Reimagine Inclusion: Mita Mallick on Creating Equitable Workplaces

7 coaching tools to lead with trust

A Snapshot of Women's Workplace Equity in 2025

Professional development isn't just about attending training courses – it's about taking control of your career path and making conscious choices to improve your skills and knowledge. 

Here are 10 essential steps on how to make the most of your learning opportunities and advance your career.

Start by identifying specific areas where you want to grow. Whether you're interested in joining an [Emerging Leaders Program](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/events/emerging-leaders-program/overview) or developing technical expertise, having clear objectives helps you focus your learning efforts.

Leadership coaches Shannah Kennedy and Colleen Callendar suggest you create a [high performance](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/elevate-your-potential-for-high-performance) **vision board**:

*   Think of your age 5 years from now. Create a vision board showing that imagined future.

When [planning your future self](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/elevate-session-3-plan-your-10-yr-self), they also suggest you try setting yourself a goal cadence that follows the seasons:  

*   **Autumn** – start big projects
*   ·**Winter** – big goal work
*   **Spring** – gift of new energy – use it to declutter and complete big tasks and big projects
*   **Summer** – a great refuelling time. Refresh yourself and have a break

Work with your manager to align these goals with your company's goals.

Set clear development goals 

Even if you're not currently in a management role, understanding leadership principles is valuable. Many corporate training programs offer modules on [leadership skills](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/developleadershipskills) that can help you feel more confident when taking the lead on projects, giving feedback to your colleagues, or getting others to trust you.  

Leadership coach Kylee Stone says leadership has [foundational skills](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/foundations-of-leadership) at its core. They include: 

**Purpose** – Vision, Values, Mission, Purpose

**Strategic Alignment** (how to get to where you want to go) – Strategy, Planning, Execution, The A-Game

**Resilience** – Mindset, Mindfulness, Agility (EQ), Resilience (RQ)

**Communication** – Storytelling, Listening, Collaboration, Mentoring

Build a strong foundation in leadership skills 

Don't wait for employee development programs to come to you. Research available resources, including online courses, workshops, and mentoring opportunities. Consider both formal and informal learning paths that match your goals and learning style. 

The [immersive live virtual learning program](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/) with Growth Faculty membership is a must-have for your professional development and one of the most effective ways to access business leadership seminars.

Create your own learning plan 

According to globally-renowned thought leader Patrick Lencioni, [building a healthy team culture in 2025](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/how-success-in-2025-depends-on-healthy-team-culture) comes down to:

1.  **Trust**: The foundation of all team success
2.  **Conflict**: Healthy, idea-focused dialogue
3.  **Commitment**: Genuine buy-in from all team members
4.  **Accountability**: Peer-driven performance standards
5.  **Results**: Collective organisational success, i.e. “one team”

What can you do to contribute to these healthy team behaviours?

Focus on team dynamics 

Ask colleagues and managers for specific feedback about your performance and areas for improvement. Read up about [radical candor](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/radicalcandorgivingfeedback), to understand why **feedback is a gift** (not an attack). 

As Radical Candor lead coach Amy Sandler says, another way to think about radical candor is _compassionate_ candor.

As well as giving feedback, learn to **welcome feedback**. Understanding your leadership barriers helps you address weaknesses and build on your [areas of working genius](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/6typesofworkinggenius).

Regular feedback sessions support continuous improvement in your role.

Seek feedback regularly 

Many people in mid- to late career will lament the fact they didn't build better networks earlier. 

So, start now! Connect with colleagues across different departments and industries. Join professional associations, attend industry events, and participate in networking groups. These connections can provide valuable insights, mentoring opportunities, and career opportunities.

Build a professional network 

As Liz Wiseman says in her [book _“Impact Players,_](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/LizWisemanImpactPlayers)_”_ the best team members don’t just do their job, they look for the job that needs to be done.  

Volunteer for projects that push you beyond your comfort zone. This practical experience often teaches more than formal training programs and shows initiative to senior leaders. It's also an excellent way to apply what you've learned in corporate training sessions.

Take on stretch assignments 

Learning is wonderful on its own, but [social learning](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/sociallearningleadershipdevelopment) is even more powerful. 

Teaching others helps reinforce your own learning and positions you as a subject matter expert. 

As the biggest drop happens **just hours** **after** you learn new information, its always a good idea to go back to the training material within the next few days.

From 20-100% of information is retained when **demonstrated, discussed** or **practised with others**, or worked through with a coach.

So, offer to lead training sessions, mentor junior colleagues, or write internal knowledge-sharing articles. This visibility can boost your career prospects.

Share your knowledge 

According to "the Zenman," leadership coach Keith Roberts (who spoke at our [Mental Health & Wellbeing Week](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/our-mental-health-and-wellbeing-week)), **writing something down** doubles the probability of what you put on paper coming to fruition. This is because emotion is transferred when pen is put to paper.

Document your achievements, new skills, and the impact of your learning on team performance improvement. 

This record helps during performance reviews and when seeking new opportunities. It also helps you identify gaps in your development.

Track your progress 

Make learning a habit rather than a one-off event so you have [adaptable leadership skills](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/6-ways-to-adaptable-leadership). 

Read industry publications, follow thought leaders, and stay current with trends in your field. The most successful professionals are those who **embrace continuous learning** throughout their careers. 

Growth Faculty's [2025 Program](https://ideas.growthfaculty.com/l/1071223/2024-06-12/5q9w34) of live virtual learning sessions gives you a regular opportunity to learn from some of the world's most influential thought leaders in business and leadership.

Events are added regularly, so keep up to date by signing up for [our newsletter](https://ideas.growthfaculty.com/l/1071223/2024-07-24/5qfgl1) and see what’s on offer for [Growth Faculty members](https://join.thegrowthfaculty.com/#plans).

Growth Faculty also offers a great value [Enterprise plan](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/#plans) for larger companies to develop leadership skills in teams of 20 or more employees.

Remember, professional development is ongoing. By taking these steps and consistently investing in your growth, you'll be better positioned to advance your career and contribute more effectively to your company’s success.

Photo by [Juan Encalada](https://unsplash.com/@juanencalada?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/woman-wearing-blue-dress-shirt-WC7KIHo13Fc?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash)

10 ESSENTIAL STEPS TO BOOST YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Feel more confident when taking the lead on projects or giving feedback

Keep informed
Stay Inspired

10 ESSENTIAL STEPS TO BOOST YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Feel more confident when taking the lead on projects or giving feedback

Keep informedStay Inspired

Keep informed
Stay Inspired