Do you ever feel irrelevant at work?
This is not an ideal situation but it is quite common!
Luckily, there are strategies that can help you avoid this.
Listen in to today’s episode and learn ways to stay relevant at work.
Work relevance
Lindsay asks Michelle if she does any professional development on an annual basis.
Michelle says this is a good question.
She does a lot of research and participates in trainings to stay relevant.
However, it has been awhile since she did any of this.
It isn’t an annual thing for her lately.
Lindsay shares on her end she attends conferences and networks to develop and learn more skills in the industry she is working in.
It is really important to continue to grow and learn new things as you progress in your career.
This can be valuable to your current work by upskilling or it can be something you can add to your resume if you’re thinking of getting to a higher position in the future.
Today’s question
Today’s topic has been inspired by a question from a listener about professional development.
Here is the question:
Hi Lindsay! Do you do professional development on a yearly basis? What do you do for professional development?
Professional development
Lindsay and Michelle share about how you can talk about professional development.
It’s always good to think about ways to learn and improve in your role.
This can be good for getting promotions, future jobs, adding to your resume, and showing your boss you are motivated and learning.
If you see there is a knowledge gap in your company and learn how to fill that gap, your senior management will find that very valuable.
It’s vital to think about how you can share that you’re focused on developing professionally.
Upskill
Lindsay and Michelle recommend you find the resources to upskill.
There are several courses, books, study groups, podcasts, presentations, and conferences that will help you stay relevant in your industry.
Here are ways to share what you’re doing to develop in your career:
- I’ve been reading books on/attending…
- I’ve been reading books on how to code for AI.
- I want to expand my knowledge/skill…
- I want to expand my knowledge on customer experience.
- I’m taking a Continuing Education (CE) course on …
- I’m taking a CE course on where the future of our field is heading in the next ten years and what this means for the way we interact with our current customers.
- I’m getting into more professional development…
- I want to learn/I’m really interested in…
Importance of professional development
Michelle asks Lindsay about her favorite form of professional development.
Lindsay shares that she really likes immersive courses.
She likes being part of an institution with similar career goals where she can better understand her industry on a deeper level.
To avoid stagnation in your career, you need to push yourself to grow and develop.
Don’t stop learning!
Make it a habit to consume a lot of information and learn new skills that will be valuable in the career you want.
This will keep you ahead of most of your peers.
Roleplay
Here is a quick roleplay from Lindsay and Michelle using the tips shared in today’s episode.
This will help you understand how to use them in a conversation.
In this scenario, Lindsay and Michelle work together.
Lindsay: I’m so excited. I’ve been reading books on SEO and I’m finally going to try to implement some of what I’ve learned in the workplace!
Michelle: That’s great! I’m getting into more professional development. I’m really interested in SEO too!
Lindsay: I can share the books with you!
Michelle: Thank you! I want to expand my knowledge on SEO and other marketing strategies.
Lindsay: That’s great. Also , I’m taking a CE course on website development. Do you want to come with me?
Michelle: I’d love to! Thanks!
Takeaway
Staying relevant in your career is about continuous learning and professional development.
You can regularly improve your skills through courses, books, conferences, and networking.
Don’t be afraid to share your efforts with others.
This shows you’re motivated and prepared for future opportunities.
Keep pushing yourself to grow in order to stay ahead in your field.
What training and development opportunities are you looking into?
We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
