Lifelong Learning Is Essential For Career Success
In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving world, embracing the mindset of a lifetime learner has become increasingly essential for effective leadership. Leaders who commit to continuous learning and personal growth not only stay relevant and adaptable but also become catalysts for motivating their teams to do the same.
As the landscape of business and technology constantly shifts, those in leadership positions must remain agile, innovative, and open to new ideas and perspectives. A commitment to being a lifetime learner in a leadership position is the key to driving success in the face of change.
WHO OWNS LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT?
Recently, I had the privilege of participating in a multi-day professional development workshop, allowing me to expand and refine my executive coaching abilities. These improved skills will benefit not only myself and my clients, but also my organization.In my previous role as the manager of training and development, one of the most common questions posed to me was, “Who should own employee personal development?"
Should it be the organization, where they identify a set of core competencies and require that each employee chart a path to incorporate them? Could it be the manager, who on an annual basis, curates a list of training and development requirements and holds their employees accountable for completing them? Or perhaps since the operative word in the term personal development is personal (belonging to a particular person rather than to anyone else), maybe the owner should be the employee?
The answer is three-fold, a shared effort between all parties. While an organization and manager play a crucial role, it is incredibly important for leaders to take an active interest in their own personal and professional growth. Staying committed to your development journey by proactively setting career goals, taking advantage of learning opportunities and holding yourself accountable for your progress keeps you in line with continuous improvement.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself in examining your personal and professional development:
- What is one skill, if enhanced, will enable me to be a stronger contributor in my role at the company?
- What are the training and development resources available to me both inside and outside my organization?
- Does my organization (department, team) offer a designated training allowance for employees?
LEARNING IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH
As you consider your career path, ensure it aligns with a well-defined plan of action, and then commit to following through on that plan. By doing so, you stand to gain numerous advantages, including expanding your mind and gaining fresh insights. However, the advantages extend beyond personal growth. Your colleagues and coworkers also stand to benefit from your journey as you share your newfound skills, fostering heightened levels of collaboration. Moreover, your organization will experience positive outcomes, as your knowledge transfer contributes to driving innovation – a critical factor for any industry to maintain its competitiveness.
At FlashPoint we offer a variety of professional development solutions that can be facilitated with your team, department, or individually. Throughout the year, we have several courses available to the public for open enrollment. For more information about our latest upcoming Open Enrollment The Leadership Challenge, visit our events page.
Photo by Diogo Fagundes on Unsplash
