Guest post by Mike Goorhouse, private foundations coordinator and grants manager, Council of Michigan Foundations

If you have ever complained about conference sessions being too theoretical and impractical, then this was the session for you. It was developed based on feedback from the pre-conference NGen survey and the facilitators in this session were phenomenal. 

We began the session in five random groups and each group had to answer the following question: What do you see as the major barriers blocking your professional development?

The responses were:

• How do you gain management skills through mentorship?
• How do you manage your ongoing to-do list and still make time for long-term advancement?
• How do you deal with not having a mentor and having little access to professional development?
• How do you identify what resources you need to advance?
• How do you move up in a small organization or in a small community?

We then broke up into five groups and each group discussed a specific question related to career development.  I will list the discussion question for each group and the main take away from each discussion. 

Question 1: How do you improve intergenerational communication skills so younger professionals can connect with the older generation decision-makers who are often responsible for hiring new staff? (Kevin Flynn, Commongood Careers)
Main takeaway: Find an internal champion that can help you translate your communications skills across the generational divide

Question 2: How do you reverse-engineer your career and start with the end in mind? (Gail Freeman, Freeman Philanthropic Services)
Main takeaway: Identify the specific job you want or the organization you want to work for and then make decisions that lead to that place. In summary, if you want to date a pilot, go to an airport.

Question 3:  How do you gain influence and authority without the official title? (Pratichi Shah, Flourish Talent Management Solutions)
Main takeaway: Know your colleagues, build relationships with them, and bring your entire self to your work.

Question 4: What resources do you need in your toolbox in order to advance? (Laura Gassner Otting, Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group)
Main takeaway: Engage in opportunities paid or unpaid, utilize informational interviews in place of mentors, and serve on a board.

Question 5:  How do you gain management skills through a mentor? (David Simms, The Bridgespan Group)
Main takeaway: Consider what areas you want to develop professionally and then pick the right mentor. Also, talk with your mentor about improving the sector, not asking them to do something for you.