Now I’m only one month away from finishing my apprenticeship, it is becoming clear to me how much I have actually progressed. This is not only in regards to my role at All Things Web®, but personally too.
Personal development often involves skills that are generally overlooked. This month I have created a list of how I have developed in just one year. Have any of these skills affected your career too?
Organisation
Being an organised person is to be able to methodically arrange things mentally as well as physically. Before I started my job, I thought I was organised because my trainers and high heels were grouped separately but that was only the beginning.
I have learnt how to arrange everything from stationary orders to daily refreshments all in a timely manner. However, most challenging of all, I have learnt to organise other people as well as myself which required a lot of confidence, communication skills and a sense of assertiveness.
Many people make the assumption that organisation is to do with tidying up. Yes, my makeup box is a lot more ‘tidy’ now but organisation goes further than that. Even in my personal life, I use check lists for practically everything now!
Self-Management
One thing that young people, such as myself, lack the most is self-management. Most of the time, we get told what to do and where to be by teachers, parents and family. Self-management is not only managing your own time, but also taking responsibility for your own actions and behaviour.
This is something I am still working on, but I can already see how much of a difference it is beginning to make both at work and at home. This links in very closely to self-confidence. Anyone that works in my office with me knows that checklists are my best friend because they help with absolutely everything – self-management, organisation AND prioritising. Although it seems silly checking off things like ‘hoover office’, it keeps me in check and I can be certain I have completed all of my tasks for the day.
Learning Styles
We’ve all been put through tests to tell us what kind of learner we are; kinetic, visual or auditory, so we can all be in agreement in how dull they are. However, how many of you have actually put your learning style into practice? I have discovered that I am very much a visual learner – I like diagrams, colours and plenty of notes!
I have used this to the best of my ability at work and it is working a treat. From highlighters to paperclips, my desk is full of colour and as I mentioned before, check lists are everything. I think it is worth finding out your learning style as it has genuinely helped me to discover my own personal strengths and weaknesses as well as helping me take advantage of my natural inclinations.
Give it a go! Use this handy online test to see what your learning style is.
Time management
In between working and my apprenticeship, I have had to learn how to manage my time. I have gone from putting the pro in procrastination to a 5 minutes early kind of person!
I will always use the rule of three now (5 when it gets a little manic). Of course after writing out my beloved check list for the day, I will start prioritising using numbers 1, 2 and 3. Once they are ticked off in order, I’ll pick another 3. This puts my day into little bitesize chunks which is a bit of a lifesaver on those busy days.
This has made me consider how I spend my time more in my personal life too. Did you know if you get up before 11am on a Saturday, it’s like a whole extra day?!
Has Personal Development Help You Succeed?
When you take a step back and look at how you’ve personally developed over your career, you will be truly amazed just like I was. Use this to your advantage and thrive not only at work, but at home too. What other skills could you add to my list?
Just one more month, and one more blog until my apprenticeship is over. I am very excited to see where my career will take me and will certainly miss blogging about my experiences. If you have any questions you’d like to ask us, give us a call on 01285 50 55 50.