Personal Development In The Work Environment

When we are at work and we become familiar with our job role, it is very easy to become complacent and stuck in a rut as we do the same job every day. But in the long term this can spell disaster for us. The more versatile a worker we can become, the more protected we are, as we can more easily move between job roles as and when required. Acquiring a much wider knowledge base is also useful in giving us a greater understanding of the job we are currently doing. Personal development in the workplace is also essential if we are to remain interested and passionate about the work we do. If we continue to do the same job day in, day out, we become less likely to do it well. Think about the interests you have in your job, and ask yourself some questions to determine how you could invest in your own personal development: ¥ What brought you to the job in the first place? ¥ What skills do you have that you enjoy making use of? ¥ Could you further these skills in any way? ¥ Are there any training courses you could attend that would open the way for promotion further down the line? ¥ Is there anything you donÕt like doing any more that you would stop doing if you could? The answers to these questions will help you to decide which areas of your working life are ripe for development. Although the term Ôpersonal developmentÕ makes us think of something we need to do, we can ask for the help of others to help us progress. Sometimes speaking to our manager will open the door to further possibilities for us to stretch ourselves in our chosen career, so donÕt be afraid to highlight any concerns or needs you may have. A willingness to learn and to take a pro-active approach to our own development is usually seen as a positive. SECONDMENTS Personal development is often associated with a complete change of job Ð leaving what we are doing now to take on a higher paid role with more responsibility. But you donÕt need to take such a big leap in order to test the boundaries of what you may enjoy doing at work. Attending in-house or external training courses is one obvious way of expanding your knowledge and skills base. However a temporary secondment to another area within the company you work in now would also allow you to see whether another department or area of working would be suited to you. There are plenty of ways to invest in your personal development at work. Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that you should constantly be looking for them Ð and making the most of these opportunities when they arise.