My first career out of school was as a talent manager. I had responsibility for sourcing talent and for learning and development. This conversation is one that is really close to my heart.
Whatever you are doing with your life – building your career, running a business, or leading an NGO, the significant leverage you have that can help you grow all of them into bigger or better is your talent. You are a talent, and your key leverage is your capacity to upgrade your talent.
- Learn new skills: One of the most effective ways to upgrade yourself is to learn new skills. Identify the skills you need to acquire to improve your performance in your current role or to advance your career. You can take courses, attend workshops or seminars, or pursue a degree or certification program. Instead of wasting a lot of time on TikTok and IG reels, you can start by watching free videos on YouTube on the skills you want to learn.
- Seek feedback: To improve yourself, you need to know what you’re doing well and what you need to work on. Ask for feedback from your boss, colleagues, or mentors. Use this feedback to identify areas for improvement and make changes accordingly. Don’t just wait for people to give you feedback, take a book and a pen, go to someone, and ask them to give you honest and direct feedback about your work.
- Network: Networking is essential for growth. Attend industry events, connect with professionals in your field, and build relationships with people who can help you achieve your goals.
- Read and stay informed: Read books, articles, and blogs about your industry or area of interest. Stay up-to-date on trends, best practices, and new technologies. Never be more than three days out of touch with your area of interest.
- Develop good communication skills: Communication skills are essential for success in any profession. Work on your verbal and written communication skills and learn how to listen actively and communicate effectively with others. Practice makes perfect.
- Embrace new challenges: To improve yourself, you need to step outside your comfort zone and embrace new challenges. Volunteer for new projects, take on more responsibilities and be willing to learn from your mistakes. People who want to grow don’t dodge new work; they are willing to try new things to improve themselves.
- Take care of yourself: Finally, taking care of yourself is essential for upgrading yourself. Eat well, exercise regularly, drink Rida daily (like me), get enough sleep, and take time for yourself to recharge and reflect. A healthy mind and body will help you perform at your best.
- Develop a growth mindset: Adopt a growth mindset, which means embracing challenges, persisting through obstacles, and seeing failures as opportunities to learn and grow. This mindset will help you stay motivated and focused on your goals.
- Find a mentor: A mentor can provide guidance, support, and feedback as you work to improve yourself. Look for someone with experience in your field who can offer advice and help you navigate challenges.
- Seek out opportunities to lead: Leading others is a great way to improve your skills and develop new ones. Look for opportunities to lead a project or team and take on responsibilities that will help you build your leadership skills. You can do this outside the scope of your business or work; your place of worship can provide you with some of these options.
- Embrace diversity and inclusion: Developing an understanding and appreciation for diversity and inclusion can help you become a better talent. Seek opportunities to work with people from different backgrounds and cultures and learn how to communicate effectively with people with different perspectives and experiences.
- Practice self-reflection: Take time to reflect on your experiences, successes, and failures. Identify areas for improvement, set goals for yourself, and create a plan for how to achieve those goals.
By taking these steps, you can upgrade yourself and become a better talent, which can lead to greater success in your business, career and personal life.
Kind Regards,
Adeolu Akinyemi.
