Abasiakan DennyImagine how the job market would be in five years with the advent of sophisticated technology. The World Economic Forum predicts that 50% of workers will need reskilling by 2025. This is because of artificial intelligence. Your professional development is not just a document but serves as insurance against competition and lost opportunities. As a worker, developing a strategic professional development plan is invaluable. This guide will provide valuable information to help you navigate professional development.
Dream Audaciously
The starting point of any achievement hinges on clear dreams. These dreams would serve as primary drivers in your pursuit of premium relevance. There are important steps to take to dream audaciously. Ask yourself specific questions such as “Where do I see myself in three years?” “What legacy do I want to leave?” The crux of the matter is that you should create visions of your future. Also, learn from other professionals who are outstanding in their profession and follow the strategies they followed.
Perform Self-awareness Checks
Conduct a self-awareness check. Self-awareness is discovering your strengths and weaknesses. To be candid, you need to know your strengths and weaknesses to be relevant. Improve on your strengths and strengthen your weaknesses. List the skills you are competent in and identify the skills gaps. Use the SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats). Also, seek feedback from peers, colleagues and mentors on your performance. Focus on building yourself up where you are deficient.
Set SMART Goals
A goal-driven life is a purposeful life. The next strategy to advance your career is to set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) goals. Generic goals always fail; your goals must be SMART. Add a Why to your goals column. Do not just set goals without adding the reason and the impacts of the goals on your professional development once achieved. Review your goals and seek accountability to keep up with their demands. Let me note here that you will be met with obstacles to achieving your goals. You can stay motivated by inspirational quotes, success stories, a vision board, etc.
Maximise Growth Opportunities and Resources
Having the right tools is invaluable to achieving your goals. Maximise online courses and resources to grow your mind and improve your skills. Find mentors and build profitable networks to learn and keep up with the trends in your field. Join official associations and platforms that will boost your learning opportunities. Another way is to perform job shadowing on professionals in your field. Learning is not always from down to up, but can be the reverse. That means that you should learn from juniors who are more experienced. Leverage workplace resources, e.g. internships, workshops, books, etc.
Review, Revise and Reignite
Conduct a thorough review as you make progress. Make relevant adjustments where necessary. Celebrate every win with a recreation or a coffee treat. Reviews will inform you on what to do better and what to discard. Review your goals and scale for more opportunities and relevance. Don’t be static, evolve and diversify your skills where necessary.
A professional development plan is critical to remaining relevant and getting opportunities. The strategies discussed will help you take your career and professional development to the next level. You’ve got a chance today. Beyond competition, you can also lead the game.
