Don't Neglect Your Professional Development

Do you develop professionally? Do you take you time to hone your skills? I don't mean an occasional, company-funded training, which you forget one week later. I mean a serious approach to improving yourself. Let's see why you should do it, and how you go about it.

Why

I think for many people it is obvious that doing continuous improvement of one's skills is a good thing. However, many people simply don't do it. They always "don't have the time". Or they have other reasons for neglecting their own career.

Let's see why you should not be one of them. When you develop, the following happens:

  • You do better at your work, which makes you feel more confident and you become more appreciated.
  • As you become more confident in your abilities, you start to guide others. You do it well, too. That leads to more appreciation and better results through teamwork.
  • Your effectiveness increases. You do more with less effort.
  • Appreciation and good results lead to better assignments in the future.
  • Better assignments bring more benefits.
  • Your value on the job market increases.
  • Generally, you rock!
How

There are variety of ways you can develop in IT Service Management. First, you need to make a conscious decision, that this is the direction you are going to explore. It needs effort on your part, so you better enjoy it.

Now, here are some options for you:
  • Talk to your peers. You can learn a lot from them, both from their mistakes and successes.
  • Take time to look at training options in your company. There might be some, and they don't necessarily have to cost a lot.
  • Use the Internet. Read this blog and others like it. I make it a point to mention on this blog other sites which I find useful. You should be able to find a lot of information this way.
  • Sign up to Twitter. Seriously. It is not just a silly chat tool, but a solid stream on information. You will find a lot of information just by tuning to #ITSM and #ITIL hashtags. And follow me, of course (but I didn't have to say that, didn't I?)
  • Read books. No excuses, find the time. I promote some of the books on the subject, but there are more than these available on the market.
  • Sign up to conferences and webinars. After a while, you might even want to present something. But even listening will do you good.
Most of the above will not cost you a lot of money, just some time. But it is the time well spent, so get on it.

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