Self development tips

In terms of career goals and future, I see self development is very important. In my opinion self development is an opportunity for setting yourself a challenge and keeping your mind active and willing to learn; resulting in a feeling of pride as you tick off each of your accomplishments. Self development is building upon your experiences and knowledge as you gradually transform in to a more informed person.

In the following article I explore some easy ways to start your self-development journey to take back to the workplace.

Independent Reading

In a fast paced ever changing industry such as marketing, it is important to keep on top of the current industry trends and happenings. As a marketing professional this helps you get in to the head of the consumer. For example, yesterday Apple announced the release of their new iPhone 8 and iPhone X which have rapidly become the talking point of consumers and the marketing world as we witness the promotion of the new Apple devices. If you were unaware of the release and still referring to the iPhone 7 as the most recent Apple product then people will probably start asking you which rock you’ve been hiding under for the past week.

Attend classes and workshops

There are a wide range of classes and workshops available to attend covering a variety of interesting topics that would benefit your company and work environment. These classes are usually run by industry professionals and for a small fee (sometimes even free!) you can attend the class and improve your current understanding of the topic. Even if it’s a topic you’re already familiar with, industries change and it’s always a good idea to refresh your memory – you’ll most likely take something new away from the experience also, even if it is just a complimentary packet of biscuits from the coffee machine.

Online courses

The internet is a huge place and there are countless online tutorials, classes and quizzes that can keep your self-development on the ball! Google Partners offer facilities to study for Google Mobile, Google Analytics and Google Adwords exams. There is also Google Digital Garage which explores all digital marketing efforts. If exams aren’t your thing why not visit YouTube and search for some online tutorials? You are sure to find a teaching style on YouTube that suits your preferences. Alternatively if you have an active mind like me online quizzes might be the best option for fast learning for you.

Networking

Speaking to people is a great way to learn new things. Having attended multiple networking events myself I can confirm you can certainly learn a lot from a 10 minute one to one chat with an individual. You learn a lot from hearing about other people success and mistakes as well as their recommendations and their advice. I also feel that in business environment social skills and the ability to talk to people is key. Networking offers you an opportunity to put this in to practise.