MIT Sloan School of Management
GLOBALHEALTH LAB
Due: End of Week 1
Spring 2013
Professional development plan
Personal assignment
GlobalHealthLabisaunique—andintense—learningexperience.You’lllearnaboutnewmarkets,
technologies,industries,techniques,challenges,andopportunities.Whileyougainnewknowledge,how
willyouensurethatyouarealsoincreasingtheeffectivenessofyouraction?
Ifyouaimtohave agreaterimpactontheworld,you’llwanttokeepbuildingyourownpersonal
awarenessandinsightsalongwithyourowntoolkitofapproachesandskillsthathelpyoutowork
effectivelywithandthroughothers.Thisassignmentasksyoutoselectaspecificskill,practice,orhabit
thatyouwanttodevelopandlearninthecourseofthisclass—somethingthatourcoursedesignwill
enableyoutotackle,andsomethingthatwillenableyoutoleadandmanagebetter,notonlynowbutin
therestofyourlife.
Threeareasofferexcellentopportunitiesforyourownprofessionaldevelopment:givingandgetting
feedback;buildingsharedcommitment;andgettingresultsateverystep.Herearesomeideasforyouto
selectfrom:
giving and getting feedback:seeking“bad”news;offeringapeeryourfeedback;separatingthe
descriptivefromtheevaluative.
building shared commitment:motivatingapeertotakeaction;settingsharedgoals;addressingsetbacks
andcomplexity;shoringuprelationshipsandtrustwithstakeholders.
getting results at every step: followingupaftereveryinteraction;usingagendasandothermeeting
planningtechniques;makingeveryphonecallandinteractioneffective;figuringouthowbesttotest
yourideasearlyandoften,sothatyoueliminatepooroptionsandfocusonthebestchoicesforyour
teamandyourhost.
The assignment
Developaprofessionaldevelopmentplanforyourselftoserveasanagreementbetweenyouandme
aboutwhatyouwanttoworkoninthisclass.Choosejustonethingtofocuson,aspecificskill,practice,
orhabitinoneoftheaboveareas.Coverthefollowingpointsinyourbriefmemo(maximumtwopages):
Set up/motivation: Whythis?Mentionanexamplefromyourpastexperiencethatillustrateshowthis
issuearoseinyourprofessionaloracademiclife.Whatevidencedoyouhavethatthisareaissomething
youshouldaddress?Forinstance,weretherenegativeconsequencesforyou?
Benefits: Ifyoutacklethisissue,whatwillthatenableforyouasamanagerandleader,goingforward?
Observable change: Whatwouldsomeoneelseseeyoudoing,asaresult,onceyoumakethisskill,habit,
orpracticeyourown?
Plan: Inwhatsituations inyourprojectdoyouforeseehavingachancetoworkonthisnewfocusarea?
Identifysomespecificopportunitiesinthecourseofthisclassandyourproject.Howwillyouenable
yourownnewpractices—doyouneedsupport?Howwillyoufigureouthowwellyouaredoing?
MIT OpenCourseWare
http://ocw.mit.edu
15.S07 GlobalHealth Lab
Spring 2013
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