Later this week, I’m heading to New Orleans for the SHRM Annual Conference. For me, the conference will be filled with wonderful networking opportunities and informative educational sessions in the setting of one of the biggest foodie cities in the world. What more could I ask for?
Every time I attend a conference, I think about my early days in HR. Those days when I was new or junior in the organization. It was sometimes difficult to convince senior management to spend the money to let me attend a conference. As a result, I quickly learned to take responsibility for my own professional development.
Yep, that’s right…I decided it’s not the company’s responsibility to fund my professional development.
Over the years, I negotiated with my employers to attend conferences, get certifications, and participate in programs with a part of the funding coming from me personally. My bosses always said that they were more receptive to my proposals because I had a “stake in the game.”
And, during those times when neither I nor my company could afford for me to attend an out-of-state conference, I’d attend something locally. Or I’d find someone to share expenses with. But I found ways to get access to professional development. Sometimes I would attend via ‘sweat equity’ – I’d apply to be a speaker hoping the conference organizers would assist with travel expenses. And, in some of my volunteer roles, I was given the opportunity to attend conferences (with the non-profit assuming or subsidizing the expense.)
Now that I’m self-employed, I still budget for professional development. I can’t imagine why any organization would purchase the services of a consultant who’s not spending any time and/or money in keeping their skills fresh.
Why do I bring this up? Because, as I’m getting ready to leave for New Orleans, I’m reminded that I’m in control of my professional development. I’m planning and preparing what I’ll do so I can make the most of the event. This isn’t my vacation. That doesn’t mean I won’t have fun, but I have stuff to do.
Whether you’re heading to NOLA or not, take a moment and think about your professional development. What are you doing? How are you staying on top of your game? And, who is in control of it?
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Wally Bock says
Good points, all. No matter what your employer, your mother, or your Alma Mater do, your personal development is up to you. After all, it’s your life and your career. Who else would you want in charge?
adowling says
Starting my HR career in a small pseudo non-profit (credit union) company I quickly learned if I wanted to grow I had to be the captain of that ship. I’ve seen many people that feel it’s their employers’ responsibility to pay for their development and if the company won’t, they don’t learn; their careers are stagnant.
I use blogs, my local chapter, networking on Twitter, HR Magazine (when I get one), podcasts……the list goes on and on. What ever I do, I’m in the captain of my own career. If you are going to succeed you have to take responsibility for your development and not rely on someone else to do it for you.
tlcolson says
I started in HR with executives handing me problems and saying “fix it” – I didn’t know, I had to learn, nothing less was expected. That philosophy has continued throughout my career, as my HR world has expanded to safety and environmental expertise.
If I don’t know it, I find a way to get the answers. Classes, mentors, other experts… sometimes asking a lot of seemingly irrelevant questions.
One must always take their life and career as a personal responsibility. No one will do it for me.
I can send you to class, but I can’t make you learn.
Ann Bares says
Very topical and timely post. I think it is interesting, for those of us who are “self-employed” and/or running our own businesses, to look at how we invest in our professional development versus what happened when we were someone else’s employees. I put a high priority on keeping my skills sharp and staying abreast of what’s happening in my field – and in business overall. Certainly I have to watch my dollars and my time (for consultants, an hour invested in development is one less hour billed…), but there are so many creative and inexpensive options out there – from blogs and webinars to following select experts on Twitter.
I agree with everyone else here that – regardless of our employment situation – we all must take charge of and be responsible for our own professional development!
Bonita Martin says
Great post and reminder that ALL employees are in charge of their own development, which comes in many forms and at varying costs, including no cost! If you can’t find a low or no cost development opportunity in your area, organize it. There is no excuse for ignoring your own development.
We Are All Self Employed is a great book on this topic.
Joe Lavelle says
Great post and I could not agree more that Lifelong Learning is vitally important. In fact, I blogged about it last week: http://actasifblog.com/?p=242
I hope that you learn a ton and enjoy NOLA. If you have time, take a trek off the tourist path to The Galley on Metairie Road for dinner one night. It is a kind of a dive, but with great seafood of all kinds and you can’t beat the price.
Best wishes and always Act As If It Were Impossible to Fail!
Katharine Giacalone says
Kudos to you about keeping up with professional development opportunities – as an independent consultant – it’s the hardest thing to come to terms with “spending” money to keep up with the times v. making money to live the life you want – but it’s so important to do both! Have fun in New Orleans!