5 ways to develop professionally at work when you're pressed for time!
Professional development is important. We all want to feel like we’re making progress and learning at work. You may well set aside time to focus on it, but it’s easy to get sidetracked by fundraising deadlines, ’urgent’ emails and requests from colleagues.
However, there are ways around it. Here are a few tips to help you progress professionally in the office.
1. Sign-up to relevant industry emails and blogs
There are a host of relevant fundraising blogs, newsletters and mailing lists to help you keep up to date with the latest developments in the industry. For example, check out Fundraising UK Ltd.
There are also general charity publications such as Charity Today and the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. If you don’t have time to read them when they arrive, flag them in your inbox and read during your lunch break, in those few snatched minutes between meetings, or at the start of your day with a coffee and croissant.
2. Connect with other charity professionals
You’d be surprised how much you can learn from other people working in the charity sector. So why not join CharityConnect, the online community for UK charity professionals?
Just spending a few minutes a day reading the conversations and asking questions can be enlightening.
3. Find a mentor
Want some help and advice on growing in your current role and/or taking the next step? A mentor could be the ideal solution.
A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. In an organisational setting, a mentor influences the personal and professional growth of a mentee. Essentially, it’s like having your own career cheerleader!
There’s a wealth of free mentoring schemes you can sign up for. Check out the CIPD and CharityComms for starters.
4. Listen to podcasts and watch TED Talks
An easy way to increase your industry knowledge is to listen to a podcast on your commute. Charity Chat covers various topics related to the sector.
Or why not watch a TED Talk on the way home? Simon Sinek’s How great leaders inspire action is a great watch for anyone who works for, or wants to work for, a charity as it discusses focusing on ‘why’ you do what you do.
5. Catch up with your webinars on a Friday afternoon
Do you sign-up to webinars but then not have time to attend? Usually, if you sign-up, you’ll be sent a recording afterwards. So why not take the opportunity to catch up on a Friday afternoon, while doing some admin? You can have the webinar playing in the background and kill two birds with one stone. CAF have some interesting ones on a range of topics, from ‘how to build long-term relationships with your donors’ to ‘Facebook tips for small and medium-sized charities’.
It can be a struggle to find the time for learning during the working week, but the trick is to build small amounts of time into your daily routine. If you can squeeze in one or two of these quick ideas, you’ll keep your skills and knowledge on point!
If you’re looking for a job in fundraising, give us a call on 0203 750 3111.