around you; peer groups and management in a business environment and family, friends and community colleagues in a social environment. Take all points on board and make the necessary changes. This will be your brand. As you establish the brand you must ensure it remains valid and recognisable in the environments in which you move.
 

Corporates counsel share-holders, if they take the advice on board and make change to progress they will continue to have investment.

 

 If good advice is ignored and there is a negative impact the investors move elsewhere.
 

Without the investment, the brand is diminished, so maintain the value of your stock!