When you’re an in-house counsel at a bustling corporation, daily routine responsibilities might push personal and professional growth to the back-burner. However, regardless of how hectic the year has been, personal development remains an essential aspect of career growth, and it’s never too late to invest time in yourself. Here, we highlight ten ways in which in-house counsel can prioritize self-investment, even amidst the chaos.
1. Use Your Paid Time Off (PTO). If you’ve yet to take a vacation, now is the time to do it. Consider scheduling time off for rest and relaxation, even a short break can make a significant difference. Remember, you’ve earned it.
2. Attend a conference. Conferences are an excellent means of personal investment. They provide an opportunity for continued legal education, networking, and insights on how to increase your value to your organization. Whether your corporation sponsors it or not, attending a conference is a beneficial investment in you.
3. Engage with a mentor. Mentors play a vital role in guiding career progression. If it has been a while since you engaged with your mentor, consider scheduling a catch-up. If you don’t have one, allocate time to seek one out.
4. Attend a Continuing Legal Education (CLE). A CLE event can be a less consuming alternative to a full conference and carries its own benefits. Attending these events, whether in-person or virtually, can help update your legal knowledge base.
5. Create a “Done” list. Reflect on the projects you’ve completed this year, their impact, and document them. This will not only help you during performance review but can also guide your future professional goals.
6. Update your resume. Regardless of your current job satisfaction, keep a current resume. This prepares you for any appealing opportunities that may arise unexpectedly.
7. Refresh your LinkedIn profile. When headhunting, recruiters often utilize LinkedIn as a primary search tool. Keeping your profile up to date ensures you’re always ready for new opportunities.
8. Connect with a colleague. Networking within your organization can wield significant benefits. Consider scheduling a catch up with a colleague, either within your legal team or in a different business unit.
9. Consider a career coach. If you have a specific growth goal, a career coach could provide advice and accountability. Many organizations offer complimentary coaching or career development sessions.
10. Review your benefits. Your company may offer perks and benefits that you aren’t even aware of, such as free access to meditation apps, coaching, or productivity-enhancing courses. Take time to discover these offerings.
These recommendations serve as a reminder that despite our busy schedules, personal and professional growth shouldn’t be sidelined. Remember to take a breather, assess your accomplishments, and make plans for your continuous growth journey. To read the full details, click here.