It is well-known that those who don’t find the time for professional development tend to stagnate. Great leaders share a common thread…they are also great learners. Here are a few suggestions to help you take control of your professional development.
- Cultivate a learning mindset. Set aside time to learn on a regular basis. In an interview with McKinsey Quarterly, Tom Peters discussed the importance of leaders having “unscheduled time” to learn new things.
- Read regularly and broadly. Do not only focus on current events but also subjects that can broaden your horizons. You will almost always find an idea or two that you can implement in your organization.
- Attend training programs; books and articles only take you so far. Learning and Organization Development offers a variety of online courses specifically designed with your development in mind.
- Teach others what you know. There is no better way to master something is by trying to impart your knowledge and skills to others. In an article from The American CEO, Ana Maria Sencovici of The River Group calls teaching one of the most underutilized tools in leadership development.
- Find mentors. Mentors or coaches are often able to give objective advice that you may not get elsewhere. Having someone who will give you honest, unvarnished input is priceless. Paramita Bhattacharya of Forbes wrote a comprehensive article entitled “What Makes a Great Mentor, and the Importance of Having One” that can help if you need a little direction.
- Actively solicit feedback from your employees, board, peers, and anyone else in a position to provide valuable input. Unbiased feedback can help you to see yourself in a more objective light.
To further explore the importance of professional development, check out these additional resources:
The New Rules of Work: The Modern Playbook for Navigating Your Career by Alexandra Cavoulacos and Kathryn Minshew
What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter
The Startup of You by Reid Hoffman
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