“At the start of the year, I intended to think about a personal development plan, but I realize that this mainly involves changes in attitudes and behavior… and I don’t know where to start. What do you suggest? » – Brigitte
As Brigitte observes, the most crucial and daring development needs are often linked to the desire to make lasting changes in one’s ways of being and doing. Perhaps this means gaining confidence to showcase your potential or becoming more assertive to gain respect. It can also mean better work-life balance.
Initiating and sustaining personal or professional change on your own is difficult. You only have to think about your own experience (diet, fitness, time management) to be convinced of this. We all carry with us a certain immunity or resistance, admitted or not, to our own change. We are faced with a dynamic of self-protection which largely escapes us and which can constantly bring us back to the initial situation that we created and chose, because deep down, it suits us well. Overcoming this immunity requires putting in place certain conditions that could benefit Brigitte.
Target your intentions
Most professional development efforts are triggered by some job-related dissatisfaction or frustration. We may be tempted to try to correct our weaknesses, but we must also know how to focus on developing our strengths. You have to take the time to think and prioritize what you really want or need to change. It is important to first articulate why this need is important. By taking on the challenge of pushing your limits beyond your current capabilities, what do you gain? Let us not hesitate to seek feedback from trusted people who know us well and who observe us on a daily basis. They can help us target and specify behavioral changes likely to make a real difference in our performance or in our relationships.
Transform your needs into goals
First, you must limit yourself to one or two objectives at a time touching on the most important aspects to change. A goal gives a natural direction to follow, a target to achieve, and provides motivation. Setting realistic goals is extremely important. Giving yourself a defined period for achieving the objective also makes it possible to determine progress and measure results. A three-month period is attractive and often optimal, because it allows enough time to make tangible progress while remaining concrete and specific. But it depends on the nature of the goal, of course.
Really commit
Even when our intentions are clear and noble, it can be difficult to have the will and perseverance. Many individuals do not have a sufficient sense of urgency about their development priorities or have set their goals too vaguely and superficially. To change, you must have the motivation to resolutely engage in a process of change. To maintain this motivation, it is best to focus on small results with short-term targets to give yourself confidence and persevere.
Make your commitment visible
It can help to present your development goals to others. Knowing that others are aware of your change commitments is certainly a great way to hold yourself accountable and stay motivated or engaged. It’s then harder to back down or give up. Create a circle of trust made up of two or three collaborators with whom we work closely to seek ways to improve and motivational support. Finding a person who shares a similar need or objective and making them a partner in your change process in a spirit of co-development is also a very useful practice.
Focus on regularity and consistency
We must see self-change as a process. Keep your attention on the objective, be stubborn, even passionate about the change undertaken. Success requires being active and intentional about your own development. We must be aware that change requires practice or repetition and that practice takes time. All of this requires patience and perseverance, because short-term behavioral alterations should not be confused with self-change that requires a new way of thinking and being.
Celebrate small victories
Personal and professional change is rarely linear and in continuous progression as is often believed. Rather, it is a journey of ups and downs, false starts and new beginnings. We must therefore carefully note our progress, our small victories. You have to know how to reward yourself. Celebrating is also a useful practice and, when persisted, well deserved.