Lack of Professional Development Can Hurt Your Business

Lack of Professional Development Can Hurt Your Business

Dr. Linda Hancock

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Hancock has written a regular weekly column entitled “All Psyched Up” for newspapers in two Canadian provinces for more than a dozen years. Over the years, her readers and clients have said that they have benefited from her common-sense solutions, wisdom, and sense of humour. Dr. Linda Hancock, the author of “Life is An Adventure…every step of the way” and “Open for Business Success” is a Registered Psychologist who has a private practice in Medicine Hat. She can be reached at 403-529-6877 or through email office@drlindahancock.com

Published

March 15 2011

Imagine what it would be like if you were required to do all your paperwork with only the use of a quill pen, ink well and coal oil lamp. You probably would not like this as you know that there are far better tools to do the job.

But perhaps there are other areas of your business that you think you have the newest equipment and knowledge when you really are not up to date.

If you are so busy doing the work, without attending courses or doing research, you might actually be very much behind the times.

It is a rather sad, but at the same time funny thing to consider that my grandchildren think I am rather archaic because I still use email. They don't usually even open theirs unless I sent them a text message or call them with a request that they check to see what I have sent them.

They would be shocked to meet the people who I know who don't even know how to use email. Some people don't even have a computer!

Well, you can be as determined (or stubborn) as you like, but the fact is that if you are not learning about the options that are available to you, chances are you are losing both time and energy every day.

Professional development is designed to help you develop knowledge, skills and abilities to improve your career and business. Most training is backed by the latest research and designed to offer you steps for implementation. Besides the formal learning, however, is the opportunity to learn from others who are in the group.

But professional development does not occur unless you make an effort to capture it.

Last night I flew home from four days in Calgary where I was studying to be a Parenting Coordinator. While waiting for the flight, I met a woman who I used to work with and she asked question after question about technology. She was trying to figure out what piece of equipment she should buy to take on her extensive travels. She wanted a light and easy to use device but did not seem to have any idea about the iPhone or how it might be useful for her.

It was interesting to watch her as she extended her training by asking the fellow in the next seat on the airplane for his advice. She had set up her own little professional development seminar and, because she was willing to ask the questions without embarrassment, she was learning - without charge.

When you do not have a good professional development plan your business could be hurt. Decades ago, this might occur slowly but today, with the rapid development of technology and research, you might find that it is only a few months and you will be far behind the competition.