By: Nick Stigers
Professional development is the process of improving one’s capabilities through education and training within the organization or utilizing outside resources. Improving employee skill sets is beneficial for both the employee and the company. In a study by the Association for Talent Development, researchers find employees of companies offering comprehensive training programs experienced 218% higher income than employees of companies that did not. The companies themselves experienced 24% higher profits over those who did not offer comprehensive training programs.
There are many benefits to improving the skill set of employees, such as increasing productivity, increasing employee retention, boosting morale, increasing calibration, and increasing company wide competency, among other benefits. Improving a skill set isn’t reserved for the inexperienced. For experienced individuals, it’s an opportunity to increase expertise, remain updated on current standards, spur creativity, and reduce complacency. Here are some tips to help you get started with improving or expanding your skill set.
Set Goals
How does one prepare for a marathon? It’s simple, one mile at a time. Learning a new skill can seem like an overwhelming and momentous task at times. Breaking large goals down into several smaller and highly achievable sub-goals may make the task seem more straightforward. Doing so helps to define a clear path towards achieving the main goal, aids in progress tracking, and helps keep you motivated.
Make an action plan to achieve the sub-goals and stick to it as much as possible. Review the action plan regularly and adjust when necessary. Avoid modifications to the action plan that unnecessarily prolong the timeline towards achieving the main goal.
Invest in Yourself
Treat yourself as an appreciating asset that’s worth investing into and invest into that asset often. Even the busiest individuals can find a few spare minutes each day to improve their skill set. According the Census Bureau the average commute time is about 26 minutes. This time spent traveling can be the perfect opportunity to listen to a podcast or an audio book with content chosen to meet goals. For individuals that are passengers, this is a great opportunity to read or watch videos on topics relevant to your training plan.
Try to put in a daily effort toward developing your skill set. If a person used just 1% of their day, approximately 15 minutes, to improve their skill set then that individual would have invested over 7 hours in training time at the end of the month. Annually, that would add up to nearly 100 hours of time invested in personal development with very little effort.
Apply Your Skills
Practicing a skill is one of the easiest ways to maintain, develop, or improve. Volunteer to assist or take on projects that allow you to apply the skills that you are developing. Doing so allows you to gain valuable hands on practical experience and gain additional knowledge. Volunteering within your organization allows you to apply your skills in a reduced risk environment with assistance readily available.
Join a Professional Association
Professional associations often have access to a myriad of training materials and training opportunities. These organizations are one of the best places to gain knowledge of current industry standards, best practices, and to network of other industry professionals and experts. Often there’s a small fee to join these organizations, but the benefits usually outweigh the costs when you factor in the added benefits.
Take Advantage of Online Resources
Chances are the learning materials for your desired skill isn’t shrouded in secrecy. Others are likely seeking similar information. Software Developer Mitch Kapor once said, “Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant.” There are multitude of resources available online for practically any skill. You may already have access to free educational material through your employer or an organization where you hold membership. Use these resources to your benefit. But, be cautious in your approach. Carefully evaluate the resource before investing time and money into it. The resource should be structured well, goal-oriented, and lead by a respected instructor.
Take Advantage of Free Training and Certification Programs
Often manufacturers will offer training and certification opportunities free of charge. Free seminars, conferences, workshop, and even certification classes are offered by some manufacturers or their partners. At LENSEC, our training team of physical security experts offer several ways to learn free of charge. We offer free training resources, trials, demos, tutorials, webinars, classes, and more.
Future-proof Yourself
Fortran is a programming language that’s served its advocates and users well for decades, but alas, it’s a language that’s nearing extinction as companies migrate to modern code. As standards and technologies change over time, the desirable skills of today may not be desirable skills of the future. Remain open to learning skills in new emerging technologies because you’ll never know when they’ll take off. For example, just a few years ago the concept of the blockchain was thought to be something that was reserved for cryptocurrencies. Today, major banks are looking to implement the system to prevent fraudulent transactions.
Find a Mentor or Personal Trainer
Similar to having a personal trainer in a gym, a mentor can provide valuable knowledge and advice in your field of study. A mentor can also help identify gaps in your skill set and can assist with helping you fill those gaps. It’s important to find the right mentor. A good mentor should be willing to share their expertise and skills, willing to provide guidance, takes a personal interest in the mentoring relationship, and is respected by colleges and the organization.
Taking Charge
So, take charge of your skills and plan well for training opportunities. The clear path is yours to choose. If you’re interested in training resources we have available at LENSEC, please contact us. You can visit our training page on the website for information on upcoming training classes.
