Personal and professional development

Personal and professional development

Einstein stressed that lifelong learning should be a focus because personal growth stops where there’s no learning.

Continuous personal development is a necessity for top professionals, but failure rates are alarmingly high, Harvard Business Review states.

 When a survey was conducted of over 1,000 people who worked on personal development, as many as 96% of them failed to achieve any results.

 Research concludes that the reason for it is that personal development should be a group activity, not something to be learnt in isolation.

Here are top 10 personal development skills that leaders and professionals can integrate in their life and work:

Work-Life Balance	1	Maintain a healthy balance between work and life
Time Management	2	Prioritise, delegate and use resources to manage time better
Active Listening	3	Listen to understand and respond appropriately
Self-Confidence	4	Manage your emotions and fears, and deal with others’ negative behaviours positively
Communication Skills	5	Use the right tone and voice for communicating clearly and confidently
Emotional Intelligence	6	Stay aware of your and others’ emotions to build healthy work relationships
Leadership	7	Have the vision, communication ability, and management skills to influence and direct others
Problem-Solving Ability	8	Recognise problems, consider options, and make the best possible decision
Organising	9	Use ways to organise tasks, time and materials
Body Language	10	Use correct body language to communicate suitably

List of 10 soft skills to include on a resume. See examples of how to describe them.

• Communication.
• Ability to Work Under Pressure.
• Decision Making.
• Time Management.
• Self-motivation.
• Conflict Resolution.
• Leadership.
• Adaptability.

Professional Skills

• Collaboration & Teamwork.
• Leadership.
• Mentoring.
• Negotiation and conflict management.
• Project management.
• Productive meeting management.

 COMMUNICATION SKILLS (LISTENING, SPEAKING AND WRITING)

Communication skills are perhaps the first set of skills that potential employers will notice. From the initial moment you get in touch with them, the employer will be scrutinising the way you behave.

Be it the way you talk over the phone, the way you give them information on email, your resume and cover letter, or the way you carry yourself during the interview, they will be assessing whether you have polished communication skills.

Make sure that you proof read any form of written communication you send them, and take your time to listen to what they ask you (or read their instructions carefully), and answer in well-thought out, grammatically correct sentences. The way you communicate your thoughts should be impeccable, as this is the way they expect you to communicate with colleagues and clients alike throughout your tenure in their organisation.

2 ANALYTICAL AND RESEARCH SKILLS

As much as you think a question/problem presented to you is a piece of cake, be very wary of giving a rushed answer. Take the time to analyse the situation, think of all possible scenarios, and if possible ask for some time to go and do some research to find out more.

Being analytical, but also having strong research skills, differentiates one employee from the other. It demonstrates your determination, your ability to assess different scenarios, and your commitment to be 100% sure before giving an answer to your employer. It could mean the difference between a badly thought out idea and something that may gain the company a huge profit!

3 FLEXIBILITY/ADAPTABILITY

An ability to manage multiple assignments at the same time, and being flexible enough to work under ever changing conditions, management, environment and rules is highly appreciated.

In today’s world, a job description is very fluid, and can change shape at any time. An employee that is willing to work under a multitude of changing circumstances is highly sought after.

Being able to adapt from one working environment to the next, or even from one type of assignment to another, is a big advantage. It demonstrates the individual’s commitment to the organisation, and will influence their career progression.

4 INTERPERSONAL ABILITIES

“No man is an island”. So the saying goes. Increasingly in the workplace, we all have to work with others in order to complete a project.

Be it working in a team, or dealing with clients or suppliers, interpersonal abilities is a definite advantage and something employers always look for.

The ability to build relationships with those around you under any circumstances, and the ability to inspire them to do what needs to be done is essential.

5 ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS AND SOLVE PROBLEMS

Decision making and problem solving is another skill that is high in demand. The ability to identify complex problems and review related information in order to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions, can distinguish one employee from another. The ability to use critical thinking to rationalise a decision will set an individual apart.

6 ABILITY TO PLAN, ORGANISE AND PRIORITISE WORK

Simple as it may sound, an individual that can show that he/she has been able to plan and organise their work is very valuable. Pay special attention to the way you plan your tasks, and ensure you keep up with all the deadlines you are given.

An employee that can stick to assigned timelines and can provide pieces of information with ease and speed indicates that he/she remains on top of things and can always be expected to deliver the required task or information. Similarly, knowing which tasks to prioritise and which ones to leave for later is an important skill.

7 ABILITY TO WEAR MULTIPLE HATS

Theoretically, when someone is offered a job, there is a job description included in the contract. In reality however, employees are not expected to stick to only what is under their job description.

On the contrary, they are expected to get involved in other areas of the business, understand all the different steps, and offer help where necessary. At the end of the day, employers look for someone willing to try out different things, and wear multiple hats at the same time, deal with different projects and individuals, and provide more than one sole contribution at a time to the company.

8 LEADERSHIP/MANAGEMENT SKILLS

The ability to manage people is a very powerful skill. Not only can you inspire individuals to do what is right, you can guide them along the way, and you can monitor their progress in every step. Being able to lead a group and manage these individuals in a way that does not impede their progress and insult their judgement is highly desirable in today’s workplace.

With Gen Yers taking over the work place, and their strong desire to be left alone to do what they have to do, it is essential to have managers that know how to lead and manage their teams in a way that leaves all employees room to come up with their own ways of doing things. Exhibiting strong management/leadership skills is therefore a big advantage in today’s working world.

9 ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Even though many may think that the bigger picture is more important than the tiny details, attention to detail is what will make someone stand out at what they do. Paying attention to detail may save the company a lot of hassle and possibly keep the distance from a catastrophic outcome.

10 SELF-CONFIDENCE

Being self-confident exudes an aura that can convince those you work for (or with) that you know what you are doing. If you do not believe in yourself, your skills and abilities, then you cannot expect anyone else to believe in you. You need to be confident with yourself and ensure everyone sees you as someone that has the ability to pull through whatever situation comes your way.

11 PUBLIC SPEAKING

Why is it that those that are brilliant at memorising information, solving complex mathematical problems, or reciting Shakespearean plays do not always do well in the business space? Why is it that if they have to stand in front of a crowd and argue a case, they tend to flush and lose it?

Public speaking is a very crucial skill to have, which requires a lot of self-confidence, practice, and analysing of your audience. Even though it comes naturally to some people, it is definitely a skill that can be acquired, and it is a skill sought after by employers.

After all, when you meet clients, you represent the company as a whole. It is only fair that they would rather hire someone that can carry themselves well while expressing the values and products of the company.

12 TACTFULNESS

Being tactful is necessary in many situations, when dealing with clients, as well as colleagues.

No matter how much you believe you are right about something, or that it may be more useful for your colleague to know exactly what you think, realise that not everyone reacts the same way to different styles of confrontation.

It is important for individuals to know how and when to deal with various issues that may crop up in the working environment, whether they are dealing with clients, colleagues, or supervisors.

13 CREATIVITY

Being creative can be beneficial to any role you may have in the workplace. It involves the ability to find solutions to problems using creativity, reasoning and past experience, coupled with information and resources.

Using innovative ways to improve workflows and processes in the work place, or finding a new way to process a piece of work can change the company’s dynamics, save time and cost, and even improve the quality of products/services.

14 ETHICS AND INTEGRITY

Integrity and well-founded moral values should be highly-respected in the work place. Even though many scandals appear with black sheep here and there, it is essential for employees to maintain their values and integrity at all costs. Honesty and sticking to your values will definitely repay in the long run. An untainted reputation after all is what will help you move up the career ladder.

15 STRONG WORK ETHIC

Employers always look for employees that are passionate about what they do and are very committed to their assignments. They need to be assured that their employees will keep at a problem until it is solved, and they will do what is necessary to complete all tasks.

Arriving at work on time and willingness to work and take responsibility are basic indicators of an employee’s commitment. These factors can show whether an employee is cut out for a specific role.

16 ABILITY TO ACCEPT AND LEARN FROM CRITICISM

If a person demonstrates an attitude that is appreciative of feedback, it can be deduced that he/she is willing to learn. Irrespective of age and experience, everyone is constantly learning at the workplace, and one should always remain open to new information that can enhance their skills and abilities.

Jobs are constantly changing and evolving, and employees of all ranks should show that they are open to growing and learning, either by experiencing new situations, by training, or even by listening and learning from criticism.

17 SALES AND MARKETING

Knowledge of the principles and methods of promoting, presenting and selling products and services is essential, no matter what your role is in a company. At any given point in time, you might be faced with an opportunity to promote your company and its products or services to people you meet.

It could be simply promoting these to a friend or acquaintance, or it could be in a more formal environment where you are pulled in for a meeting or project. Knowledge of at least basic marketing strategy as well as a range of sales techniques and sales control systems may come in handy.

18 COMPUTER AND ELECTRONICS SKILLS

Almost all jobs nowadays require some basic understanding of computers and electronics in general. As we move to rely more on technology to help us conduct our daily tasks, be it communicating, writing, calculating, presenting, drawing, creating sound, and many others, we may need in the work place, we are being pushed towards the need to understand circuit boards, processors, electronic equipment and computers.

19 MATHEMATICS

Even if your job has nothing to do with mathematics, arithmetic, geometry, algebra, calculus, and statistics, basic knowledge of these may become necessary at some stage.

Refreshing your knowledge of mathematics often is an essential part of keeping your competitive advantage in the job market. Statistics in particular may come in handy, as many a time you might need to produce some graphs and figures by analysing quantitative data.

20 PROGRAMMING

Computer programming may be seen as a skill that only needs to be mastered by the few IT experts in an organisation. However, knowledge, even at a basic level of computer programming may come in handy if you are trying to develop a new programme that you hope may help your department in the way you process information.

Imagine, for example, that you are working in the HR department of the company and want to come up with a system that monitors and evaluates the progress, performance and salaries of all employees.

Knowing even basic computer programming could help you realise what is possible and how you can get started on this project, putting you in a better position to collaborate with the IT department of the company in order to produce a more advanced system catering to your needs.

digital marketing skills identified

The Salford brainstorming session identified the top 10 international digital marketing skills and competencies needed in the competitive and dynamic digital marketing field.

1. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

The need to understand how to conduct keyword research, on-site optimisation, technical SEO and off-site optimisation has never been greater since all of these aspects now feed into the latest thinking on content marketing.

Organic SEO knowledge in combination with Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising are important. However, just focusing on keywords is not enough – being able to engage visitors in relevant calls to actions is essential.

2. Social Media Optimisation (SMO)

Being aware of the latest platforms and how to develop successful engagement activities, coupled with the ability to use the right voice, are essential for any business trading online. This ability has strong synergies with online Public Relations (PR) and reputation management for a business.

With the increasing presence of sockpuppets and trolls spreading their views online, a business needs to be ready for any negative activity and the consequent response requires good influencing skills.

3. Analytics and Return on Investment (ROI)

digital marketing skills brainstorming notes

The online world is a large market. A key challenge in international digital marketing is being able to identify trends and constantly monitor what works and what needs improvement.

Being proficient in digital campaign management and analytics reporting is essential for anyone looking to justify their digital marketing budget and investment planning.

4. Creativity

The more content is published online, the more choice consumers get.

The phenomena of reducing attention spans, and consumers that are constantly online, demand increasing levels of creativity to make quality content, products and services that stand out in crowded markets.

5. Soft skills

Being able to work in a team, knowing how to manage time under pressure and communication skills are all essential in an environment where individuals have to rely on team effort.

Digital marketing is about working with other people and the ability to get on with others while under pressure is crucial.

6. Client management service

Despite the need for technical knowledge, possessing a range of soft skills was highlighted as the most important skillset when it comes to performing successfully in digital marketing agencies.

Being able to understand the needs of individual clients and translating these into actions are the core principles of good marketeers.

7. Awareness of international market differences

Being able to trade successfully in another country needs more than just the ability to speak another language.

Different business attitudes, business etiquettes, business cultures and social media platforms have to be taken into account when developing international digital marketing campaigns.

digital marketing skills brainstorming notes

8. Hands on practical experience

The need to practise the knowledge and skills of digital marketing in real life is essential.

Individuals who can demonstrate a portfolio of practical projects will have better career opportunities compared to those who are only able to read and talk about their theoretical knowledge.

9. “T” shape educated

There is need, in particular for digital marketers in smaller companies, to have a broad awareness (the horizontal bar of the “T”) of how a business operates and how integrated marketing communications channels work. However, there is also a need for specialist too (the vertical line in the “T”).

Maximising the synergies of offline events with online events is just one of the reasons why broad awareness is needed before a specialist area is identified by an individual.

Digital Marketing skills identification workshop

10. Adaptability

The constantly changing nature of international digital marketing requires a successful professional to continually engage in updating skills and personal development. Learning about new tools, platforms and techniques is just one of the reasons why this field will never have people bored of their job!

1. Qualification studies Undertaking further education studies including recognised qualifications at degree, award, certificate, diploma and masters levels.
2. Training courses Attending open (short course) and in-company training plus other modes of training with the IDM or other recognised training organisations.
3. Coaching and mentoring programmes Receiving coaching and mentoring as part of a structured personal development plan. Also coaching and mentoring others to impart own expertise and experience as part of a structured programme.
4. Event participation Attending events, excluding social or strictly networking meetings but including conferences, exhibitions, seminars, workshops, briefings, topical evening meetings, etc.
5. Promotion and appraisal Recognition will be given for your growing responsibilities and performance as you progress through your career. This will be judged on a case-by-case basis, subject to relevant evidence from your employer.
6. Imparting knowledge Teaching, tutoring, lecturing and speaking including public presentations to conference and event audiences. Also includes authoring books, papers and articles for public publication, as well as coaching and mentoring.
7. Technology training Studies towards a recognised award, training and other structured extra-curricular development of knowledge and understanding of marketing-related technologies.
8. Community contributions Active involvement in IDM working groups, examinations boards, advisory councils, regional boards, project groups and committees. Also includes participation in similar activities for other organisations and community groups (e.g. charitable trusts, school associations) where your marketing and related management skills are deployed.
9. Related private studies Extra-curricular studies or research contributing to your professional development over and above the routine demands of your work.

The make-up of a student has changed. Your average student is no longer a high school graduate, but comes from all walks of life and spans across a range of ages.

The fact is today’s students growing up and consist of a broader range of cohorts with 43% of students in higher education - over 9 million people— estimated to be 25 and older by 2020. One of the major reasons for this shift is that graduates and employers are all realizing that upskilling is integral to business and professional success. 

However, while skill acquisition is one of the major benefits of continuing professional development, there are others that can boost the personal and professional lives of students. 

1) Boosts Earning Potential

There are many reasons why lifelong learning is beneficial, and one of the most tangible is that it leads to greater career earnings—up to $655,000 more over the course of a career.

Educational upgrades offer the opportunity for graduates and working professionals to boost their earning potential by updating their skills or learning new ones that are relevant to the workplace. After all, many graduates do not know what’s required of them until they enter the workforce and assess the day to day task required to be successful in a role.

Continuous learning, particularly credentials that can be accessed online provide a flexible and easy way for upskilling. The range available is also changing as more and more institutions start to offer a range of programs from foundational to specialist to expert.

Employees - future and current - with the right skills and a thirst for upskillling as an when necessary are sure to be bankable in today’s workforce and able to demand higher salaries than those that don’t, particularly as technological disruptions such as automation, robotics, and cognitive technologies become increasingly common in the workplace.

2) Enhances Health

Making more money isn't the only benefit of continuous learning. There's evidence to suggest a correlation between learning and improved health. For one thing, learning is like exercise for the brain, and just like exercising the body it contributes to better physical health and mental health.

This is particularly true when it comes to keeping a brain sharp and improving memory. In addition, there's also a link between reading and an extended lifespanincreasing survival by up to 23% due to increased brain cell connectivity. It is also linked to reduced stress levels, helping avoid conditions such as high blood pressure, insomnia, heart disease and a weakened immune system.

From an educator’s perspective, providing continuous education can help improve the health and well-being leading to employable graduates and working professionals that are more productive, have lower rates of absenteeism, and are better equipped to manage the demands of a hectic workplace.

3) Creates Opportunities

Another benefit of lifelong learning is the opportunities it creates. In terms of an individual's personal life, having more skills and a wider knowledge base can make social engagement easier as there are more topics open for discussion in groups or new social situations.

In a similar manner, the more a student or working professional knows and the more they can bring to a role or company. Upskilling on a continuous basis means more job opportunities and an increase in employability and promotion due to being a well-rounded candidate.

For example, as a marketing professional working in a fast paced environment upskilling in digital techniques and strategies such as conversion optimization, analytics and planning would make them a much bigger asset to any company or agency, especially compared to a candidate with little or basic digital marketing skills.  

4) Increases Collaboration

Continuous learning encourages collaboration. Whether it’s through group work in a classroom environment or an online community on an e-learning course, collaborative skills are nurtured in learning environments.

In the majority of jobs, collaboration is essential particularly as workplaces are changing from siloed entities to open plan environments that encourage hot-desking and overlap zones. The transition from student to graduate to employee can require adjustment but a collaborative attitude can go a long way to helping build relationships, grow into a role and be more creative.

A continuous learning approach can cultivate collaboration and help feed into a positive culture both while learning and also in a place of employment. After all, happy employees are 12% more productive than unhappy ones.

5) Heightens Awareness

Learning can no longer be isolated to a certain period of life. The beauty of continuous learning is that it can prove valuable at any stage of a career.

Awareness and knowledge go hand in hand. By learning new skills or updating old ones, students can become aware of the latest trends and developments in a field that interests them or one that is key to their role.

Take data analytics as an example. Data is everywhere and the way companies both engage with and influence customers is through knowing what makes a customer think. For marketers and sellers, the ability to analyze data is key to generate leads and get sales over the line. Awareness of new developments in analytics from platforms to revised algorithms can help jobseekers or working professional excel in their role and become a leader or expert that others turn to.  

6) Drives Curiosity

As a child, curiosity is encouraged by parents and at schools alike. According to Psychology Today, many psychologists view curiosity as a life force that is crucial to happiness, intellectual growth, and well-being.

However, as we get older it can be easy to get bogged down with everyday tasks and pressures that overshadow our curious natures. When learning new things curiosity can be raised as learners explore new topics and areas unexplored before. The interactive nature of learning can help to stimulate questions and provoke new ways to think about concepts that can be applied to a new or existing role.

This spirit of curiosity can help to develop an individual and can filter through to many aspects of life. Ultimately it can help foster creativity and a new way of thinking that can open new literal and metaphorical doors.  

The demand for continuing professional development is growing as is the value individuals place on it. 87% of personal learners say their activities helped them feel more capable and well rounded, while 69% say their learning opened up new

 perspectives in their lives.

No matter how people learn - classroom, blended or online - the benefits to their lives are significant and far-reaching; something every educational professional wants.