3 Tips For Accelerating Personal Development

You can grow your personal development through many methods, but a few effective ways include increasing personal awareness, setting up realistic short term goals, and getting a mentor. Individual development is a never ending journey, and it’s not always linear. In fact, developing yourself means ups and downs, stalling and accelerating. That’s where the tips below can really come in handy.

Self Awareness 

It’s important to know your strengths and weaknesses, as well as be aware of the signs that you are close to burnout and may need to take a break. When you understand what you bring to the table and what skills you can improve on, growth is limitless. Self acceptance is also crucial, you may not love every experience you’ve had in your life but it’s important to see that there is a lesson that can be learned in all of the not so great experiences. In reality, learning these lessons make us stronger, more interesting people. According to the Harvard Business Review, most people believe they are self aware, but only 10-15% of people studied actually fit the criteria. So how can you actually become truly aware? Seeking honest feedback from supportive critics and learning how to ask what instead of why. For example, instead of asking, “why did I get laid off at my last job?” it might be more helpful to ask, “what can I do to become invaluable to my team?” It’s a mindset that leaves you more in control of your life and results you want. Increasing these skills will make any individual stand out among others in the workforce.

Realistic Short Term Goals 

Short term goals give us a better chance of reaching our long term goals. The long term picture can be a bit overwhelming to think about. We wonder how we will get there, maybe doubt ourselves, procrastinate, etc. Breaking down our biggest aspirations into bite sized goals keeps us motivated and on track. One way to do this is to write down a specific goal and the date you would like to achieve it, then work backwards from this goal and date until you get to the very first step. Now, you have realistic, actionable steps to take every day.

Getting a Mentor

Having a more experienced person help guide you through the pitfalls and obstacles that are inevitable in a personal or professional development journey can really accelerate the process and save a lot of pain. According to a study, people who are mentored are five times more likely to get promoted. Mentoring relationships are very empowering for someone exploring a new field or area of study. Mentoring programs have been known to empower both mentors and mentees. Mentors often feel fulfilled giving back and the experience of mentoring someone helps them grow their leadership skills or solidify their own knowledge through the process of teaching and explaining it to someone else. Research shows 87% of mentees feel empowered by their mentoring relationships and have developed greater confidence. Having access to a mentor can help with gaining more awareness of your talents and provide opportunities for receiving constructive criticism to improve in weaker areas. While peer to peer mentoring can also be helpful, traditional mentorship connections are often made of one experienced person helping a newer individual navigate the path towards reaching their goals. Mentors typically don’t compete with their mentees and are there to encourage and cheer them on, which can be crucial during tough times.

These tips can help you on your way to greater personal and professional development. It’s always important to remember that the journey never ends; there is always more to learn and experience. That said, these tips will get you started and moving well ahead of the curve.