When the holidays come around, we think of celebrations, gatherings, food, and, of course, presents. We think of gifts to give our loved ones, friends, colleagues, and ourselves. We look at the watch we’ve been eyeing on for months. Surely we deserve to treat ourselves for putting in all those long hours at work, right?
And while material gifts do bring in the holiday cheer, let’s not forget about the intangibles, the lasting investments we must be mindful to give ourselves for our self-improvement. With the pandemic hitting hard in most places, self-care became more than a buzzword in 2020 and 2021. It was a way to bring a certain calm and collectedness amid the chaos inflicting the world.
For professionals, it’s easy to fall into the trap of simply going through the motions of the day without so much as a second thought. But no matter how busy we are with our daily grind, it is important to carve out time for our personal and professional growth. In fact, it is one of the best gifts you can give yourself this Christmas.
How so? Read on to find out.
1. Increases productivity
Embarking on self-improvement efforts, such as continuing professional learning, can help you become more effective and productive in your work. Through adequate training, you will be able to brush up on your current skills or pick up new ones that you can immediately apply in your job.
When professionals build the right skills for their roles, they are able to do the tasks at a much higher level of efficiency and quality, which, in turn, positively impacts the overall performance of the organisation.
2. Helps you to develop self-awareness
As we are met with different challenges and experiences, we come to realise our strengths, but also our weaknesses. Being self-aware means recognising those shortcomings and seeing the ways in which we can improve ourselves, whether it has to do with our skills, knowledge, attitude, or mindset.
In the same way, self-improvement is a means to help us keep track of and play up our existing strengths. We are better able to build on our advantages because we constantly keep stock of what we need to work on and how this would fit into our goals.
3. Improves your relationships
When you make a conscious decision to improve certain areas in your life that may be causing personal or professional issues, your relationships are also given the opportunity to improve. For instance, if you find yourself being impatient with tasks and consequently work on changing your mindset, you may find yourself being more collaborative and helpful towards your colleagues. When you work on your communication skills, for example, you are better able to relay instructions, thereby lessening the slack or friction experienced by the project team.
4. Gets you out of your comfort zone
Learning new skills forces you to get out of your comfort zone without putting too much pressure on yourself. When you have been a working professional for a long time, it’s easy to become complacent and rely on your own knowledge and expertise. However, the modern workplace is a dynamic one. Innovation is increasingly being viewed as a must for any organisation, or professional for that matter. As a result, professionals of all ages and experience levels are highly encouraged to constantly learn new skills and adapt to the changing needs of their industry.
5. Boosts your confidence
By improving on your skills and knowledge, you are able to build self-confidence in the process. When you are able to hurdle a particularly difficult task, it motivates you to aim higher. In the same way, when you learn something new, especially for those who have been in their profession for a long time, it’s refreshing, even invigorating. This allows you to have the strength and boldness to take on more challenging tasks at work.
6. Encourages you to adopt a learning mindset
When you constantly find ways to improve your skills, attitude, or knowledge, you begin to adopt a mindset geared towards learning. You begin to believe that there is no age, role, or level of expertise wherein learning has to end. In fact, learning new things keeps us from being stagnant, and, instead, helps us to become better versions of ourselves. More importantly, you begin to look at your weakness as opportunities for growth.
7. Contributes to the development of your career
If you are aiming for a promotion or shift to a more lucrative position, self-improvement through professional learning is an effective way to open new opportunities. There are many benefits to continuing professional education. It can accelerate your career because you can acquire all the training or certifications necessary to secure your desired position. Plus, it demonstrates your drive, motivation, and sense of purpose—qualities that make a candidate attractive to employers.
As professionals, it is vital to keep on improving your skills and know-how to succeed in your chosen career. In a constantly shifting business landscape, skill sets required for a variety of positions keep on evolving. There’s no guarantee that what worked in the past will continue to be the case in the future. Modern professionals need to be prepared for industry disruptions by making themselves future-ready, especially as global trends continue to impact the future of work.
SMU Academy is here to help you achieve your career goals by making sure you have the right skills and knowledge to take on any challenge that comes your way. Check out SMU Academy’s professional course offerings here so you can get started on your journey to self-improvement today.
