"Under Construction": Committing to Professional Development

Our professional life shouldn’t stagnate. Like anything organic, it develops to its fullness of potential, growing and perfecting. Being made with a rational soul, we are obligated to seek perfection in all areas of our life. That is, we are called to make the most of our talents and fulfill our duties in our personal and professional lives.

As professionals, it’s important to cultivate a mentality of continuous improvement. No matter your occupation, no matter your degree of expertise, there are always areas of improvement. From the smallest position in a company to the CEO, each has a duty to himself to continually water his career through professional development.

But where does one begin? That is a fair question. Exactly ‘where’ might depend on each person’s career path. Still, there is one place we can all begin: with a plan. Defining your path, and making measurable and achievable goals will help provide you with a “hard copy” of your professional development strategy. Perhaps you’re in sales and want to eventually manage a sales team. How do you get there? Well, maybe it starts with setting a realistic number of sales and accounts to your resume. Then, setting aside time and money to get management training or that Sales Management Certification. Then, you define a strategy of networking to connect with people who can help you achieve your goal.

Charting a path towards where you want to be in any given amount of time is a great way to solidify a trajectory. But it’s only a start. Implementing the plan is Phase Two. In order to get started on the plan, let’s look at a few strategies.

Read…A LOT

Knowledge is power (so they say). It is, at least, one aspect of it, since it drives us to activity through stimulating ideas, inspiration, and valuable insights. Reading is often cited as one of the habits of highly successful people. Of course, as Catholics, it is important to be discriminating with what material we read. On the whole, though, reading an abundance of content and books relevant to our specific industry that will keep us up-to-date with industry trends and developments, as well as advice on how to succeed, are generally useful materials that will help us with our professional development.

Network with people who can help you

Rarely is a plan a one-man operation. A smart professional will recognize the benefit of making new professional connections and be proactive with reaching out. Perhaps you know a Sales Manager or someone who has reached the point you’re trying to get to. Reach out! Get connected! If you know the person fairly well, maybe grab a coffee to get his insight!

Consult with a mentor

For young professionals especially, this is extremely useful. However, any professional would do well to consult with a specific individual who can help you achieve your goals. They can provide insight, recommend resources, give suggestions and feedback, and further extend your professional network. Having a professional “wingman” of sorts helps keep you accountable and focused on your professional destination.

Volunteer when you can

Getting involved outside of the office is a great way to build stronger relationships, add experience, and broaden your network. It gives you the chance to hone in on your community service and practice important social skills, like emotional intelligence and empathy, that will enhance your value as a person and as a professional.

Assess your strengths and weaknesses

Everyone has something to offer. What are your strengths? On the flip side, what do you perhaps need improvement on? A good practice is to write out your skills, or take a skills test, to better assess where you stand. For those strengths, it is good to hone it and perfect those. Are you good with data? Maybe enroll in a course to get certified in this field! Are you an empathetic person? Maybe find ways to utilize this strength more on a daily basis. For your weaknesses, pinpoint which weaknesses are the most useful and try improving on those areas. Do you struggle with public speaking or presentations? Maybe take a course on public speaking at your local community college or practice the best presentation techniques at home with mock presentations.

Final thoughts

Your professional life has an abundance of opportunities to grow. It takes dedication and commitment to cultivate that growth, but with the right strategy you can accelerate your potential and become your very best. Developing your mind, your hard and soft skills, and your circles of professional acquaintances is a sure-fire way to start on the path towards professional excellence.