How to Take Control of Your Professional Development

If your career were a vehicle (a potentially troublesome comparison), then professional development is its fuel. Without it, you may eventually end up on the side of the road waiting for help.

Regardless of your industry or experience level, investing in growth opportunities is a great way to level up in your career, stay engaged, and find professional fulfillment in new ways. 

For employers looking to attract and retain top talent, investing in your teams’ professional development can also be a catalyst for more engaged employees and less employee turnover (Gallup Workplace Insights). Having the opportunity to learn and grow is one of the top drivers of a strong company culture (LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report 2022). 

No matter how beneficial it can be, however, professional development can feel overwhelming to those who think it may not align with their personality. That said, I believe there’s a style of professional development that can work for everyone — you simply need to discover what that style is (it may be more than one!) and how to put it into practice.

Here are a few ideas to get you started: