After managing people for many years and based on personal career advancement, people that invest in themselves are able to set themselves apart from their competition. Over the years, many team members have asked for ways to improve in their role or they have asked for opportunities to learn. However, many people will not do the hard work and invest in themselves.
If you want to be promoted or advance in your career, you need to invest in yourself. Most people will not be willing to invest in themselves and will often become frustrated with the lack of advancement.
We offered course work to our whole company and very few people took advantage of the opportunity. Some of the roles within our company require specific license however we are fortunate that our company allows anyone to get the license if they are willing to put in the work. Over the years, only about 1% of people not required to get the specific license have been willing to get the license.
The question you should ask yourself is that if you are not willing to invest in yourself, why should someone else?
Investing in yourself can mean many different things. Some people get additional degrees, such as an MBA, or certificates, such as a CFA or CPA. You can spend additional time at the office learning from more senior team members. Read books or trade magazines about your industry. Reading an industry book will allow you to learn from others and challenge your viewpoint. Trade magazines are a great way to stay up to date on industry trends. There are many podcasts available as well. Be sure to utilize a creditable source.
Seek feedback from your team or manager on areas that you can improve and have them help put a game plan together to help you get to the next step. Honestly all that is easy. The hard part is putting in the work; and let me tell you, it is work!
Not everyone is willing to do the hard work. That is okay but not everyone will climb the ladder either. If you find a career that you are passionate about, it will be easier to invest in yourself because you will enjoy your role and learn about the industry.