What is an Individual Development Plan (IDP)?

The Individual Development Plan is a tool that provides a roadmap to help employees develop their individual skills, achieve their career goals, and accomplish the organization’s mission and goals. The IDP is created by the supervisor and the employee, targets the competencies that need to be developed, and forecasts a scheduled approach to training and development activities. There are several benefits to developing an IDP. They provide:

• a framework for assessing the needs of both the individual and the organization;
• a logical approach to identifying the most beneficial developmental opportunities and the resources that are required to achieve those opportunities and,
• a merger of individual goals and organizational needs.

A well-thought out IDPs provides information on mandatory training, essential competencies, legal requirements, career development and professional growth. It allows the employee and supervisor to focus limited resources in the area of greatest need. Each employee should do a self assessment of their individual competencies and then develop the substance of the IDP in preparation for a discussion with their supervisor.

For more information about NBC mission critical competencies, click here.