Learn personal development

George Bernard Shaw once said, Progress is impossible without change. Choosing to grow and learn your whole life instead of just during your school years can help you create a life you love.

Learn more about what personal development is, how to choose a learning path that works best for you, and what kinds of career options may be suitable for professionals who excel in this area.

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Personal Development | Introduction Image Description

What is personal development?

Personal development is the ongoing pursuit of improving one's life by developing new skills and knowledge. It might be physical, mental, or emotional development, and the primary aim is improving one's wellbeing by achieving personal goals and reaching one's potential. This looks different for everyone, but at its core, it's about developing a mindset of growth.

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Choosing the right personal development program for you

One part of personal development involves learning through courses and experiences. Here are a few different pathways that can help you reach your goals:

Courses

Single courses and course series around personal development can be anything you're interested in learning more about but often involve developing specific soft skills. For example, edX offers courses in happiness, mindfulness, and resilience, as well as a variety of professional development options.

Certifications

Certifications can give you new skills for your professional life or to support career shifts. For instance, a certification in project management or Agile could help you step into a leadership role. Certifications in specific subjects like blockchain or digital marketing may provide new pathways for career roles.

Executive education programs

Executive education programs focus on providing new skills to professionals with leadership and career experience. For example, you might learn how artificial intelligence will impact your business or build knowledge in strategic management.

Degrees

A degree program can offer personal development by allowing you to train for your ideal career or make a mid-career switch. Those just starting out in the workforce may finish a bachelor's program in their desired field, while someone with experience might finish an advanced degree program.

Jobs in personal development

In addition to working on your own, you can also pursue a job helping others with their own personal development. If you enjoy this field yourself, here are some career options in personal development, with each role's required education as well as salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

Human resources manager

Human resources managers help plan and implement an organization's administrative functions, which include developing and nurturing talent within the organization. These professionals help companies make the best use of employees' talents and interests and coordinate upskilling and reskilling for employees who want to grow professionally.

Required education: Typically, a bachelor's degree, but some employers also require a master's degree
Median annual salary (May 2023): $136,350

Training and development manager

Training and development managers focus on programs that develop and enhance the skills of others, whether a specific organization's staff or members of a community. They work for companies in nearly every industry, as well as education organizations and government or social assistance groups.

Required education: Bachelor's degree, and in some cases, a master's degree as well
Median annual salary (May 2023): $125,040

School or career counselor

School counselors help students develop social and academic skills to pursue their career and education goals. Career counselors also help with those skills but focus on professionals or those seeking a new career. They work in many different organizations, from high schools to local educational services.

Required education: Master's degree and possibly state licensure
Median annual salary (May 2023): $61,710

Psychologist

Psychologists study behavior and social processes to help others with a variety of emotional, social, and cognitive needs. They may work with individuals to help achieve certain goals or with organizations to improve work conditions and work-life quality.

Required education: Master's or doctoral degree and potentially state licensure
Median annual salary (May 2023): $92,740

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Frequently asked questions about personal development

Why should I learn personal development?

Personal development provides fundamental skills to take the next step in your career and achieve personal goals.

How long does it take to learn personal development?

Personal development is a highly customizable pursuit. You can learn a new skill in just a few weeks or commit the time and effort to complete a higher education degree course or program for a complete life shift.

How hard is it to learn personal development?

Because this is a very personal journey, your development will depend on what you want to learn and accomplish and how you go about doing that. You can pick up simple tips for how to be happier in just a few minutes a day or take the plunge and learn a new language to move abroad for your career. The choice is up to you.