Are you investing in your career?
So you’re coasting along in your career, and things
are pretty much going your way. But are you doing
everything possible to maximize your growth, and
therefore, helping to move your career forward?
Too often we’re content to sit back and wait for the
boss to tell us how to improve or to make
recommendations for our professional growth. But savvy
individuals know they need to be constantly assessing
their strengths and identifying ways to move their
skills and talents to the next level.
What have you done lately to either assess your
strengths or improve your skills and knowledge?
Identified here are some suggestions for taking
responsibility for your own development.
Assess your strengths. Do you know where
you’re strong and where you need to focus to be on top
of your game? Investigate assessment tools to help you
understand your personality, your competencies, or your
knowledge. Sit for the PHR or SPHR exam to determine how
strong your knowledge is about HR issues. Take the
Myers-Briggs or other personality inventory to determine
your leadership style. Investigate other tools, such as
the one offered by Innovative Management Concepts, to
help you understand the level of your HR competencies.
Attend local SHRM meetings. Are you active in
your local SHRM chapter? The local chapter is perhaps
one of the best places to gain information on hot
topics, schmooze with like-minded colleagues, talk about
important issues, and explore the scoop on trends,
vendors, and resources. Go to meetings with a list of
issues you’d like feedback on and several practices in
other organizations you’d like to discuss.
Read a book on business, HR, or on specific
skills. Plan to read at least one business book a
month, focusing on HR issues, specific skill building,
or on general business trends. Join a local HR book
club, such as the one offered in Louisville, KY, or
create one of your own. Commit to reading one print or
online HR journal and one industry-specific journal each
month to remain current.
Take a class. Would fluency in Spanish help
your career? Would better negotiation or presentation
skills help you move into other key roles? Identify
where you might benefit, and seek out classes offered
through local community colleges or seminar vendors.
Attend a seminar. Look for ways to advance
your knowledge by attending seminars. SHRM offers a
myriad of development seminars and programs, in addition
to offering several excellent conferences annually.
Don’t forget e-learning opportunities—offered through
SHRM and other resources—for low-cost and high-value
programs on specific content areas that eliminate
expensive travel costs.
Approach a mentor. Just recently a young woman
attending one of my programs asked me to serve as a
mentor for her. Not only was I honored, but we have
developed a strong relationship of sharing and respect.
Be bold and ask someone to support your career. You’ll
be helping your career, while honoring a colleague.
Observe a pro. Is there someone at work or in
your community whom you admire? Look for opportunities
to see these pros in action to observe how they do what
they do.
Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask
questions and to challenge the status quo. Ask “dumb”
questions to get to the heart of issues and to learn.
Talk with your boss. Why don’t you initiate a
discussion with your supervisor about your professional
development? Ask about your strengths and how you can
build your assets.
Form a think tank. If you want to learn more
about a topic, invite colleagues to lunch for an
idea-dump on that topic. In advance, ask those you
invite to bring one idea, suggestion, or insight on the
topic they might share with the group.
Google a topic. Want to learn more about any
topic or skill? Google it and spend some time reading
about this issue. You’ll walk away with new insights
about this issue, as well as resources for support.
Set your goals. Have a plan for your
development. Decide what you’d like to be when you grow
up. Pick a big project to begin work on now. If you
write it down, you’re more likely to focus on that issue
and achieve your goal.
Hire a coach. Maybe you’d like to have some
support outside of work to help you move ahead. Consider
hiring a coach to help you develop your skills and move
forward in your career.
There are lots of opportunities for you to grow. Take
personal responsibility for your professional growth and
begin now.
