How much is devoted to professional development in your budget each year?
Just because you are out of school, paid off your student loans and saving for your kids college tuition doesn’t mean that the learning stops for you.
“In the long run, professional development doesn’t cost. It pays.”
So, where do you start? Knowing your team members is a great start. Placing them in positions where their strengths can be maximized and offering help in the areas where they are weak isn’t a one-shot deal. It is an ongoing process.
When was the last time you offered training to your management team? What about for yourself? What about frontline employees? Product knowledge is easy to come by. Organizational skills, merchandising, leadership, communication skills and other subjects are all part of the process of developing team members into team leaders. Sure, there will be some that don’t care to develop any further than they already are.
Professional development can be a combination of personal development as well as career advancement. It applies to almost every profession.
Are you satisfied with the status quo?
I'm highly allergic to status quo.
seriously.
It's genetic.
I get a rash from it. But that's because I've remained in it for far too long.