Before coming to your training, please do the following:
The quarterly development plan discussion surrounds the associate with a support team to coach, follow through, teach goal setting, and celebrate success and progress. It is an effective way to create or gauge the associate’s ownership of his or her plan, and to understand any lack of progress. This lesson will discuss the purpose of the meeting, the role of each individual, and how to help associates prepare for the discussion.
From the following list, choose and complete one or more activities that best apply to your situation.
Divide the board into four columns. In each column, write one of the following roles: associate, development counselor, job coach trainer, and mentor. Select a timekeeper and divide the class into four groups. The facilitator will randomly assign each of the groups one of the roles listed on the board. Without consulting anything but your group members, take two to three minutes to discuss in your groups:
When the time is up, each group will come to the board and will have 90 seconds to list its answers under its corresponding role. The group that accurately lists the purpose of this meeting and the highest number of appropriate behaviors and attitudes for the role wins.
As a class, discuss the items listed on the board. Feel free to comment on specific items, and share helpful experiences to illustrate both the purpose of the meeting, as well as appropriate behaviors in an effective quarterly development plan discussion. Add missing items to each list.
Based on your assigned reading, discuss as a group:
As a group, read Ephesians 4:11–16. Then discuss:
Have eight volunteers do two short role-plays (four people per role-play; adjust numbers as needed) about appropriate and inappropriate attitudes and behaviors in a quarterly development plan discussion. The first group will review Scenario A in the “Lesson Resources” section, Resource 2, for instructions on the role-play; the other group will review Scenario B.
While volunteers prepare their role-plays, the rest of the class will review today’s assigned reading. Feel free to ask questions.
As the groups perform the role-plays, pay attention to the attitudes and behaviors displayed. Feel free to make note of comments you want to make after the role-plays are done.
After both role-plays have ended, as a group, discuss:
From the following list, choose and complete one or more activities that best apply to your situation.
Associates might feel stressed, anxious, or inadequate before their quarterly development plan discussion, especially when they truly understand their responsibilities (conducting the meeting, asking and answering questions, showing appropriate behaviors and attitudes, etc.). Other associates might feel indifferent about this discussion. As a group, discuss:
Individually, choose two or three ideas you feel are especially important for a particular associate (or items you would like to improve on yourself) and write them in your learner’s journal.
Individually, take a minute to read Resource 3 in the “Lesson Resources” section: “Preparation Items for a Development Plan Discussion.” Then, with a partner, discuss how you have applied the items on the list, and the effect it has had on associates as you have helped them prepare for their quarterly development plan discussion. Ask any question you may have and share any additional items you feel are important.
Each of you choose one or two items from the list you feel are especially important for a particular associate (or items you would like to improve on yourself). Take a minute to practice them with your partner and allow your partner to practice his or hers with you.
Finally, share with the rest of the group some of the things you have learned (or that have been reinforced) during this activity.
As a group, discuss what you do to help associates prepare for a quarterly development plan discussion.
Individually, look over the items listed in Resource 3 of the “Lesson Resources” section: “Preparation Items for a Development Plan Discussion.” Then, as a group, discuss:
Individually, choose two or three ideas previously discussed (which you feel are especially important for a particular associate, or items you would like to improve on yourself) and write them in your learner’s journal. Divide into pairs and practice the ideas you chose. Allow your partner to do the same. After practicing, feel free to share with the rest of the group any additional insights you have gained while practicing.
Seek to identify a personal or business gap or need.
Spend a few minutes silently pondering what you've discussed during this lesson. Listen as the Holy Ghost helps you identify areas where you can improve. Record your impressions in your learner’s journal under the question “What Lack I Yet?”
Seek ways to close the gap or develop the required talent(s) to meet the need.
With the guidance of the Spirit, create your plan of how you will improve and close the gap(s) you have identified. You may use one or more of the exercises below, your own strategy, or a combination of both. Record this plan in your learner’s journal under “What Must I Do?”
After a few minutes, those who are comfortable doing so can share their impressions with the group.
Seek understanding, and then share what you learned.
During the week, focus on implementing the plan you created. Record your impressions or lessons learned in your learner’s journal under “Therefore, What?” You will be given time at the beginning of next week's lesson to share your experience with the group.
| Role | Appropriate Behaviors | Inappropriate Behaviors |
| Associate |
|
|
| Development Counselor |
|
|
| Job Coach Trainer |
|
|
| Mentor |
|
|
Assign the following roles:
Based on your assigned reading for today (“Appropriate and Inappropriate Behaviors and Attitudes in a Quarterly Development Plan Discussion” in the “Lesson Resources” section, Resource 1), create a role-play in which the associate, job coach trainer, development counselor, and mentor each display at least one inappropriate behavior or attitude during a quarterly development plan discussion. Show how these inappropriate behaviors and attitudes make the meeting less effective.
Assign the following roles:
Based on your assigned reading for today (“Appropriate and Inappropriate Behaviors and Attitudes in a Quarterly Development Plan Discussion” in the “Lesson Resources” section, Resource 1), create a role-play in which the associate, job coach trainer, development counselor, and mentor each display appropriate behaviors and attitudes during a quarterly development plan discussion. Note: the associate may or may not have reached all of his or her milestones, actions steps, or goals; the effectiveness of the meeting will not depend on this, but rather on the attitude and behaviors displayed during the meeting.
