The other day, I was having kimchi with dinner after completing a full day of Individual Development Plan conversations. It had been one of those long but meaningful days – listening, asking questions, encouraging reflection, and helping people think about their growth.
As I took the first bite of kimchi, something struck me. Kimchi is not a dish you can make in a hurry. It requires preparation, patience, and time. And suddenly, I started relating how similar that is to Individual Development Plans.
Showing Up, But Not Always Prepared
Earlier in the day, I had met several participants for their IDP discussions. Many of them came in open and willing, but not necessarily prepared. Some were still figuring out what they wanted to work on. Others were expecting the conversation to give them clarity. A few were even expecting the coach to help design the entire development journey. This is not unusual. In fact, it’s something I’ve seen across organizations. People don’t resist Individual Development Plans. They go along with them. They attend sessions, engage in conversations, and agree on next steps. But often, the deeper reflection that makes development meaningful has not yet begun.
The First Step: Preparing the Cabbage
Making kimchi begins with preparing the cabbage. It is washed, salted, and then left to rest. This resting phase is essential. The cabbage softens slowly, becoming ready to absorb flavor. If this stage is rushed, the kimchi never quite develops the same depth.
Reflection in Individual Development Plans works the same way. Before goals are discussed, before action plans are created, there needs to be time for individuals to pause and think. What are they experiencing in their roles? What energizes them? Where do they struggle? What feedback have they received? Without this softening stage, development plans often remain surface-level.
Blending the Ingredients
Once the cabbage is ready, the spice paste is prepared – garlic, ginger, chili flakes, and other ingredients blended together carefully. Each element contributes to the final flavor. The paste is then mixed thoroughly so every leaf absorbs the seasoning.
In IDP conversations, this is where feedback, coaching, aspirations, and business context come together. The coach may bring perspective. The organization may bring expectations. But the individual brings their experiences and aspirations. When these elements are thoughtfully blended, the development plan begins to take shape.
The Quiet Fermentation
But even then, kimchi is not ready. After mixing, the kimchi is stored and allowed to ferment. Slowly, quietly, transformation happens. The flavors deepen, the character evolves, and over time, something richer emerges.
Development works the same way. Growth rarely happens in the coaching conversation itself. It happens afterward – when individuals try new behaviors, reflect on outcomes, and gradually build confidence. This quiet, internal fermentation is where real change happens.
Culture: The Temperature for Growth
This is also why the way IDPs are introduced in organizations matters so much. If they are driven purely as a top-down process, people participate but may not fully own the journey. Development becomes something that is expected of them rather than something they choose for themselves.
But when organizations create a culture where growth is valued, where leaders talk about their own development, and where reflection is encouraged, something shifts. People begin to take ownership. The process becomes more meaningful.
Ownership: Checking the Jar
The most powerful development journeys I have seen are when individuals return to their plans, revisit their goals, and make adjustments along the way – just like checking on kimchi as it ferments and allowing it to evolve.
A coach can guide. A framework can support. But development itself cannot be outsourced.
Individual Development Plans are a lot like kimchi. They require preparation. They need the right ingredients. And most importantly, they need time and ownership for transformation to happen.
Leadership Spice Recipe: Simple Homemade Kimchi
Just like development, kimchi is simple in ingredients but powerful in transformation.
Ingredients
1 medium Napa cabbage (or regular cabbage if unavailable)
2 tablespoons salt
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon grated ginger
2 tablespoons Korean chili flakes (gochugaru) or red chili flakes
1 tablespoon soy sauce or fish sauce
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
2 spring onions, chopped
1 small carrot, julienned (optional)
Method
First, cut the cabbage into bite-sized pieces and wash thoroughly. Sprinkle salt over the cabbage and mix well. Let it sit for about 1–2 hours. During this time, the cabbage softens and releases water. This step is important as it prepares the cabbage to absorb flavors.
Once softened, rinse the cabbage lightly and squeeze out excess water.
In a separate bowl, mix garlic, ginger, chili flakes, soy sauce (or fish sauce), sugar, spring onions, and carrot. This creates the flavorful paste.
Now gently mix the cabbage with the spice paste, ensuring every piece is coated well.
Transfer the mixture into a clean jar and press it down gently. Leave a little space at the top.
Cover and let it sit at room temperature for 1–2 days, depending on how tangy you like it. Then refrigerate. The flavor deepens over the next few days.
Like development, kimchi gets better with time.
Leadership Spice 🌶️
Development is not something that happens in a conversation.
It happens in the quiet moments when people reflect, experiment, struggle, and try again.
Like kimchi, the real transformation is slow, internal, and deeply personal.
And perhaps that is the real Leadership Spice. Not designing perfect development plans.
But creating the conditions where people are willing to ferment, evolve, and grow from within.
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