The Link Between Professional Development and Personal Growth

Need Exists For All Professionals

Individuals from all levels, positions and industries need to learn how to adapt to today’s dynamic marketplace in order to live with intention and work with purpose.

Human Capital & Organizational Value

Employers need to recognize the value of this link since obtaining human capital and optimizing human capital investments are two of the most critical issues facing organizations in the future.

Technological Impact – Social Networks

According to the 2011 SHRM Workplace Forecast "in 2009 one out of four HR professionals said their organizations used social networking sites to look up candidates before inviting them for an interview.

Technological Impact – Always On

http://www.infodev.org/en/Publication.1178.html

Technological Impact - Telework

In its 2011 report The State of Telework in the U.S. Telework Research Network concluded that regular telecommuting in the U.S. grew by 61% between 2005 and 2009 with 45% of the workforce employed in a position compatible with at least part-time telework.

Lack of Organizational Training

Organizations have reduced their training and development budget, yet continue to demand more from leaner workforces.

Today’s Complex Marketplace

The September 10, 2011 edition of The Economist noted that “Globalisation and technological innovation are bringing about long-term changes in the world economy that are altering the structure of the labour market.”

Complexity Will Continue To Grow

According to IBM's 2010 Global CEO Survey, eight in ten CEOs expect their environment to grow significantly more complex and fewer than half believe they know how to deal with it successfully. To succeed in today's hyper-competitive market "it will be counterproductive to simply to carry on with the current stimuli policies, management strategies and curricular approaches."

Individuals Under Tremendous Pressure

Geoff Colvin wrote about the value and significance of this link in Talent is Overrated and proclaimed that "individuals are under unprecedented pressure to develop their own abilities more highly than ever before, quote apart anything their employers may or may not do to develop them."

The Need to Think Differently

"To deal with today, therefore we need not only new knowledge but new ways to think about it."

The Need To Be Creative

“To be successful today professionals need to improve their creativity as it relates to design, storytelling, empathy, and meaning. Individuals, families and organizations need to understand that professional success and personal fulfillment now require a whole new mind."

The Need To Innovate

In its 2011 report: Learning to Innovate, The American Society for Training & Development noted that to remain successful in today's hyper-competitive environment, "companies need to have systems and strategies in place to encourage, develop, and sustain innovation in every role in the organization."

The Need To Increase Self-Awareness

Since habits shape 45% of the choices people make each day, there is a tremendous need for people to increase the few formal moments of self-appraisal that they have and make a life-long commitment to self-awareness and learning.

The Link Will Only Grow Stronger