In the corporate environment of the 21st century, the successful professionals have some very distinct characteristics:
* They have the quality of "Interdependence": they are independently motivated, and widely connected through personal and professional networking relationships.
* They are focused on developing their leadership and communication skills and empowering those around them.
* They create a learning environment and a growth oriented organizational culture, leading to adaptive, successful and productive organizations.
In order to attract and retain such independent and capable employees, organizations must develop a culture of growth and agility and position themselves to meet the challenges of a highly competitive global market.
“If it is to be, it is up to me” – Neal Whitten
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." – Thomas Edison
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life” - Confucius
When we talk of self-directed career development, it is important to realize that career development is not something that happens to you, it is what you make of life! A career development plan is a written listing of the short- and long-term goals of a worker pertaining to the current and future jobs. It is a planned sequence of formal and informal experiences to assist the worker in achieving their goals - should be linked to the person’s potential. Career development plans are usually optional; but employers should encourage that all employees develop them, so that their long-term career expectations are realistic and in line with their industry and company's objectives.
Working through your life and career without a plan is like driving around town without a map, or a destination in mind. Drifting through life is not an option in these times of severe global competition, economic uncertainty and shifting geopolitical forces. We have to be cognizant of our direction and focus and make conscious choices for laying the foundation of the rest of our personal and professional life! A self-directed career development plan is the roadmap to success!
An interesting and sensitized topic Sarah has touched upon. Self-Directed Career Development, as she said, is greatly an option available to the employee and cannot be mandated. But at the same time, a disciplined and career oriented employee is going to be an asset for the organization, therefore it is interest of the organization to facilitate and promote personal career planning. HR Department and senior executives could provide mentoring and counselling to employees to ensure employees are groomed to develop their career plans. Or at least provide a conducive and encouraging environment where employee feels comfortable and in a way obliged to develop a career path for herself. A well-directed employee would then make it a habit to establish short successes and milestones to achieve. I would comment that self-directed career development is as important to the organization as it is to employee herself.
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