Professional growth Archives - Page 4 of 4

3 Steps To Create Your Own Career Development Plan

September 23, 2022

If you’re wondering how you’re going to get where you want to be in your career, there are some simple steps you can take that will help you create your own career development plan.

Let’s not be confused by the word âsimple.” Sometimes the simplest of concepts or steps can be tough to do because they require some intense thinking and effort. Yet, your think time and effort are an investment in your future and career happiness, which make it all very worthwhile to plan your career growth today.

1. Figure Out Your Destination

As with all efforts, you must be clear about your direction when you create your own career development plan. You don’t take a road trip without knowing where you want to end up. You also don’t need to overly complicate this task. I think the following questions are helpful in thinking about your destination.

Where do you want your career to be in two years?

I like this question because this window is close enough to your current reality that it’s easy to visualize.

Where do you want your career to be in five years?

If you see that your two-year goal is merely a step in an overall direction, then this question helps you define a longer-term career growth goal. Sometimes it’s difficult to see that far out in time as life and different opportunities present themselves and can cause you to reset your plans. That’s okay, but it’s good to be looking “two steps ahead.”

What makes these targets resonant for you?

Don’t make a goal just for the sake of making one. You need a goal that helps to motivate you into action. If you’re making a goal based on what someone else wants, it also isn’t going to be that compelling for you. Being clear on your direction means being clear that this direction is inspiring and motivational, and knowing what is driving you to it.

2. Do A Gap Analysis

A gap analysis is where you figure out the differences in the qualifications between where you are right now and your two-year goal or next step. Using a job posting or job description for the position you are aiming at is a good way to get specific information about the skills and experience that are expected. I think it is good to get more than one job description (perhaps one from your company and one from a competitor) in order to ensure you aren’t missing any key items during your analysis.

Go through the job description line item by line item and rate your current state of skills, education, or experience to what is listed. Your rating system can be as simple as 1-10, with 10 a perfect match and one being completely missing. As you rate, make notes about your thought process for future reference.

Once you have completed this exercise, identify all of the items where there is anywhere from a fair amount to a substantial amount of development that is needed. Look for commonalities and clump those together as a category. You will discover that there will be themes to your gaps.

Also, don’t get too compulsive about where you don’t think you’re a perfect match but think you have fairly developed skills. If they are mostly present, they will make you a competitive candidate and shouldn’t require too much development attention. You now have a list of development items.

3. Create Your Development Plan

You are now fully armed with a clear two-year goal and all the details of where and what you need to develop to get you where you want to go. Your plan will be best if you can consult with your boss and/or a mentor to help you with ideas on how to get the skills you need to add.

There may need to be some logical order to a few of the items on your list. Sometimes you need to do X before you can do Y. Make these among the highest priority items so you can accomplish these things and move on to others. Usually, there are multiple ways of accumulating the skills you need for career growth.

You may also want to have multiple ways of beefing up your skill set to add depth to it. An example is if you want to move to a project management position, you may want to get a certification and also ask for project responsibilities. Initially, these may be small, which is fine; they will give you an opportunity to grow and learn. In addition, you may need to research various ways to get the skills you need to grow in your career.

Once your research is done, it will give you ideas on how you can approach these items. You need dates. You need to keep yourself accountable to your plan. And the best way to do that is to give yourself a “start by” date.

You can’t predict how long or how much work you will have to do in order to develop the skill at the level you need, but you do have control over the action you take to get started. Keep track. You need to pay attention to your career development plan a minimum of twice per year. This will allow you to stay focused on your progress and remind you of next steps.

Career development is the sort of thing that you can easily forget about until you wake up one day to realize you have gone nowhere and aren’t having fun. You are responsible for where you go in your career. With a little bit of planning, you can accomplish great things.

Need more help with your career?

We’d love it if you signed up for Work It Daily’s Power Hour Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

All Successful Leaders MUST Have These 10 Characteristics

August 26, 2022

When we are asked to think of a leader, someone who inspires us to do our best every day, a wide variety of different people come to mind. Maybe someone in your personal life, someone from a television show or movie, or a historical figure whose personality you greatly admire.

While the type of person can vary immensely, more often than not, they will all have a certain set of skills and personality traits that make them a good leader. According to recent surveys, many groups find that a good business leader will often have several or all of these characteristics.

1. Honesty

A good leader will be able to establish an honest connection with their peers. A relationship based on trust and reliability makes the team know that their leader is always there for them, which in turn inspires them to be there for their leader.

2. Ability To Delegate

Each person in a group will be able to bring something different to the table, and a good leader will work with each member’s strengths and weaknesses in order to make sure that the best is being done.

3. Ability To Communicate

By clearly describing their idea to their team, the leader will be able to create a sense of ease and understanding with their peers. When every member of the team is striving towards a common goal, then there is nothing that cannot be accomplished.

4. Sense Of Humor

Negative situations will always arise, but a good business leader will know how to diffuse them and help give their team peace of mind. A stress-free work environment often garners the most results, and sometimes all that is necessary to help push your team forward is a healthy dose of humor in the face of difficulty.

5. Confidence

A good leader will show confidence in the face of challenges and will inspire confidence in their team by reminding them that obstacles are just there to be overcome. The confident leader will keep their eye on the goal and will not allow anything to deter him or her, or their team, from success.

6. Commitment

Some leaders may drive their teams to work hard, while others will constantly be at their sides, giving every task one hundred percent. The latter is the type of leader that can expect to achieve more. Teams work better when they see that the one that they answer to is right by their side, sharing their struggles and triumphs.

7. Positive Attitude

Motivation is the key to success, and it can be hard to stay motivated in a negative environment. By keeping your team’s spirits up, you will be able to motivate them to achieve more, and not let them be bothered by minor setbacks.

8. Creativity

Sometimes a difficult situation will arise that will require you to think outside of the box and help your team do the same. At such crucial movements, a good leader will be able to demonstrate a unique type of creativity that can help their team push through any situation.

9. Ability To Inspire

Inspiration can take many forms, but a capable leader will be able to demonstrate their ability to lead and inspire by motivating their team to share their vision.

10. Intuition

Finally, a good leader will have intuition. Sometimes obstacles will arise that nobody will know how to handle, perhaps even you. In such situations, it is important to be confident and make a decision.

No matter what the decision is, if you show that you are giving the problem everything you have got, it will inspire your team to do the same, which can often be all that is needed to help get past the situation.

All successful leaders have these 10 characteristics. If you want to be a great leader, make sure to develop these traits and skills, and you’ll be sure to find your own success!

Need more help with your career?

We’d love it if you signed up for Work It Daily’s Power Hour Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

The Process Of Career Management

July 26, 2022

Career management refers to the planning, supervising, controlling, handling, and administrating of oneâs professional life. It comprehensively covers a detailed view of what you want to be, where you want to go, how you will get there, and ultimately how long you intend to stay.

All these answers are directly related to oneâs personal goals and targets. Being able to handle changes in your career will best enable you to avoid mistakes of the past, prepare a confident approach for the present, and implement a positive direction for the future. Overall, managing your career will help maintain and develop your professional growth and direction.

When Should I Begin To Manage My Career?

Successful career management can start as early as the first day you walk into school or college. You should clearly identify your goals before enrolling in a particular degree or course and preparing for a lifelong career. (This saves a lot of money and time later on down the track!)

Be specific with what are you good at and what you enjoy doing; most importantly, think about what you can see yourself doing every day going forward. Being able to answer these questions will help you in understanding yourself better and what areas you are most likely to succeed.

If you find that you have made a mistake, donât panic. Exhaust your options, understand the valuable skills that you have, and how you can best utilize these existing skills. Donât be afraid to ask questions. Ask yourself if you are capable of performing the task or if you see yourself progressing in a certain area. If the answer is yes, then begin your quest to achieving your targets. Never forget to network and seek out as many people and opinions as possible. You just never know where the next door will open.

How Long Does Career Management Last For?

Career management is a lifelong exercise. Balancing your work and social life is a juggling act. It is not just confined to one period in your life or a particular profession. In life, many things change so donât be afraid to change with the times. It is all about adaptability and learning. The ability to learn from every setback will make you smarter in making your next career move.

The employment market may seem crowded and unpromising, but being open to change will help you survive during those dark months. The changing times are not moments of despair, but rather moments of opportunity.

Need more help managing your career?

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. Itâs a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, we have tons of resources inside our community that can help you manage your career so you can achieve your career goals.

It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

6 Ways To Show Your Value (Without Being A Jerk)

July 6, 2022

Team dynamics can often be difficult to negotiate. At work, generally speaking, you are on a team and you contribute. The problem is that you also want to elevate your career and stand out to your boss. So, how can you do that without the rest of the team feeling like you are a jerk (or worse)?

I’ve had the gift of working in amazing environments on rock star teams. I have also had the (ahem) opposite experience. I’ve managed teams, been part of teams, as well as been an individual contributor, and through these years, I’ve found there are a few surefire ways to show you’re an asset without being a show-off.

Here’s how you can effectively show your value at work (without being a jerk):

1. Do What You Say

My favorite direct reports were good for their word. They were trustworthy. You could truly count on them to deliver, and not just for me. I would see these team members and teammates always doing what they said they would. People notice. It might not seem like it, but when you do what you say always, you will get the important assignments. Being the one that does the important stuff is viewed as valuable, and you’re valuable without being a jerkâyou’re the good guy that people can count on to get stuff done.

2. Solve Problems

The people who come to me with solutions stand out. Problem solvers who are actively working on solutions to organizational challenges stand out for obvious reasons. They care about the problems of the company and are taking the time to solve them. There is a BIG difference between people who solve problems and people who try not to create them. The problem solvers stand out. And when they include others in the solution, all the better, because they are showing me that they are leaders who can activate others to join the cause of solving the big problems we’re facing.

3. Share In Victory

Further, managers know that a team builds a victory and solves a problem together. Good managers also can see who’s doing the lion’s share of the work and really contributing to the victory. If it’s you, be sure you are gracious in sharing that victory with the teamâthat stands out to good managers and to the team.

4. Focus On The Mission

Be monomaniacal about achieving the goals of the company and the team. When you see the team headed down a rabbit hole, gently guide them back to land. Be the one who is focused on achieving the goals and you will stand out. You might be considered a jerk for being the one who asks for focus by the ones who are unfocused, but they will forgive you when you achieve the goals, solve the problems, and share the victory (see above).

5. Be A Trusted Resource

I frequently advocate being a student of your industry. This is applicable to standing out without being perceived as a jerk when you are sharing information with your teammates about the industry and the business. When you are the go-to for information and insights, you are going to stand out. However, if you do this in a smarty-pants spirit, you are on a slippery slope to Jerktown, population: 1.

Being a trusted resource means you are sharing information in the spirit of continuous learning and development. Share that you saw something interesting in the media about the company, competitor, or industry. And when you share this information, offer an insight and an initiation to hear what the recipient of this information thinks.

6. No Brag, Just Fact

If you do awesome work, it’s ok to privately share what you’re proud of with your managerâkey word, privately. Schedule time to share your excitement with your manager. You should try to have monthly check-ins with your manager so that you can gather feedback and continue to advance your career. Keep in mind when you are privately sharing your work with your manager, do it from a place of excitement and pride, not from a place of ego and bragger-y. Excitement is contagious. Your manager may also be able to help you take the work even further.

Need more help showing your value at work?

Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Why It’s Important To Have A Career Plan

June 10, 2022

Almost everyone has some sort of significant goal or aspiration they hope to achieve in the future. For a lot of people, this includes some type of long-term career plan or dream job that they would like to obtain.

While these major objectives may seem difficult or even impossible to achieve, they can appear much more manageable through the use of a career plan. The future can provide an extremely uncertain ride, but having a solid career plan in place can serve as a reliable roadmap to get you wherever you would like to go.

Here are three reasons why you should have a solid career plan.

Career Planning Helps Us Grow

Having a realistic career plan in place is often an essential part of career growth, and our personal growth and development. Without goals to strive for, most people find it difficult to stray from the easy norm or gain skills which make them a more valuable commodity in the business world.

If your career isn’t growing, it’s dying! Failing to put together a career plan that will help you grow professionally could lead to a career crisis.

By planning for the future and setting a specific timeline for accomplishing the things you want to achieve, you will find that your career plan is an effective way to ensure you never lose motivation along the way. Between the accountability of having fixed objectives and the inspiration you’ll receive when you attain your career growth goals, your career plan is an opportunity to maximize your true potential.

A Career Plan Will Help You Land Your Dream Job

If one of the important destinations in your future is a much-desired job or position, a career plan truly is a roadmap to help you reach it. Job boards are full of available positions, but often the most desired and competitive jobs require a significant amount of prerequisite experience or education. It’s very rare that someone will simply fall into their dream job.

Most commonly, it takes years of planning your career growth, hard work, and even a little bit of luck to develop your current situation into the career of your dreams. By isolating exactly what you’ll need to accomplish in order to be a candidate for the job you truly want, fulfilling the needed tasks will become much easier and your chances of success will be much higher.

A Career Plan Is Essential To Planning Your Retirement

Having a realistic career plan in place is not just about work. In fact, a great career plan should have a much longer view. Unless your dream job is something that you want to do every single day of your life, your career plan can also be used to determine the steps needed to smoothly enter into retirement down the road.

Incorporating a rudimentary knowledge of financial planning into your career goals and setting yourself up for retirement through proper savings and the allocation of investments will serve as a great way to wrap up your long-term career plan.

Working in your dream job may be where you would like to see yourself in ten years, but what about when you’re in your 60s or 70s?

Career planning may intimidate some people who are unsure about the direction they would like to take decades down the road. Instead of being a set-in-stone list of rules and objectives you must follow, your career plan should instead be viewed as simply a way to get what you want.

As frequently as our wants and needs change, the tasks we must accomplish in order to achieve them change just as fast. Having a career plan can help you design your future the way you would like it, but can also be flexible enough to change when your personal ambitions and goals do.

If you’re struggling to create a career plan and grow as a professional, we can help.

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. Itâs a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

The reason why Feedback Will Help Your own Professional Development

May 17, 2022May 20, 2022

Feedback, in typically the world of business, will be the breakfast of winners. Feedback “feeds” us. It can at the top associated with the food pyramid with regard to learning and professional advancement. How often do an individual ask for feedback?

Feedback may be humbling, it could be eye-opening, and the idea can bring awareness to be able to us of things of which we’re simply “blind” for you to. When we don’t inquire for it, we generally don’t receive it—particularly this constructive form. Many or perhaps most people will give to us positive feedback, but not many will give us sincere, candid feedback focused upon how we can enhance, how we can obtain better, or things we all SHOULD change or perform differently.

Help to make ASKING For Feedback The Habit

Seek feedback through others:

Following a meeting inside which you participated
After speaking in public
In follow-up to help a networking event
Anytime you’re before others

Ask an observer (a colleague, a friend, your peer, a direct statement, a mentor , some panel member, or a fabulous participant):

How did you need to do general?
Was your own message clear?
Did you appear to listen closely well?
Had been your body language throughout alignment with your communication?
Did anyone seek input from other folks?
Did people show respect for others’ time?
Performed you leave a optimistic impression?
Had been you friendly?

Seeking feedback convey a clear message the fact that you care, that individual excellence is important towards you, which learning and even getting better really are a concern. Feedback is a impressive learning tool, but comparable to other tool, in case left in the tool kit, it does you simply no good. Use it. Get feedback often. Make opinions a habit, and you will successfully develop yourself because a professional.

If you’re looking regarding alternative ideas to enhance your current professional development, we can easily help.

We would love it if everyone joined our FREE local community . It’s a personal, online platform where employees, just like you, are usually coming together to understand and grow into effective Workplace Renegades.

Join our FREE neighborhood today that will finally become an strengthened business-of-one!

This short article was initially published in a earlier time.

Want To Move Up The Ladder At Work? Focus On The 3 Cs Of Career Growth

May 16, 2022May 20, 2022

Have you heard of the three Cs of career growth? They are the three things you need to focus on in your career if you want to move up the ladder at work and find long-term professional success.

As a career coach for the last 20 years, I’ve learned that people cannot move their careers forward in a vacuum. You can’t grow your career alone. And that’s where the three Cs come in…

The 3 Cs Of Career Growth

@j.t.odonnell How to grow your career FAST! @j.t.odonnell #careertiktok #careeradvice #careertips #learnontiktok #ScreamItOut ♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

The first “C” of career growth is courses/content. You need resources in your career that will teach you something new and give you a new perspective.

The second “C” is coaching. In order to truly grow your career, you need a trained expert or a mentor, somebody who can help you interpret what you’re learning, especially if you hit roadblocks. A career coach, for example, can tailor their answers to support you and your needs, providing you with the right advice that will help you succeed.

The third “C” of career growth, and the most important, is community. You have to surround yourself with like-minded individuals who are working on the same problem or chasing the same goal. This not only motivates you, but it gives you more information and perspective in order to speed up the success of your learning.

Where To Find The 3 Cs

Now, where do you find the three Cs of career growth? Well, I actually founded Work It Daily on the principles of the three 3 Cs. When you join our FREE community, you get access to courses, coaches, and community—all in one place!

Work It Daily is one of the largest online career coaching platforms, and all you have to do is sign up to get FREE access to the 3 Cs of career growth. Sign up, check out our free resources section, and pick courses to learn from. You can post your questions inside the community for the coaches and you can meet other members who are part of the community.

So, if you want to grow your career and move up the ladder at work, you know where to find me.

Sign up for Work It Daily’s FREE community today! My team and I are looking forward to working with you soon.