Professional development can be tricky sometimes. Every individual is looking to advance their careers, but few can find opportunities or the motivation to undergo professional development to achieve these goals.
Let’s discuss a few crucial things you need to know about professional development in more detail.
What Is Professional Development?
“Professional development” refers to every effort made to inculcate new skills or maintain the current academic position.
What Does Professional Development Entail?
Professional development could include attending conferences or practicing and polishing your current skillset. Obtaining formal and non-learning learning opportunities may also fall under professional development.
Increasing Productivity with Professional Development
Making sure all employees are productive daily is difficult for business owners. On the other end of the spectrum, employees also sometimes struggle with keeping themselves productive throughout their work.
According to an interesting study of professionals, employees with professional development opportunities are 15% more engaged at work.
The reason why professional development has such a significant impact on the productivity levels of employees is for a variety of reasons. These reasons may include:
- Professional development fills in the gaps: Whether you are undergoing some new form of training or simply revising an old skillset, you are likely to be constantly reminded of any deficiencies or weaknesses that you may have. At the same time, you can recognize how to fill these gaps and overcome any weaknesses throughout your professional development program.
Once individuals learn how to conquer these issues, their productivity levels can increase tremendously.
- Professional development allows you to learn skills that are up-to-date: Employees who undergo professional development often attend endeavors that are updated.
For example, a new conference would offer insight into improved methods on how to go about your work.
Thus, you can easily update your skillset to meet the challenges of the modern era. Modern skills have a tremendous focus on time management, which in turn, increases productivity levels.
How Professional Development Increases Job Satisfaction
The connection between professional development and job satisfaction has been a topic that has been discussed and researched extensively over the last couple of years. In fact, a study even concluded that there should be a keen focus on professional development to increase job satisfaction.
According to one study, forty-three out of a hundred new employees quit within the first 90 days of a new job (Work Institute, 2019). This statistic emphasizes how integral job satisfaction is since it significantly contributes to employees leaving their jobs.
Professional development can increase job satisfaction by providing employees with new skills to increase their productivity and a chance to update their knowledge about their current work. Updated knowledge is sure to develop more excitement in individuals.
Business owners who provide professional development opportunities for employees also reflect how much they value their employees through this move. Being appreciated by your boss is sure to increase anybody’s job satisfaction.
Finding a sponsor/mentor who will help you grow your career
Remember always to pick a mentor who will help you grow your career. You do not want just any ordinary person. You want a professional. Some key attributes of a helpful mentor that you should look out for include:
- Someone who has experience in your field of interest.
2. Someone who values time.
3. Someone who is easy to contact.
4. Someone who is a good listener.
5. Someone who can answer your questions precisely.
For more information and partnership with professional development that drives results for yourself, organizational leadership, and employees contact us today.
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