Why Continuous Learning Matters

Growing professionally is key to a successful career. It helps us navigate complex workforce issues, stay compliant with changing laws, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Benefits of Investing in Your Development

• Better Knowledge and Skills: Regular training and education keep us updated on the latest practices, legal requirements, and technology advancements.
• Boosted Credibility: Certifications enhance our credentials and make us more confident in our roles. And it can be on a variety of topics! For example, I’m taking a SHRM certification class right now on HR and AI, and last year, I received a Workplace Financial Wellness Advocate certification.
• Confidence: Not sure about you, but more learning gives me more confidence in my ability to work with clients, to add to conversations, to network, and as a trainer. Depending on your style, you can learn a lot about a little or go deep into a few areas.
• Networking Opportunities: Whether it’s meeting someone next to you at a conference or adding comments and ideas on a webinar or posting on LinkedIn, professional development activities allow us to connect with others, expand our network, and open new doors.

Options for Development

Conferences

Industry conferences are powerful ways to enhance our knowledge and skills. I attend several conferences each year. It’s not that I have unlimited funds, but I apply to be a speaker at most of my conferences so that I can attend for free or reduced fees. My learning and certification “junkiness” pay off for me as I have gained the creditability to speak. (And you can gain creditability, as well! It’s not limited to a few.)

Webinars

I’m a bit inundated with free or lower fee webinars. For me, it’s important to weed through descriptions and credibility of the sources to choose the ones that make the most sense for me. It’s easy to sign up for too many. Having said that, Purple Ink offers webinars on a wide variety of HR and business topics throughout the year; sign up for our newsletter to be notified of the topics and dates.

Mentorship

If you’re on a budget, finding a mentor can be a great alternative. An experienced mentor can provide guidance, share valuable insights, and help you navigate career challenges. Many professional organizations have mentorship programs, and networking events are also great places to find one. Or know someone who you would love to have as a mentor? Ask them!

Books and Publications

Reading books and industry publications is another affordable way to stay informed. Some of my favorite business authors are Marcus Buckingham, Patrick Lencioni, and Tom Rath. I’m an audio listener, so I’m “reading” while getting ready in the mornings, going to bed at night, and while in the car. When I don’t want to commit to a book, my membership in SHRM and ATD includes a magazine subscription (online or in the mail) to “HR Magazine and TD” with the latest industry news. I keep magazines in my suitcase and read them while I’m traveling!

Podcasts

Podcasts offer flexible learning opportunities that fit into busy schedules. My favorite, of course, is my own JoyPowered® Workspace Podcast, which you can subscribe to here. I also listen to two daily news podcasts, a couple for faith formation, SHRM’s All Things Work, The Economics of Everyday Things, and How I Built This by Guy Raz.

Conclusion

After rereading my blog, it sounds like all I do is learn and not leave any time to get work done! My goal is to give you options and recommendations and not to overwhelm you. We all learn differently, so pick a few to add to your learning or sample a lot of them and see which ones stick. Our world is moving quickly, though, so keep learning and don’t be left behind!