PPD - Personal Progress Development

“WHAT WE FEAR OF DOING MOST IS USUALLY WHAT WE MOST NEED TO DO.” 

~ RALPH WALDO EMERSON ~

Furthermore, Fear is not your enemy. It is a compass pointing you to the areas where you need to grow. When your mind begins to fear something, take note. We’re not talking about ridiculous fears. If a wild bear is staring you down, I wouldn’t recommend walking towards it. But the little things that you fear daily, often dealing with money, weight loss, etc.. are incredibly important to learn how to deal with head on.
I challenge you to think of this quote each time you fear something for the next week. Start to believe that your inner fears are simply a compass showing you the way to a better life and see where it takes you.

Personal Progress Development helps us to get rid of these fears and to be stronger.

Why Personal Progress Development important to us?

Landing a job requires a lot more than just the right degree, experience or series of technical skills. "Soft" skills, otherwise known as emotional intelligence, may make a difference between an employee who can do the job and one who does it well. Soft skills include leadership, written and verbal communication, problem-solving, motivation, interpersonal skills, and creativity. They aren't usually skills we learn in school.

When it comes right down to it, soft skills are characteristics that make us more likable. Whether or not anyone wants to admit it, likeability is an important factor in the hiring process. A Harvard Business School study from several years ago found, "Generally speaking, a little extra likability goes a longer way than a little extra competence in making someone desirable to work with." In other words, when given a choice between competent jerks and lovable fools, lovable fools won out.

Personal Progress Development helps us to improve our soft skills and make us as an applicable employee.

What are some important soft skills you want to be sure to try to develop?

Listening: No one wants to work with someone who isn't a good listener. If you can't follow instructions, it doesn't matter how brilliant or talented you may be; you're going to mess something up. How can you show you're a good listener? Follow directions carefully when you apply for the job. Practice listening actively when you talk to people. Could you repeat most of the details of a conversation you just finished? If not, try to focus more carefully on your everyday interactions and you could improve this important skill.

Effective thinking: The world gets more complex every day. There is only one way to cope through the command of your mind. Thinking more effectively gives you greater control over your life, helps you deal better with adversity, and, believe it or not, transform more of your dreams into reality. Effective thinking is no mystery. It consists of practical skills anyone can learn, practice and improve. Critical thinking offers those skills to anyone willing to do the work to acquire them.

Effective communication: Probably the root of all soft skills, if you can communicate well, you are halfway there too many jobs. Employers evaluate this from the start. How do you handle yourself on the phone? What does your application look like? Can you send a strong email message? The interviewer will know right away if you can communicate well by how you introduce yourself and how you address questions. You can practice by preparing what you will say in the interview. Think about ways you can communicate succinctly, because this is an important skill, even for people seeking highly technical jobs.

Adaptability: No one loves change, especially at work, but today, being flexible and having a good attitude while welcoming the unexpected is a valuable skill. Are you the first to complain if plans change? Do you sulk and brood when things don't go your way? If that's you, think about how you can be a little less rigid. It will make you a more marketable job seeker.

Teamwork: It's hard to find a job description that doesn't mention working with a team and collaborating cross functionally. It might as well say, "Must play well with others." You can practice being a team player by actually joining a team outside of work. Consider joining a sports team or volunteer to work for a nonprofit organization on a joint project to practice and improve your teamwork skills.

Self-motivation and confidence: motivation is the amount of or level of desire to accomplish a specified outcome. Confidence is the perception of one’s abilities to succeed in the fulfillment of the specified outcome.

Stress management: If you’re living with high levels of stress, you’re putting your entire well-being at risk. Stress wreaks havoc on your emotional equilibrium, as well as your physical health. It narrows your ability to think clearly, function effectively, and enjoy life. Effective stress management, on the other hand, helps you break the hold stress has on your life, so you can be happier, healthier, and more productive. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun—and the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on. But stress management is not one-size-fits-all. That’s why it’s important to experiment and find out what works best for you. The following stress management tips can help you do that.