Introduction
What is Professional Development? Why is it important to a business?
Professional Development refers to those things you learn that, although also often applicable in your personal life, help you to organize how to be your best and support the most efficient business. These things often fall under a category of “soft skills” because they are the intangible things that are not something you learn at school. It may be assumed you should have learned them at home, but the truth is that if you did not, being a responsible adult should teach you these things. That doesn’t always happen so this is where we can help provide some experience and context for the importance of learning how to do these things better.
Without the employees providing their utmost in these areas, what inevitably happens is that others take on the “slack”. Effectively, they cover up another person’s inability to produce at an equal standard. This breeds resentment, which, at first, becomes a problem for an individual, then two, then for the company’s operations, and, last, for the customer. You cannot allow missing pieces of skill and customer support without having it eventually affect the bottom line. A business is its people--and it’s people who will ultimately define the success of any product or service.
What does this have to do with being a Professional Assistant?
Your professional development--i.e., productivity, prioritization or decision-making abilities--are not necessarily what one may inquire about when they interview you. Yet, they really DO make up so much of what you present and can create to make key differences for an organization. Being professional means you know how to take yourself, others and the business seriously; you take the necessary steps to develop yourself according to an aim of success. As a Professional Assistant, your ability to bring forth this level of development will separate you from others and provide key opportunities. Remember, you are there to assist the entrepreneur and the business. Often, in our experience, business owners have great ideas and great sales and marketing experience. Yet, they may not have developed some of the qualities mentioned in this section.
Because of this, you will likely be granted ways to be their eyes, ears, and even to speak for the entrepreneur. Once again, it’s about support for the business while keeping a pulse on your own development.
As a Professional Assistant with this combination, you cannot lose.
Why should I pay attention to this?
As it’s been said, although not always “necessary” for employment, we fundamentally believe that it is your proficiency in these skills that will set you apart. By developing here, you are providing skills for others to benefit from, and, the practice and growth of these things will ultimately benefit you tenfold.
These specific skills help you build awareness and will also help you in your personal life as you pursue other ways and means of self-actualizing. By keeping tabs on your own growth, you will have little time to become frustrated or meddle in the affairs of others you work with or for. Being adept at things that others might ignore is a very POWERFUL way to bring attention to what you do best--support, serve and build.
Let’s not forget that paying attention to these things will also provide ample opportunities to build your self-esteem.
What else should I know?
We can teach you a whole lot of things about running a business, but, if we are to be thoroughly honest, the most important skills that you’ll be known, respected and valued for are those where your personal adherence to professionalism is apparent. We call this category “professional development” because it is everything that can’t be taught through a black and white lesson plan. And, if you don’t come by this sixth sense naturally, the good news is that you can learn it.
It is our greatest intention here to give you the tools and situations in which you can practice. Initially, you will likely falter if you don’t come by this easily. Make no mistake—no pun intended—making mistakes is a great way to learn. Being a bit perfectionist will help you be professional, but the ease with which you take on your professional responsibilities comes from the way you show up and present your best side.
In all this, there is, emphatically and constantly, a human element. You cannot manage either an authority figure, an entrepreneur or anyone else if you do not have confidence, poise and some gracefulness. People need a lot of understanding. Cultivating that starts with you. It has never been more important than now to be able to stand out in the way you present yourself. With the new millennium has come a perceived familiarity that is not always warranted or mirrored. If you want to be familiar with anyone, you must know your own self. Always be approachable and friendly but remember you are serving a business. You will learn a lot from this distinction.
Having a set of guidelines on professional conduct is a really good way to benchmark your progress, and even your paycheck. No one gets ahead without standing superior to who they were yesterday. You are an ever-evolving dynamic person. If you have the kind of mind that an entrepreneur or executive needs, then you will, of course, also have the kind of mind that WANTS to be improving and excelling. Being able to do this with balance and acceptance is a key to confidently being able to handle anything.
We too have had to grow and learn how to become the type of person that could think outside the box, demand the best from people while allowing them to learn how to deliver it, be trustworthy and handle the person we support in all their true colors. We are respected and respectable prodigies of service that, when rendered, makes us feel purposeful and our work highly productive.
We hope, in this section, that we will be able to provide the tips and tricks for you to be able to do and feel the same way.
This section will include lessons on:
Know the Executive/Entrepreneur
Time Management
Organizational Skills
Technology
Multitasking
Decision-Making
Prioritization
Productivity
The final lesson(s) of this, and every, section will be:
Problems you may encounter, along with suggested Solutions based on our experience
Resources that we have found useful, that you might also use to your advantage.
Highlights of the Section
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