As part of the hints and tips for developing yourself at work series learning and development business partner, Kevin Avis, shares ideas on how you get the most from work-based opportunities to grow and develop
See more in the series: early careers | experienced careers | senior leader careers
For those managing and leading people and processes here is a list of things you can be doing to help you develop in your role.
1. Refine your coaching, mentoring and feedback skills
Use your interactions with your stakeholders to develop your coaching, mentoring and feedback skills. Build time in for personal reflection and consider how effective your intervention and assess if it has made a positive contribution.
2. Lead on a change project or initiative in your area of specialism – identify an area of improvement and work with your wider team to make an impact
Look for opportunities where a change or improvement is needed – work with your manager to take responsibility and put in plans to make an improvement across your hospital or function.
3. Intentionally ask for feedback
It is possible as you progress in your career that others may not be willing to provide you feedback, and there is also a risk to anyone developing their area of practice may not become so open to feedback.
Use your interactions with people and specifically, and directly ask for feedback and how you can improve. Reflect upon these and apply these to your practice.
4. Lead or support a project or programme that has an impact wider that your area of work
Work with others across your function or hospital to create commercial, regulatory or cultural impact across a wider area. This might be across a group of hospitals or within a corporate function. Observe the technical and professional insights of others and learn what tools and systems they use to create change.
5. Give things away
Take stock of what you are doing, consider what can be used to help develop others and agree on a plan on how they can take ownership of this. The art of delegation takes time and careful planning, and initially, it takes regular involvement and coaching of others.
6. Represent the business on external bodies and groups
External bodies and groups are critical for commercial success and governance. Find out which bodies or groups your functional or hospital connect with, and ask to shadow or take responsibility to be involved in this work.
7. Check-in regularly with your manager and use the appraisal process
ircle Health Group has a good check-in and appraisal process that helps your development and growth. Have regular meetings with your manager and they are documented so you can measure and track your growth.
Use the reflection sheet to help you reflect and plan. Use this to make some proposals and suggestions to your manager.