Business, and life itself, are becoming increasingly competitive. The exponential advent of technology means that our access to knowledge is greater than ever before, and therefore the expectations are higher than they have ever been.
This competitive aspect is twofold: Not only is there more competition for good jobs, but employers themselves are competing for exceptional talent. If you want to make yourself indispensable, it could be worth your while to investigate opportunities for professional development. However, this is not the only reason to invest in increasing your skillset.
“Did you know that further professional development is not just about remaining competitive,” says Eileen Thornhill, Director of The LLC Academy. “There are, in fact, any number of reasons why focusing on your continued learning is beneficial across the board.”
New Career Opportunities
“Whether you are looking to advance at your current place of employment, or are searching for further opportunities elsewhere, the fact that are you are studying further is as important as what it is you have decided to study,” says Thornhill. “Employers are more likely to promote or hire those who see the value of investing in themselves, as well as recognising the importance of keeping abreast of current industry developments.”
Boost Self Esteem
“Being seen as a credible, confident team member can do wonders for your self-esteem,” says Thornhill. “But it’s not just about the external validation that a certificate or diploma can give you – an innate sense of self-worth is a very large part of the confidence boost that studying further can provide.”
Increase Proficiency
“Increasing your access to global advances in knowledge and best practices go a very long way to increasing your proficiency in your chosen career,” says Thornhill. “Rapid, constant, and disruptive change has become the norm and strategies and approaches that succeeded in the past are no longer a guide to what will succeed in the future.”
“Depending on your chosen career, the knowledge gained through your initial degree or diploma can quickly become out of date,” says Thornhill. “Continued learning is the only way to remain on top of the latest advances in your industry.”
Teach Others
“Increasing your own skillset and knowledge base often leads to roles in which you can pass it on,” says Thornhill. “Not only does taking on a mentorship role at work increase your value in the eyes of your current and prospective future employers, but it is also beneficial to your business environment as a whole.”
“This is a significant part of the reason why we at the LLC Academy are dedicated to upskilling and uplifting South Africans in a holistic manner,” says Thornhill. “The philosophy of ‘each one teach one’ is, we think, a great part of how we can bring South Africa to the global stage as a competitive force.”
The LLC Academy offers a range of programmes designed to develop, uplift and grow South Africans into highly skilled, competent, contributing members of our economy. Speak to our consultants to find out more about what we can offer you.