Skilled Migrant Professionals December 2015 | Page 10

Career

Reach Your

POTENTIAL
SEVEN TIPS
FOR ATTAINING
PROFESSIONAL
GROWTH

W

hy does your career growth and development matter? Because it is essential to continually challenge and
stretch ourselves, and not get stuck in a job
where we don’t feel we are growing or learning. There is more potential inside us than we
can imagine and it is up to us to live up to it. Noting that we are living in a fast-paced and constantly evolving world where everyone wants immediate
gratification, it’s now more important than ever for us to
continue to grow professionally and personally.
Here are seven steps to help you grow professionally, even without the
support of your company.

1. Invest in learning and development
There are so many free webinars on practically every subject imaginable. Carve out some time each day or each week to watch a webinar
or two. Book yourself for short courses that will help you to stay on top
of what’s going on in your industry.

2. Take on new challenges and
take calculated risks
It can be risky, stressful and sometimes confusing, and it’s a perpetual
cycle, but it is a great thing to experience. High-performing companies
thrive on the number of challenges it is able to solve, so why should you
as an employee, shy away from challenges? Sometimes it may seem
that new problems crop up as fast as you solved the old one, but that
just means you are getting better and stronger at what you do.

3. Make small changes one step at time, review
and get feedback
Forget the super-hero approach. You don’t have to leap over buildings
in a single bound; consistent action on a daily basis is easier to manage.
When you make small changes, you will build momentum and confidence and reach your goals faster than if you try to attack a big goal
in one fell swoop.

10

www.smpmagazine.com.au | December 2015

By Gishan Liyanage,
Director at Nelara HR
Consulting

4. Detox negativity and be positive
Rid yourself of people or things that drain your energy and make you
feel bad. Choose to associate with other people that build you up, support you, and challenge you to be better.

5. Add fun and celebrate success
Celebrate your victories, both small and great. For every goal, include
a reward for completing it. Find the fun in all that you do, even if it it’s
just whistling while you work. The more you enjoy your work and life,
the happier and more accomplished you will become.

6. Write your own success story
Writing is a powerful way to achieve abundance and dream fulfilment.
Keep a journal to record your dreams, goals, your past success, brilliant thoughts, and action plans. Your writing will become instructions
to your subconscious mind. Thinking on paper is a big key to getting
ahead.

7. Get a mentor/career coach for exposure,
motivation and direction
Look around in your company for someone to mentor you. If one is not
available, reach out to thought leaders through LinkedIn, community
groups or a professional networking association. It’s important that you
have a connection with the person who will mentor you.