Professional Development Plan Worksheet

The first step in developing a professional development plan is creating

a mission statement. Developing a mission statement is a process. It is
an expression of your hopes, dreams and passion as a professional. It
involves reflection of your past experiences and what you hope to
become.
Reflect on your values. Take time to think about your self, your
interests and your tendencies. Ask yourself these questions:
What do you love to do?
Who do you enjoy working with?
What do you want to represent in the world?
Who do you want to serve, be around, inspire, learn from, and/or be
affected by?
Who do you most want to impact, influence, and/or be with?

Reflect on your past experiences.

Review your educational career. List the courses you have taken or

the teachers, counselors, or professors that inspired you to pursue

your major.
Have you volunteered somewhere that feels like a career possibility?
Have you helped teach a specific age group or client-base that you
can really relate to?
How do these experiences seem to interact with the strengths,
values, and aspirations you listed above?

DFST 2042.001, summer 2016, page 1

Step 1: Creating a Mission Statement

Personal Strengths:

Organized, planning, creativity, honest,

motivated, observant, patient, responsible, team oriented, listening

Values: Simplicity, support, kindness, open minded, spontaneous,
knowledge, intelligent, hope
Professional Aspirations: To better educate children in hopes to push
them to reach their full potential academically
People I Want to Serve: Children between the ages of 3-6
From the words or statements listed above, write your Mission
Statement. It may take several drafts to whittle it down to 2 or 3
simply-stated sentences that adequately express your passion. Write
your final statement here:
Mission Statement: In my professional journey, I aspire to better
educate children with support in hopes to help gain their self-esteem
academically. With my patient, observant and listening skills, I strive to
motivate children to their fullest academic potential.
Now that you have you mission, consider what you need to do
to accomplish it!

DFST 2042.001, summer 2016, page 2

Step 2: Developing Ultimate, Short, and Long Term Goals

1. Restate your Mission Statement.
2. Write your Ultimate Goal. Although professionalism is a lifelong
journey, your ultimate goal is what you envision as your final career,
or what you see yourself employed as for 10 or more years.
3. Break this goal into smaller pieces. These will turn into your longterm and short-term goals.
4. For long-term goals, ask yourself in 5-10 years, I want/need to
You must provide at least 3 long-term professional goals.
5. Decide on outcomes, or short-term goals. Ask yourself, in order to
achieve my long-term goals, I need to You must provide at least
5 short-term professional goals.
6. Short-term goals must be S.M.A.R.T. This stands for: Specific,
Measurable, Attainable, Reasonable, and Time-bound.

DFST 2042.001, summer 2016, page 3

Professional Mission Statement:

In my professional journey, I aspire to better educate children with
support in hopes to help gain their self-esteem academically. With my
patient, observant and listening skills, I strive to motivate children to
their fullest academic potential.

Ultimate Goal:
Own and direct a pre school

Long-Term Career Goals (provide at least 3 goals)

In 5-10 years, I want/need to
a. Move to California
b. Achieve a management position
c. Open up a pre school
Short-Term Career Goals (provide at least 5 S.M.A.R.T goals):
In order to do this, I need to
a. Graduate college
b. Obtain a teaching position for 2 years
c. Achieve an upward position as an assistant director
d. Increase my responsibilities

DFST 2042.001, summer 2016, page 4

Timeline
(year)
2021
2021
2025
Timeline
(year)
2016
2017
2020
2021