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12 Proactive Actions Employees Can Take To Sharpen Skills Outside of Work

Forbes Coaches Council
POST WRITTEN BY
Expert Panel, Forbes Coaches Council

The best companies provide training for their employees to help them perform their jobs better. However, the sad fact of the matter is that employers don't always offer—or are even able to offer—time or resources for professional growth. For ambitious employees, this could be a stifling situation, but there is hope.

Once you have the drive to improve your professional abilities and reputation, several avenues exist for you to expand your skill set. If you feel frustrated by the inability to extend your skills within your workplace, 12 members of Forbes Coaches Council share proactive actions you can do outside of your job that can aid you in learning more about your industry and being better at your profession.

Photos courtesy of the individual members.

1. Invest In Yourself

Take a class or do some additional reading. The military provides good education for its members. Yet great leaders recognize you must invest in education that exceeds the standard. Military leaders often publish recommendations for additional development. Here is the recommended reading list the Marine Corps Commandant published as an option for military leaders to invest in themselves. - Mika Hunter, Female Defender

2. Find A Mentor

Use your network to identify a leader in your field, or someone whose career you emulate. Ask this person to be your guide and thought partner. Use your mentoring sessions to learn from their experience and to brainstorm and problem-solve challenges you're facing. Come prepared, and remember to consider how you can be a resource to your mentor. Don't have a great network? Then start building one! - Kathleen Woodhouse, Nova Leadership

Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?

3. Have An Open Mind And Be Strategic

These days—more so than ever—there are a plethora of things that one can do to enhance one's knowledge and skill sets. The No. 1 thing I would suggest is to first approach all the options with an open mind. This way, one can actually end up learning about topics that one never even envisioned! Then, with all the options, be strategic—figure out what would be most helpful now. - Ash Varma, Varma & Associates

4. Be A Continuous Learner

Having a mindset of being a continuous learner is the first step to sharpening your skills. Read books, engage in online webinars, attend training and learning programs through online professional and trade platforms such as LinkedIn Learning, Udemy and other key industry and educational sites. See investment in your own development as a positive attribute and competency of self-awareness and leadership. - Lori Harris, Harris Whitesell Consulting

5. Don't Underestimate Independent Study

We live in the information age. There are many training tools at your reach. Look for postings for the positions you wish to achieve next. Once you understand the requirements, you can develop your own independent study plan and level up your competencies. Luck favors the prepared, they say. - Rosa Vargas, Authentic Resume Branding & Career Coaching

6. Read More

As simple as it may sound, we all should read more. No matter what profession you have, there is so much published material and content that can help us all with our efforts to become even better professionals. - Donald Hatter, Donald Hatter Inc.

7. Leverage Your Passion

What do you love to do? And whatever it is—patisserie on the weekends, writing children's stories in your spare time or long nature walks—exercising any passion is an opportunity to learn and grow from that which nourishes you. What skills and competencies does doing what you love call upon? Write them down. Next, how can these be used in the service of your professional development? - Palena Neale, Ph.D, unabridged

8. Take Online Courses

If you work for a company that is foolish enough to not invest in your development, fear not, you have many options at your fingertips. The internet has made it so easy to learn just about anything. I recommend massive open online courses (MOOCs) such as Udemy or Coursera. You can even get certificates with these. I've seen coaching clients have great success and positive outcomes from MOOCs. - Anita Nielsen, LDK Advisory Services

9. Start Your Own Mastermind

Masterminds are all the rage, and most have a steep price—both financially and in time invested. Essentially, they provide two things: the people and the agenda. Why not start your own? Invite three people you admire, with a learning and growth mindset, and encourage them to invite three as well. You'll have a like-minded group, without tuition, and you can meet at your convenience—for free. - John Hittler, Evoking Genius

10. Leverage Professional Organizations

One of the best ways to sharpen your skills is by joining professional organizations. They offer professional development programs that rival corporate training and development initiatives. Seek out industry or functionally related groups online. Tap into their special interest groups, events, certifications and skill-building opportunities to help you deepen your skills and grow in your career. - Loren Margolis, Training & Leadership Success LLC

11. Volunteer In The Community

My research through the years has found that critical professional and leadership development skills and abilities are strengthened when employees engage in strategic volunteerism. For example, serving on a nonprofit board or committee can provide you with practice expanding your critical thinking and analysis skills as you deal with "wicked" community problems. This service can benefit all! - Susan Madsen, Utah Valley University & Madsen Global Leadership

12. Become A Student Of Leadership

Become a student of leadership or of whatever you want to learn or become. First, define your learning agenda by clearly identifying your learning goals. Then, become the curriculum designer, the teacher and the student. In the age of Coursera, LinkedIn and podcasts, it's never been easier to find top-notch knowledge. Start a book club and a lunch-and-learn and invite the others that want to learn with you. - Simon D'Arcy, Evolution

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