Professional
development expands our skills and knowledge base in practical ways that are
applicable to the true role of a professional, in any position and throughout
our careers. Both training and
professional development have valuable roles in our field. We believe that there is often confusion
regarding training and professional development with people assuming that they
are the same and provide similar benefits to the work that we do.
Taking
the approach that both are necessary, we acknowledge that understanding the two
areas and why they are required for success in your career is important. There
is a clear difference in how we utilize what we learn in each venue, one is a
day to day approach and is task oriented; the other improves your approach to
your work and how we perform as professionals.
Below,
both are operationally defined for this article.
Training: defined activities geared toward
learning the specifics of your position, the “what to do when” that
leads to task completion. Training is
often provided within your institution or by other professionals well versed in
the target area or information being taught.
Training can be viewed as the pragmatic approach being applied to the
particular situation.
Professional Development: the acquisition
and integration of knowledge that underscores your approach to any position or
situation and provides the “why and how to do it” that is the foundation
of professionalism in everything that you do. Professional development occurs at
conferences, within professional associations or from colleagues and mentors
that share their experience and perspective; it can be viewed as the theoretical
based approach applied to the practical situation.
Review
the following differences in the examples provided below:
Training: increases your ability to understand
and perform the task at hand.
Professional Development: increases your
ability to utilize the proper approach and make the best use of your time and
resources, it increases your efficiency.
Training: provides the rationale to ask the
question, “what do I do now?”
Professional Development: provides the
process to “why I am doing it and how do I do it?”
Training: helps to improve the ability to
recognize a challenge.
Professional Development: helps to
identify the approach to overcoming the challenge.
Professional
development provides the foundation to increase in our work the level of
competency, the noted efficiency and professional approach necessary to
continue to move forward in your career versus “keeping your job”. The key
benefits of being active and involved in your professional associations and
organizations will assist you beyond the normal “networking realm” and create
skills and abilities that are transferrable and critical to both personal and
professional life.
Consider
the following professional development opportunities:
Joining and Utilizing Membership within a
Professional Association: membership is one thing, active membership is
another. After paying your dues and “getting on the roster” become invested in
the organization – read the constitution and by-laws, join a committee, become
a Board member or officer – lead the charge – you have a responsibility as a
professional to make sure that your membership is more than a few dollars and
an occasional vote – it is a voice and example of the professional commitment
to the work you do.
Active Participation in Workshops/Seminars: when attending
a workshop or seminar, review the information, ask questions, plan to engage
and be “present” during the session. In the current economic climate, attending
professional conferences and seminars is becoming rare; when the opportunity
presents itself to attend make the most of it! As a professional, share ideas
and challenges as well as solutions, and never leave a workshop or seminar
without at least three business cards – build that supportive network every
chance you get.
Networking with Other Professionals: create a
network of colleagues, within and external to your institution that you can
have honest and direct dialogue with regularly.
Often our “academic islands” lead to stagnation and a sense of “being in
this alone”. Change that situation by discussing best and promising practices,
challenges in day to day duties and responsibilities and expand your
understanding of professionalism.
Providing or Receiving Mentoring: successful
mentoring relationships are reciprocal and help both mentors and mentees assess
and understand the professional world from different perspectives and vantage
points. Seeking appropriate and developmental mentor/mentee relationships will
set the stage for growth and provide the opportunity to ask questions, collaborate,
brainstorm ideas as well as share challenges and successes.
Set Goals: on a personal note, when establishing
your goals for your professional development they must be realistic at the
starting point, attainable within your abilities, achievable in your level of
dedication, but most importantly, challenging. In order to gain the level of
professionalism you are striving for, you must go beyond your comfort zone and
be stretched; the resulting growth is yours and a testament to the field.
As
professionals we often understand the need for training yet underestimate the
importance of professional development.
The goal of this article was to highlight that training and professional
development in concert create the well rounded professional who is competent in
addressing the tasks and duties of his or her title and possesses the judgment
and expertise necessary to do so with diligence and dedication.
To
continue the conversation, please feel free to contact us at the email
addresses below.
Academic
Support Centers/TRIO
Adapted
from an article previously published in the ACPA’s Commission for Academic
Support in Higher Education (CASHE) Corner Newsletter
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