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How Busy Professionals Seek Out Professional Development Opportunities

Being a professional means constantly seeking out opportunities to grow in the industry and advance your career. Unfortunately, because of the demands of a modern job, the time that employees have to explore the available options is limited.

Here, 12 associates of Forbes Human Resources Council explore how busy employees can find the time necessary to seek out and benefit from available professional development opportunities — even with a packed schedule.

 

 

1.  Set a clear goal and make time to achieve it. If it’s a professional certification you are after, then set aside at least 30 minutes a day to study. If it’s learning a desired skill, doing “microtraining” sessions is a quick way to ensure you are learning something new and staying on course to achieve your goal!

2.  Automate where you can. Subscribe to professional organization listservs or newsletters so that the latest information comes directly to you.

3.  Embrace self-paced e-learning. Self-paced e-learning is a valuable resource for employees who wish to expand their knowledge base, particularly if the employee is able to take some or all of the training during work hours.

4.  Be very candid about your skill gaps. Be very mindful of your career trajectory and goals. Then be very candid with yourself on what skill/knowledge gap you need to fill to propel you toward those goals. When you know where you want to go, and what you need to get there, it will help you to seek out opportunities to accomplish that. This will help you maximize the use of your time as you evaluate opportunities that come to you.

5.  Leverage microlearning sessions. There are short online courses, seminars and webinars that last 15-60 minutes that can help you develop and keep your skills up to date. A lot of educational tools are available specifically for mobile apps and can be completed week to week during a lunch break.

6.  Stay connected with experienced leaders. Stay connected with leaders who have relevant experiences and seek out others who have unfamiliar experiences. Next, use the Socratic method of learning, in which individuals have a cooperative argumentative dialogue where they ask and answer questions that encourage critical thinking and draw out ideas and underlying presuppositions.

7.  Ask to sit in on executive meetings. Being a “fly in the room” provides an opportunity to not only listen and ingest information you would not normally have access to, but also how the information is communicated, why it’s communicated, how different executives think about different topics, etc. Observation of leaders is one of the best ways to develop and grow.

8.  Leverage virtual resources. Everything is virtual, so take advantage of this convenience. LinkedIn Learning, Khan Academy and Coursera are all extremely convenient ways to develop yourself.

9.  Tap into webinars, conferences, podcasts. Since the pandemic, there’s been an abundance of free and low-cost webinars, seminars, and conferences on various platforms. You can register and then review on your own time if it doesn’t fit into that day’s schedule. Also tap into podcasts and audiobooks to keep current in your development.

10.  Register for events with recorded playback. Register for an event and attend as much as you can live, and then set time on your calendar within the next two weeks to keep the information relevant and watch/listen to the rest. This allows you to have information in smaller, easier-to-digest pieces, and there is no need to block out hours at a time.

11.  Have coffee catch-ups with someone you admire. Consider scheduling quarterly coffee catch-ups with someone you look up to. This could be a mentor, a department lead, or someone whose career you admire. By scheduling these ahead of time, you’ve already invested in your personal development by holding yourself and your coffee date accountable.

12.  Volunteer as a leader of a ‘solution sprint’. Identify a business challenge and present management with a quickly implemented yet quality solution that can make a big improvement. Be sure to include a detailed timeline, list of stakeholders, and key performance indicators to measure success. Then be ready to execute. Keep engagement high by focusing on the shortest path to achievement.

Finding time for professional development can be a real struggle, but doing so has a number of benefits. It can help to enhance your professional value and build up your expertise, and it makes you more capable when you’re faced with new challenges or given new responsibilities. Consider these tips to prioritize your growth and development.

 

References:
Forbes (2020, November 16) Forbes HR Council: 12 Ways Busy Employees Can Seek Out Professional Development Opportunities

Srini’s Tech Tip: Use Conditional Formatting to Find and Highlight Text

Have you ever used the Find feature in Excel to locate instances of data/text? If you have, you have also used the “Find Next” button to find the next instance, and the next, and so on. What happens if you have a very large data set (i.e. hundreds or thousands of rows of data)? The Find feature is commonly used but is a very tedious method for larger instances of data. Also, you would have to engage the Find dialog box each time you want to find new text/data. In other words, it’s clunky.

A more efficient method is utilizing the Conditional Formatting feature in Excel, but with a Formula to make it more dynamic. It can be made even more efficient if it is equated to an entry cell, where you can just type the data/text you want to find, and let Excel highlight all the instances with a color so it can stand out. You can also highlight an adjacent but corresponding cell to clearly stand out and identify the data/text you are trying to “Find”. If the data set itself is constantly growing, (i.e. you are updating and adding new rows to the data), then converting the data (range) to a Table object will make the method more effective.

The following example shows how one can enter the text to find in cell F1 (yellow cell), and Excel will locate all instances of that data in column E (yellow). However, if you type the data found in column F, then the yellow highlight is applied to all items found in column F, along with the adjacent column E.

Screenshot A:
(Convert a Data Range to a Table Object – mentioned in an earlier Technology Tip)

 

Screenshot B:
(Convert a Data Range to a Table Object – mentioned in an earlier Technology Tip) – continued

 

Steps to Convert a Range to a Table (Object):

  1. Click in the data range (no blank rows or columns)
  2. Press CTRL + T to bring up the Create Table dialog box
  3. Make sure the Check Box has a check mark to indicate the table has headers;
    Click Ok (the Table has Blue/White alternating rows and filter arrows on the headers).

 

Screenshot C:
(Apply Conditional Formatting to data columns where data is found)

 

Before applying conditional formatting, select the cell where you will be entering Data/Text you want to find, and apply a Yellow color.  In our example below this is Cell F1.

Steps to Apply Conditional Formatting:

  1. Select the columns of data where you want to find the text (Column E & F in our example, E4 to F30)
  2. Click on Conditional Formatting ribbon button
  3. Click on New Rule (in the menu drop down)
  4. Select Use a Formula to determine which cells to format;
    Click OK.

 

Screenshot D:
(Apply Conditional Formatting to data columns where data is found) – continued

 

Step to Apply Conditional Formatting (cont’d):

  1. In the Format values where this formula is true field, type the following formula:
    =OR(E4=$F$1,F4=$F$1) where, E4 is the first data cell in column E, F4 is the first data cell in column F, and $F$1 is the absolute reference to the data that will be typed in cell F1 (the yellow colored cell)
    1. Click the Format button
    2. in the Fill tab, choose yellow
    3. Click OK

Additional Explanation for Formula Used:
In Excel formulas, you may use upper of lower case for functions or references, but no blanks.

Without a “$” sign, a cell reference is known as a relative reference, so when the reference goes down in selection, the row number changes automatically; if the selection goes to the right, the column letter changes.  In this example, cell E4 will change to E5, E6, E7 etc, as it goes downward in the data. The same with cell F4.

With a “$” sign, a cell reference is known as an “Absolute Reference”, so when the selection changes downward or to the right, the reference to the cell will not change. In this example, cell $F$1 is an absolute reference and does not change.

This concept is covered in our Excel Level 1 Introduction course.

TWO EXAMPLES TO THE CONDITIONAL FORMATTING
METHOD DESCRIBED IN THiS TECH TIP:

 

Convert Bullet Text into a SmartArt Graphic in PowerPoint

One of the most useful tools in PowerPoint is a feature called SmartArt that allows you to create graphical representations of presenting text. There are several built-in graphics in the SmartArt gallery, however, most people only know how to use it in the traditional method of inserting the graphic and then typing the text in each item inside the graphic. However, there is a better method where you can convert existing bulleted content into a SmartArt graphic. This is a huge time saver and an excellent way to concentrate on the content first, and then convert the text into a graphic which is more presentable for your audience.

The following is the traditional or the common method, where one inserts the graphic (let’s say a Horizontal Bullet List), and enters the content by clicking in each box and typing the text manually. This is the more tedious way and longer way of using the feature.

  1. Create a slide where you can enter some bullet points for your presentation.
  2. In the placeholder, click on the Insert a SmartArt graphic icon.
  3. Select the desired SmartArt Graphic (such as a “Horizontal Bullet List” as shown).

 

 

 

THE CORRECT/EFFICIENT METHOD TO CONVERT EXISTING TEXT INTO A SMART ART GRAPHIC:

Let’s say you already have a slide with some bulleted text. The screenshot below shows a slide where there are 4 topics with some descriptions (the sub-bullets).

 

To convert the existing text into a Smart Art Graphic, just right click in the bullets and choose Convert to SmartArt. Select the graphic shape you want (such as Horizontal Bullet List). VOILA! That’s it. PowerPoint has taken all the content and placed them inside the appropriate graphic text boxes.

 

Here is the completed graphic:

Don’t Just Be an Asset, Become Irreplaceable

Meeting the expectations of your job description will make you a valuable asset to your workplace. Exceeding them in a unique way will make you irreplaceable, and that’s essential for the longevity of your career. Making yourself indispensable at work is an important way to ensure job security and gain respect from both your coworkers and supervisor. It can also result in increased job satisfaction and help you attain your career goals. Being indispensable requires strong dedication, effort and work ethic.

The challenge, however, is obvious: most people believe to do better means just to do more. These are the same people that burn themselves out trying to overwork in order to leave a good impression. This isn’t only unsustainable, it’s also not as effective as you might think.

Here are a few tips to establish yourself as an invaluable asset to your workplace:

1. Working longer hours doesn’t make you an asset. People who overdo it are often difficult to work with, snappy, and less efficient. Mostly, though, overworking signals to those around you that you either do not know how to manage your time well, or you’re hungry to prove your importance. Neither is a great look. Remember – it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

2. Develop an exclusive skill. If you want to truly become an invaluable asset, you must figure out what you are capable of doing that’s unique. This is the core principle to any successful endeavor. Instead of trying to be the best at what everyone else is tasked at doing, it’s essential to set yourself apart by proving what you can do that absolutely no one else can. If that’s not feasible, focus on what nobody else can do as efficiently, or perhaps are not willing to do as often.

3. Master the art of prioritization. Productivity experts suggest writing down everything you’d like to do in a day, and then cutting that list in half, and then in half again. What you’re left with is often the absolute essentials. If you get them done and have energy for more, great. If not, that’s OK, too. Tomorrow you’ll be able to tackle new main tasks.

4. Collaborate. Make a practice of including others. Listening to and implementing input can help you become a great team player. Teamwork is often key to success, and working well with others will help make you indispensable.

5. Never stop learning. More essential than anything else is remaining elastic and adaptable. Stay ahead of the curve, tuned into the trends, and consistently willing to learn more and improve what you do. Instead of making yourself irreplaceable for how much grunt work you can accomplish, let your team know that you’re invaluable because you’re an innovator, an action-taker, and a leader.

6. Be reliable. Follow through on what you say you’ll do. The value of an employee’s word is a clear indicator of their work performance.

7. Be consistent. Doing something consistently, and not just when you feel inspired and motivated to do it, is extremely important and a major key to success. Relying too heavily on motivation will defeat you in the long run.

8. Cultivate communication skills. Building clear communication can improve company culture and prevent misunderstandings between managers and employees. Hone and refine your communication style to focus on listening to others, having empathy, and considering individual differences.

9. Be adaptable. The ability to accept change is vital to staying relevant and necessary in your work environment. Showing your adaptability can demonstrate that you are willing to take on new responsibilities and grow in your role.

10. Practice patience. This is one of the most valuable skills to mitigate stress, avoid team conflicts and stay focused on a goal. Building patience is all about knowing what you can control and what you can’t.

11. Be a negotiator. Good negotiation skills can improve your performance and your relationships with clients, coworkers and supervisors.  Build rapport with your team and let clients understand that compromise is part of the process.

12. Take initiative. Think proactively about tasks – not just to check them off a list, but to get them done well. Your efforts will not go unnoticed.

Being indispensable can produce feelings of constantly having to live up to high expectations. As a result, if and when you do fail, it can be quite noticeable. However, it’s much better to be seen as indispensable and fail once in a while than not being seen as being indispensable at all.

 

References:
Forbes (2019, January 24) Brianna West: 7 Things People Who Are Invaluable Assets to Their Workplaces Do Not Do
Indeed (2022, June 24) Indeed Editorial Team: Ways to Become Indispensable at Work

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