a) Priorities
In order to decide on Development Priorities make a brain storm of all potential development challanges you can imagine for your career development and then order these according to their priority - what is most important, the second most important, etc.?
Example for a top priority: I need to improve my Computer Skills in order to be considered for the management position in Miami.
b) SMART Objectives
After defining your priorities, set yourself SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time bound) objectives for these priorities.
If it’s achievable, it may not be realistic. If it isn’t realistic, it’s not achievable.You need to know: • Who’s going to do it?
• Do they have (or can they get) the skills to do a good job?
• Where’s the money coming from?
• Who carries the can?
• Realistic is about human resources/time/money/opportunity.
Example for defining a SMART objective: I improve my Spanish language skills and will be able to perform translations for my company and other clients. Improving the language skills I will be able to work in the marketing section and get a better salary.
c) Progress Measures
Asking yourself the following questions in order to measure your progress on the Development Objectives you defined:
How will my behavior change?
How will I be regarded?
What will I do now?
What will I have stopped doing?
What will I have started doing?
What will I know?
d) Defining Goals
To help you think about your future career, ask yourself these questions:
What are my lifetime goals?
If you were to look back at the end of your life, what would you like to have achieved?
Where would I like to be in the next 5 years?
Imagine the future for the next few years. What would you like to have done?
What would I do with a year off?
You have a paid year out – what would you really like to do?
What if I was guaranteed success?
If you couldn’t fail –what would you do?
What if I had six months left to work?
With a set amount of time left, how would you use it?
You can choose between a variety of development methods and you may need to use more than one method to meet you development need but you should try not to use too many at once. Examples of Development Methods are:
On the job development
Off the job development
Learning with a colleague
Learning in a network
General Education Development (GED)
Re-training
Continuing Education Units (CEU)
Degrees
On the Job Development or Cross-Training
Ask your supervisor if you can take on new responsibilities related to your job. This is interesting for you as well for your employer as it can be a way of broadening your experience or increasing the level of responsibility you handle, while providing the employer with more staffing flexibility and back-up coverage.
Every day you encounter different challenges and situations, all of which offer you the opportunity to learn and develop your skills. We often learn and develop on the job without even realizing it. Take time to reflect upon what you have learned from a specific experience, what you did particularly well and how you might do things better or differently next time.
When learning on the job, there is a range of options open to you, including: job-based activities, team working, work shadowing, deputizing, etc. All provide opportunities to review, reflect and document your progress and gain feedback from colleagues.
Off the Job Development
Off the job development opportunities include training and development courses and/or programs, videos, books, journals and publications, online or distance learning or interactive learning.
Talk to your supervisor and Human Resource Development about the range of off the job training and development opportunities available within your organization.
Learning with a colleague
Many people benefit from learning with one or more colleagues, enabling them to gain different perspectives and to share experiences. An interesting approach for learning also is coaching. Providing support, advice and guidance to others many times challenges you to learn more about the theory or technical background of a process or technique and promotes you as an expert in this field.
Learning in a Network
Networking is a way of tapping into knowledge and experience of other people who are in a similar situation to you. You can do this formally or informally by attending conferences and seminars.
General Education Development (GED)
If you did not earn a high school diploma, get the equivalent. Contact the high school you attended to find out what credit you have and to obtain a transcript. Then contact the local high school and ask about their Adult Education Program.
Re-training: Re-training is a way of acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills for a new career. It may involve formal education, seminars, hands on experience or a combination of learning experiences.
Continuing Education Units (CEU): CEUs are a way of continuing training. Some professions require this form of continuing education. Again try to check out how good the program's results have been. Some seminars and training programs carry CEUs, which you may have to take an extra step to have formally recorded.
Degrees: Getting a degree many times is the basis for the next career step. Make sure the school you select can provide the education you want and is recognized by your employer.
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