150

Submitted by Kevin Larson
Manager, Loss Prevention Training & Investigations
The Kroger Co.

New Year’s resolutions, better work-life balance, lose some weight, personal and professional development...what do these things have all in common? They are things we commit to doing each year, maybe a couple times a year, but we never find time to work on them.

Each year, we sit down with our boss and leaders and we discuss our development opportunities (strengths and weaknesses) and we have a conversation about what we can do to help ourselves grow professionally and build our expertise to grow within the company. A one hour conversation and several months later....they continue to sit on that paper, taking up space.

Have you looked at your review lately? Have you looked at what your discussions were about developing yourself in 2012? I am a firm believer that your development is 75% owned by you and 25% owned by your leader. At 75%, you have all the power and leverage! There are 150 days left in 2012....you still have time. Time to read a book, attend a seminar, obtain a certification or just even network.

As a LP professional, you owe it to yourself to develop your abilities. Nobody is going to do it for you. Take ownership in your own development. If you just sit back and wait for your next role or promotion to occur, you will be waiting a long time.

150 days....what are you doing with it?