Professionals who make the most out of their development don’t simply wait on their manager or organization. They drive it themselves. Owing your professional development is key to advancing your career forward and having a more fulfilled work life.
1. Make the Time
With everything you set out to accomplish in life, you must set a plan. Calendar out time weekly to focus on your development. Use that time to read industry specific material, have coffee with you mentor, sharpen your role specific skills, etc. I recommend journaling weekly what wins and opportunities you had over the course of the week. Which brings me to:
2. Self Assess…Honestly
Many companies give its employee an annual review which serves as an assessment of performance for the fiscal year. Use your companies annual review format to do your own self assessment once a month. When you use your companies annual review format, you can be sure you are the same page in terms of criteria for your performance. A self assessment will help you identify current gaps in your performance that you can improve. Self assessing will also allow you to identify strengths that you can enhance and speak to in meetings with your manager, mentor, or even during an interview for another position. Other context for your self assessment:
What accomplishments are you proud of this month?
Did you meet or exceed goals consistently from a metrics standpoint?
What was your overall contribution to the team?
Answer these questions honestly, with data and examples to support your vision. When you are honest with yourself about your strengths and gaps in performance, you’ll also be more open and change agile to the feedback you receive from your manager or mentor. Your conversations will be far more productive in your favor.
3. Company and Personal Resources
Often companies have an internal website you can use for development-typically on an HR website. Are you taking advantage of those benefits? For example: Are there courses or certifications you can take that your company will reimburse you for that you’re neglecting? Check that website at least quarterly because those resources are updated frequently depending on the relationships your company builds with vendors. Build relationships with professionals in and outside of your field to sharpen your business acumen. Join professional organizations that are related to your field-regardless of if your company will reimburse you for the membership fee.
Invest in yourself. You are worth it. Any company that wants to thrive has a retention strategy to develop and keep employees. Making the most of that strategy begins with having your own plan.
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