The Importance of Continuous Learning and Offering Your Staff Resources - And How to Start
When we get to the top of our field, sometimes we are so busy that we forget to prioritize our professional development, further our learning, and offer development opportunities for our staff. Professional development seeks to teach new skills that can be applied directly within your workday. It can include taking classes or attending workshops and conferences. It also may be sought through enrolling in licensing and certification programs or collegiate coursework. Regardless of how you obtain new learning, it is vital to develop and acquire new skills continuously and offer these learning opportunities to your staff.
Why is professional development so important?
You must constantly seek new learning and development opportunities to advance your career. These educational growth opportunities will ensure that you stand out among applicants because those hiring will know you are taking the initiative to continuously learn and have further developed skills than your peers.
It is also a way to remain current in your field. The workplace is continuously changing and evolving, and seeking learning opportunities around how things may be shifting will give you an advantage others may not have. This is a great way to stay on top of industry trends. If you or your employees feel stagnant, it is an excellent time for professional development. A good learning environment will inspire engagement and innovation organically.
Offering professional development to staff will also allow your business to attract and retain more qualified applicants. Applicants often look to see what a company provides for development opportunities and will seek to work in places that value their continuous learning. Moreover, these learning opportunities improve employee confidence, and when your employees feel informed, confident, successful, and appreciated, they will want to continue to do a good job. Offering professional development for your staff will ensure that your employees feel as if you are invested in their success by helping them continuously work toward their full potential.
Classically, companies that greatly emphasize continuous learning are more profitable. They can attract and retain the best talent, stay on top of trends, and have the ability to promote their own employees confidently. As a result, they make more money.
How do you craft a solid professional development plan?
First, you need a strong understanding of your short and long-term goals. Whether you are a business owner or solopreneur, reflect on where you are and where you hope to be. Be sure, as you begin to plan, you address both short and long-term company goals, as well as gain an understanding of your employees' short and long-term goals. It's essential that you know both and where they intersect.
Next, create plans that are employee specific. More than one of your employees is likely looking to refine similar skills. These trends will make what sort of offering you must include more obvious. For example, you may want to implement a mentorship program or utilize your talent within your workforce to educate the rest of your staff. Explore how you can best offer continuous learning in a cost-effective way to your business.
Finally, be sure you are soliciting feedback after offering professional development. While the goal is to invest money in learning that will inspire and engage our workforce, this isn't always the case. Be sure to ask your employees what they gained from their development opportunities and what else they might need.
If you are seeking new learning opportunities or currently offer professional development support to your employees and need advice on how to do more, contact us today!
