What Is a Personal Action Plan?
A personal action plan is a method of conduct that individuals choose in order to achieve one or more personal or professional goals. Individuals usually write down action plans to more easily follow the series of steps that it takes for these plans to come into fruition. Personal action plans are also called personal goal plans or life plans.
Personal action plans are comprised of three main elements. The first element is a list of the specific steps that must be taken for individuals to achieve their goals. The second element is the time factor that the individuals use to motivate them to achieve the goal on or before a certain date. The third element is listing the resources available to help the individuals realize their goals.
For example, an individual who wants to get a better job first makes a list of the type of job that she desires. Then, she chooses a date, possibly six months to one year, in which she wants to secure her new job position. Next, she enlists the help of others, such as career counselors or friends or family members already working in her chosen field, to help her uncover ways to get interviews at the type of companies that hire people to fill her dream job.
It is important to note that individuals must figure in unexpected circumstances and events as part of their personal action plans to be successful. When individuals plan for bumps in the road, these occurrences do not hinder their progress or cause them to lose sight of their goals.
