Clinicians and dietitians are always asking me, how do I plan and engage in my own growth and professional development?
It is a common question I receive from colleagues. They wonder how I engage in my own continued growth alongside all of the things that I do for work (counsel, supervise, teach, write, etc.).
This is a massive dilemma for professionals: How can we engage in continued learning and self-reflection IN ADDITION TO the hours we pour into our jobs each day?
I’ve continued to reflect on the dialectic: learning and growth that fosters greater ease and discernment with the limits of our knowledge.
In a recent article, Working with Eating Disorder Clients… Two Things I Don’t Know, I focused on the gift of “not knowing” When it comes to my profession. Today I’m looking at the flipside – growth and learning!
Below, I am sharing a list of 5 Strategies that continue to support me in my professional growth.
I hope that my sharing them feels helpful to you. I am not suggesting you should adopt these strategies. What lights our fire and works for our brains, temperament, and personal circumstances is highly unique. But perhaps something here inspires you to stretch and grow in new ways. Here we go!
I pursue topics which genuinely interest me and light me up – most of the time.
In the past I’ve shared a bit about my professional journey, which has been leaned heavily in the direction of “follow my gut and heart” as opposed to following a strategic business plan. My learning journey typically follows a similar theme. I do this work because I find it deeply interesting and as much as possible, I let that guide my pursuit of ongoing learning.
I strive to embrace learning as a process not an endpoint I’m trying to arrive at.
There’s nothing wrong with “goal directed learning.” I often must engage in goal directed learning for certain aspects of my work. But when I can actually enjoy and really sink my teeth into the process of acquiring new knowledge or skills I’m less distracted and stressed by the pressure of what the outcome “should be.”
I regularly engage with perspectives that challenge my current understanding.
As someone who is fairly averse to conflict, this takes significant practice and intentionality. Our capacity to be curious and open to alternative perspectives is crucial to the work we do as providers. Learning from others, including those with whom I don’t agree, helps me to maintain a view of the world that is rooted in multiplicity (there are lots of ways to think and live and there is no single truth or path).
Social media is a very small percentage of where I learn and spend my time.
The learning and growth that I am interested in, which is deep and nuanced and thoughtful, doesn’t match the purpose and structure of social media platforms. I am not saying social media is worthless! Despite its notable downsides, I still utilize it for connection and exposure to people and ideas I wouldn’t otherwise. But I significantly limit my social media usage because it is a thief of time and energy that I prefer to spend differently. When it comes to learning and growth, social media feels more like a snack when what I’m really after is a hearty meal.
I recruit friends because I love learning alongside others.
This includes inviting others to attend a conference, listen to a podcast, or read a book so we can critique, discuss, and analyze it together. This practice allows me to take in the experiences and perspectives of others (see #3) that I might not have considered or would have missed all together. Plus I’m a social butterfly who enjoys the company of others.
Here are some additional and practical strategies I’ve tried along the way in my pursuit of learning. Some of these strategies still “work” for me, and others were totally unsuccessful.
Engage in multiple modes of learning: in-person training (expensive and time consuming but a personal favorite), online learning, reading (so much reading) and audiobooks
Block out time in my work schedule for learning so it is part of my work day. This is a luxury many people do not have or cannot afford. I am only intermittently successful with this.
Focus on a theme for a period of time to focus myself. This has been largely unsuccessful but I’m not sure I’m ready to give up on this idea yet.
If it’s any consolation – I, like most of you, have unwatched trainings that I want to complete, unfinished books on my bookshelf, and piles and piles and piles of things I want to tackle. But, if I get lost in what feels like a never-ending “to-do list” of learning, all the joy is sapped.
Today, I am recommitting with you a love for learning for learning’s sake.
And my hope for each of you is that your learning and growth translates into greater joy, ease, confidence, and skill that you can bring to your clients, whose lives you touch and help make better.
I am asking YOU. What supports you in your learning journey? What tip, trick, mindset, or strategy can you share with me? I’ll compile a list of ideas and share with everyone, so please don’t be shy! Let me know by sending me a message on Instagram.
One thing my career has taught me is how much I love helping others learn and grow. That’s why I began creating my online courses and nutrition counseling trainings in the first place.
Here is a list of free resources for clinicians that can be downloaded and you can also check out all my online training programs for clinicians and dietitians.
The goal for all of these resources and courses is to help you work with your clients with more confidence and new skills. Professional development for you!
