Question

explain ways to overcome barriers in professional development?

link with related theorists and based in workplace.

Answer 1

There are many barriers which will prevent or retard professional growth and development. Some of them include lack of clarity and goals, infrequent feedback, fear of failing or being wrong, unsupportive environment etc.

Remedy for lack of clarity and goals is  write a stump speech. Writing a stump speech, as outlined by Susan Scott in her best-selling book "Fierce Conversations," requires asking yourself essential questions that will create clarity around your goals and where you're headed. To create a stump speech, ask yourself:

1.Where are you going?

2.Why are you going there?

3.Who is going with you?

4.How are you going to get there?

When answering these questions, consider where you envision yourself in six weeks, six months, and six years. What resources do you need and what steps do you need to take in order to make this vision become a reality? Once you have a plan in place, you can start taking actions in the right direction. When the movement and momentum begin, growth is inevitable.

You can break down the barrier of lack of feedback by directly requesting feedback from your team. ANNUAL REVIEWS ARE OLD NEWS, and giving feedback is best as a two-way street, regardless of how "high on the totem pole" your position is within your organization. Don't hesitate to ask your team and your fellow leaders directly:

Do you have any feedback for me?

This question alone holds the potential to set you on a new path towards ultimate growth by allowing you to course correct in the areas where your team and colleagues provides you with constructive feedback.

Sometimes growth requires us to take on new challenges, and new challenges can be scary–especially when succeeding or failing might affect others on our team. But the reality is that it's better to try and fail than to not try at all. In fact, RESEARCH SUGGESTS that failure can actually be a motivator and lead to higher amounts of success in the long run.

Cultivate self-compassion and have a conversation with yourself about your own intentions. Think about why you want to pursue a particular goal or achieve a particular outcome, and then take a look at why you're so afraid to fail at it. Ask yourself:

What about this goal do you consider important?

What are you avoiding (or missing out on!) by staying where you are?

Let the positive answer be your motivator rather than backing out due to fear or reluctance to approach something in a new and different way.

An unsupportive environment is one that lacks the essential resources needed for development. Being a leader doesn't exempt you from the need to be surrounded by people who want to see you grow and become the best version of yourself. Taking a close look at your current circumstances can reveal important opportunities for change, which may also require having difficult conversations with people who may be holding you back.

Commit, first and foremost, to seeking out the resources you need. Have these tough conversations with your loved ones or colleagues whose support you feel you need for your own growth. Surround yourself with people who do support you. Request the kind of resources you think would present growth opportunities for yourself and positively impact the people around you.