DEVELOP YOUR IDP:

Your Individual Development Plan
To the extent that any of your career goals involve acquiring some new skills or expertise, an IDP will be very helpful. Using the attached IDP form, begin drafting your plan by incorporating the goals you formulated on the "Determine Goals and Targets and Identify Obstacles" form and the relevant actions from the "Identify Methods for Accomplishing Your Goals and Achieving Your Targets" form. In selecting actions, try to achieve a balance between formal training activities (e.g., courses, seminars) and other kinds of learning experiences (e.g., work assignments, books). Also, include realistic timeframes for completing your actions.

Individual Development Plan Forms
Various Individual Development Plan formats have been developed by different organizations. No standard format exists, and you should discuss with your mentor which format is best for you. Any IDP should include:

* Goals - both near-term and long-term
* Actions
* Timeframe for completing your actions

The formats (all in Microsoft Word) shown here were developed by:

* GSFC Financial and Resources Management
* Project Management Development Emprise
* Project Management Development Process PMDP/IDP

Your Supervisor's Role
Your supervisor is in an excellent position to support your development in several ways by:

* Providing feedback on your performance in your current job and identify your strengths and areas for improvement
* Acting as a mentor and coach
* Representing the organization's needs, goals and opportunities
* Letting you know what is happening around your Installation and within NASA
* Helping assess your advancement potential and your qualifications for other positions
* Acting as a resource and referral for exploring your options
* Supporting your training and development, providing training opportunities and funding if related to NASA's mission