How do you tailor your learning and development strategies?

Many people tend to skip the needs & gaps analysis, being confused about the new job market, having no connections, and not knowing where to start from. Yet, a thorough analysis can significantly save you time and effort. It can also bring more remarkable results. One thing to remember is that our past experiences create biases. So, entering a new market, it’s crucial to gather the industry intel: reach out to your peers, attend networking events, and conduct interviews - all of these steps will bring more clarity about where to start, what to do, and how to stand out.

In my experience, such a practice presents some key advantages. Will mention a few: Targeted Learning: The exercise ensures your learning efforts focused on you areas of need that have the highest probability of elevating your career, and thereby making you more competitive in the job market. Relevance: The exercise ensures you remain relevant in your field by acquiring skills and knowledge currently on demand. Confidence Booster: Recognizing your gaps and working to address them can boost your confidence and make you a more effective and self-assured individual. Career Goals Alignment: The exercise helps ensure that your L&D efforts align with your long-term career goals. This list is not exhaustive. We can definitely drill deeper.

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I usually consider the following: Learning Style: From the numerous options available, I settle on those that compliment my learning style. Time Commitment: Does a preferred option support self-paced learning? This helps make a decision. Cost: The cost of indulging in my L&D has to be given attention. Interactive Platforms: Interactive options like workshops, group discussions, and hands-on experiences can enhance learning. Feedback and Assessment: I usually consider whether the resources or methods available provide opportunities for feedback and assessment. Constructive feedback accelerates my learning and helps me track my progress. The aim is to always be strategic in the selection of L&D resources and methods.

Planning time and activities around my personal L&D can be a challenge as times. However my go-to-steps are as follows: Time Blocking: This allows me set specific times for learning, without any distractions whatsoever. Combining Activities: I sometimes determine the activities that can be combined - such as, listening to podcasts while driving, or during a work out. Setting Deadlines: I set deadlines for my activities to create a sense of urgency for the assignment at hand. Expect the Unexpected: Life may at times throw unexpected challenges my way. Despite the setbacks, I reschedule my activities accordingly. As a life-long learner, I know that my personal L&D is an ongoing process that helps me stand out better as a professional.

The application of lessons from personal L&D is crucial. Some ways I apply the knowledge and skills gained are as follows: Mentoring: Through mentorships, I share my knowledge and expertise with those in my network. Networking: With added skills, I connect with other professionals to collaborate on projects or initiatives. Such interactions are for knowledge-sharing and mutual support. Career Advancement: Sometimes, I leverage my L&D to pursue career advancement opportunities that align with my expanded skill set. Innovation: I apply innovative ideas and best practices learned to enhance processes, products, or services. Applying lessons from personal L&D remains an ongoing process which requires utmost dedication.

Evaluating the effectiveness and value of my personal L&D is an important step. Some approaches I use to carry out my evaluation are as follows: Self-Assessment: I periodically assess my skills and knowledge in the areas I've been focusing on to appreciate if my proficiency has improved. Gather Feedback: I seek feedback from mentors and peers who can provide valuable insights into my growth, and areas of improvement. Career Advancement: I also evaluate if my personal L&D efforts have presented me with additional opportunities as a professional, such as promotions or new job opportunities. This is usually a great indicator of the value of my efforts. Since my personal L&D is a continuous processes, so is my evaluation of the same.

Some of the ways I recognize and reward myself are as follows: Sharing my Achievements: I share my achievements with friends and family, and on forums such as LinkedIn. Their responses offer great encouragement. Vision Board: I have a vision board for my personal L&D. I mark off completed goals and milestones. Printing the vision board and sticking it somewhere visible is a motivating activity. Professional Networking: Attending networking events and meeting professionals who share my interests is rewarding and creates numerous opportunities for further professional growth. A realization I have come to embrace is that it is important to feed my curiosity by setting new learning goals once any milestone has been achieved.

Dangers of Exceeding Sales... I had the misfortune of exceeding sales goals by several miles. It marked the beginning of trouble for me. Having been a successful Sales Professional holding a regional role, I was hungry for more. All I needed to do was generate additional revenues 'in order to make it easier to push my case' with top management. The next few months were a season of hard work generating new business, upselling, and pushing for repeat business. The midnight oil was there for me to burn. That year, I was the top Sales Manager globally. However, the success would soon turn into pain. My sales targets were significantly increased and achieving them became a pipe dream. The lesson was clear: Excessive success can be poison.

As I reflect on my experience of relocating to Malta for my career, I find that it's not just about the professional challenges, but also the profound social and cultural adjustments that come with it like Embracing Diversity, Building Bridges and Navigating Norms, Overcoming Language Barriers, Celebrating Differences, Giving Back to the community. Moving to a foreign country for a career is a transformative experience, one that goes beyond professional development. It's about immersing oneself in a new way of life, embracing diversity, and finding harmony in a globalized world. I'm grateful for the opportunities and challenges that have shaped this journey, and I look forward to the adventures that lie ahead.