You are your own best advocate when it comes to your career development. The promo industry is constantly evolving, and when you manage your professional growth, you set yourself up for more opportunities and better positions in the future. Your boss and colleagues will see that you’re serious about your career and willing to put in the effort to continue improving your skills.
Feel like you don’t have time to focus on career development? It’s understandable. A post on the Korn Ferry blog says that professional development is easy to put off when work gets busy. However, it’s important to be deliberate about owning your career. No one is going to take the classes or attend the workshops for you — that’s up to you.
If career development is always on your radar but tends to fall to the wayside, read on. In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we share 5 ideas from the Korn Ferry blog on how you can begin growing professionally.
1. Set goals and stick to them. Maybe you want to earn educational credits toward your CAS or MAS. Perhaps you want to build a specific skill, like learning how to forecast trends. You know more than anyone about what you want to accomplish in your work, the Korn Ferry post says, so you know how to set the most meaningful goals. Define what you want to achieve and then set aside regular time to work on those goals.
2. Get behind organizational change. Any time there’s change, there’s an opportunity to learn and grow, the post says. When there are changes at your promo company, raise your hand to take on a new assignment or volunteer to lead the charge on a new initiative. This increases your chances of working with different people and experiencing varying kinds of work.
3. Be intentional about relationship-building. According to the post, building relationships across your organization — and the promo industry — is one of the best ways to grow your career. If you’re new to the industry, reach out to someone more experienced. Ask if you can learn more about their work. In most cases, the other person will be flattered that you want to learn from them.
4. Serve as a mentor. If you’ve been in the industry for a while, be a mentor to someone. Not only will you be helping new hires, but you’ll also gain more clarity on your development goals. The post says when you mentor someone, you’ll often get a new perspective on what you enjoy and dislike about your work. You’ll see where there are challenges and opportunities, and you can work to build a more fulfilling career.
5. Stay focused on the future. With responsibilities at work and in your personal life, you may feel like you don’t have time for career development. However, the Korn Ferry post says that learning new things can be a great way to stay energized and engaged. It will make you a valuable resource at work while helping you feel more fulfilled.
Everyone has a busy schedule, but your professional development is too important to set aside. Whether you meet regularly with a mentor or explore certification opportunities, it’s always worth it to invest the time in learning new skills and expanding your knowledge. The effort you put in now can pay off with greater career satisfaction in the long run.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: The Korn Ferry blog. Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm that helps businesses develop current talent and future leaders.
