Managers and employees should work together to create development plans as part of the annual performance management process. The plan can focus on skills aimed at job mastery or combine job mastery with professional development skills.
- Job mastery skills are those that are necessary to successfully perform one's job.
- Professional development skills are the skills and knowledge that go beyond the scope of the employee's job description, although they may indirectly improve job performance.
Development plans commonly include classes, but can also include elements such as cross-training and special project participation.
For additional information on creating development plans please see: