How to Create an Action Plan for Leadership Development [Free Template]

Embarking on the path of leadership development is of paramount importance to anyone who desires to advance professionally and personally. An action plan serves as a roadmap, guiding leaders in their pursuit of growth and excellence. A well-crafted action plan helps leaders set clear objectives and specific goals, providing a solid foundation for personal and organizational success. 

We will discuss the importance of creating an effective action plan and offer guidance on how to develop one that fosters motivation, engagement, and continuous growth. 

As a bonus, we’ve created a template to help you build your own action plan for leadership development, which you can easily access and refer to as you work through the process below.

1. Incorporate Constructive Behaviors

Constructive behaviors form the cornerstone of any effective action plan for leadership development. These behaviors are characterized by positivity, encouragement, and support for both the leaders committing to them and the teams they work with. By emphasizing constructive behaviors, leaders can shape positive working environments and foster clear, open channels of communication.

Example: A leader seeking to improve their emotional intelligence might initially set a goal like, “Avoid being upset in meetings.” However, this statement is negative and passive, making it challenging for coworkers to provide feedback and observe improvement. Instead, the leader should rephrase their goal to be more positive and actionable: “Manage your emotions effectively in meetings.” This revised statement focuses on an actionable behavior, which coworkers can observe, comment on, and support.

2. Ensure Behaviors are Actionable

Another essential aspect of an action plan for leadership development is the inclusion of actionable behaviors. Actionable behaviors are those that are easily visible and recognizable by coworkers, managers, and even the leaders themselves. By designing the action plan around clear, actionable behaviors, leaders can more easily gauge their progress and receive accurate feedback from those around them.

Example: A leader working on effective communication might have initially written, “Don’t interrupt people when they are talking” as a goal. However, this language is negative and describes what the leader should stop doing. This is challenging to observe and to gauge improvement. Instead, the leader should rephrase the behavior actively and positively: “Ask questions and listen to understand others’. This positive and active framing makes the behavior more appealing and easier to observe, motivating the leader to improve.

3. Make Your Action Plan Measurable

Incorporating measurable behaviors into the action plan is vital to ensure leaders can objectively assess their progress and identify areas for improvement. Measurable behaviors are those that can be observed and quantified, either through specific metrics or subjective assessments. They enable leaders to evaluate which parts of their action plan are working and which areas need adjustment.

Example: A leader working on improving their active listening skills might decide between two potential goals: “Think before sharing your opinion” or “Summarize what others said before sharing your opinion.” While both goals focus on similar aspects of communication, the second statement is more measurable. It specifies a concrete behavior — summarizing others’ inputs — that can be easily evaluated by the leader and their team.

Incorporating measurability into an action plan takes it from an abstract, aspirational document to a practical guide for growth. By understanding their areas to develop and recognizing opportunities for improvement, leaders gain self-awareness that helps them evolve as professionals and individuals. This ongoing process of reflection and adjustment is essential for effective leadership development.

Take the time to carefully craft an action plan that encompasses achievable, measurable steps. This will not only provide a clear path to achieving your goals but also give you valuable insights into your own growth journey. As you work towards your objectives, remember to remain flexible, regularly review progress, and incorporate suggestions from your team to refine your approach and optimize your efforts. Ultimately, an effective action plan will empower you to become the best leader you can be while positively impacting your organization’s success.

4. Seek and Incorporate Feedforward Regularly

Continuous growth is best facilitated through actively seeking suggestions (feedfoward) and incorporating necessary improvements. An action plan for leadership development should include a proactive approach to obtaining suggestions from team members, peers, managers and other coworkers. By inviting diverse perspectives and fostering open communication, leaders create an environment where learning is encouraged, and honest suggestions and feedback are valued.

Example: Schedule regular check-ins and solicit suggestions on specific behaviors included in your action plan, such as your ability to include everyone’s opinion during decision-making or your timely response to employee concerns. Use this information to recognize patterns, identify areas where further improvement is needed, and fine-tune your leadership approach accordingly.

Demonstrate openness to feedback and feedforward and adapt your action plan by incorporating this valuable input. Doing so sends a strong message about your commitment to growth, fosters trust, and creates a work culture where continuous learning, collaboration, and improvement are commonplace.

5. Set Timelines, Milestones, and Review Periods

Effective action planning requires a structured approach that breaks down goals into smaller, achievable steps. Establishing timelines and milestones provides a clear road map for progress, increasing the likelihood of success, and helps track personal growth. Furthermore, incorporating regular review periods will enable you to reassess various aspects of your plan and make necessary adjustments.

Example: Break your action plan into monthly or quarterly goals, allowing for a sufficient timeline to observe progress and measure results. Regularly review achievements, setbacks, and lessons learned to refine your strategy and maintain focus on long-term objectives.

Incorporating planned reviews will facilitate timely identification of areas requiring intervention or additional investment, minimizing potential delays or regressions. By setting measurable parameters and targets, you can more accurately gauge your growth and make the necessary adjustments to stay on track.

6. Celebrate Achievements and Reflect on Lessons Learned

As you progress on your leadership development journey, acknowledge and celebrate milestones and achievements—both big and small. Recognizing accomplishments serves as a form of motivation and helps reinforce self-confidence and personal growth.

Example: Reward yourself for achieving a milestone, whether it’s completing a leadership course, receiving positive feedback from your team, or successfully implementing a new decision-making process.

Additionally, take time to reflect on the lessons learned from setbacks and challenges. Use these experiences as opportunities for continuous growth—understanding that stepping stones to success often involve obstacles that must be navigated. Embrace these challenges as a means to learn, recalibrate, and emerge as a more determined and resilient leader.

Crafting an Effective Blueprint for Leadership Development with Our Template and Coaching Tools

An action plan that thoughtfully incorporates constructive, actionable, and measurable behaviors will create a strong foundation for leadership development and personal growth. By seeking and incorporating regular feedback, setting and reviewing milestones, celebrating achievements, and learning from setbacks, you’ll embark on a journey of continuous improvement that leaves a lasting impact on your organization and personal success.

Remember that we have provided a template to guide you in creating your own leadership development action plan. By using this structured and adaptable resource, you can efficiently design an action plan that addresses your unique aspirations and organizational objectives.

In addition to our action plan template, consider leveraging GCG’s coaching tools to further support and enrich your leadership development journey. Our expert coaches and customized offerings can provide invaluable insights and tailored guidance to help you maximize your potential and thrive as a leader.

Don’t hesitate – explore GCG’s coaching tools and embark on the path towards transformative and rewarding leadership development today. By dedicating time, effort, and attention to this essential process, you will unlock new doors of personal and professional discovery, leading to a defining impact on your team, organization, and overall career trajectory.