How to Grow Yourself Outside the Classroom
Published as the Feature title “An Uncommon Curriculum: Learning Beyond the Classroom” in AWIS (Association for Women in Science) Magazine, Summer 2009
by Jane Chin, Ph.D.
As you progress through your career development, you may discover, as I have discovered, that your “non-traditional” educational experiences can influence and even impact your career direction. Learning outside the classroom or in an academic setting may assume many forms, from peer-based learning and support, to mentoring or coaching relationships, to networking functions and professional group memberships, to professional development seminars as a start!
Two key components of your extracurricular education may comprise of learning platforms, such as skills development forums, mentoring and coaching relationships. These learning platforms may complement each other and reinforce what you want to master. This article helps you get the most out of these two types of extracurricular learning.
Skills Development Forums
During the course of your education and professional career, you may identify skills that you know are essential to success on the job or in your business. You may find forums that focus specifically on the cultivation and strengthening of specific skills. Professional seminars, workshops, or programs are often geared toward professionals whose performance can improve or benefit from better communication skills, productive handling of conflict, and effective time management. These skills development forums are often led by a facilitator, coach, or program leader, and the number of speakers will depend on the scope of the program.
How to benefit from Skills Development Forums:
* Focus on real-world application. Make sure that the agenda includes hands-on practice from attendees. You can listen to theory about how to best manage conflict, but until you have an opportunity to practice what you have learned, you may not know how to use tools you were given in the program. If you are looking to improve your public speaking skills, you may want to look for programs that include a videotape analysis of your speaking style; you may cringe at the very idea, but no other feedback method can show your strong and weak areas better than watching yourself in action. You may also consider joining an organization like Toastmasters International that is committed to providing a supportive environment to develop public speaking skills.
* Have realistic expectations about your outcome. If you spent an hour listening to a webinar about good communication skills, you may walk away with useful information on what constitutes good communication, but that does not necessarily translate to actual improvement of your communication skills unless you know how to apply this information. I have listened to CD programs in time management where I was able to target one or two specific tools that Icould immediately use. That was the most realistic return on the time and investment I had committed to this program.
* Consider refresher courses. We often need to go through the same program a few times before we move beyond assimilation of data to practical application of what we have learned. For example, I have taken the same year-long business development program twice when I became an entrepreneur. The first year, I mastered the theory and the process put forth in the program. Even though we had many opportunities to practice the skills at each meeting, it was during the second year thatI became comfortable enough with the theory and the process to focus on mastering my application of the material.
Mentoring and Coaching Relationships
Many mid-career professionals, for example, may engage mentors and coaches for specific professional development goals or for career transitions. Corporate executives are increasingly looking to coaches for a deeper, more objective level of engagement that they may not receive from company constituents. One of the reasons why high achievers and successful people work with mentors and coaches is because they recognize that these relationships push them out of their comfort zones and takes them to the next level of awareness and performance they need to grow.
How to benefit from mentoring/coaching relationships:
* Identify your criteria for a desirable coach/mentor. If this is the first time you are engaging in a formal coaching or mentoring relationship, learn as much as you can about the person’s professional history and relevant experience. Do you want this person to be recognized as an industry leader or thought leader? Do you want to work with coaches who have published extensively or written books?
Do not be afraid to invest in the best, and this is not where you aim for “cheap rates”! Initially, I looked for cheap deals. I paid a hundred dollars in a coaching relationship where I gained little value; I saw this as the most expensive “hundred bucks” I have ever spent. On the other hand, Ispent more than seven thousand dollars for a total of 1 hour of a high profile coach’s time and gained more than ten-fold return on my investment. What do you think was a “better deal” in the end?
* Trust the process when you feel the discomfort of change. Once you have identified a mentor or coach who fulfills your criteria and whose integrity and professionalism have gained your trust, you must trust the process of your work togethe. Any transformational work – personal or professional – requires you to break out of your comfort zones and disrupt some established habits that may be holding you back. This means you will feel a certain degree of discomfort as you engage with your mentor or coach. I have found that the more resistance I feel in making a coaching call (and I start making excuses like “I’m too busy this week. I’ve got an article deadline due yesterday…”), the more important it is for me to MAKE THAT CALL, because this means that I am coming to a junction where old habits are colliding with new awareness and choices; this is where the potential for growth resides.
Customize your learning strategy and move on when the relationship no longer fits. As you become familiar with this type of professional development, you may decide to work with more than one coach or mentor. For example, an aspiring professional speaker may work with a business mentor as well as a voice coach. It is your choice to disclose these coaching or mentoring relationships, but it may be useful to share generalities relevant to your learning with the coach or mentor you are working with. In some cases, you may find that a wonderful coaching or mentoring relationship has become stagnant or even unproductive after a period of time: this may be a sign for you to move on, or for the relationship to change. Rather than seeing this as a negative, you may see this as evidence for growth. A good coach or mentor should recognize this emergence and discuss this with you, and even guide you on possible next steps.
Conclusion
While it can be daunting to choose among a variety of learning platforms and an abundance of professional development topics, you can begin with the basics. Identify the skills that are critical to your success, and take into account how you like to learn. If you are a hands-on, practical person; you may want workshops and seminars with numerous exercises and break out sessions. If you prefer to work one-on-one and receive individualized attention, you may find mentoring and coaching relationships satisfying and productive. Learning continues throughout the course of your career development, and your personal “uncommon curriculum” may open new doors along your career journey.
BIO: JANE CHIN, PH.D.
Dr. Jane Chin is a keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and career transition strategist. She is author of 5 Lessons in PhD Career Transitions (published by Phd Career Clinic, 2007) and All MSLs Started with No MSL Experience! The Guide to Becoming a Medical Science Liaison (published by MSL Institute, 2009). Dr. Chin is creator of 9 Pillars of Personal Leadership: How to Effortlessly Cultivate Followers, Freedom, and Wealth by Leading with Who You Are. To learn about Dr. Chin’s work in areas of medical science liaisons, microbusiness entrepreneurship, and personal leadership please visit www.JaneChin.com .
