A successful career requires continuous professional development. Professionally developed employees can impress management by demonstrating commitment to their role and loyalty to the organization. Career development also helps you feel confident in your skills and the value you provide at work.
This article explains what professional development is and lists some of the topics covered in conferences and training courses that can help you advance your career.
What is professional development?
Professional development is the process of improving your skills and acquiring knowledge that will help you continue to be successful in your role, and can even develop the marketable skills you need for a promotion or change of role. Professional development should be something you actively pursue throughout your career to stay current in your field. Professional development includes training, degrees, certifications, and even connecting with mentors to guide your career.
20 professional development topics
Whether you're a manager helping your employees grow professionally or an employee looking to develop their skills, these professional development topics can guide you.
1. Workplace conflict management and resolution
Conflict in the workplace is normal and not necessarily negative. It is important that managers and employees know how to manage conflicts so that they do not fundamentally affect the business's operations or the relationships between her members of the team. Conflict management means understanding the perspectives of others and finding mutually beneficial solutions to problems.
2. Critical thinking
Critical thinking involves finding solutions to complex problems. Thinking critically requires understanding the problem, considering the perspectives of all parties involved, and coming to a conclusion about how best to move forward.
3. Delivering performance appraisals
If you are in a managerial position, part of your job may include conducting performance reviews. A great way to advance your professional career is to better understand how to communicate these ratings to your employees. This lets your employees know that you appreciate their work and want to help them continue to be successful while working on opportunities for improvement. at the same time.
4. Time management tips
Being able to manage your time naturally makes you more productive and less stressful at work. If each team member also has good time management skills, projects can be completed on time and more time can be spent attending meetings and other training. Time management also has a direct impact on work-life balance.
5. Establishing a mentor
Mentors can be invaluable in your career advancement. Mentors provide orientation and encouragement and provide professional contacts. As part of your professional development, find someone in your industry you feel comfortable hanging out with who has a similar career path to yours. You can build a long-term relationship with that person, so you'll have someone you can count on throughout your career.
6. Mastering change in the workplace
Almost all organizations experience change, but the success of the implementation depends heavily on all employees and managers. If you're a leader, you might benefit from learning more about how to communicate changes to your team so that you're prepared as a group. As an employee, you may want to know how to make or welcome significant change.
7. Persuasive storytelling
If you're in a sales role or any other position where you need someone to take action, compelling storytelling is a viable skill. You can connect naturally with your audience so they feel connected to you and your purpose. It means being able to communicate your position in a way that you can imagine yourself in the situation you are in.
8. Finding comfort in public speaking
Public speaking makes many people nervous, but if you take the time as part of your professional development, you will gain the confidence you need to speak in front of others, whether it be presenting at a conference or pitching a promotion. You can in front of management.
9. Enhancing the customer experience
If you're in a customer service role, developing your customer service skills has a big impact on your business and the people you serve. To improve the customer experience, you need to be patient, understanding, empathetic, adaptable, and calm. Customer service professional development provides tools for dealing with difficult customers and ways to turn negative customer experiences into positive ones.
10. Performance management
As a manager, you may want to learn more about employee performance management. This skill is about evaluating team members, understanding their skills and experience, and placing them in positions where they can maximize their potential. Performance management also means addressing performance issues, creating improvement plans, and discussing negative behaviors.
11. Setting goals
One of the most important things you can do for professional development is setting goals. Your goals give your career path and purpose. Departments may have team goals, and organizations may have overarching goals that drive business decisions and strategies. Goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based to maximize your chances of success.
12. Harassment awareness and prevention
Harassment recognition and prevention training courses can help create a safe and positive environment for all employees. If you are a manager or HR representative, you can learn how to deal with workplace harassment.
13. Communication skills
Professional success depends on how well you communicate with others at work. As part of your professional development, explore ways to improve your communication with colleagues, managers, suppliers and customers. Learn more about how to tailor your conversations to the attitudes of others and how to communicate in a variety of ways, including face-to-face, email, and phone. Communication skills also include knowledge of body language. It involves both how you interpret it and how you look after yourself.
14. Celebrating diversity and practicing inclusion
Celebrating diversity can also be part of professional development. Diversity is an asset for many organizations, and inclusion helps an organization's employees feel valued just like their peers.
15. Influencing others
Whether in a leadership role or as an employee, you have the opportunity to influence those around you. It's important to understand your power as an influencer at work and how to make a lasting impression at work.
16. Giving effective presentations
At some point in your career, you may need to give a presentation. Being able to give effective presentations that make people think and inspire individuals to action is an asset that can make a big difference in your career. You can learn more about how to provide something that stays in.
17. Using creativity to solve problems
You may find yourself in a situation where you have to solve the problem. The skills to do this are valuable in any workplace, but even the most complex problems can be solved if you can find creative solutions. Your problem-solving skills influence the people you work with and every client you have.
18. Management training
If your goal is to eventually assume a leadership role, part of your professional development can focus on how to prepare for this opportunity. Take a class to learn about leadership styles and what employees expect from a leadership team.
19. Delivering constructive feedback
Being able to send and receive constructive feedback is an important part of every employee's job, regardless of where they are in the company hierarchy. A manager may provide feedback on your performance, or need to provide constructive criticism to a colleague during his peer review. As part of your professional development, consider learning more about giving respectful and clear feedback and listening kindly when others provide feedback.
20. Becoming a valuable team member
Being a valuable employee is important in the workplace. Because when you're a valuable team member, you collaborate better, think creatively, inspire others, feel motivated, and be more productive. Professional development that focuses on how to be team oriented works for small and large groups, management teams and even the entire workforce.
Related: 10 Best Professional Courses
Tags:
Certcollection