💭 For junior workers, maybe it was something like leading their first cross-functional meeting, deploying their first campaign, doing their first code push, or even just participating in a brainstorm.

📊 For mid-level, maybe it was their first performance analysis presentation, a new GTM plan, leading their first sales call, or the first time they oversaw a business optimization rollout.

📗 For senior management, maybe is was the delivery of their first investment case, or a business performance update with suggested action plan, or delivering a talent assessment for #reskilling, or leading their first session in an offsite retreat.

📝 As you rise in your career, eventually all of these things become routine. On your list of to-do’s they’re completely unremarkable to you. It becomes second nature, maybe even monotonous sometimes.

😫 But, can you go back to your younger self, and remember what those nerves were like when you had to do these things for the very first time? You wanted so badly to do a great job. Maybe you were anxious and unsure of yourself. Perhaps you had imposture syndrome galore (I sure did).

Your unremarkable monotony is someone else’s courageous brave moment. Help someone grow.

🧗‍♂️ So, if you noticed your co-worker doing something for the first time – their courageous brave moment – show ‘em some support. Before you deliver pointers for how to improve (which you should do), first let them know you’re proud of them for achieving that milestone. Let them know that you are here to help them workshop their delivery and provide your own experiences (good bad otherwise) for how you got better. Help them put in their reps, trouble shoot, and up their game. Call it out when they’ve nailed it. Celebrate with them. Help someone grow. It will fill your bucket.

YOU have to own your own professional development

☝ I also strongly believe YOU have to own your own professional development. If you are the one who is doing some of these things for the first time #upskilling , take a course/workshop/class/something and also reach out and genuinely ask for support. Chances are there’s someone in your corner who is a champion. Leverage it. It’s a two-way street so when you use their advice, let them know that you got value from it. Make observations about their routine delivery that you aspire to and let the person know it’s what you’re working towards. This is how you build strategic relationships.

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