How to Kickstart Your Post-Summer Career Development

 Taking time off allows us to slow down and reflect on our career progress, but the demands of work can cause us to lose focus on professional development. A post-summer reset can help regain motivation and momentum.

The key is to identify simple actions that can easily be integrated into daily routines to kick-start learning and growth.  

1. Set a growth goal  

At work, performance goals typically address daily responsibilities and are often created with your manager, while professional growth goals are less common. Growth goals focus on strengthening certain abilities or acquiring new skills, and you don't need approval to begin working on them. By sharing these goals with your manager and colleagues, you can gain their support and discover new opportunities. When setting growth goals, ask yourself: What skills or strengths do I want to be recognized for? What impact do I want to make in three months? Who can I learn from? What new skills or experiences would I like to explore? What am I curious about?  

 2. Connect with a learning community 

 Prioritizing professional development is easier when you’re not doing it alone. Learning with others increases your chances of sticking with it and retaining knowledge. Community learning is both efficient and effective, making it a great option for fitting development into a busy schedule. A learning community is a small group of people with shared curiosity about a specific topic, such as design thinking or management skills.  

 3. Start a skill sprint  

Skill sprints offer a short-term, concentrated way to focus on professional growth, making the process simple and motivating. Finishing a sprint gives a sense of accomplishment that keeps you committed, even when other job responsibilities arise. A five-day skill sprint is an ideal starting point, needing only 15 minutes per day.

Here's an example plan: 

• Day 1: Research key facts, thought leaders, and available insights on the skill you're interested in. 

• Day 2: Dive into the work of an expert through articles, podcasts, or videos. 

• Day 3: Apply a tool or idea and get feedback from colleagues.

•  Day 4: Seek advice from someone experienced in that skill. 

• Day 5: Reflect on what you've learned and how to apply it at work, considering further development in the area.  

4. Increase your feedback frequency  

Increasing your feedback frequency is a fast way to learn about your impact at work. Regularly asking colleagues for their thoughts provides valuable insights and helps guide your development. By asking the same question to different people, you can compare responses to understand where you are consistent and where you can improve, strengthening your professional brand.    

 Source: HBR 

Summarized by Samira Khojasteh