A friend recently confided that she is feeling bored in her role and considering studying for a new qualification, or embarking on a different career path. Most of us want to feel we are growing and learning in our work as well as simply doing a good job. Regardless of the stage we are at in our career, new knowledge and skills keep it more vibrant and interesting. Not only that, but in a competitive workplace progression often comes more readily to those who ‘go the extra mile’. A useful question here is:
What am I currently doing to improve my professional standing at work, and how is it serving me?
To help you explore this some more, here are 10 ideas for developing your professional expertise and connections:
1. Subscribe to trade publications (online / offline)
This is a great way to stay abreast of news and events in your sector. Resist the temptation to subscribe to them all and then read none – it’s better to be more targeted about what you want to know. Check if your organisation has a press cuttings service that pulls out articles relevant to you and your sector.
2. Networking events
What better way to discover interesting and relevant information than by talking to like-minded people? Consider it an investment to find the right networks where you feel comfortable and enjoy the company of those who attend. Go along with a willingness to share your own experiences and connections, and be open to the views of others.
3. Conferences / exhibitions
As well as providing networking opportunities, conferences and exhibitions can deliver useful information about what’s current in your sector. They typically include opportunities to hear from thought leaders who may have experienced challenges you face and can share case studies for what works.
4. Join a professional body
Perhaps your qualifications or your current role qualify you for membership to a particular body offering access to a network, events and other benefits. Choose carefully – a colleague of mine joined one particular body ‘because she could’ and then discovered it was all a bit too stuffy for her and she didn’t use any of the benefits. Know your outcomes and check it can give you what you need.
5. Blog
Stephen Covey offers a piece of advice in his book ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’ that has always stuck with me:
“… read with the purpose in mind of sharing or discussing what you learn with someone else within 48 hours after you learn it. … and notice the difference in your mental and emotional process.”
As we don’t always have someone available to discuss it with immediately, why not consider writing a blog, or an article for your company newsletter, to consolidate and share your learning with colleagues.
6. Social Media
I’m probably way behind the curve, but I’ve recently started tweeting. Its early days, and I’m pleasantly surprised by how useful I’m finding it. Twitter effectively acts as a broker for a vast amount of knowledge and information. I’m finding that it both informs my work and helps me serve my clients better.
Linked In groups provide online networking and forums with interesting discussion threads.
I’m no expert on social media, and if, like me, you are not sure where it’s going, take a look at this video for an interesting perspective.
7. Courses / seminars / workshops
Many people enjoy specific training events where they can benefit from dedicated time to learn, away from the distractions of the office. Be sure to choose courses where you will be actively involved in the learning so that it’s memorable and actionable. I attended a disappointing workshop recently where most of the content could have been delivered via a PowerPoint presentation or a book, and it would have been equally as useful. We were given little time to interact with other delegates or work with the content to make it real for us.
8. Webinars / teleseminars
These are a great way, in my experience, of accessing a large volume of information in a fairly short space of time. Mind maps at the ready! Free versions of these events are often used as tools to sell other products, so be aware of this.
9. Newsletter subscription
According to a recent survey from Microsoft the average American has three email accounts and an average of 200 unread emails. You don’t need me (or Microsoft) to tell you that your email account is busy, so choose the newsletters that give you what you need.
If you’re here via my April news digest, it’s great to have you as part of the community.
10. Online videos
Video is immensely popular as a medium, and there are so many available online – free of charge and otherwise. Choose carefully – you’re probably already aware that You Tube has a lot or rubbish nestled amongst the gems (and it may be that you can’t access it from work anyway). I highly recommend TED for cutting edge talks on a breathtaking array of topics.
And finally…
None of this is new or revolutionary and the chances are you’re doing some of it already. The purpose here is to invite you to consider what results you’re getting from your current efforts so you can evaluate your choices. We all know how time consuming gaining / using new knowledge can be, and it takes clarity and a little forethought to make it worthwhile.
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