Revisited: Navigating your path to professional growth

When it comes to your professional development, the journey may involve stepping up within your current role or exploring new horizons. In this article, Laura Williams breaks down your options and sets your course for growth

In terms of the next steps in the development of your role, it may simply mean developing further within your current context. Progression doesn’t necessarily have to mean onwards (moving schools) or upwards (moving to a bigger or more specialist role). It may mean pulling up that long-awaited seat at the SLT table or it may mean building the capacity of your team so in turn, you can build your own.

If progression does mean moving onwards and/or upwards to you, then there are some questions to consider:

• Do you want to move to another education phase?
• Do you want to be a generalist or a specialist?
• Do you want to work within a MAT or LA structure?

How am I going to get where I want to go?

Yes, the simplest, most obvious answer is CPD but when it comes to determining what type of CPD then the path ahead becomes a lot murkier.

First of all, let’s break down CPD into more manageable chunks – or 3 strands:

• Strand 1… if you are experiencing difficulty or need to brush up/keep up
• Strand 2… if you need to acquire new skills or further enhance existing skills in your current role
• Strand 3… if you’re ready to acquire skills to prepare you for your next role

Now… with your piece of paper in front of you and your general GPS coordinates programmed into Google Maps ask yourself the following:

• What am I looking to gain from CPD?
  • What strands am I focusing on?
  • Why am I focusing on them?
  • Skills, knowledge, accreditation, credibility, meet compliance requirements?
• What is my learning style and preferred learning environment?
  • Classroom, large group, small group, one-to-one, online, on the job, structured, flexible, formal, informal, quick, over time?
• What investment am I prepared to make?
  • Budget, commitment to employer, time, workload, work/life balance, impact, value for money?

There isn’t a right or wrong way of learning and what works for one person will not work for everyone.  You just need to make the best, most informed decision for you.

There’s so much choice out there when it comes to CPD so here’s a quick CPD brainstorm to get you thinking!

• Qualifications
• Webinars
• Coaching
• Mentoring
• Attending conferences
• Training sessions
• Network meetings
• Regional & Local SBL Networks
• Join a Professional Association and/or Union
• Social Media Networks
• Podcasts
• Online Courses
• Become a Governor

Remember, each of these suggestions will have different costs, time commitments, delivery methods and expected outcomes so do your research and before you part with your cash or sign on the dotted line… ask yourself this:

Am I selecting the right type of CPD to help me achieve my goals?

If the answer is ‘no’ or ‘not quite sure’ then put your pen down, put your piece of paper away and come back to it in a week. Or maybe you just want to hang out at Basecamp a little while longer to gather your thoughts!

It might not even be until the summer break that you can finally take a full breath and look around.

That’s totally fine.

You don’t have to have it all figured out.

Just remember that whenever it is that you’re ready to venture out of Basecamp, you’re not alone. I’m here, the SBL community is here and we’ve got your back.

This article was written by Laura Williams.

You can read the originally published version of this article in the Education Executive magazine.