Professional Development Discussions

Is it right for me?

This course is only available in company. Please contact us if you would like to book for your staff.

Managers are always being told to improve the motivation and engagement levels of their teams in today’s increasingly competitive business world. Development discussions are a valuable way to engage with employees. This course will be for line managers who wish to hold effective and meaningful development discussions with their team members, whether as part of a structured review process or more informally. The aim is for managers to deliver a realistic and cost-effective development plan for the individual that is line with the organisation’s objectives and the individual’s career wishes.

Also for employees who are looking to create an effective and realistic career path in conjunction with their manager.

What will I get out of it?

By the end of the course you will be able to:

• Understand the benefits of effective development discussions
• Follow the 4 stage model for effective career discussions
• Understand what planning, information gathering and analysis is required before the discussion
• Use tools to analyse career paths
• Utilise key communication skills for career discussions
• Utilise frameworks for holding career conversations
• Create a measurable and realistic development action plan

Related courses in our range

• Performance Review and Objective Setting
• Leadership Skills

What does it cover?

Introductions

• Including personal reflections from participants on their experiences of well or poorly delivered PDDs

Benefits of effective PDDs

• Discussion of benefits to employee/manager/company

The 4 stage PDD model

• Introduction to model for effective career discussions

Stage 1 -– setting up the discussion

• Planning/information gathering/analysis required on parts of both manager and employee prior to the meeting
• Examination of tools that can be used for analysis/self-analysis prior to the meeting –- SWOT, Job Tree Analysis, Skills Review

Stages 2 (establishing trust) and Stage 3 (sharing information)

• Skills required for an effective PDD discussion
• Questioning techniques
• Listening skills
• Feedback skills required for realistic conversations
• Coaching not managing for PDDs
• Frameworks for discussion -– career anchors, career history

Stage 4 -– agreeing action

• How to create a realistic development action plan with measurable results
• How to identify the correct development action for the individual -– not just training
• Ensuring the DAP fits in with business objectives

Practical application

• Scenario based sessions to practice holding effective PDD discussions

Action planning