There’s much more to professional development than industry knowledge. Being competent about your industry won’t guarantee your success unless it’s connected to personal and social competencies.

We’ve all heard about highly-skilled physicians who have poor bedside manners or reclusive, best-selling authors who miss deadlines or refuse to promote their work. Few people succeed in their career without the ability to develop and maximize their personal skills.

There are a lot of areas for personal growth and competency as they relate to professionalism. Some examples include:

• Confidence and Emotional Intelligence
• Time Management Skills
• Goal Setting and Decision Making
• Listening and Communication
• Physical and Mental Health
• Conflict Resolution and Stress Management  

 . . . and more!

While everyone benefits from learning more about these and other personal competencies, each of us has unique areas that need focus. Knowing which personal competencies are most beneficial for your career growth is helpful.

Personal Competence has 6 Aspects

There are six aspects of well-rounded personal competence. Each of us may be naturally more competent in a some while needing to work on others. Those aspects are:

1. Physical
2. Emotional
3. Spiritual
4. Relational
5. Intellectual
6. Financial

The more competent you are in these areas, the greater the likelihood your career will be positively impacted. Lacking competency could result in roadblocks to success.

Setting Personal Competency Goals is Important

Learning more about your industry is important to keep an edge, but be sure to give equal attention to personal development too. Some helpful ways to boost your competence include-

Set clear goals- Identify areas where you’ll benefit from further training or education. Set clear goals and measure them along the way. Examples could include: Taking a course in time management and reviewing your progress through a time study.

Get feedback- You may be too close to determine what skills need attention. Your employer may have input about which of the six areas to prioritize. If you are self-employed or have a small business, ask a trusted colleague or mentor for their input.

Trust your gut- You likely already know which professional competencies need a boost. If you struggle with work/life balance, it is an indicator you could use some help setting boundaries. If you lack the energy to get through the day or don’t engage in physical exercise, improving your mental and physical health could be a priority.

Any effort you make to improve your personal competency will directly benefit your career. Focus on self-improvement, making it a routine part of your professional development.