Issue 3 - Putting yourself first in 2018

In order to really put yourself first, you have to think about how you personally want to develop. Personal development is, by its very nature, subjective. The question must therefore be asked, ‘what does personal development mean to me?’

Perhaps a new skill set or certification will really help you progress or provide much needed motivation? Or maybe development is not about your career? Maybe to put yourself first, you need to take a step back and create a better work / life balance. In the 2018 Bid & Proposal Salary Survey, 76% of respondents chose work / life balance over pure financial reward, so it’s worth thinking about what drives your decision making.

Whatever it may be, it feels like we are constantly working to the beat of someone else’s drum and need to make time to assess and develop ourselves properly. However, sticking to developmental goals is not a straightforward task and if you aren’t fully invested in what you are doing, those extra letters after your name won’t change anything.

So how can you set and achieve your goals? The simple, unimaginative answer is ‘planning’. You may still be able to achieve your goals without a plan, however the likelihood of success is far greater with proper preparation. It’s the same with bidding. You can have some degree of success by reacting to opportunities, however by being proactive your chances of success increase exponentially.

Think of it in terms of ‘reactive development’ and ‘proactive development’. You can develop your skills by being reactive – adapting to your surroundings, learning by doing, gaining experience etc. However, by being proactive you can fully assess your position within your organisation (and wider profession) and pinpoint the areas of improvement that require the most attention. With this targeted, proactive approach it will be easier to develop your skills and get ahead of the competition.

The real challenge lies in finding the time to put such a plan together, one which I am faced with myself.

I am often asked about what I want to do to develop my skills, any courses I want to take etc. Unfortunately, with so much going on with day-to-day work, it is easy for personal development to get lost in the abyss of being too busy. So what can you do to counter this?

Personally, I’ve found that a great way of developing my skills is by simply getting out of my comfort zone. This has involved taking charge of Bid Solutions’ communications, presenting at industry events and writing articles (such as this one!). For other people, it could be as simple as attending a networking event and speaking to their bid / proposal peers. Yes, talking to strangers isn’t advised when you are a child, however it is wholeheartedly encouraged within bids and proposals – you will almost certainly learn something new!

In whatever way you decide to go about personal development, you will only get out what you put in. Developing a full plan of action is ideal, however if this is too daunting, break it down into a quarterly or monthly plan. By taking little steps forward in the short term, you can steadily improve in the long run. Simply think, ‘what am I going to do this month that will help me improve?’ and see it through.

Whatever works for you, take charge and avoid standing still.

In this issue, our panel of Experts provide fantastic insight into personal development; including training / certification; personal benchmarking; and seeking a professional coach or mentor. This range of ideas, suggestions and personal stories will hopefully provide you with the motivation to take your own steps towards personal development.

Ben Hannon CF APMP
Recruitment Director