Learning and self-development may be the secret to improving your self-confidence and unlocking your full potential.
A large aspect of our work revolves around creating compelling learning experiences that enhance peoples’ careers, inspire them to achieve their goals, and promote a firm sense of self-belief. One of the biggest pain points we have heard from our own delegation over the last few months, is that they are feeling a little lost in their careers, and lives in general.
It’s no mystery as to why.
In a time where everything feels like it’s slipping out of our control, and our future is uncertain, investing in learning and self-development is the perfect way to take back power over the direction of our lives.
Many of you may be spending more time at home these days, and completing an online course or partaking in a webinar will not only help you to while away the time, it will also generate a slew of positives that will improve your personal life and career.
The following points outline some of the benefits of learning and self-development – how they can grow your confidence and enable you to tap into your full potential.
It Offers An Avenue To Connect With A Community Of Your Peers, So You Don’t Feel Like You Are On Your Own
Many webinars or online classes will direct you to forums (such as LinkedIn or Facebook groups) that cater towards members of your industry. These are the perfect platforms to network with your peers, who will share advice and experiences to which you can relate. Members can ask others to provide guidance regarding problems at work.
Webinars also often encourage all participants to follow each other on social media, again fostering the creation of connections with your peers – and growing your social media platforms as a bonus.
Connecting with your community and finding your tribe is important, both personally and career-wise. The support that your peers can provide is invaluable in fostering a strong sense of morale and self-esteem.
You can also gain insights from others in the business, who work in a variety of different sectors. This will therefore allow you to view your job and industry through others’ eyes. Seeing something from another’s perspective can be a truly enriching learning experience.
Productivity Can Give You A Strong Sense Of Empowerment
Be tentative here, as in our productivity-focused culture it’s easy to conflate your worth with how much valuable work you are doing.
To combat this, remind yourself that being productive doesn’t mean that you must be working non-stop in order to prove your worth, and it’s important to remember that productivity doesn’t just have to be work-focused.
Putting time and effort into creating something or learning a new skill gives you a sense of accomplishment, reinforcing the idea that if you put your mind to something, you can do it.
You’ll Come Across Subjects You Haven’t Studied Before, And Therefore, Broaden Your Mind And Your Knowledge
Undertaking new learning experiences can often allow us to explore new subjects with which we may not have considered previously. While these topics may not all tie in directly with your position or industry, the acumen gained will still contribute significantly to your self-development.
Opening yourself up to new ideas and topics in this way will allow you to become a more well-rounded and versatile person, which will lead to positive effects in your work and home life.
It Enables You To Become More Confident In Your Existing Knowledge And Abilities
Completing a course, workshop, or seminar is a great way to solidify your expertise and make you more assured in your own competence.
As well as the obvious positive effects that this new and improved confidence will have for your personal life, it will also help you to become a better employee. Confidence is a key aspect of effective work performance. ‘If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will’ is a cliched adage, but it’s still valid.
What’s more, if you gain a qualification, this will prove to your boss and potential future employers that you are proficient in your abilities and are committed to improving yourself as an employee.
Similarly, it can also allow you to recognise your weaker points and adapt accordingly, or better still focus on your strengths for maximum success.
You’ll Learn New Things, Upskill, And Gain Specialised Skills
Completing training regularly is a great way to keep your skills up to date. In our ever-evolving society, maintaining a good level of knowledge and skills related to IT and digital platforms is essential.
Your CV may be chock full of impressive skills, however it’s also important to consider re-learning some of these skills as they apply to more current times. We’ve all experienced a huge technology learning curve recently, having to learn new interfaces, programmes, and software, in order to deal with the challenges we’ve been facing.
It Can Feed Your Optimism During A Time In Which Everything Seems Bleak
You can enhance your work performance by directing your life down a more optimistic path. Learning and exercising the mind is a great way to encourage a positive outlook, especially when we feel discouraged about our circumstances. Considering the previous points we’ve mentioned here, it’s reasonable to assume that optimism will be one of the after-effects of combining them to work on your ultimate self-development game plan.
Optimism may seem like something that’s out of your control. On the contrary, it is a learned habit that you can aim to cultivate. Boosting your self-development and tapping into your full potential are cogs in this process.
Simon Sinek’s social media post about optimism explains the concept of optimism succinctly by highlighting how it is distinct from positivity: positivity is a naive denial of the negative, while optimism is ‘‘the belief that the future is positive’. Check out his post here.
The benefits of optimism are manifold. Adopting an optimistic mindset drives motivation and encourages you to put more effort into achieving your goals. People who develop this habit also tend to be more resilient in the face of adversity: when they’re knocked down, they’re more likely to get straight back up again.
The ripple effects that learning and self-development will bring to your life as a whole are limitless. Taking full advantage of the learning opportunities that are available to you is a sure-fire road to tapping into your full potential, and enhancing your work and personal life.
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Our mission at the Executive PA Forum is to provide compelling and inspiring learning experiences. As a leading provider of training and development for the EA, PA and administrative profession, we make upskilling accessible both online and offline.
By offering compelling learning and development opportunities, we satisfy your human desire for knowledge and expression, connecting you socially and professionally thereby empowering you to achieve the recognition and reward you richly deserve.
Visit executivepaireland.com for more information, or read the full brochure for the Executive PA Forum 2020 here.
