Billy Burke MAEOP October 17, 2014 The Importance of Professional Development and Goal Setting for Office Professionals Billy Burke MAEOP October 17, 2014

Why Is Professional Development Important? Employer Improve performance Improve team Improve business You Improve skill set Add value Salary advancement

Why Is Professional Development Important? Present achievements in best possible light Stay competitive Cope with fast-changing work environment Boost confidence and credibility Impressive commitment to life-long learning You learn more about yourself, your capabilities and your career.

10 Ways to Help Yourself Grow Professionally

1. Take a Class

2. Teach Yourself a New Skill

3. Volunteer

4. Master an Online Skill

5. Seek Out People Who Are on the Same Career Path You Aspire To

6. Shadow a Colleague

7. Find a Mentor

8. Read

9. Attend a Conference

10. Don’t Neglect Soft Skills

Goal Setting Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible. -Tony Robbins

S.M.A.R.T. Goals Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Relevant

Time-Based

Specific My goal is to create a onboarding brochure for people who are new to the office.

Measurable I will have the brochure completed by April 30, 2015. I will collect Standard Operating Procedures documents that would be useful to employees in this office. I will document expectations for email, written correspondence, and copying and printing. I will meet with a focus group of employees in this department to determine what should be in the brochure.

Attainable I need the SOP documents. I need stakeholder input. I need approval of my supervisor. I would like to learn Microsoft Publisher to create the final document.

Relevant This brochure is important because it would make new employees better prepared to work within the office. It would also clarify some existing office practices that may be unclear to all staff.

Time - Based I will complete the brochure by April 30, 2015. I will get my evaluators approval by November 1, 2014. I will conduct the department focus group by December 15, 2014. I will collect and review the appropriate SOP documents by January 31, 2015. I will identify expectations for email, written correspondence and copying and printing by February 28, 2015.

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