Personal and professional development go together in a big manner. I initially considered career development a matter of attaining technical skills and a promotion, but soon my work attitude—that I could manage tension, communicate, and have motivation—proved to me to be at least equally important. Over the years, I have noticed developing my inner me seems to have a positive impact at work, and success at work inspires me in life in general.
Goal Setting and Vision
I have sometimes in my past considered objectives in terms of wishes, and wishes, at best, possibly, but not necessarily, feasible. In college, I determined I’d become fluent in a new language but I failed to make any timeline and track my improvement. Not surprisingly, I failed to make significant headways. Later, I heard about SMART objectives—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—and it seemed a breakthrough. For instance, I determined I practice Spanish for 30 minutes a day. That little but focused practice helped me develop my speaking in a period of a few months.
What helped me even more was having a mental picture in my head. Once I have a definite motivation for working towards an objective, it’s relatively easier to have direction. I remember a period when I wasn’t convinced about my career direction. Writing about the kind of impact I could make and whom I could become helped me gain a purpose, driving me through times of upheaval.
Self-Awareness and Reflection
Self-awareness, for me, is an ongoing journey. I used to react badly when I received feedback. Over a period, I realized my reaction kept me from growing. One day, a fellow colleague mentioned I hijacked group discussions at times. I took it badly at first. But, having taken a long, reflective journey, I acknowledged it to be correct—I hadn’t been listening enough to other people’s perspectives. That little but important realization changed everything in terms of collaboration for me.
I still have a “strengths and weaknesses” journal, noting my performance in terms of both my strengths and weaknesses. It isn’t easy to face your weaknesses, but it’s a start towards becoming a better version of yourself.
Skill-Building and Continuing Learning
I focused a lot in my early days in my career in developing hard skills such as analysis and project management. Those skills matter, but I soon realized the value of soft skills such as communications, leadership, empathy, and collaboration. I remember taking several hours preparing a long report for a project but delivering it in such a poor manner in a working group session that no one actually understood information in it at all. That lesson helped me realize communications count almost as much as technical skill.
I have fallen into a routine of investing at least an hour a week in my career development, reading articles, taking an online training, or mastering a new tool. Over a period, all these little actions compound and allow me to keep pace with trends in my field. You can improve yourself from here!
Management of Time and Productivity
I used to believe busyness and productivity went together, and I’d overbook my schedule with successive appointments, only to become overwhelmed in the end. Several years ago, I missed a critical deadline because I overcommitted and could not juggle my workloads at the same time. That incident forced me to re-prioritize my priorities.
The application of time-blocking and the use of the Pomodoro technique have helped me a lot. For example, I will use a 25-minute timer and work intensively at one activity, then break for a little while. Simple routine keeps me in check and less tempted to go for my phone for a quick glance (though, I must admit, I sometimes go off track!)
Mindset for Growth and for Persevering
Learning a growth mindset revolutionized my life in a big manner. I’d believe that some individuals were “just naturally talented” at certain subjects and I’d have my current capabilities for life. Once I challenged that thinking—believing I could develop my capabilities through practice—I noticed real improvement.
The practice of resilience, in fact, changed my model for overcoming obstacles. I failed in securing a position I’d been convinced I’d gotten, and I was sore about it initially. I forced myself, however, to go over my mistakes, make a record of what I could have done differently, and seek feedback about my performance with my manager. I took a lot of criticism, but taking an open stance helped me win a similar opportunity a year down the line.
Mentorship, Networking, and Partnership
Looking back, one of my best ever decisions was getting a mentor for my personal and professional development. I was guided through challenging work and received honest feedback, and I avoided many mistakes. That mentorship also taught me about the importance of networking. By getting to know professionals in my field, I uncovered career options and information I couldn’t have discovered alone.
Collaboration reaches beyond actual work assignments. I gained many of my most significant lessons through casual conversation with coworkers, when tips and experiences were exchanged and shared. What a potent coffee break can yield, and even new partnerships!
Personal Branding and Professional Presence
I undervalued the importance of personal branding. I believed that, with enough work, I’d simply make an impression. But I soon realized that in a competitive marketplace, it’s worth projecting your strengths. Not in a braggart kind of way, but in a way in which your values and capabilities become apparent and transparent for everyone else to view them for themselves.
Creating a coherent picture—offline and online—has helped me gain trust and confidence with my networks and networks I don’t yet have a presence with yet. Simple things such as a current LinkedIn profile, a headshot, and concise messaging go a long, long distance. Sometimes I have even posted articles about my experiences, and I have gained new collaborations and doors opening in a most unplanned and unforced way.
Work-Life Balance and Well-being
I used to work through long, sleepless nights, skipping meals and exercise, early in my career. I believed I could only validate my work ethic in such a manner. But such a practice subjected me to constant strain and burnout. I remember one weekend when I was so drained I couldn’t even enjoy my weekend off at all—it was a wake-up call.
Now, I make a conscious point to have routine break times and at least a full day off a week for my leisure activity. Whatever it is, a morning run or a book at night, these experiences juice my batteries. I don’t have a perfect work-life balance, but I have noticed that taking care of my mental and physical wellbeing actually helps me work smarter, not harder, and I produce my best at work.
Prior Planning for a Brighter Career
I transitioned out of marketing and into a career in project management, and I saw first-hand the value of proactive planning. I researched at length about what qualifications I’d have to gain, what I’d have to study, and whom I could speak with for mentorship. I have career check-ins regularly, and I ask: “Where will I be in two years?” and “What strengths must I build in order to arrive?”
The practice keeps me out of limbo, even when my path will change (which it will, many times over!). Having a map, even that it will change, keeps me oriented and helps me evaluate my journey.
Regular Check-ins and Adjustments
I have a nasty affliction with creating objectives and forgetting them. That’s why I began a monthly review practice: I sit down and make a list of my success, any failures, and what I learned out of them. It’s a clunky practice, but it keeps me out of the trap of repetitive failure.
Life is unpredictable, and sometimes even our best-made plans will have a tweakin’ down the line. To adapt, whether changing career direction, re-evaluating personal objectives, can pay rich and surprising dividends.
The Conclusion
Personal and professional development isn’t a solitary activity but a continuous one. I have my own quota of failures, including procrastination and ignoring my well-being. With failure, I have earned a lesson, and I have become a little wiser and a little braver with each one of them. With diligent work through planning, continuous studying, and becoming resilient, one can observe that minor improvements in a single day can compound and become significant in the long run.