How do you develop your own learning and development skills and competencies as a change agent?

???????? Change management is crucial for success in leading transitions, transformations, and innovations. As a change agent, updating skills and competencies is key to meeting the evolving needs of stakeholders, customers, and employees. ???? To align your learning and development with change, the first step is to assess current skills and identify gaps. ???? Tools like CMBoK, CMCM, and CRA can help pinpoint strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, feedback from peers, managers, clients, and mentors can provide a broader perspective on performance and potential. ???? Don't let your skills become outdated - prioritize learning and development to enhance your performance and impact as a change leader! ????

The Association of Change Management Professionals Standard for Change Management provides a standard to follow, which is helpful to those who are new to leading change and essential to change management professionals looking to earn certification and develop strategies and plans to successfully implement change and sustain change adoption.

This is a great point because just as change agents assess gaps and set benchmarks for organizations, regular assessments of oneself, skills, and gaps will ensure relevance and enhance one's performance and potential! As a change leader I am a lifelong learner!

???? Set SMART learning goals and objectives based on your skills assessment and change initiatives. Make sure they are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Examples could be improving communication skills, learning a new change methodology, or obtaining a change management certification within a certain timeframe. ????? Align your goals with the vision, mission, and values of your organization, and the expectations of your stakeholders to ensure that your learning and development efforts contribute to overall success. ????

In my experience, SMART goals can sometimes be too focused on short-term achievements and can limit your ability to pursue more ambitious long-term goals.

I agree with setting learning goals and objectives because it ensures that one addresses their identified gaps from regular assessments. This can be done through a variety of methods, including SMART goals as mentioned here. However, it is easier to stick with them as one finds the method that works best for their style of learning.

In my experience it's essential to prioritize professional development and continuous improvement for change and project management professionals. The Certified Change Management Professional - CCMP? designation is an independently accredited certification based on experience, knowledge, skills, training, and passing a rigorous examination. Similar to the PMP designation, the CCMP? indicates experience, education, and expertise in leading organizational change. e

???????? Choose the learning methods and resources that suit your style and availability. Consider formal or informal learning, online or offline, self-paced or instructor-led, or a combination of these. Leverage learning resources like books, articles, podcasts, webinars, courses, workshops, conferences, or coaching sessions. ???????? Make sure to select methods and resources that are relevant, engaging, and effective for your learning goals and objectives. This will help you stay motivated and get the most out of your learning experience. ????

I follow the PACT approach, PACT stands for Purposeful, Actionable, Continuous, and Transformative. This approach is less focused on achieving a specific outcome and more about making a commitment to continuous growth and improvement. Instead of setting a specific goal, you make a PACT with yourself to take purposeful actions that will help you move in the direction of your desired outcome. This approach can be more flexible and adaptable, and can help you stay motivated over the long-term.

As a lifelong learner, I have found limitless methods and resources through which I continuously increase my knowledge of and in the industry. I do best by seeing opportunities for learning EVERYWHERE!

PACT stands for Purposeful, Actionable, Continuous, and Trackable—the four factors that make for great goals: Purposeful: A purposeful goal is one that is aligned with your values, passions, and overall vision for your life. Actionable: An actionable goal is one that can be broken down into specific, measurable steps. Continuous: A continuous goal is one that focuses on ongoing growth and development, rather than a specific end result. It's important to approach your goals as a process of continuous learning and improvement, as this will help you stay open to new opportunities and adapt to changing circumstances. Trackable: A trackable goal is one that can be measured and evaluated over time.

???? Implement your learning plan and track your progress. Create a schedule and stick to it as much as possible. Monitor your learning outcomes and evaluate your impact. Use tools like learning journals, portfolios, quizzes, surveys, or feedback forms to document your achievements and challenges. ???? Seek feedback from learning partners, mentors, or coaches to improve your learning process and results. This will help you stay accountable, motivated, and make necessary adjustments to your learning plan. ????

This step is equally important and sometimes difficult. I have found that I must be intentional in implementing the things I have learned, otherwise I merely become a hoarder of knowledge.

As an agent of change, you can apply the PACT approach in several ways: Clearly define the change you want to see and the purpose behind it. This will help you stay focused and motivated throughout the process. Identify the key stakeholders who will be impacted by the change and why it matters to them. Break the change down into specific actions. Identify the resources and support you will need, and create a plan for how you will implement the change. Recognize that change is a process. Commit to continuous learning and improvement, seeking out feedback and adjusting. Celebrate small wins along the way to stay motivated and engaged. Measure and track your progress throughout the change process using metrics and feedback

???? Apply your learning to your change projects and activities. Look for opportunities to practice and demonstrate your new or improved skills and competencies in your change work. Reflect on your learning experiences and identify best practices and lessons learned to share with others. This will help you solidify your knowledge and contribute to the growth of your colleagues and organization. ???? Celebrate your learning successes and recognize your efforts and contributions. This will help you stay motivated and encourage others to prioritize their own learning and development. ????

It is very rewarding when one can apply what they have learned to their projects. It increases the value of their investment of time and resources to learning as well as assists them in providing top notch services to their clients.

Ultimately, whether you choose to use SMART goals or the PACT approach (or another method altogether) depends on your personal preferences and goals. Some people find that SMART goals work well for them, while others prefer a more flexible approach like PACT. The key is to find a method that works for you and helps you stay focused and motivated as you work towards your desired outcomes.

???? Review and update your learning plan and goals. Revisit your skills assessment and learning objectives, and measure your progress and impact. Identify new skills and competencies you need to develop or enhance to keep up with changing demands and trends. Revise your learning methods and resources and explore new opportunities and challenges. ???? Acknowledge your learning gaps and areas for improvement and seek continuous learning and development. This will help you stay relevant and advance your career as a change leader. ????

I am a firm believer that healthy things grow. By reviewing and updating my learning plan and goals, I remain relevant and committed to being and becoming the best version of me. I have found the 6 points shared in this article 1. Assess your current skills and gaps 2. Set your learning goals and objectives 3. Choose your learning methods and resources 4. Implement your learning plan and track your progress 5. Apply your learning to your change projects and activities, and 6. Review and update your learning plan and goals to be the concise building blocks of growing my learning and development skills and competencies as a successful change agent.