How to take charge of your professional development
A great manager will factor professional development into your annual goal setting and ensure you have opportunities to develop and grow. Unfortunately not all businesses have formal processes in place and so it’s often left to us to take control of our own growth and development. Here are a few tips to get you started…
Identify potential areas of development in your current role
Look at the scope of your current role and identify any areas that you could develop to help you better meet your KPIs and goals. Whether it’s formal training, internal mentorship or simply more time with your manager, development focused on meeting existing KPIs and goals will be an easy sell to your manager.
Seek out a mentor
Whether it’s someone from inside your business, a previous manager or colleague or someone that has been referred to you, a mentor who has experience in your field or industry is a great asset when it comes to your professional development. We suggest making it clear what you’re goals are so that you can get the most out of the relationship.
Say yes to opportunities
Most businesses will have teams working on projects that encompass the wider business and so there is likely to be an opportunity to put your hand up and represent your department. Don’t be afraid to do so, the opportunity for growth through these experiences are invaluable and it’s a chance to extend your skill set.
Set a career growth plan
If you have your eyes set on career growth (who doesn’t?) and you feel supported by your manager, we suggest sharing your goals with them. They’ll be able to guide you and set additional challenges for you in your current role to ensure you’re continually growing and are ready to take the next step when the time is right.
It’s important to remember that you can own your professional development even if your workplace doesn’t have a formal growth or development plan in place for you. Good luck!