Employee’s Planning Worksheet for Development Discussions

INSTRUCTIONS

Use this worksheet to help you think about your developmental needs and goals before you meet
with your manager to discuss them.

Name:

Interests and Values

What are your professional interests? What types of projects do you enjoy?

What are your lifestyle needs?

For example, limited or no travel, or a set work schedule to meet outside responsibilities.

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What motivates you? For example, are you motivated by compensation? By increased responsibility? By
high-visibility projects or public recognition?

Skills: Strengths and Gaps

What do you believe are your strongest five skills (those in which you have the most proficiency)? Of those
skills, which do you enjoy using the most? Are there any that you would prefer to use less?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

What do you believe are the two or three skills you need to learn or strengthen in order to grow in your job,
advance to the next level, or seek a new job?

1.

2.

3.

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© 2014 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business School Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School
What are your key transferable skills—those skills that are not job-specific but that can be applied to work in
many positions? For example, computer skills, negotiation skills, or financial analysis.

Do you think you are currently performing up to your potential? Why or why not?

Job Satisfaction

What is your overall level of satisfaction with your current position?

What parts of your work would you like to continue doing, or do with more skill?

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© 2014 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business School Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School
What new work activities or positions would you like to explore?

Career Goals and Next Steps

What would you like to be doing 6–12 months from now?

What do you think you need to do to get there? For example: What types of projects would you need to work
on? What type of experience would you need to get? What type of training would you need?

What would you like to be doing 3–5 years from now?

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© 2014 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business School Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School
What do you think you need to do to get there? For example: What types of projects would you need to work
on? What type of experience would you need to get? What type of training would you need?

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© 2014 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business School Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School