According to the nineteenth century writer Samuel Smiles,
…” The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual”.
We take this philosophy on board – specifically in our 5 e booklets/Units in Personal Development.
The world does not owe us a living. We can not depend on handouts from a benevolent State or assistance from enlightened employers. We must take full responsibility for our own lives including our careers and personal development at the workplace.
TOPIC 1 – SELF-DEVELOPMENT
The basis of any process of self-improvement must start with an enhanced awareness of self.
In part, this involves the idea of ‘knowing yourself’ – your skills, experience, abilities and shortcomings. It means building on these strengths and trying to overcome these weaknesses, and taking full responsibilities for your own self-development.
TOPIC 2 – THINKING and DECISION MAKING
Critical thinking and logical reasoning may be the bedrock of sound decision-making and problem solving – both key elements of self-development and critical transferable skills.
TOPIC 3 – COMMUNICATIONS
Effective communications are the oil of organisational machinery. Individuals, teams and organisations ‘flow’ better with a sound understanding and application of communications.
Here, the focus is on you and on how you communicate. Behavioural communications, including transactional analysis, behavioural shaping and interactive analysis all assist in developing your approach to effective personal communications – another transferable skill.
TOPIC 4 – LEARNING
Building on the earlier module, Self-Awareness, this e booklet/Unit is all about learning how you learn.
Your preferences for learning and your individual style must be allied to personal strategies and resources to develop yourself.
Once these principles and processes become more transparent, transferability of learning can occur for new situations and scenarios.
TOPIC 5 – SELF-MANAGEMENT
Most of us have managers directing and controlling our work activity.
This should not negate the critical idea of managing ourselves, our time and our efforts within the resources available to us.
Self-Awareness, Decision-Making, Communicating and Self-Learning all fuse together under Self-Management to facilitate Personal Development.