The ultimate guide to continuous professional development
Continuous professional development is crucial for if you want to process in your communications career. However in busy jobs with sometimes small PD budgets, in can be tricky to make this a regular part of your job.
Here is my ultimate guide for how you can continuously develop your skills, with no time and very little (if any budget) so you can show people how awesome you are and advance your career.
Take time for regular learning
This doesn’t need to be studying a master’s degree or a complex course on project management. Regular learning can be as simple as following someone you admire on social media, listening to a podcast or reading someone’s newsletter. I am constantly amazed by the insightful information that really smart people share for free on a regular basis. Two of my favourites are Rachel Service and Odette Barry.
Get a mentor
Is there someone more senior than you at work that you really admire and want to be just like? Ask them to be your mentor. Seriously. The catch is, you need to drive the relationship. Getting asked to be a mentor is quite a flattering request, however not many people know what to offer in a relationship like this. Ask google or chatgpt for some tips on what you could ask your mentor to do and use this information to guide the relationship.
Ask for feedback
One of the best ways to develop and grow is by understanding what your areas for development are. Next time you’re wrapping up a project with someone or having a regular catch up with your manager, ask them directly for feedback. This might sound scary, but it will give you information on where you can focus your development energy.
Got a PD budget? Use it!
You might have a PD budget that you don’t even know about. If your employer is willing to invest in your development, be sure to take advantage of it. Do some research and make sure you have an idea of what you want to do before you ask about it. This is where I do some shameless self promotion :) My group coaching for communications professionals requires just an hour a week of your time, is done online and only costs $400 for four weeks of learning. You’ll also expand your network as you’ll be doing the training alongside other communications professionals.
Incorporating continuous professional development into your busy schedule may seem daunting, but it’s entirely possible with the right approach. By making time for regular learning, seeking out a mentor, actively requesting feedback, and utilising any available PD budget, you can steadily advance in your communications career without overwhelming yourself. Remember, every small step you take towards professional growth contributes to your long-term success.