We've all heard from employers that they want to hire people who are ‘lifelong learners'.  Between advances in technology, improvements in production and supply chain processes, and dynamics of demographics in the workforce, employees who want to continue to grow throughout their career will be the most desirable.  If you're wondering what upskilling is, or how you can do it, here are a few ideas of where to start.

• Improve your communication skills. This could involve verbal or written skills, or both. There are a number of online courses for improving written skills (and maybe your employer would be interested in offsetting costs for you). If speaking/presenting in larger groups is something you want to work on, consider organizations like Toastmasters.
• Learn how AI can assist your success. You can start by dabbling in whatever programs you use on a regular basis for work - Word, Google Docs, Adobe. All of these have options for some level of AI functionality. Once you've determined which tech will be most effective for your job and specialty, look for potential certifications that you could also earn.
• Find leadership opportunities internally. Managing people is an obvious way to increase your leadership skills, but there are other options. If your organization has a formal mentor program, ask how you can get involved. Informal mentorship is another leadership path. And don't forget that leadership on a particular committee, project or strategic initiative will also help you build upon existing skills and help you to learn new ones.

No matter what upskilling activity you choose, be sure to share the goal and action steps with your manager so your efforts can be documented in your performance reports and also in your annual review.