You're in Charge of Your Professional Development
Asana Recovery Weekly Team Update August 1, 2023
Training Tools
You're In Charge of Your Professional Development
By now, you’ve probably been out of school long enough to know that the world does not provide a convenient report card on a regular basis that directs your attention to what you’re doing well and what you need to work on. If you’re lucky, you’ve had employment situations that provided opportunities for constructive feedback and resources for improving skills that would help you perform better in your career. No matter what, though, once we leave school, choosing what and how, and if we improve ourselves is mostly self-determined.
The good news is: you’re in charge.
The bad news is: also that you’re in charge.
Whether your goal is to advance in your career or to lay down at night with a sense of satisfaction about a day of doing your best at work (or both!), improving ourselves is largely an ‘inside job.’ Just like personal growth, we are in charge of our own professional development. So, how do you do it?
Start by Identifying
Become more aware of yourself at work, as you have a Go-Pro camera on your shoulder all day. Or imagine being an observer watching yourself perform your job. It can help to keep a notebook or recording device handy, to document your observations on the go. Now, keep two running lists: one for the positive things about your performance and one for the negatives.
What activities are you good at? What things seem effortless? What tasks do you take on fairly eagerly, with no procrastination or dislike? What parts of your job are most rewarding?
On the flip side, what things do you struggle with? What tasks do you dread? What projects seem to turn out poorly or leave you feeling dissatisfied? Possibly, are you getting feedback from others that you didn’t deliver or perform as well as expected?
You've Identified Some Things. Now What?
Your two lists will lead you to two important factors in your professional development: Goals and learning opportunities.
The first list - the things you enjoy and are good at - can help give you a sense of direction. Like a map, these things can help you determine career goals. While all jobs usually involve an assortment of tasks that you’ll like and dislike to varying degrees, your ideal job(s) will have a higher proportion of tasks that you enjoy and are good at. Additionally, you can use this list to help you decide what additional duties or projects you take on in your current position.
The second list will help you determine skills you might want to improve on. This is incredibly helpful for improving your performance in your current job or getting yourself prepared to pursue a new position. In addition to traditional college classes (either online or in-person), adults have numerous opportunities for self-propelled learning. Online learning programs, such as LinkedIn Learning, offer a diverse assortment of quality courses geared toward professional development. Public libraries offer classes in broad skills, such as English-as-Second Language, financial literacy, or computer skills, that can improve your confidence and competence.
New Hire Spotlight
Cody Crawford
Cody Crawford, our new program director at Asana Recovery, found his way into the addiction recovery field due to his own struggles with addiction. “When I was in treatment for the third time, my case manager showed me compassion that no other case manager had shown me,” he says, “which turned the light on for me on what I wanted to do with my life.”
Now, six years later, Cody has found his career calling and says his self-care looks like long, scenic drives on the Pacific Coast Highway.
A graduate of Saddleback College with an associate of sciences degree in biology, Cody loves the ocean, drinking good cold brew coffee, and 75-degree weather. He enjoys hiking, swimming in the ocean, beach days, dog walks, and spending time with his one-year-old daughter who he says “keeps me on my toes.”
Sara Cluff
For Sara Cluff, addiction is a very personal issue. Her son is celebrating six years of sobriety. “For him, it was a matter of life or death, and his father, unfortunately, passed away due to his addiction,” she says. “I am passionate about helping people recover, heal and become the best versions of themselves.”
Ultimately, Sara’s passion for working in recovery led her to become a case manager at Asana Recovery. A graduate of Saddleback College with a degree in human services, she even once owned an art gallery.
Sara has two children, Josh and Nicole, and a little dog, a Yorkshire Terrier named Phil. She loves the beach, swimming, friends, live music, traveling, and being with her family. Sara also enjoys exercising at the gym, doing spin or pilates.
Mell Oakley
Mell Oakley works in addiction recovery and is also in recovery herself. The behavioral health technician at Asana Recovery says, “I want to be able to help others who are struggling.”
Mel has one child, a son who lives in Denmark, and a little dog. A skilled cook, she enjoys hiking, camping, stargazing, reading, and watching movies.
Family, friends, and the outdoors are a few of the things that make her happy. “I’m excited to be part of the Asana team!” she says.
Trivia
Question: What 3 California Certification Boards offer Drug and Alcohol Counselor Certifications?
Contact HR with your response for the chance to win a gift card!
Answer to last week’s trivia: The 3 Stages of Change are-
Step 1: Unfreeze. Lewin identifies human behavior, with respect to change, as a quasi-stationary equilibrium state.
Step 2: Change. Once you've “unfrozen” the status quo, you may begin to implement your change.
Step 3: Refreeze.
Last week’s winner was: Krystal S.