Self - Development: A MUST for Career Development

If you think completing a professional course is enough to succeed in your career, you need to rethink. Getting a certificate of MBA or Engineering or any other professional course does not guarantee a successful career. What is equally important is Self-Development. One needs to have good communication skills (both oral and written), need to have good interpersonal skills, need to be empathetic, need to be resilience, need to be humble in order to succeed. So, how do you develop yourself? Given below are some ways in which you can develop yourself.

1. Know Thyself

It is extremely important to know your strengths (skills and competencies) and weaknesses (shortcomings). Write down your strengths and weaknesses. Build on your strengths and work on overcoming your weaknesses.

2. Find a Mentor

A mentor can be anyone from a peer, who knows something you don't, and you want to learn; or someone vastly more experienced who is willing to take you under their wing.

3. Have a to-do-list

In order to complete all the tasks up to the mark, one should have a habit of maintaining a to-do list. This to do list enables the maker to focus on the right task/s at any given point of time. Such list also reminds the performer about the quality and quantity of work to be done and assure that each and every work is done.

4. Discipline

Practice daily. It’s your habits that unfold the results, not the other way around. You have to put in place the daily habits that will allow the things you want to change to change.

5. Consistency is the key

Self-development doesn't happen overnight. It happens slowly and deliberately. Consistency is what creates truly meaningful change--and this is what makes the process so difficult for people. 

6. Have Role Models

It's helpful to be able to look to others for inspiration, motivation, or even just daily reminders of how you can continue moving forward on your journey.

7. Upskill Yourself

In today’s world, the spectrum of employment is changing rapidly and new jobs are emerging. The skill requirement and job market is now more dynamic in nature. In future, the competition is also going to increase manifold and to match the new roles one needs to upskill himself/herself on regular basis.

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely of the University and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha

About the Author:

 

 Dr Vijay Bhangale, Director, IES Management College and Research Centre