May 2022 Resource
Title:
HBR Guide to Your Professional Growth: Learn New Skills, Develop Your Potential, Stay Relevant
Author:
Harvard Business Review Press
Publisher:
Harvard Business Review Press, Boston, MA
Book Review By:
Melvin Amerson
Premise of the book:
Individuals can remain engaged and grow in their work through personal assessment and development plans, while acquiring requisite skills to be productive and relevant in a changing environment.
What this book does:
This guide is an excellent collection of articles/chapters written by gifted professionals on a variety of topics related to professional development. Useful information and research are provided to help readers develop their potential. This resource covers subject areas to assist people toward a path of continued strategic growth. Many chapters include questions and exercises as assessment and reflective tools.
Contents:
Section One- Set a Vision for Your Career
Section Two- Assess Yourself and Gather Feedback
Section Three- Set Goals for Yourself
Section Four- Become a Better Learner
Section Five- Gain New Skills
Section Six- Move Ahead, Move Up
What are some important insights:
The articles/chapters from the various contributors offer insights, ideas, and strategic plans to help professional growth and career success. Be intentional about goal setting, acquire/learn the necessary skills to be successful, while seeking feedback along the way.
Possibilities as a resource for churches:
Great resource for clergy and leaders who desire to develop and grow in a rapidly changing work environment and culture.
The Rev. Melvin Amerson is a member of the Texas Annual Conference and serves as a Resource Specialist and Area Representative at TMF. His experience and passion lie in encouraging and developing generous, faithful leaders and congregations.
Amerson is the author of Celebrating the Offering, Fruit for Celebrating the Offering, and Stewardship in African American Churches: A New Paradigm, as well as several articles covering topics from generosity, leadership, and visioning. He served as a board member of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center until it was dissolved in 2021 and is currently serving on the Texas Annual Conference Church Leadership Team. He is a nationally recognized generosity consultant known for his engaging presentations. Beyond strengthening congregational leaders, one of his favorite ways to use his skills is to empower Wesley Foundation staff to effectively fund their college ministries.
Melvin obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, an M.Div degree concentrating in Christian education from Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia, an Executive Leadership certificate from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and a certificate in Professional Fundraising from Boston University. Recently, he completed a fundraising certificate with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.