A head football coach does not use the same playbook every year. Neither does he use the same plays in every game. Some plays turn out to be poor and are replaced with new ones. Some good plays have to be replaced because the next opposing team has seen it through films. Some coaches keep different playbooks to be used against different opposing teams. Plays are always changing. If the coach stays with the same plays in every game, the team suffers by losing against other teams. Coaches need to advance in the next level for more challenging plays.
The same concept applies to business owners, chief executive officers, employees, and managers. If each employee does not take the time to improve in proficiency, the company suffers. Proficiency has to do with having an advanced level of competence, as in an art, vocation, profession, or branch of learning.
There are a number of ways you, as an employee of a company or business owner can advance in your proficiency. Let's look at an example of a corporate accountant or supervisor of accounting. The employee could:
- Join a professional association such as the Institute of Management Accountants or Institute of Internal Auditors. Both institutes have a wealth of information.
- Become certified by becoming a Certified Management Accountant, Certified Financial Manager, or Certified Internal Auditor. This requires in depth study on various business and economic topics.
- Attend a professional conference hosted by one of the two institutes. They provide workshops and seminars which would benefit the employee.
- Take classes at a local university or online.
- Reading books such as the Harvard Business Essentials series in the areas of coaching and mentoring, negotiation, time management, creativity and innovation, business communications, finance, and strategy. Also books such as Jack Welch's "Winning", John Maxwell's books on leadership, and Ken Blanchard's "One Minute Manager" series can be beneficial too.
- Subscribe to BusinessWeek, Fortune, CFO, or Forbes.
- Familiarize yourself with important legislation such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
When an employee advances her level of competence, she is really investing in herself. She will have more to offer her company and the company is really receiving a good return on investment in exchange for her employment and being a part of the team. So, change your playbooks to the next level of competency
