Many professionals believe development happens primarily through courses and qualifications. Formal learning is important. But some of the most valuable professional development occurs through challenging work.
A useful development principle is often described as:
70% – Experience 20% – Relationships and feedback 10% – Formal education
The lesson is simple:
Your next development opportunity may already exist within your organisation.
Consider volunteering for:
· A digital transformation project
· A regulatory implementation
· A cross-functional initiative
· A new product launch
· A process improvement project
· A crisis-management assignment
· An international project
The greatest career growth often happens when you are placed outside your comfort zone. A new project may teach you more about leadership than a leadership course. A difficult stakeholder may teach you more about negotiation than a textbook. A failed initiative may teach you more about risk than a theoretical lecture.
The question is:
Are you actively seeking experiences that develop your future capabilities?
Do not wait for your employer to create your development plan.
Take responsibility for your own professional growth.
