A successful career isn’t defined by the size of your retirement fund or the status of the position; in the 21st century, careers are more than making money or being respected! It is an amalgamation of skills, experience, continuous learning, and satisfaction. Sadly, many individuals with high-paying, high-status jobs are unsatisfied with their work; you may ask, “Why can’t a job satisfy them?” “What else can solve this troubled employee epidemic?”
Let’s answer these and a few more of the frequently asked questions on how to grow in your career, how to find satisfaction in your work, and how to use the available resources like training programs and upskilling opportunities to build a career you are proud of and make your profession a passionate endeavor!
Why you should NOT neglect career growth!
If you believe that getting a decent job with a good paycheck is the final ‘destination’, that everything you’ve learned and acquired over the course of a lifetime boils down to this particular job; you’ll probably stay at the same job, with maybe a marginal increase in benefits and a retirement fund with regret as interest. While this DOES NOT suggest that you weren’t good enough at your job or weren’t the most popular, this DOES, however, mean that you didn’t prioritize growth, and you probably stopped learning the second you sat on that chair.
The career marketplace is competitive, it is dynamic and if you are going to stay on top, you must up your game; constantly refine your skills, and stay ahead of the developments in your field. You must possess the right skills and most importantly, step up to lead when called upon, a daunting prospect for many. Luckily, this does not require drastic changes, but can be achieved via online courses, yes, you heard me right; online courses! There are numerous certified courses ranging from leadership programs to conflict resolution; for management skills, effective communication, and everything in between. It’s the 21st century, and you should NOT underestimate what can be done online!
Why learn leadership when you can just tell people what to do?
If your idea of leadership means telling people what they should do, you’ve misunderstood the point of leadership, and that’s a sign to start learning leadership skills in the first place. Many people are exceptional as individual contributors; tell them what to do and they’ll get it done. However, that is not the case when someone has to lead a group of diverse talents, interests, and communication styles; if you go around giving orders and telling them what they should do, you’ll have a front-row seat to chaos, drama, and eventual downfall.
Bad bosses are the number one determiner of a toxic workplace and leadership is no walk in the park. It’s not impossible either, with a few tweaks to how you operate and see others, anybody can lead. What are those ‘tweaks’ you ask? It starts with empathy and ends with understanding. There are countless online leadership courses that can help you out, these training programs elevate the learner’s emotional intelligence and can do wonders for leadership development.
Easily said; since leadership is a complex subject and getting started can be overwhelming, however, courses like Mastering Leadership are tailor-made to suit the present workplace requirements and are invaluable resources for effective leadership. In the modern age, it is critical that we understand our work’s domain and continuously update ourselves to stay on top of the trends; another pressing reason to never stop learning!
It’s either upskill or be killed!
Let’s face it; job descriptions and responsibilities are not what they used to be. With the explosive growth in digital skill requirements and opportunities, there is an ocean of opportunities, but if you aren’t ready to accept change and adapt to it, you are going to drown! Changes are always just around the corner; would you prefer to be prepared and ready or be taken by surprise? It’s your call.
If change is the only constant, learning to leverage it and use it to your advantage is the best lesson you can learn. Courses like Mastering Innovation and Change Management help learners do just that. Did any of us think we would have virtual meetings, and even classes over the internet, before the COVID-10 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns?
Another question; just look around, do you know what everyone who thrived during and after the pandemic lockdowns had in common? The answer is simple, adaptability!
In the current employment scenario, employability and upskilling are crucial factors in deciding your future. If you have the same level of skills and competence as you first started your career, you are expendable. As hard as it may sound, in the long run, bridging your skill gaps is worth the effort and a worthwhile investment for everyone looking to advance in their careers.
What you say and How you say it matters.
Imagine that you are working for a big company that manages international clients and you have to negotiate with clients and superiors regularly, as part of your job. One day what was supposed to be a normal progress update meeting, becomes, more than that; a full-blown conflict of interests that threatens to jeopardize your months’ worth of hard work. How would you negotiate when a conflict is looming in the background?
Not knowing how to communicate or negotiate properly is so common, even though numerous courses teach you how to be a better communicator, most of us are unaware of their existence. Negotiations, for example, are win-lose situations for the average individual. You must either win the negotiation and get things your way, or lose the battle and have it their way. But did you ever stop to think how the other person must’ve felt? Is that how good communication works? No, you missed the whole point of good communication here!
Conflict resolution is more than a negotiation skill, it is a sign of emotional intelligence and empathy. Before you hide behind the excuse that these ‘skills’ can’t be learned once you’re an adult, just look at how you learned to drive or type 100 words a minute; it’s a result of practice and guided intention. Okay, now you know how to build the skill, now where do you start? Courses such as Mastering Conflict Management are some of the most useful training programs that you can use to improve communication, de-escalate conflicts, and build trust in a negotiation. Remember, if you think of it as a win-or-lose situation, you lose the other person, trying to prove them wrong.
Communication skills matter when you are a leader or are working with a variety of people, good communication skills can either make you or break you. We are talking about skills that include everything from ‘What you say’, to ‘how you say it’; word choices, setting, body language and nonverbals, tone, pitch, speed, and loudness along with a host of other soft skills, all working to deliver the perfect message to the listener.
In my opinion, everyone should acquire negotiation, conflict management and enhanced communication skills; because it pays to be a good talker, literally!
Certificates are Worthless! Or are they?
We’ve all had that one friend who used to say, “A degree does not define my worth as a person!” haven’t we?
What are they doing now?
Surely, a certificate does not define your value as a person, but it sure does add to your qualifications. Imagine you are trying to get a promotion, and there’s another employee who has the same degree, the same experience, and the same chance at scoring that promotion; the only difference being you didn’t stop learning even after you got the job a year ago, you did courses that increased your skill-set, bridging the gaps the education didn’t fill. Now, see how the tables have turned!
Employers value your skills and the certificates are your tickets to better opportunities; completing industry-recognized certificates not only keeps you updated, it also documents your progress; it is more than just paper, it is the evidence that proves you never stopped learning!
In conclusion, never conclude learning!
Career development is personal development; the skills in communication, networking, negotiations, conflict management etc. carry over to your personal life as well. Planning for a trip? Get everything prepped and manage the day like a boss! Conflicts threatening the group’s enjoyment? Use your communication skills to bring conflicts under control; in essence, courses that teach you leadership, communication, soft skills, and management in the workplace help with not just work. It is an investment that always offers steady returns.
For those looking to upskill and be ahead of the curve, here are the most recommended courses for the most required skills in 2024
Still confused about where to start? Get in touch with us to get personalized tips on which course works best for you.
Frequently asked questions
