Assignment: Development Plan for Three Skills
What to submit/deliverables: Word document that contains the Week 9 Assignment Template.
What is the value of doing this assignment? For the last nine weeks, you’ve been learning how the 10 Skills are an essential part of being successful in the future world of work. In Week 4 Assignment, you began to reflect on your skills and goals and how the 10 Skills have helped you reach accomplishments. Your understanding of the skills has been refined, and now it’s time to reflect on your strengths and areas for growth again in order to develop a plan moving forward.
For this assignment, you’ll identify three skills that you’d like to focus on and develop a plan for. This could be the three skills you wrote about for Week 2 Assignment or three new skills. As you think of which skills you’d like to improve upon, consider choosing skills at varying levels. You might, for example, choose a skill that you are already strong in, but would be excited to continue exploring and building upon, as well as a skill in which you might have more room for growth. At the end of the assignment, you’ll leave with the beginning of a tangible plan for personal and professional development that you can review with the Career Center team.
Your goal for this assignment is to: Practice your communication skill by using the Week 9 Assignment Template to outline a plan for developing skills to support a successful learning experience and career. To truly develop your communication skill it is important that you write using your own words and do not cut and paste from the Skills Definition table or any other source. (See the Skill Development Plan Sample .)
Steps to complete: In Week 9, complete and submit your Development Plan for Three Skills using the following steps:
STEP 1: Identify the targeted skill. Summarize your strengths and areas of improvement in this skill area. Then, identify your desired outcomes around this skill area and write a positive goal statement. Review the Skills Definition table if you need a quick reminder of the 10 skills. Complete the following sections of the template:
• Target Skill
• Strengths
• Areas of Improvement
• Desired Outcome
• Goal Statement
STEP 2: Specify the actions you can take to work towards your goals, with specific strategies and practices that you can apply. Identify any potential obstacles and challenges to achieving your goal. Complete the following sections of the template:
• Practices for Growth
• Action Steps
• Potential Obstacles and Challenges
STEP 3: Keeping your action plan in mind, identify trusted supporters and university resources that can help you in your skill development plan. Complete the following sections of the template:
• Key Supporters
• Supporting University Resources
STEP 4: Reflect on the connections between skill development and your overall personal, academic, and professional goals. Complete the following sections of the template:
• Benefits From Change and Connections to Personal, Academic, and Career Goals.
STEP 5: Complete Steps 1–4 for the two other skills you have identified. When you are done you should have three plans filled out in the template for three different skills.
SELF AND SOCIAL AWARENESS Definition: Understanding your personal strengths and limitations; recognizing your thoughts, emotions, and intentions; being open to receiving feedback; and identifying how your behaviors impact others. Why it Matters for the Future of Work: Self awareness can help you find the right career for you, know when it’s time to leave your current job, and make you a stronger leader. (Swerdlow, 5) TECHNOLOGY Definition: Being able to confidently and effectively use technology to be productive, complete goals and tasks, and maintain a competitive advantage. Why it Matters for the Future of Work: 78% of today’s jobs require familiarity with technology, and digitally intensive jobs are growing faster and pay more than non-digital roles. (Southern New Hampshire University, 6) PRODUCTIVITY Definition: Strategizing, organizing, and effectively managing your time and priorities. Why it Matters for the Future of Work: High performers can be up to 800 percent more productive than other workers, drastically cutting down the time and money needed to complete large tasks – something managers always value. (Keller, 7) INITIATIVE Definition: Thinking independently, seeing what needs to be done, and taking action without being prompted. Why it Matters for the Future of Work: Initiative has become more important in modern workplaces, as employers rely on people who have the courage to push their teams forward. (Mind Tools, 8) RESULTS DRIVEN Definition: Acting with a sense of urgency and focus to reach goals, without compromising integrity or quality. Why it Matters for the Future of Work: As companies use more freelancers, they need those workers to be results-driven so projects stay on track. (Do, 9) COMMUNICATION Definition: Actively seeking and delivering information, clearly articulating ideas, effectively listening, and confidently connecting to various audiences, settings, and situations. Why it Matters for the Future of Work: Communication is one of the top five skills that will be important in the future across all industries…and that employers currently find lacking. (Gilchrist, 10) RELATIONSHIP BUILDING Definition: Effectively working with others and establishing, cultivating, and leveraging networks
over time. Why it Matters for the Future of Work: 85% of all open job positions are filled through personal connections. (Adler, 11) PROBLEM SOLVING Definition: Identifying and framing problems, exploring ideas, and creating effective, ethical, and evidence-based solutions. Why it Matters for the Future of Work: Problem solving is important in every industry, and this skill gives an especially notable edge in management positions. (CareerBuilder, 12) INNOVATION Definition: Creatively thinking and coming up with new ideas and solutions to solve old problems. Why it Matters for the Future of Work: 84% of business executives believe that innovation is important, but only 6% are satisfied with their company’s performance in that area. (McKinsey & Company, 13) AGILITY Definition: Embracing change and effectively adapting when things around you are constantly in motion. Why it Matters for the Future of Work: In one survey, 79% of executives said that the future of work will be based on specific projects instead of roles, meaning that having the agility to adapt quickly will be extremely important. (Lyons, 14)
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Week 9 Assignment Template: Development Plan for Three Skills Template
Create a development plan for three target skills by answering the questions in the boxes below.
Target Skill #1
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Target Skill #1: Identify which of the 10 skills you are focusing on here. (Pick from the 10 Skills we learned about in WRK100. You may want to use a skill that you wrote about in the Week 2 Assignment.) |
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Strengths: What aspects of the skill are you strong in? What aspects of the skill do you feel confident in? Why do you feel that these are your strengths? |
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Areas of Improvement: What aspects of the skill would you like to get better at? What aspects of the skill do you feel less confident about? Why are these the areas you would like to develop? Why do feel less confident in these aspects of the skill? |
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Desired Outcome (short-term goal): By the end of your time at Strayer, how would you like to be using your skill? What accomplishment would you like to achieve, using your skill? |
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Goal Statement (long-term goal): Review what you wrote in the desired outcomes section, above. Then, write one sentence that states how you plan to use your skill to achieve your desired accomplishment. |
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Practices for Growth: Describe 2–3 specific strategies that can be used to develop this skill. |
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Action Steps: Develop an action plan that includes things you can do now to begin working towards your goal. What specific actions are needed to acquire knowledge and build upon your skill? · Step 1: · Step 2: · Step 3: (Add more steps if necessary.) |
Potential Obstacles and Challenges: What barriers do you need to overcome to reach your goal? What challenges do you anticipate? |
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Key Supporters: In the bullet list below, identify 1-2 individuals who can support you as you develop your skill. · Supporter 1: · Supporter 2: Explain how your supporters will help you meet your goal. Will they provide feedback? Can they teach you certain aspects of the skill? |
Supporting University Resources: Pick one of the Career Center or Strayer resources in the lists below. Explain how that resource can help you develop your skill or carry out your action plan. Career Center Resources: · Resumes · LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) Other Strayer Resources: |
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Benefits From Change and Connections to Personal, Academic, and Career Goals: STEP ONE: · Identify one larger personal goal. · Identify one academic goal. · Identify one professional goal. Note: These can be the ones you identified in the Week 4 Assignment or new ones. STEP TWO: Explain how developing your skill will help you achieve your personal, academic, and professional goal. |
Target Skill #2
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Target Skill #2: Identify which of the 10 skills you are focusing on here. (Pick from the 10 Skills we learned about in WRK100. You may want to use a skill that you wrote about in the Week 2 Assignment.) |
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Strengths: What aspects of the skill are you strong in? What aspects of the skill do you feel confident in? Why do you feel that these are your strengths? |
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Areas of Improvement: What aspects of the skill would you like to get better at? What aspects of the skill do you feel less confident about? Why are these the areas you would like to develop? Why do feel less confident in these aspects of the skill? |
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Desired Outcome (short-term goal): By the end of your time at Strayer, how would you like to be using your skill? What accomplishment would you like to achieve, using your skill? |
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Goal Statement (long-term goal): Review what you wrote in the desired outcomes section, above. Then, write one sentence that states how you plan to use your skill to achieve your desired accomplishment. |
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Practices for Growth: Describe 2–3 specific strategies that can be used to develop this skill. |
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Action Steps: Develop an action plan that includes things you can do now to begin working towards your goal. What specific actions are needed to acquire knowledge and build upon your skill? · Step 1: · Step 2: · Step 3: (Add more steps if necessary.) |
Potential Obstacles and Challenges: What barriers do you need to overcome to reach your goal? What challenges do you anticipate? |
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Key Supporters: In the bullet list below, identify 1-2 individuals who can support you as you develop your skill. · Supporter 1: · Supporter 2: Explain how your supporters will help you meet your goal. Will they provide feedback? Can they teach you certain aspects of the skill? |
Supporting University Resources: Pick one of the Career Center or Strayer resources in the lists below. Explain how that resource can help you develop your skill or carry out your action plan. Career Center Resources: · Resumes · LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) Other Strayer Resources: |
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Benefits From Change and Connections to Personal, Academic, and Career Goals: STEP ONE: · Identify one larger personal goal. · Identify one academic goal. · Identify one professional goal. Note: These can be the ones you identified in the Week 4 Assignment or new ones. STEP TWO: Explain how developing your skill will help you achieve your personal, academic, and professional goal. |
Target Skill #3
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Target Skill #3: Identify which of the 10 skills you are focusing on here. (Pick from the 10 Skills we learned about in WRK100. You may want to use a skill that you wrote about in the Week 2 Assignment.)
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Strengths: What aspects of the skill are you strong in? What aspects of the skill do you feel confident in? Why do you feel that these are your strengths? |
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Areas of Improvement: What aspects of the skill would you like to get better at? What aspects of the skill do you feel less confident about? Why are these the areas you would like to develop? Why do feel less confident in these aspects of the skill? |
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Desired Outcome (short-term goal): By the end of your time at Strayer, how would you like to be using your skill? What accomplishment would you like to achieve, using your skill? |
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Goal Statement (long-term goal): Review what you wrote in the desired outcomes section, above. Then, write one sentence that states how you plan to use your skill to achieve your desired accomplishment. |
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Practices for Growth: Describe 2–3 specific strategies that can be used to develop this skill. |
|
|
Action Steps: Develop an action plan that includes things you can do now to begin working towards your goal. What specific actions are needed to acquire knowledge and build upon your skill? · Step 1: · Step 2: · Step 3: (Add more steps if necessary.) |
Potential Obstacles and Challenges: What barriers do you need to overcome to reach your goal? What challenges do you anticipate? |
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Key Supporters: In the bullet list below, identify 1-2 individuals who can support you as you develop your skill. · Supporter 1: · Supporter 2: Explain how your supporters will help you meet your goal. Will they provide feedback? Can they teach you certain aspects of the skill? |
Supporting University Resources: Pick one of the Career Center or Strayer resources in the lists below. Explain how that resource can help you develop your skill or carry out your action plan. Career Center Resources: · Resumes · LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) Other Strayer Resources: |
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Benefits From Change and Connections to Personal, Academic, and Career Goals: STEP ONE: · Identify one larger personal goal. · Identify one academic goal. · Identify one professional goal. Note: These can be the ones you identified in the Week 4 Assignment or new ones. STEP TWO: Explain how developing your skill will help you achieve your personal, academic, and professional goal. |
© 2022 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.
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WRK100
Skill Development Plan Sample
The Skill Development Plan Sample includes an example of a skill development plan for one skill.
You can use the format of the example to help you complete the skill development plan for each
of your three chosen skills.
Target Skill #1: Technology
Strengths:
● I can use all apps in Microsoft Office. ● I can easily download and install software when needed on my computer and phone. ● I not only like, but am confident in, using new applications. I like experimenting and
trying new technology.
Areas of Improvement:
● I’d like to increase my confidence in website design and maintenance, and even basic coding.
● Sometimes I get easily frustrated when technology doesn’t work the way I expect it to.
Desired Outcome:
● Increase confidence in website design and maintenance, and even basic coding. ● Reduce frustration at technology in order to better troubleshoot issues.
Goal Statement:
● By the time I graduate from Strayer, I want to be able to create and maintain my own website as another way of promoting myself (in addition to my résumé or LinkedIn).
● I also want to be able to do side work in website design to make extra money when needed.
© 2020 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information and may not
be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.
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WRK100
Practices for Growth:
● I can try a free website builder like Squarespace to help me practice designing websites.
● I already have a lot of obligations with being in school and working a part-time job, so I think taking 30 minutes a week to learn the basics through LinkedIn Learning and
other free tools is a good way to work on this.
● I also think that teaching a skill will help me learn it even better, so I’m going to offer to help my friends learn different tools. They already ask me for help sometimes, so I
might even start an informal group each month.
Action Steps:
● September 2020: Sign up for the Odin Project and LinkedIn Learning.
● Fall-Winter: Work on free tutorials through those sites on the weekend (4
hrs).
● January 2020: Sign up for Squarespace.
● Throughout 2020: Start an informal tech group to work on website
building and get help from others
(meet once a month).
● May 2020: Have a basic website set up on Squarespace.
Potential Obstacles and Challenges:
● Prioritizing and setting aside time to develop skills.
● Finding committed and interested classmates who would motivate me
to keep at it.
● Balancing my desire to work on website design and coding with my
class load and part-time job.
Key Supporters:
● Arthur, a friend who is skilled in website design and can provide
support.
● Mr. Murray, previous IT professor who helped a lot with tech projects and
hosts mini-maker faires at his lab each
month.
Supporting University Resources:
● Career Services offers access to LinkedIn Learning. There I can put in
the skills I want to gain (web design
and coding), and it automatically
populates a list of free and short
courses to help me develop my skills.
© 2020 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information and may not
be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.
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WRK100
● Rita, a career counselor who helped advise me on coursework to support
my career goals.
Benefits From Change and Connections to Personal, Academic, and Career Goals:
I mentioned in the Week 4 Assignment that as a personal goal I’d like to increase my Spanish
skills. Being more knowledgeable about where to find free classes via technology—like
LinkedIn Learning—will give me more resources to help with this goal. Professionally, I wanted
to find a job that is flexible with studying. If I could get a side job helping with website
maintenance, that’d be a great way to make money and work when I want to. It can also help
me reach my academic goal of studying for two hours a day and leaving the rest for personal
time. I won’t need to get in the car and commute to my work but, instead, can choose when
and how long I work on side website projects.
© 2020 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information and may not
be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.
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