What is the connection between personal growth and professional development?

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If you want to avoid stagnation in your career, striving to enhance your personal and professional growth is extremely important.

As a recent graduate, making sure you’re doing all you can to gain new skills and experience is vital to ensure that you’re equipped to manage future challenges, both professionally and personally.

At the Business Graduates Association, we’re dedicated to providing business school graduates and current students with various tools designed to support their professional and personal growth.

Here, we discuss the connection between personal growth and professional development, looking at examples of both and examining how you can take action to stimulate your personal and professional growth.

Our student and graduate hub is designed to give members access to CV-building services, job search, skills assessments, and much more. If you would like to find out more about Student and Graduate Membership, Click here.

Personal and professional growth – what’s the difference?

Professional development focuses on acquiring the knowledge and skills that can improve your efficiency at work. Personal growth looks at developing your communication and social skills, including aspects of emotional well-being.

These skills are particularly vital in networking environments, or if you are looking to become an outstanding leader.

Examples of personal growth include:

  • Health and fitness
  • Motivation
  • Self-confidence
  • Communication
  • Well-being

Examples of professional development include:

  • Networking
  • Research
  • Skill-based learning
  • Management training
  • Conflict resolution

What is the connection between personal growth and professional development?

Personal development is the foundation for professional growth and is where core habits of success form. After all, how can we expect to be successful leaders if we can’t effectively navigate our own performance?

Top performers who know their value are more likely to feel satisfied in their role, making use of every opportunity available to them. Showing a commitment to your personal growth indicates to employers that you are open to developing professionally and want to learn and grow.

The BGA student and graduate hub provides members with the ability to attend professional development webinars, bringing speakers from a diverse set of industries. If you’re looking to develop your self-confidence, or want to plan your next career move, or wish to learn more about business education, consider registering for your account, free for business schools that hold a BGA membership. Click here to find out if your business school is a member with us.

Why is personal and professional growth important to businesses?

There are a number of reasons why businesses should invest in the personal and professional growth of their employees. From reducing staff turnover to providing career direction, there are so many positives to consider.

Encouraging a culture that values personal growth will eventually result in better employee performance and profitability over time. Providing employees with a sense of purpose is one of the most valuable things an employer can do, reducing procrastination and increasing engagement.

Personal and professional growth will look different to everyone. For some, it might look like learning a new skill or gaining a new qualification.

For others, it might involve improving professional relationships or increasing confidence. It’s important that businesses take the time to understand how they can encourage a growth mindset in their workplace, whether that’s by providing training opportunities or offering ongoing well-being support.

How can I manage my own personal and professional development?

As a recent graduate, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to taking control of your own personal and professional growth. With no employer on hand to guide you, navigating your own development might seem like an impossible task. However, there are many things you can do to enhance your personal goals and take your career in the right direction.

Opportunities include:

  • Attending professional training
  • Gaining relevant qualifications
  • Taking on roles to gain experience, whether that be volunteering or corporate charity work

How can the BGA student and graduate membership assist in personal and professional growth?

One of the most effective ways you can develop both yourself and your career is by seizing every opportunity to learn, and remember that ‘Leaders never stop learning’.

If you’re looking to enhance your personal brand and receive the experience needed to future-proof your career, the BGA student and graduate members hub is here to support your growth.

Finding opportunities to enhance your knowledge and skills can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Not all opportunities will be right for you, so it’s important that you are provided with the necessary tools to create a relevant, effective development plan.

At the Business Graduates Association, we’re committed to encouraging lifelong learning through personal and professional growth. We do this by creating opportunities for individuals to enhance their careers and develop into effective, respected leaders.

If you would like to learn more about what we can do for you, whether you’re currently studying at a BGA member Business School or are a recent graduate looking for new opportunities, please get in touch. Contact us here.

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