SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/591732
36 SportsTurf | November 2015 www.sportsturfonline.com S o, you have finally landed your dream job. This is the job that is going to define your career and where you plan to spend many years. What's next to do? No matter how comfortable and settled you are, there is always a need for professional develop- ment. From the CEO of a company all the way down to the part-time help, professionals everywhere can find ways to continue to develop skills and knowledge in order to better themselves and, as a result, become better employees for their companies. Professional development starts with a plan. Failing to plan is planning to fail. Plans can be simple or complex depending on how you want to grow. There are many self-assessment tests on the market (the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Career Leader assess- ment are well-known examples). If you have not taken one before, take the time to conduct a self-assessment to determine your work style, strengths, interests, and areas for growth. The results of your assessment will help you to set your goals. Goals can be short term (targeted to be completed within a couple of months or a year) to long term (as many as 5 to 10 years down the road). Once you have identified your goals, turn them into an action plan. Each goal should have at least one (if not several) steps associated with it that will help you to achieve that goal. You may need to research the different options available to help you achieve your goals. After you have developed your action plan, the key is to actually take action! You will get where you want to go by developing a schedule that works for you. For example, if you plan to expand your skillset by taking an online class, schedule the class during a time of the year when you can regularly devote one or two evenings a week to doing the classwork. If your goal is broader and more long-term, such as taking on more responsibilities at work, build room in your schedule to make those new responsibilities a part of your daily work. Regardless of the longevity and scheduling of your goals, an overarching theme in your professional development plan should always be to continue to learn and grow within your job. Throughout your career take opportunities that are available to you and make the most of them. Some actions that could help you reach your goals include: Join a professional organization. Groups such as the STMA and smaller more localized sports turf associations offer conferences, valuable contacts, and leadership oppor- tunities. Get involved! Take or teach classes. Taking a class can be a great way to learn new skills or brush up on old ones. STMA, local community colleges, and many well- known state schools offer online courses and certificate programs specifically geared towards sports turf managers. If you feel you have mastered much of what is being offered, know that teaching a class or seminar can be just as rewarding as taking one. The audience that you are teaching often brings new ideas or chal- lenges some of the old ones. You don't have to teach a formal class to have this experience, either. Think about imple- menting a seminar or workshop series with your own staff. Have members of the staff present on topics about which they are particularly knowledgeable. This not only gives individuals an opportu- nity to share what they know, but it also builds the team's knowledge base and exposes you and your group to new and different ways of thinking. Not to mention, staff presentations are great way to spend rainy days! Get involved with your community. This may be with a local youth league, a non-profit, or any other local com- munity organization. Sharing your time and expertise is one of the best ways to strengthen the community in which you live while simultaneously broadening your experience base. If you don't have time to commit to organizations outside of work think about other ways you can participate. Each year the facilities that you maintain host events. These can be opportunities to branch out and get involved on a more short-term basis. For example, Elon University annually PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TIPS FOR TURF MANAGERS ■ BY SCOTT STEVENS, CSFM Regardless of the longevity and scheduling of your goals, an overarching theme in your professional development plan should always be to continue to learn and grow within your job. FACILITY & OPERATIONS