Posts Tagged ‘self development’

• PAYING attention to the views of customers or service users.
• PUTTING the organisation’s success ahead of your own agenda.
• Being PERSISTENT in achieving the outcomes you want.
• PROVIDING opportunities to others for self development and growth.
• Listening to the views of other PARTIES.

What else would you add?

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps accountants and health professionals to achieve success and realize their professional potential through being highly effective leaders and managers. For more information and to sign up for his free audio e-course click here

In the fast moving and every changing world of business, continuing to develop yourself is extremely important.  For many people it is way down the priority order.  Lack of time is often one of the key reasons for not making the investment that we all know we should.  Cost, particularly in financially stretched public sector organisations, is another factor.

Yet in truth, with progress in technology, it is now possible to continually develop yourself without the need to take 3 days out of the office.   This article highlights 10 potential opportunities for developing yourself that are both time efficient and cost effective. 

1. Podcasts

Podcasts are basically short audio clips that you can access, listen to or down load.  Most offer the option to subscribe so that you are notified when a new one is added.  Many are free or low cost.  When I first explored podcasts, I was amazed at the range of topics being covered.  A good starting point is Podcasting News where you can access a directory of podcasts.

2. Google Alerts

Google Alerts are another simple way of accessing articles, announcements, etc about areas that you are interested in.  Imagine for example you were interested in developing your influencing skills.  You could set up a Google Alert “Influencing Skills” specify how regularly you want to receive them and have relevant content sent to your e-mail.

3. Professional Journals and Magazines

You can buy a subscription to your industry magazine on your own or share the cost with a few colleagues interested in the same subject matter.  Many professional magazines now deliver content on-line with links to articles.  Two examples are Accountancy Age and Health Service Journal.

4. Subscribe to Newsletters and E-Zines

Until about 2 years ago, I was not even aware of newsletters and e-zines.  Now I subscribe to a host of them and pick up great tips every day.  No matter what area you are trying to develop, the chances are that there will be a free newsletter or e-zine out there to get access to great content.

5. Teleclasses

A teleclass is essentially training over the phone.  You sign-up and dial into a conference line at the specified time.  The great thing is that they are packed with great content but typically last no longer than 90 minutes.  Most last about 60 minutes.

Even if you cannot attend because of time zone differences, you generally get access to a recording and sometimes a PDF file of what was discussed.

6. Audio Books

More and more of the best self development books are becoming available in audio format.  What this means is that you can be developing yourself when you are stuck in traffic, driving to meetings or sitting relaxing at home.

7. Read a book

Another cost effective way of developing yourself is to buy books on leadership, management, marketing, etc and commit to reading a chapter a day.  This is excellent for increasing your knowledge.  It is also very easy to get new and second hand books through Amazon very cheaply.

8. Go to a seminar or workshop

There are more and more free or low cost seminars out there that you can attend.  If you are a member of a professional body, chances are that they have free events happening at least monthly where you get to network and broaden your knowledge.

9. Go to a conference

Most industries and professions have some sort of conference.  Typically, once a year, they give you the opportunity to keep up to date and learn about leading edge thinking.  While at the higher end of the spectrum cost wise, they do tend to attract high profile speakers.

10.  Get a mentor or coach

A mentor or coach can help you to get into action and start achieving results quicker than you imagined possible.  What makes this different to other forms of development is that it is tailored around your specific needs.

As you can see, developing your self need not be a major commitment in time or money.  What it can do is ensure that you continually strive to reach your true potential.  So what’s stopping you?

The Insights Series from The Chartered Association of Certified Accountants identified coaching and mentoring as one of the most effective development methods.  So what is it about coaching and mentoring that makes it such a powerful development method?  Here are my 5 top reasons.

1. Ongoing

Many traditional approaches to development are one chance events.  If you prosper fantastic if not your opportunity is gone.  While this type of development activity is excellent for acquiring skills or knowledge, it can be less effective when it comes to working on personal attributes or softer skills.

2. Personalised

Many development activities aim to cover a number of areas in a short time frame.  While this is excellent for getting breadth, it can mean that only a small proportion of the time is spent on the areas that matter to you.  When working with a coach or mentor you focus on the specific areas that will give you greatest leverage or benefit from your development time.  You get to develop your own personalised programme.

3. Focused

Coaching and mentoring is highly targeted and because it is ongoing you move forward quicker because it is focused.  You don’t waste time and effort on areas that you don’t need to.

4. Supportive

People who take on the role of coach or mentor are highly supportive.  They can be counted on to be behind you encouraging and supporting you as you take action.  Knowing that you have the support of someone who believes 100% in you is an amazingly powerful motivator.

5. Accountability

Study after study highlights that having accountability is one of the most important ingredients in achieving results.  One study suggested that you have a 95% chance of achieving an objective when you have accountability in place. When you have to self account for what you have or have not achieved, you do more than you would have done otherwise.  Your coach or mentor holds you to account for those actions that you have committed to taking in order to get results and move forward.

Clearly all development activity has benefits.  Working with a coach or mentor is a powerful tool in your personal development toolkit that you may not be fully utilising.  How might you benefit if you did?