How You Grow Depends on What You Know

June 2009
by Chauntelle Popp, Marketing Director TheOfficeSquad®

It is vitally important to your business that you keep learning about effective management strategies, technology, marketing trends, etc.   You have to constantly expand and re-tool your knowledge to keep up with our ever changing world. The educating process has to be a necessary component of your business development. If you don't keep at it, you will fall behind.

Here are a few ideas...

1. Commit to learning something new every day.  You don't have to amass knowledge in a lump sum, just learn one new thing a day.  What matters is that you explore new ideas and learning on a consistent basis.  Your day will seem more complete and you will enjoy ever growing confidence.

2. Get involved.  Attend seminars, workshops and networking events in your community.  Join a user's group or a professional association in your field. There is a wealth of knowledge out there, go out and get it, you may even make a few friends along the way. 

3. Improve your communication skills.  Superiors, clients, and others will evaluate you and your abilities based on written and verbal communication.  These skills often set you apart from the competition.  Effective and confident communication can make all the difference in your sales and success.

4. Stay informed.  Keep yourself informed about the business world, how it operates, the latest in technology, and how your business measures up.  Know what is happening around the world as it relates to your business. Subscribe to a business magazine or newspaper and actually read it. Stay up to date on the products and services you provide.

5. Read a book.  Spend time in the business and careers section of your local bookstore and read at least a book each quarter.

6. Take an online course.  There are a variety of educational websites available with video tutorials and online courses.  For example,  www.travitor.com and www.lynda.com provide video tutorials on most business and graphic software applications. The courses are usually affordable and you can work at your own pace, on your own schedule.

7. Ask Questions.  Get an education from the people around you. Your clients and associates are rich with information about the marketplace, the competition, career opportunities and trends. Ask an associate out to lunch and pick their brain!

8. Become an "expert" in your field.  Be the "go to" person that others confidently rely on for advice.  You will be surprised at how that will help you and your company grow. Make a commitment to get certified in your specialty.

9. Teach a class or train someone.  When you teach someone else, you learn it better yourself.  Often times you learn new things in your preparations.

10.  Don't procrastinate!   Some of these ideas don't cost a cent and won't take up excessive amounts of personal time.  We all feel overwhelmed with so many things to do, and there never seems enough time to get it all done.  You have to make time for personal growth and learning.  Even if it's for just 15 minutes at the beginning of your day.

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