Between the calls and meetings and follow-ups and projects, it can feel like you’re always in motion. Adding learning and development to your to-do list? It can feel overwhelming. Julie Winkle Giulioni, a renowned leadership expert, understands that time is often the biggest hurdle when it comes to professional development. It just seems like there’s never enough left over to learn something new or refine your skills.
Here’s the thing though — you don’t need to tackle complex courses or invest hours every day in learning. Instead, Giulioni says you can grow without burning out by focusing on lighter lifts. In other words, incorporate small, bite-sized learning moments into your day.
In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we share Giulioni’s guidance on how to make development a regular, manageable part of your routine.
Approach regular activities with intention. Giulioni points out that every task, meeting and conversation is a chance to develop new skills — you just need to approach them purposefully. For example, if you want to improve your influence skills, use an ordinary sales meeting to pose thoughtful questions or suggest new ideas.
Listen and learn. You can learn practically anything with a quick online search. If you have a few minutes between meetings or on your commute to work, watch a quick video or listen to a podcast. You might be surprised at what you can learn in the small bits of time throughout your workday.
Encourage pull coaching. Most coaching comes from managers who initiate development discussions. Try mixing things up by inviting your team members to take the lead. Giulioni says that when employees proactively request feedback from co-workers or leaders, the results can be significant. It empowers employees to drive their own learning while keeping it integrated into their workflow.
Use existing resources. Don’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to career development. Guilioni says there are countless free resources available that can help you sharpen your skills in just minutes.
Put a playful spin on learning. Whether you turn to games, card decks or interactive exercises, there are many ways to spark creativity and engagement when learning. Incorporating a bit of play can be a great lighter-lift way to unlock new ways of thinking.
Career development doesn’t have to be a heavy burden. Focus on lighter-learning lifts, like reading a short article or listening to an informative podcast. When you work these small actions into your daily routine, you can grow your promo career in a sustainable way.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Julie Winkle Giulioni is a co-founder and principal of DesignArounds, a consulting, training and development firm. Named by Inc. Magazine as a Top 100 Leadership Speaker, she’s also an author and keynote presenter.
