10 Tools for Planning and Tracking Employee Development
Navigating employee development can be complex, but with the right tools and expert guidance, it becomes an empowering process. This article delves into a curated selection of innovative tools, each vetted by industry specialists, designed to plan and track professional growth effectively. Discover how integrating expert insights with cutting-edge technologies can transform the landscape of employee development.
- Culture Amp: All-in-One Development Solution
- 70/20/10 Framework: Transforming Growth Plans
- LMS: Streamlining Training and Performance Monitoring
- Integrating Tools for Comprehensive Development Tracking
- Data-Driven LMS: Personalizing Professional Growth
- Express Evaluations: Collaborative Goal-Setting Platform
- Coaching Conversations: Unlocking Employee Potential
- One-Page Development Plan: Focused Growth Strategy
- Trello: Visual Career Progression Mapping
- Notion: Customizable Employee Growth Roadmaps
Culture Amp: All-in-One Development Solution
One tool I highly recommend for facilitating employee development planning and tracking is Culture Amp. It's a robust platform that integrates performance management, continuous feedback, and employee engagement—making it an all-in-one solution for organizations looking to invest in their people in a meaningful, data-driven way.
In my experience working with a tech client during a period of significant change, we used Culture Amp to reset and refocus their approach to development. The platform allowed us to build custom growth plans tied to company values and role expectations, while enabling managers and employees to collaborate transparently on career goals. We paired that with 360-degree feedback and engagement survey data, giving us a full picture of employee needs and growth opportunities.
The result? A more consistent and equitable development experience, stronger manager-employee conversations, and a noticeable increase in engagement scores related to growth and recognition. Culture Amp helped us turn development into an ongoing, measurable process—not just a once-a-year conversation.
70/20/10 Framework: Transforming Growth Plans
One of the most effective tools I use for employee development planning is the 70/20/10 Framework—not just as a model, but as a mindset shift that transforms static growth plans into meaningful, job-embedded leadership development.
Too often, growth conversations focus only on formal training or annual evaluations. But when the 70/20/10 model is applied intentionally—with reflection, accountability, and strategic alignment—it sparks exponential, sustainable growth across the talent pipeline.
Here's how we use it with leaders and teams:
70% Learning by Doing
We help individuals and leadership teams identify high-impact, on-the-job growth opportunities—stretch projects, cross-functional collaboration, process redesign, and real-time decision-making. When leaders are coached to connect daily work with intentional development, they begin to lead with purpose—not just productivity.
20% Learning Through Others
This is where culture begins to evolve. We support organizations in creating systems for mentoring, coaching, peer feedback, and skip-level conversations. But the real differentiator is embedding intentional reflection—structured debriefs, journaling prompts, coaching cycles. That's what turns feedback into follow-through and relationships into results.
10% Formal Learning
We don't dismiss formal training—we elevate it. When development sessions, conferences, or certifications are linked directly to real-world goals and ongoing coaching, they become actionable, sticky, and immediately valuable.
We've supported leadership development initiatives across sectors by customizing this model to fit the organization's goals, culture, and capacity. Whether in K-12, corporate, or nonprofit settings, the outcomes are consistent: stronger leaders, clearer alignment, and more energized teams.
For organizations looking to move beyond compliance-based development and toward a culture of intentional growth, this framework has proven to be a powerful place to start. It's not just a plan on paper. It's a pathway to purpose—and performance.
LMS: Streamlining Training and Performance Monitoring
One of the vital tools for employee development planning and monitoring that I strongly recommend is a sophisticated Learning Management System (LMS).
As an HR Manager, I have come to appreciate LMS platforms as incredibly useful in streamlining training, upskilling, and monitoring employee performance. LMS systems enable organizations to design personalized training programs, assign courses aligned with individual development plans, and monitor employees' progress through robust analytics.
One of the best features is automated reporting, which provides insights into course completion rates, quiz scores, and knowledge retention. This helps in identifying skill gaps and customizing learning paths for ongoing growth. Furthermore, easy integration with other HR tools allows for seamless alignment of training with overall talent development objectives.
Through the use of an LMS, we've enhanced employee participation in learning and ensured that development plans are structured and measurable.
If you need more insights, please let me know!
Integrating Tools for Comprehensive Development Tracking
I always recommend combining different tools -- like LMS platforms, 360-degree feedback, and performance management systems -- with your existing ERP (whether it's SAP, Oracle, or others). I've led the full integration of these tools across a few companies, and it truly transformed how we approach employee development.
Before integration, using just one tool felt messy -- development plans, training needs, and performance reviews were scattered. But once we brought everything into one dashboard, it became much easier to track progress, align learning with goals, and make smarter, faster decisions.
What made the biggest difference? It helped managers and employees have real, ongoing development conversations -- not just annual reviews. It brought clarity, accountability, and most importantly, made feedback a daily part of our culture.
Data-Driven LMS: Personalizing Professional Growth
A structured learning management system with built-in analytics is one tool I consistently recommend for facilitating employee development planning and tracking. At HRDQ, we've seen firsthand how an LMS can transform professional growth by providing employees with a clear roadmap for skill development while giving managers real-time insights into progress. Finding one that aligns with your organization's goals and learning culture is key.
We use an LMS to deliver and track our own training programs, and the biggest advantage is how it personalizes the learning experience. Employees can access soft-skills training tailored to their roles and career aspirations, while managers can identify skill gaps and provide targeted support. The data-driven approach also helps HR teams make informed decisions about training investments, ensuring they align with business objectives.
For any organization looking to improve employee development, the best advice I can give is to choose a tool that is flexible, easy to use, and designed to grow with your company. Training isn't just about offering resources—it's about creating a structured yet adaptable system that keeps employees engaged, motivated, and continuously improving. When learning is tracked effectively, it becomes a strategic asset rather than just another HR function.
Express Evaluations: Collaborative Goal-Setting Platform
As an HR professional with exposure to a variety of platforms and systems, I can say with confidence that my team and I love the platform provided by Express Evaluations. Express Evaluations offers an affordable, stand-alone evaluation, goal-setting, and employee survey platform. The system is easy to navigate, and the customer service and hands-on assistance provided by the Express Evaluations team is second to none. The platform offers a simple way to collaborate with employees when setting important goals and also has great visual displays in the goal attainment tracking module. The fact that the performance evaluation tool is part of the same platform means that linking performance goals to business goals is easy. Lastly, using the Pulse Surveys module means leaders will be able to stay on top of employee satisfaction and engagement while everyone pushes to do their very best work and accomplish shared goals.
Coaching Conversations: Unlocking Employee Potential
The most powerful resource I'd recommend for employee development planning and tracking is an effective coaching conversation. Why? Because it's not just a one-off tool or a tick-box exercise. It's a mindset - a daily practice. When used consistently, it becomes a game-changer for both individuals and their performance.
At its heart, a coaching conversation unlocks potential. It encourages curiosity, clarity, and commitment. It helps individuals take ownership of their growth. And when leaders make these conversations part of their everyday toolkit, it fuels trust, accountability, and engagement across the board.
I've seen it firsthand. In my experience working with leaders and teams, shifting from directive conversations to coaching-led ones has resulted in a noticeable improvement in motivation and performance. Employees feel heard, valued, and empowered to lead their development. And when people are engaged, they tend to stay. They grow faster. They contribute more. That's your return on investment right there.
What makes it so effective is its simplicity. When leaders learn to ask powerful questions, listen deeply, and reflect back on what they hear, development planning becomes a shared conversation rather than a manager-led directive. Goals are clearer. Progress is tracked more naturally. The feedback feels more like fuel than a formal review.
I've trained hundreds of leaders in this approach. Many start out unsure. "Won't it take too long?" "What if I don't have all the answers?" But once they experience it in action, the penny drops. They realize they don't need to solve every problem. They need to create the space for others to think, explore, and commit to action.
Over time, coaching conversations shift culture. They build self-leadership. They develop critical thinking. They forge stronger, more resilient teams.
In short, coaching isn't an add-on. It's a core skill and resource. One that elevates everyday interactions and drives long-term development in a way no system or form ever could.
One-Page Development Plan: Focused Growth Strategy
One tool I often recommend for employee development is a One-Page Development Plan. It's simple, practical, and keeps things focused.
Rather than overloading people with long documents or complicated systems, this one-page format helps leaders and employees get really clear on:
- Where they are now
- Where they want to grow
- What actions will help them get there
- How success will be measured
I usually break it into three sections:
1) Strengths to build on
2) Development goals
3) Next steps and support needed
What makes it work is how easy it is to update and revisit. I've used it in both one-on-one coaching and team settings, and it creates better conversations—because it's not just about ticking boxes, it's about ownership.
One client told me it was the first time a development plan didn't feel like homework. It gave them clarity and confidence.
My tip? Keep it visible. Encourage regular check-ins - not just once a year! Development should be part of the day-to-day, not a side project.
The best tools are the ones people actually use. This one sticks because it's human, simple, and focused on progress, not perfection.
Trello: Visual Career Progression Mapping
A tool I've found incredibly effective for employee development planning and tracking is Trello. It's simple yet versatile, allowing you to create visual boards that track progress, set priorities, and break goals into actionable tasks. I remember working on a team where Trello became our go-to resource for career progression discussions. It wasn't just about managing work; it was a way to map out growth in a clear, collaborative manner.
One standout moment was when a colleague wanted to pivot into a more analytical role. We created a development board specifically for them, with columns labeled "Learning Opportunities," "Skill Practice," and "Milestones Achieved."
Each task they completed moved visually across the board, and they added notes and reflections for each stage. Over time, the board became a detailed record of their growth and commitment to their goals.
What made Trello powerful was its simplicity. It gave the individual ownership over their progress while making it easy for the team to provide accountability and support.
Notion: Customizable Employee Growth Roadmaps
One approach I've found incredibly effective for employee development planning and tracking is using Notion to create personalized growth roadmaps.
Instead of rigid HR software, we built a custom dashboard where each team member has their own development plan, skill progress tracker, and feedback journal. It's interactive, flexible, and allows for real-time collaboration.
What makes this work? Ownership. Employees update their progress, add learning resources, and even suggest projects that align with their growth goals. Managers can drop in feedback and adjust goals dynamically.
This method has made development less of a corporate checklist and more of a self-driven journey. It also helps us spot skill gaps early and create learning opportunities tailored to real needs.
If traditional tracking tools feel too rigid, you should try a customized, employee-led system--it's worked wonders for us at Write Right!
