5 Personal Development Goals for Work
Personal development has been the word on everyone’s lips lately, and it is not without reason. Making sure to set personal development goals for work is essential if you want to stay on top of your game and continue to develop yourself professionally.
Before I pivot to the 5 personal development goals for work, I wanted to define what exactly “personal development” means. Personal development is an ongoing process that involves forming knowledge and understanding of oneself, setting objectives, working towards those objectives, and tracking progress against those objectives. It is essential to ensure your own career growth and success since it can help you stay motivated and up-to-date with the trends in your industry.
Now, as a stay-at-home mom, or a work-from-home mom, why should you set personal development goals for work? The answer is simple: because these goals will help you stay on track and continue to develop your skills, regardless of where you are in your career.
Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom planning to return to work, or a current work-from-home mom aiming to build up your own business, here are 5 personal development goals you should consider setting for yourself:
5 Personal Development Goals for Work
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Keep up with the Latest Technology
No, you don’t have to keep up with the Kardashians but you should stay current on the latest technologies being used in your industry. The technology that you use daily for work can make or break your success. Keeping up with these trends will help you stay ahead of the competition and maximize productivity.
For example, before the pandemic, nobody had heard about TikTok. But now, it’s one of the most popular social media platforms with influencers making money from it. As a result, if you work in the SoMe field and have no idea how to do TikTok marketing, you’ve just put yourself at a major disadvantage.
Similarly, if you’re a SEO writer and cannot keep up with Google’s algorithm changes, you may face difficulties in finding work in this ever-evolving field.
Continue to Network and Build Relationships
Networking and building relationships are essential for career growth, no matter what line of work you’re in. Whether it’s reaching out to mentors, attending conferences, or joining online forums – make sure you find ways to keep growing your network of contacts. This will help open up more doors for you, and you never know what opportunities may come your way.
Additionally, networking can also help you stay inspired and motivated to continue developing yourself professionally. By staying in touch with other professionals in the same field as you, you’ll be able to get their advice on how to succeed as well as find out about any new skills or technologies that may help you reach the next level.
When I was still freelancing in 2020 (just right after the pandemic), I put a lot of effort into networking online and offline. I found mentors, joined community forums, attended conferences, and even took up courses. All these activities helped me develop new skills and gain more experience in the SEO field, which eventually allowed me to find a full-time job in my area of expertise 2 years later.
And of course, networking during that time had gained me a lot of clients and customers for my freelance writing services, which helped me save up for our new house.
Read More and Make it a Habit
Whether you read books, blogs, or articles – reading is the key to personal growth. Not only does it help you learn new things, but it also lets you stay up-to-date with the latest trends around the world. So make sure you’re constantly looking for ways to expand your knowledge and understandings of your profession.
Start by setting a goal to read at least one article a day related to your field and make it a habit. This will not only help you stay in the loop but also give you more confidence in your industry.
Don’t expect to become an overnight expert just by reading, but start with small knowledge pieces and gradually build up from there.
If you’re like me, you may like to read non-work related books but rather something more inspirational or educational. So, here is the list o my current favorite reads:
- You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero
- Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything by B.J. Fogg
- Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
- Get Over Your Damn Self: The No BS Blueprint to Building a Life Changing Business by Romi Neustadt
- Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts by Jennie Allen
- Influencer: Building Your Personal Brand in the Age of Social Media by Brittany Hennessy
Use Your Time Wisely
How many times did you tell yourself that you’ll get something done but failed to follow through? Or how many times did you find yourself spending hours on end scrolling through your social media feeds, mindlessly wasting time?
Time is one of the few resources that we can’t get back, so it’s important to use it wisely and focus on completing tasks that will add value to your profession.
When I first started my freelance career, I was all over the place with my time management. I’d end up spending hours on trivial things like scrolling through reels instead of working on what was actually important. So, I had to figure out a way to re-organize my day and prioritize my work better.
To do this, I started using the Pomodoro Technique, which is an effective way to break down work into smaller tasks, and then tackling them one at a time. Every 25 minutes, I take a 5-minute break and then get back to what I was doing. This helped me become more productive in my job and also allowed me to focus on the more important tasks first.
Another great way to use your time effectively is to plan out your day the night before. Write down all the tasks that you need to do and prioritize them according to their importance. This will help you stay on track with your goals and make sure that nothing falls through the cracks.
But hey, whatever works for you is the best way to manage your time. Just remember, use it wisely and be consistent in order to see results!
Improve Your Soft Skills
Soft skills are skills that involve your attitude, communication, and ability to work with others. They’re important for any profession, but especially in the freelance industry, where you need to manage clients effectively and deliver quality work that meets their expectations.
Depending on your types of work, the nature of your industry, and the type of person you are, you may need to develop different sets of soft skills. But, here are a few that I found helpful and think are essential for any freelancer:
- Communication: Being able to effectively communicate with clients and colleagues is vital in the freelance world. Whether it’s via email, phone calls or video conferencing, having strong communication skills will help you deliver better results.
- Problem-solving: Clients come to freelancers with a problem they need solved and it’s up to you to figure out the solutions. Being able to troubleshoot quickly and efficiently is an invaluable skill.
- Organization: Keeping your work organized helps create a smoother workflow and ultimately makes your job easier for both yourself, your co-workers (if any), and your customers in the long run.
- Presentation: Oftentimes, a great presentation can make or break a client’s opinion of your work. Being able to deliver well-crafted presentations in an effective and professional manner will give you an edge over the competition.
- Networking: One of the best ways to grow your freelance business is through networking. Building relationships with other freelancers, clients, and industry professionals can open up a lot of doors and help you find new opportunities.
Of course, these are not the only soft skills you need to be successful in your career. However, they’re a great start and can help you become more successful in your profession if you focus on sharpening them.
The Final Thoughts
Being a working mom, I know how important it is to stay organized, productive and focused. Taking the time to develop your personal development goals for work will help you reach your career goals faster, while also giving you peace of mind knowing that you’re making progress towards something meaningful.
So, make sure you take the time to evaluate where you are in your career and set achievable goals that will help you move forward. With focus and dedication, you can make the most of your time and reach success in no time!
