If you want to advance your career, you need to keep learning new skills and knowledge that align with your goals. But how can you find the right learning opportunities that suit your needs, interests, and aspirations? In this article, we will share some tips on how to identify and pursue learning opportunities that match your career goals.
The first step is to assess your current skills and gaps, and how they relate to your desired career path. You can use various tools and methods to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, such as self-assessments, feedback, performance reviews, or online tests. You can also consult your manager, mentor, or peers for their input and guidance. Once you have a clear picture of your current skills and gaps, you can prioritize the areas that need improvement or development.
I agree with this. A thorough training needs analysis is the first step to determine what you need to learn. The analysis should cover the skills that you need for your career or advancement against where you currently stand. This benchmarking process will result in the knowledge, skills and behaviours that you need. Only then can you look at the various resources available to you which will help you to improve in these areas.
One thing I've found often missing when addressing learning opportunities that match our career ambitions is core desire alignment. Identifying skill gaps over-indexes on competencies and leaves out inner desire alignment and values congruence. Instead, try asking the following questions: 1. What am I most longing for in my career? 2. How do I want to feel on most days? 3. What do I want to experience, do, and have? These questions will reveal a more resonant answer.
The next step is to explore the available learning resources that can help you close your skills gaps and enhance your competencies. There are many sources of learning that you can access, such as online courses, webinars, podcasts, books, articles, blogs, or newsletters. You can also look for internal or external training programs, workshops, seminars, or certifications that are relevant to your field or industry. You can use search engines, social media, online platforms, or recommendations from your network to find the best learning resources for your needs.
To find learning opportunities that match your career goals: Clarify your goals and assess your skills. Stay updated on industry trends and network with professionals. Explore online platforms, workshops, and certifications. Seek mentorship and company resources. Volunteer, attend events, and join professional associations. Stay proactive and open to new opportunities for continuous growth.
Join a community of like-minded professionals that share the same interest in growing their inner lives and career experiences. We can learn a tremendous amount from industry experts as well as people with a story to tell. Don't limit learning resources to the obvious. Much learning happens in community with others.
The third step is to set SMART learning goals and plans that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. You need to define what you want to learn, why you want to learn it, how you will learn it, and when you will complete it. You also need to establish how you will measure your progress and outcomes, and how you will apply your learning to your work. You can use tools such as learning plans, calendars, trackers, or journals to organize and document your learning goals and plans.
The fourth step is to seek feedback and support from others who can help you achieve your learning goals and plans. You can ask for feedback from your manager, mentor, coach, or peers on your learning performance, achievements, or challenges. You can also seek support from your colleagues, friends, family, or online communities who can motivate, encourage, or advise you on your learning journey. You can use various channels such as emails, chats, calls, meetings, or forums to communicate and collaborate with your feedback and support providers.
In my experience one can also seek reverse mentoring opportunities, where younger colleague or your children can help you learn a new skill and then become a pro at it. Especially considering that they are more nimble with technology, we can put our ego aside and seek support from them.
The fifth step is to review and reflect on your learning regularly and systematically. You need to evaluate your learning outcomes and impact, and how they have contributed to your career goals. You also need to reflect on your learning process and experience, and how they have influenced your skills, knowledge, attitude, or behavior. You can use tools such as surveys, quizzes, tests, portfolios, or self-reviews to assess and document your learning results and insights.
One thing I've found helpful is incorporating "15 minutes of silence" at the start or end of each day. In that 15 minutes, ask yourself the questions: 1. Am I living/leading in congruence with my values? 2. Is what I am currently learning aligned to my career ambitions? 3. What 3 intentions will I focus on this year?
The sixth step is to celebrate and share your learning with others who can appreciate and benefit from it. You need to recognize and reward yourself for your learning achievements and efforts, and how they have enhanced your career prospects. You also need to share your learning with your manager, team, organization, or network, and how they can use or leverage it for their own or collective goals. You can use tools such as certificates, badges, awards, or testimonials to showcase and communicate your learning accomplishments and value.
Another area to consider is teaching back. Once you have learnt a new skill, you can take it up on you to teach it to others as well, who are willing. This can help you deepen your understanding on that particular topic and a great way to give to others.