Blog Post: Preparing for the new year

The New Year is as good a time as any for a personal assessment of your professional skills, and to consider what you want to improve upon in the coming year.  But don't call them New Year's Resolutions, things that are notoriously broken.  State them proudly as professional goals, and write them down where you can see them days, weeks, and months from now.

Dedication to Life-Long Learning
What skills have you mastered recently?  What new facilitative theories are you practicing?  If you've read something interesting in an article, how are you utilizing that piece of knowledge?  Challenge yourself to maintain a learning orientation to life, and to remain open to new ideas and input.  Commit to own self-care to maintain the high energy and awareness required of a facilitative leader, and as a model for others.

Professional PresentationDo you present yourself confidently, professionally, and authentically?  Commit to maintaining a strong presence that gently but firmly invites the attention of others.  Challenge yourself to maintain a clear focus on objectives, on schedule, and to keep on top of presentation tools and media, to differentiate yourself from the pack.

Expert Communication
Much is made of communication skills -- how are yours?  As a facilitative leader, dedicate yourself to actively listening to those around you, hearing and feeling all that is said and not said.  Respond with empathy when needed, decisiveness when asked, and with consideration for all parties involved.

Team work, team worthHow are your GAME skills? GAME stands for Group Awareness, Management, and Exploration.  Do you create and maintain a safe environment so that all present can learn from the group, as well as from the presenter?  Do you understand group process, and are you comfortable coaching participants, when necessary, to expand their awareness and create positive shifts in their performance?

Proper Intervention
What tools do you use?  Challenge yourself to go beyond "just training," finding intervention tools that support performance outside of the classroom.

Proper EvaluationHow do you know if you're doing a good job?  Go beyond those smile sheets to find ways to measure the success of your training after it has occurred. 

Manage Objectives
Challenge yourself to plan and prepare each presentation to best meet the unique needs and purpose of your audience.  The logisitics of any performance intervention can't come about by chance.  Set up and manage those resources necessary to effectively conduct your classes.  Know what objectives absolutely must be learned, know what learning points are nice to cover when you have time.  Have multiple activities ready to reinforce crucial knowledge, or to keep your audience on track.

ASTD-Orange County is proud to be your Learning Partner in 2008.  Check us out to see how we can help you meet your professional needs in the coming years.

What professional goals are you considering for 2008?  Add them in the comments below, perhaps as a way of indelibly committing to them, or perhaps as a means to inspire others.