10 Key points

For Professional Development

© Silvia Sowa

• Organize your actions by establishing the concrete steps to improve as a professional.

• This means to determine the things you would like or have to change in

1. Developing Action steps

you would like or have to change in periods of time, short or long term, and transform them into single actions.

• Make a list of them, then expand them by going to the next step.

• This process begins by writing a series of questions related to your job performance and

2. Set Long termgoals first

questions related to your job performance and your levels of satisfaction.

• They might be: Am I satisfied with the work I perform? Where would I like to be? Do I really enjoy my everyday activities? How can I feel better on my own performance? Is there something I need to change?...

3. Technical knowledge

• There is a need to upgrade knowledge and technical skills, knowledge and technical skills, according to the rapid advance in order to remain current with jobs requirements.

• Organize your actions by establishing the concrete steps to improve as a professional.

4. Developing Action-steps

improve as a professional. • This means to determine the things

you would like or have to change in periods of time, short or long term, and transform them into single actions.

5. Make a record of your “pinnackle moments”

• Keeping a record of those moments that have helped you to feel satisfied about yourself to feel satisfied about yourself is a key component for you to learn to appreciate them, and to be able to find more opportunities to met those events.

6. Evaluate yourself

• Evaluate what are your current skills and • Evaluate what are your current skills and your strengths as well as your weaknesses in your career or professional development.

• Work especially with the limiting factors by pursuing academic degrees, certification programs or self-developing courses.

7. Explore context

• Analyze what is going around you. • Analyze what is going around you. • Evaluate if there are deeper changes that

out of reach, then• Decide whether to act, to wait, to talk, to

change, etc…

8. Be ready for changes!

• Analyze what changes your organization is • Analyze what changes your organization is performing and what is your role on them.

• Investigate what missions or projects appeal to you, and how can you support them.

• Be ready to take opportunities around you.

9. Make a list of your skills and how to put them into practice

• Give presentations• Manage people

Include all areas, some of them:

• Designing materials• Training others

• Conceptualize ideas• Coordinate services• Make business deals• Create advertising materials• Financial planning• Verbal communication skills

• Visionary• Written communication skills• Multitask• Promote products or

services• Estimate costs• Legal expertise..etc …..

10. Work in team

• Truly believe and practice on the • Truly believe and practice on the collaborative skills.

• Pursue cooperative work and find the balance to do so.

• Develop actions and attitudes to team up.

• Establish priorities• Control your mood, the best

way possible• Take decisions

…be sure to enjoy what you do!

• Take decisions• Prepare yourself• Organize your day, your week,

your work• Emphasize on key elements

that need to be adapted

Good luck!Please use copyrighted citation. © Silvia Sowa. 201 2. Guatemala, C.A.