Have you ever heard of a 30-60-90 Day Plan?
Does it make sense for you to learn the 10 key skills needed for future jobs? I think so. Many organizations from time-to-time have reported on key skills business professionals need to learn. I like the 10 skills that the World Economic Forum reports that are necessary for professionals to thrive in 2020, because they are very practical skills. It will take some time for you to learn all 10 skills.
Some people may still be on the fence, and not ready to take the plunge to learn the key skills, since it’s a huge investment of time. While I was rereading Finding a Job Fast Using a 30/60/90 Day Plan, I asked myself, “How can I create a 30-60-90 Day Plan to apply to the 10 key skills needed for future jobs?”Finding a Job Fast Using a 30 / 60 / 90 Day Plan
After some thought, I think I have found a way.
Every organization has a mission, goals, and objectives, even if they are unstated. On top of that, the organization also has a variety of issues that it needs to resolve. As a participant of the Strategic Reading Challenge, you could be the solution to some of the issues. But you would have to know what the issues are. This will take some work on your part. The Strategic Reading Challenge is structured in such a way that you will learn the 10 key skills in the first 90 days of the challenge.
Initial Thoughts on 30-60-90 Day Plan
Before you start using a concept in a way that it was never intended, it makes sense to understand it first. Learn what kinds of activities a new employee would engage in during the first 90 days on the job.
UPDATE: First Published in January 2017
30/60/90-Day Plan Definition
The 30-60-90-Day Plan is a detailed outline of what you intend to do on the job in your first three months. It's usually one to three pages long, depending on what level you are in your career. The plan is a success strategy laid out step-by-step. It is a framework for success on the job.
Purpose of a 30/60/90-Day Plan
The 30-60-90 Day Plan establishes the goals a new employee expects to meet, the strategies for the first 90 days on the job, and the steps she plans to take to achieve those goals.
Finding a Job Fast Using a 30 / 60 / 90 Day PlanThe First 90 DaysYour First 100 Days In a New Executive Job
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30 Day Section
These are the kinds of activities you would expect to perform the first 30 days on a job. The first 30 days on the job is about learning the ropes.
- Attend training
- Meet with team members
- Learn specific corporate systems, products and services
- Learn company policies and procedures
- Review procedures and client accounts
- Try to secure a mentor
- Ask a lot of questions to get a lay of the land
Could you relate any of these activities to learning the key skills needed for future jobs?
60 Day Section
- Set goals for the next 30 days
- Participate in less training
- Meet with other departments to understand the interrelationships between departments
- Study the industry and best practices
- Create systems to address issues
- Get feedback from manager
- Continue to adapt in your new role
Could you align any of these activities to the 10 key skills needed for future jobs?
90 Day Section
- Set goals for the next 30 days
- Get settled
- Obtain feedback on new processes and procedures
- Implement new strategies and procedures
Could you align any of these activities to the 10 key skills needed for future jobs?
By now you should have an idea of what a 30-60-90 Day Plan is, and how you can use it in the traditional sense.
First 90 Days of Strategic Reading Challenge
What is the Strategic Reading Challenge?
The Strategic Reading Challenge helps readers to read more books for career development. Many of the books for career development include those that will teach participants the 10 key skills – Complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management, coordinating with others, emotional intelligence, judgement and decision-making, service orientation, negotiation, and cognitive flexibility – they need to thrive in 2020. It is self-directed learning.
Purpose of the Strategic Reading Challenge
The Strategic Reading Challenge has two primary objectives:
- Learn new skills needed for future jobs.
- Use global literature to build intercultural understanding.
During the first 90 days of the Strategic Reading Challenge, you will learn the 10 keys skills, in addition to other skills that I think are important for you to succeed in your career. Below, you will see at a glance what you have to learn during each of the first three months while participating in the Strategic Reading Challenge. This will help you to plan which books you want to read.
Month One – Africa & More: 30-Day Section of 30-60-90-Day Plan
- Read a book written by an author born in an African country.
- Read a book that teaches you how to problem solve.
- Read a book that teaches you how to think critically.
- Read a book that teaches you how to become more creative.
- Read a book that teaches you how to make better decisions.
- Each week, read a technology article from a well-respected journal/magazine.
Month Two Antarctica & More: 60-Day Section of 30-60-90-Day Plan
- Read a book set in Antarctica.
- Read a book that teaches you strategies to manage people.
- Read a book that helps you to become better at collaborating with others.
- Read a book on emotional intelligence.
- Read a book that teaches you strategies to excel at serving others.
- Each week, read a technology article from a well-respected journal/magazine.
Month Three – Asia & More: 90-Day Section of 30-60-90-Day Plan
- Read a book written by an author born in Asia.
- Read a book that teaches you negotiation techniques.
- Read a book that teaches you cognitive flexibility.
- Read a book that teaches you how to be a better presenter.
- Read a book to improve your written communication skills.
- Each week, read a technology article from a well-respected journal/magazine.
30-60-90 Day Plan to Apply the 10 Key Skills
Although it is important to learn the key skills, what is even more important, is for you to use the skills. To accelerate in your career, requires that you do more than learn the 10 keys skills. The purpose of this type of 30-60-90 Day Plan is to allow you to apply the key skills to help you achieve your next promotion in the company.
Therefore, you must tie your 30-60-90 Day Plan to the goals and objectives of the organization that you work for. if you work for yourself, tie your goals and objectives to the plan. You have to identify specific deliverables, aligning them to the company objectives. But to do any of these things, you need to do a bit of detective work to uncover a short-term project to work on. To say it in a different way, you want practice in using the 10 skills, that is a smart way to learn them.
How to Create a 30-60-90 Day Plan to Apply the 10 Key Skills Needed for Future Jobs
Before learning the 10 key skills, figure out what kinds of issues the organization is having, that you can resolve, by applying your newfound knowledge. Design a short-term project that you can work on during your own time. After you have identified a project, have a conversation with your boss or a sponsor, if you can find one. In an organization, often there are projects that do not have any sponsors. Find out if there are any that you can work on.
During the meeting with your boss, let her know that you are participating in a reading challenge to learn – Complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management, coordinating with others, emotional intelligence, judgment and decision making, service orientation, negotiation, and cognitive flexibility. Tell her that you have found an opportunity where you can apply your new knowledge to solving some organizational issues.
Discuss the short-term project you plan to work on, and ask your boss for feedback. Use the feedback to update the project. You want to show your boss that you are self-directed, and you want her to know that you value her feedback and input.
You can use the 10 keys skills in nearly any situation. Perhaps that’s why they are so important. Along with your boss’ input, finalize a project that you can complete in 90 days.
30 Days
The 30-day portion of plan includes completion of any introductory tasks. Gather the information you need to work on your short-term assignment. Use multiple sources when collecting the information – articles, informational interviews, and so on.
After you have finished reading each book, review your detailed notes, extracting five big ideas from the book. Finding great ideas in the books you read is something that I have struggled with. What is a great idea? If you find ideas in a book that solves a meaningful problem that is a part of the project you are working on, that is a great idea. At the end of the first month of the strategic reading challenge, you would have five big ideas from the book written by an African author, five big ideas from each of the books on problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, judgment and decision making. You will have 25 big ideas.
The next step is to start combining the ideas, tying them to the needs, goals and objectives of the company you work for. Use the information you have learned from the books you read to start working on your short-term project. You want your boss on your side, so share what you are doing with her.
60 Days
During next 30 days, you continue to take what you are learning and applying the newfound knowledge toward accomplishing the activities in your short-term project. The 60-day section shows how your knowledge of key skills needed for future jobs are contributing toward achieving the organization’s goals.
90 Days
During the 90-day section of the plan, you continue to apply the key skills to resolve organizational issues. And you are working toward completing your short-term project. All during your project, you have been communicating with your boss, so that she knows about your accomplishments. This section of the 30-60-90 Day Plan demonstrates how your self-directed learning benefits the organization.
UPDATE: First published in January 2017
Final Thoughts on Creating a 30-60-90 Day Plan to Apply the 10 Key Skills
The example I provide is to get your creative juices flowing. You can devise any short-term projects to ensure that you master the 10 key skills needed for future jobs. If you are serious about learning the skills, and decide to participate in the Strategic Reading Challenge, it’s important to profit from all that reading.
Whatever project you create, make sure that it benefits both you and the organization. And make sure that your boss is on board.
Finding a Job Fast Using a 30 / 60 / 90 Day PlanThe First 90 DaysA Woman’s Guide to Success for the First 100 Days on the JobYour First 100 Days In a New Executive JobThe New Leader's 100-Day Action Plan
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