Let’s talk about personal development. Although you may have heard this term at work, do you know what it really means? For you? And why it is so important?
Personal development is a term which can evoke a divided reaction. You may be thinking back to that time you sat in a stuffy classroom. A trainer is lecturing you on the rights and wrongs of how to get John from accounts onboard with changing company culture. Or, on the flip side, you could be fondly remembering fun training days - you’ve learnt new skills, and you’ve grown and become better in your work. Perhaps, you’ve even invested in a mentor or coach - like me - as a result.
In this blog post, I discuss personal development - and why it is so important for you in your workplace. Keep reading to learn
What exactly is personal development
My experience with personal development
How personal development plans motivate you
How personal development can unleash your potential
Are you looking for help with your personal development? Get in touch today for a no-obligation discovery chat.
What exactly is personal development?
Essentially personal development is about ongoing personal progress. Investing in yourself so that you can now do something new. Or overcome something. Or feel differently about something compared to a year ago.
Personal development plan, just a tickbox exercise?
Throughout my corporate career, my experience of personal growth and development has been mixed.So, I understand if you’re not convinced.
I didn't really get ‘personal development’ and what it meant for me. It was more of a tick box exercise to say I had a personal development plan in the system - just another thing ‘to do’ in the workplace.. I think it's fair to say, for a long time I didn't connect with it or know why it was something I should care about.
Then one day in 2016 that all changed. I refer to it as my malted milk moment!
“Malted Milk Moment”
I was in a workshop at work and during the tea break, whilst eating said ‘malted milk’ biscuit, the trainer asked me if I had ever thought about becoming a coach? A coach? My reply was “You mean a football coach?!”. I had no idea what a coach was, let alone ever thought about doing it as a career. But after the trainer politely explained I wasn't destined to be the next Alex Ferguson, they went on to explain what a coach did and how they supported people. It was fascinating, and I was hooked.
This is me - Suzy! Find out more about me here.
How personal development plans motivate you
From this point on, my experience of personal development at work changed. I found myself with a plan supporting my self-growth. This was something I was interested in but would also move my skillset forward. There were books, podcasts, mentors, coaches and a university qualification, all to help me acquire new and valuable coaching skills, knowledge and attitudes benefiting me in my job.
The malted milk moment also gave me a new leash of life for my work. I was engaged, motivated, interested, and suddenly, I could see how my new skills, new knowledge and beliefs could be transferred into my job, making me a better employee.
Have you had a 'malted milk moment'? Or what do you think it could be like, if not? Think about what would truly excite and inspire you in your career to move forward.
How personal development can unleash your potential
I didn’t know it at the time, but this was the start of a new and exciting adventure. I was unleashing my potential. I was giving it a go. Learning. And pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Although working on my self improvement was scary at points – mainly learning how to master academic referencing – it was so worth it in every way. It was super exciting - exhilarating even! My confidence and self-belief improved, alongside my value as a leader and employee. And so that is why personal development at work is something you shouldn’t just take note of. You should seek out and fully embrace it! Because there could be so much potential for you to thrive!
What are you capable of?
Most of us don't know what we are capable of until we say ‘yes’ and give things a try. I encourage you to discover your ‘malted milk moment’, because it may just transform you, your job and your whole life!
Want help with your personal development?
Are you wonderful at what you do? Always had great success but just don’t feel the joy in work anymore? Or perhaps you’ve always had that nagging feeling you’re not doing something that’s completely ‘you’?
Whether you’ve run your own business for years, but feel stagnant. Or you’re an employee in a fast-paced environment, who wants to focus on growing into your strength. I'd love to chat about how FutureYou Business Coaching can help you with your personal development, self growth - and your own ‘malted milk moment’. Get in touch today.
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