Planning for Professional Development Using Extension Competencies
The following steps will help you determine what professional development goals to set
for yourself. Two priority competency areas – Interpersonal Leadership and External
Linkages and Collaborations – are especially important for County Extension
Directors to focus on for professional development. Your DED will visit with you about
your plan during your annual performance review.
Step 1: Identify your strengths
Control + click on the following link to complete the self-assessment. You will receive
scores from Amy Harder (amharder@ufl.edu), Coordinator, PDEC, within five business
days. This page is for your use only.
UF/IFAS Extension Competency Self-Assessment
Competency Area
Program Planning and
Development
Extension Teaching, Tools,
& Methods
Program Evaluation
Subject Matter Expertise
Professionalism and
Professional Development
Extension Organization and
Administration
Information and
Communication
Technologies
External Linkages
Volunteer Development
Interpersonal Leadership
Working Definition
Strategies, methodologies, or tools used to
develop an extension program.
Means used to deliver educational content to
clientele.
Measures used to document outcomes and
impacts as a means of accountability and
program success.
Technical knowledge and skills possessed to
perform tasks related to a specific field(s)
Maintaining a high code of excellence and
ethics and seeking opportunities to stay up-todate in relevant fields.
Knowledge of the organization and overall
management of the duties of the position.
Using current technologies to reach mass
audiences and enhance programming.
Collaborations with other governmental
agencies, non-governmental agencies, and
industry.
Proactive use of the ISOTURE model to work
with volunteers
Process of creating change in others through
positive relationship-oriented behaviors
My Score
Step 2: Identify areas to develop your skills.
There are two ways to approach professional development. You may want to choose a
competency area for which you have a lower score, so that you build your skills in that
area. Negative scores are generally an indication that there is an opportunity for
improvement.
However, it is also valid to select a competency area for which you have a positive score if
you have a goal of establishing expertise in that area. For example, you may already be
able to conduct good program evaluations but have a desire to become a recognized expert
in this area. A plan to develop expertise should clearly focus on engagement in
professional development activities offered at the intermediate or advanced level.
The competency area(s) I will focus on:
Competency Area 1:
Competency Area 2:
Step 3: Professional Development Goal Writing
Use the following pages to set measurable goals for the coming year to develop your skills
in the competency area(s) you’ve selected. Set realistic goals; your DED can help you
determine what is realistic within a one year time-frame. You will be asked to report on
the progress you made on reaching your professional development goals when you have
your 2016 performance evaluation. Use the IST catalog or the list of ideas at the end of
this document to help you select appropriate activities to advance your expertise. If you
have a need for an IST that is not in the current catalog, contact Amy Harder, PDEC
Coordinator, at amharder@ufl.edu or 352-273-2569 for assistance.
The following pages are the only pages you need to provide to your DED. The deadline
for submission of the Professional Development Plan is December 4, with your ROA.
Professional Development Action Plan
Name:
Competency area:
Date:
Goal Statement:
What specific actions will you take to further develop your competency?
I will:
Watch:
What?
Read:
Enroll in and
complete:
Attend:
How will you measure the results?
What will be the impact on you, others, teams, or the organization?
By When?
Competency area:
Goal Statement:
What specific actions will you take to further develop your competency?
I will:
Watch:
What?
Read:
Enroll in and
complete:
Attend:
How will you measure the results?
What will be the impact on you, others, teams, or the organization?
By When?
In-Service Trainings
Leadership Training in Extension. What is Your Style?
(Lead: C. Sanders)
On-campus
Books/Collections
Wondolleck, J. M., & Yaffee, S. L. (2000). Making collaboration work
– Lessons from innovation in natural resource management. Island
Press.
Harvard Business Review’s 10 Must-Read Articles on:
 Leadership
 Strategy
 Managing Yourself
 Change
 Managing People
Collections can be ordered from: mustreads.hbr.org
Lencioni, P. (2002). The five dysfunctions of a team: A leadership
fable. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Lencioni, P. (2012). The advantage: Why organizational health trumps
everything else in business. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Butterworth, B. (2006). Balancing work & life. Colorado Springs, CO:
WaterBrook Press.
Patterson, K., Grenny, J., McMillan, & Switzler. A. (2012). Crucial
conversations: Tools for talking when the stakes are high. USA:
McGraw-Hill.
Collins, J. (2001). Good to great: Why some companies make the leap
… and others don’t. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.
Sinek, S. (2011). Start with why: How great leaders inspire everyone to
action. London, England: Penguin Books, Ltd.
Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2012). The leadership challenge: How
to make extraordinary things happen in organizations. San Francisco:
Jossey-Bass.
Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2010). The truth about leadership: The
no-fads, heart-of-the matter facts you need to know. San Francisco,
CA: Jossey-Bass.
UF HR Leadership Toolkit Suggested Readings
http://hr.ufl.edu/learn-grow/leadership-development/leadershiptoolkit/readings/
January 19,
2016 (tentative)
External
Linkages &
Collaborations
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
Articles
Heifetz, R., Grashow, A., & Linsky, M. (2009). Leadership in a
(Permanent) crisis. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from
http://hrb.harvardbusiness.org/2009/07/leadership-in-a-permanentcrisis/ar/pr
Ausland, A. (n.d.). Staying for tea: Five principles for the community
service volunteer. The Global Citizen, 5-15.
Wagner, W. (n.d.) The social change model of leadership: A brief overview.
Retrieved from
http://web.trinity.edu/Documents/student_affairs_docs/Assessments/Social
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
%20Change%20Model%20of%20Leadership%20%20A%20Brief%20Overview%20(Wagner).pdf
George, B., Sims, P., McLean, A. N., & Mayer, D. (2007). Discovering
your authentic leadership. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from
https://hbr.org
UF HR Job Aids (short articles in each category)
 Build Trust
 Create & Communicate Vision
 Generate Alignment
 Cultivate Talent
http://hr.ufl.edu/learn-grow/leadership-development/leadership-toolkit/jobaids/
Conferences
JCEP Leadership Conference
February 10-11, 2016
Las Vegas, NV
PILD Conference
April 10-13, 2016
Arlington, VA
National Association of Extension Program & Staff Development
Professionals Conference
December 1-3, 2015
San Diego, CA
ESP National Conference
Cape May, NJ
October 23-27, 2016
Training Courses & Workshops
Managing at UF: The Supervisory Challenge Courses
http://hr.ufl.edu/learn-grow/leadership-development/managing-at-uf-thesupervisory-challenge/courses/
Advanced Leadership for Academics and Professionals
http://hr.ufl.edu/learn-grow/leadership-development/
UF Academy
http://hr.ufl.edu/learn-grow/leadership-development/
Managers Cohort Opportunity
http://hr.ufl.edu/learn-grow/leadership-development/
Webinars/TED Talks/Podcasts
Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action
http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action
Dan Ariely: What Makes Us Feel Good About Our Work?
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_ariely_what_makes_us_feel_good_about_ou
r_work
Kevin Andrews: Networking and Partnership Tips for Extension
Professionals
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
External
Linkages &
Collaborations
All
All
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
Interpersonal
Leadership
External
Linkages &
https://naepsdp.tamu.edu/index.php/webinars/webinar-archive
Marilyn Lesmeister & Carolyn Aston: Viewing Volunteer and Workplace
Management through Generational Lenses
https://naepsdp.tamu.edu/index.php/webinars/webinar-archive
Nancy Franz: Developing and Articulating the Public Value of Extension
Work
https://naepsdp.tamu.edu/index.php/webinars/webinar-archive
UF HR Leadership Podcasts
 Build Trust
 Create & Communicate Vision
 Generate Alignment
 Cultivate Talent
http://hr.ufl.edu/learn-grow/leadership-development/leadershiptoolkit/videoaudio/
Collaborations
Interpersonal
Leadership
External
Linkages &
Collaborations
Interpersonal
Leadership