Three Back to School Lessons for the Workplace

by: Lisa Taylor

Does September feel like the beginning of a new year to you? Here are three lessons we can learn from what students are doing this fall to help move our own careers forward:

1. New Year, New Class
   
   September marks a fresh start for classmates.  You can also see Back to Work as a time to re-energize existing relationships.   
   
   Back to School Lesson:
   My sons are in a very small school. They will certainly know almost all of their classmates this fall – and their teachers.  Still, the early days of school will be dedicated to getting used to each other again.  It is important for them to reconnect, catch up on what’s happened over the summer and set new patterns. It helps ensure that friendships are built on current interests and that teachers’ perspectives are based on fresh interactions.
   
   Back to Work Action for You to Consider:
   Get to know your colleagues (again). Find out what is important to them now and what they want to work on together this year.
   
   
2. Welcome to Grade 6 – it’s not the same as Grade 5
   
   What did you learn over the last year that you can build your career on? What didn’t work that you want to avoid repeating this year?
   
   Back to School Lesson:
   In a school setting, it is easy to see how grade 5 math lays the foundation for grade 6 concepts. Moving your career forward also requires that you learn and mature. There is a big difference between having 15 years of work experience and having 1 year of work experience repeated 15 times.  Employers recognize this difference, as do colleagues and customers.
   
   Back to Work Action for you to Consider:
   Consider your work from last year as being a grade below where you are now.  Expect more from yourself. How will you step into your new grade this year?
   
   
3. School Calendars – knowing your class times, breaks and PD Days
   
   Everyone needs holiday time and time away from their desks. When is your next break and how will you use it? 
   
   Back to School Lesson:
   Schools can tell you when holidays will be for at least the next 5 years.  The entire community of teachers, students and parents understands when breaks are coming and activities, programs and events are planned to coincide with these days.  When done well, this allows kids meaningful work time during school days – and meaningful leisure time. 
   
   Last year, Challenge Factory client, Igor, took a PD Day (or “Professional Development” Day). He scheduled a vacation day from his job as a Sales Executive and completed a 1 day immersion experience where he learned first-hand what it would be like to be a professional woodworker – a passion and hobby of his. He returned to work with new energy – and the beginning of a three-year plan to make a serious career change when he’s ready to retire from corporate life.  Challenge Factory has over 120 careers available to you for your own PD day experience. They are offered year-round and are customized to your specific interests.
   
   Back to Work Action for you to Consider:
   Plan now for when your breaks will come this year. Know which breaks will have travel or activities attached to them and which you will designate as “Professional Development” days (or PD Days) where you will use the time to learn something new that interests you – something that may or may not relate to your job.  

Keep these three lessons in mind as students return to the classroom – and make this your best “back to work” year ever

Posted in: Family, Getting Organized