Leadership Upskilling for the Busy Professional: How to Have It All

Feb 7 / Denise Creisson


As someone who's juggled the demands of professional growth with personal commitments, experience has taught me that leadership growth doesn't have to mean personal life shrinkage. The key lies in efficient learning, tailored to your busy life and making the most of the limited time we have.

I remember a time when I thought the only way to grow as a leader was to enroll in time-consuming courses and attend endless seminars. I've done more than I can count but that approach often left me with zero time for family and personal interests. So, how do we strike a balance? First, it's about being selective in what we learn. Not all leadership courses are created equal. Look for programs that offer flexibility, such as online courses that you can take at your own pace or weekend workshops that don't interfere with your work week.

Secondly, apply the 80/20 rule – focus on learning the 20% of leadership skills that will give you 80% of the results. For me, this meant honing in on effective communication, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking. By concentrating on these key areas, I was able to see significant improvements in my leadership abilities without overwhelming my schedule. What leadership skills do you have that you can transform from good to great?


Another strategy is to integrate learning into your daily routine. Listen to leadership podcasts while commuting or exercising. Read articles or books during your lunch break. Even a few minutes a day of micro-learning can add up to a substantial amount of learning over time. I highly recommend going over learnings two or three times, you'll pick up different things from the same material each time and enjoy an enhanced learning experience and better knowledge retention.

It's also crucial to involve your support system. Share your learning goals with your family or friends. They can offer encouragement, hold you accountable, and understand when you need time to focus on your development.
Let's not forget the power of delegation, both at work and home. Delegating tasks effectively frees up time for your development and helps you practice one of the essential skills of leadership.

To recap, the key takeaways are:


1. Be selective with your learning resources.

2. Apply the 80/20 rule to focus on key leadership skills.
3. Integrate learning into your daily routine.
4. Involve your support system in your learning journey.
5. Practice effective delegation.

Remember, leadership development is not just about adding skills to your repertoire; it's about growing as a person and having a targeted approach towards it. We're creating an environment where we, as leaders, can thrive in all aspects of our lives.
So, let's embrace efficient learning and grow as leaders, without losing sight of what matters most to us.

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