By: Chelsea Winegar, Director

Introduction

According to the State’s most recent employee engagement survey results, only 33% of employees are satisfied with their career growth opportunities. Yikes! While this gap highlights the need for strategic and intentional professional development, it’s important to consider who shares responsibility in this effort. 

At a recent speaking engagement, I shared these results and asked participants to identify who was responsible for this number. One individual pointed out that I have a role to play. True! Another mentioned supervisors, also true. Lastly, a participant identified that each individual has a role to play in their career development. Exactly! We all have a role to play to support career development in making the State an Employer of Choice. 

Shared Ownership in Professional Development

Professional development is a shared responsibility across the organization, from the State level down to the individual employee. Here's how ownership plays a role at each level:

• The State: The State of Colorado is taking ownership by funding a wide array of training programs provided by our team. These programs, such as Emerging Leaders and the highly anticipated Executive Suite for managers are designed to equip employees with both technical and strategic skills for career advancement.
• Agencies: Some State agencies have their own internal professional development programs, providing additional opportunities for employees to grow within their specific departments. Check out your agency's website to see if any opportunities are listed. 
• Supervisors: Supervisors play a crucial role in career development by initiating conversations with their team members around growth and development. Tools like "Stay Interviews" are essential for retaining top talent and ensuring that employees feel supported in their career ambitions. Supervisors must also guide their teams to relevant resources and training programs that align with career goals.
• Employees: Ultimately, individuals must take ownership of their career journey. While the State and supervisors provide support and resources, it's up to each employee to identify what they want to accomplish. Employees should actively engage in professional development, setting clear goals, advocating for what they need, and making use of available training opportunities.

A New Perspective: Career Jungle Gyms

Pattie Sellers, an award-winning writer for Fortune Magazine, encourages us to view careers not as linear ladders but as dynamic jungle gyms. This analogy reminds us that career progression isn't always straightforward. There are multiple paths and opportunities to explore, while supporting the need for continued Skills-based Hiring training. 

Each State employee is unique and brings different backgrounds, experiences, and education to each role. With all our differences, I will be the first to admit that there will never be a one-size-fits-all training program to meet our employees' needs. How do we identify which opportunities are going to work for you? Below are seven steps to get started.

Steps to Identify Your Professional Development Opportunities

To make the most of your career, it's essential to periodically reassess and update various aspects of your professional life. Here are the key steps:

1. Update Your Resume: Keep track of your accomplishments and skills      regularly and look back at all the amazing accomplishments.                  Celebrate yourself!

2. Assess Your Work History: Look at your past roles and evaluate the        growth in both technical and strategic skills.

3. Identify Your Technical and Strategic Skills:

• Technical Skills: Job-specific knowledge gained through formal training or experience.
• Strategic Skills: Broader competencies like communication, leadership, and problem-solving, which are essential for success across industries.

4. Reflecting on What You Need

It's equally important to align your career with your personal values and preferences. Ask yourself the following:

• Values: Does your work reflect what matters to you?
• Variety: Do you enjoy change, or do you prefer consistency?
• Visibility: How much do you want others to see your contributions?
• Complexity: Do you thrive in uncertainty or prefer a more predictable environment?
• Learning Preferences: Take into consideration how you learn best. 

5. Leveraging State Resources for Development

The State of Colorado offers a robust suite of training programs designed to help employees grow and thrive in their careers. Here are a few key offerings:

• Emotional Intelligence and De-escalation Training (Open Enrollment): These programs focus on essential interpersonal skills, helping you manage relationships and conflict effectively.
• Supervisor Essentials (Supervisors & Above): Aimed at supervisors, this program helps develop core leadership skills necessary for managing teams, including conducting "Stay Interviews" to retain top talent.
• R3 Funding for Assessments: The State also invested in advanced assessments like Emergenetics for understanding thinking and behavior preferences, and Hogan Assessments to predict future performance. 
• Emerging Leaders Program (Open Enrollment): Offers 360-degree feedback assessments and curated content to help new leaders understand their strengths and areas for improvement.
• Executive Suite (Managers & Above): Provides advanced tools such as Hogan Assessments for understanding identity and reputation, The Rocket Model for creating team performance heatmaps and assessing team effectiveness, and 360 Feedback Reports from the Center for Creative Leadership to gain insight into others' perceptions of your leadership. These assessments are driven by the individual, and coaching will focus on what the individual is trying to accomplish.

These programs are driven by research, data, and science and offer a wealth of opportunities to hone both your technical and strategic skills, paving the way for long-term career growth.

6. Build Your Development Plan

Once you have assessed your skills and identified areas for growth, it's time to build a concrete plan:

• State Your Goals: Be specific about the roles or responsibilities you're aiming for.

7. Share Your Plan 

Collaborate with supervisors or colleagues who can help guide your development. Find accountability buddies and celebrate your wins!

Conclusion

Taking control of your career development is a continuous journey, much like exploring a jungle gym. With the right tools and mindset—and access to the State's diverse training programs—you can build a fulfilling career that grows with you. Remember, career growth is a shared responsibility. You can achieve your professional goals by taking ownership of your path and utilizing available resources.

Questions?

For more insights on professional development, contact Chelsea Winegar at chelsea.winegar@state.co.us or follow me or click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.

De-Escalation

Ever wish you could stay calm and make better choices in stressful situations? Join us for De-Escalation: Transforming Emotional Reactions into Intentional Responses, a three-hour training designed to help you understand why our emotional brains take over and how to manage those reactions.

In this session, you’ll explore practical tools for regulating emotions, develop a shared vocabulary for mindful responses, and learn how to give each situation the attention it deserves. This training focuses on everyday interactions, offering techniques that will benefit both your personal and professional life.

Dec. 12, 2024
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) plays a crucial role in both our professional and personal lives. This course, offered in partnership with CSEAP, helps individuals enhance their self-awareness and learn effective strategies for regulating emotions during stressful situations.

Designed to support your personal growth, this training serves as the prerequisite for CSEAP’s 360 Coaching Program, providing a foundation for deeper development and coaching opportunities.

Dec. 3, 2024
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Tell us about yourself:

I am the sum of my parts. I grew up in a big Italian family on a farm in New Jersey, with four generations under one roof. I came to Colorado to go to college at CU in Boulder. After college I moved to Vail to be a ski instructor in the winter and taught outdoor education in the summer for five years. I started playing music while living in the mountains and eventually moved back to the front range to pursue a music career for nine years. After traveling the country playing in coffeehouses, listening rooms and festivals the itch to do more became evident. I’ve been a production artist for a graphic design company, a recruiter for digital talent, waited tables and eventually took a role as a Store Manager at Starbucks. I was at Starbucks for 22 years before coming to work for the State. I currently live in Durango.

What is your favorite tool to use when you support employees with their professional development? Why?

Digital Storytelling! I believe meaningful connection builds inspiration and drives empowerment. While at Starbucks I created TheDreamMakerProject.com to inspire employees to live a deliberate life using digital storytelling. In 2013 I traveled around the world and asked Starbucks Partners (employees) the same question “what is one of your dreams and how is this job helping you to get close to that dream?” The project proved that regardless of where we sit on the planet we are all the same—trying to find joy and meaning in our lives. It’s my opinion that, as a society, we’ve lost our ability to dream and how to activate those dreams. When our communities, professional and personal, encourage and empower us to ignite our dreams—we can live a life with intention.

What is something you would like to implement for statewide learners in the future?

It would be my dream to bring The Dream Maker Project to the State of Colorado. I love watching people light up when they talk about their dreams and making them come true. It would be an honor to highlight State employees who have done this—share their story, to inspire and empower others. When we know our dream, we know our goal. When we have a goal we can create a path with intention and purpose.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to hike with my adorable dog, a pitbull named Cowboy Buddha. You can find me Mountain Biking or Skiing depending on the weather.

Is there a unique travel experience you’ve had?

Last month I rafted the Grand Canyon. For 15 days we dropped into the giant crack in the earth and floated down. No connection to the outside world. The cherry on top was we did this with a String Quartet. We had 11 concerts in 15 days—some inside canyons while others floating down the river with all the oar boats strapped together like a giant barge. It was the most magical experience.