Liz Lay says many activities that count as professional development often aren’t recognised as such

Where do you undertake your professional development and how do you make time for it? In fact, many individuals undertake professional development on a daily basis in the workplace as a matter of routine and without even realising it.

Professional development is necessary for an individual to increase their skills and knowledge for their own personal development and career advancement, and to contribute to organisational development. Individuals who engage in professional development share the common purpose that they are increasing their own skills and knowledge to enhance their ability to do their work, maintaining and improving their professional competence and enhancing their opportunities for career progression.

Knowledge and skills are being acquired constantly on an informal basis by keeping abreast of changes to workplace practices and new technology. It is the knowledge and skills gained by individuals covering their specialist subject areas, and the area in which their role falls within the organisation such as payroll, HR, finance etc, that are generally undertaken on a more formal and structured basis.

Approaches
Professional development encompasses all types of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from informal learning practices, through to attendance at a conference or event or undertaking a professional qualification.

There are a variety of approaches to professional development, including:
• coaching and mentoring;
• reflective supervision;
• technical assistance;
• lesson study; and
• consultation.

Not all organisations have a training budget allocation and so individuals undertake much of their professional development within the workplace, with activities such as:
• reading industry magazines;
• receiving email updates from professional organisations;
• viewing live meetings;
• downloading programmes to view on the PC/laptop;
• undertaking research via the web and through discussion with colleagues; and
• working with more experienced colleagues: sitting next to Nellie, being allocated a buddy, or peer-to-peer training.

Where there is a budget in place or approval has been given to pay for professional development, individuals within the workplace may undertake e-learning solutions. Some organisations have an in-house trainer to deliver training in the workplace.

External to the organisation, professional development may be undertaken by attending a:
• training course or workshop;
• conference and seminars; and
• college or university to undertake a professional qualification.

Professional development can also be undertaken through blended learning. This is a popular method of learning due to its flexible approach, combining face-to-face teaching or learning with remote learning, enabling the best activities to be selected to suit the individual’s own pace, learning style and level. Remote learning can be undertaken at a time to fit the work/life balance of the individual and in a place that suits the individual, giving increased independence and self reliance.

Generally there are two types of learner; those who need peace and quiet to learn and those who like noise/activity in the background whilst learning.

The learner who needs peace and quiet to learn may go in to the office early before their colleagues arrive for the day or stay after work when their colleagues have gone home. They may go to the local library or wait until members of the household have gone to bed and study into the early hours, even studying whilst in bed. And it has also been known for learners to lock themselves in the bathroom to avoid any interruptions and read their study material whilst in the bath.

Other places and times when learning takes place, include:
• at the workplace during lunch breaks;
• at a local college or university;
• around the dining table;
• downloading documents onto a laptop and studying whilst travelling;
• downloading from the PC/laptop on to an iPod; or
• on holiday, in the apartment/hotel room, on the beach and in parks.

It is also very popular for a glass of wine or two to be consumed in the learning environment away from the workplace!

Continuing development
Professional development doesn’t stop, as in order for an individual to continue to perform their role successfully it is important that they continually improve their knowledge, skills and competence throughout their working lives, keeping up to date with any changes in legislation and processes.

Quite often continual improvement forms part of the day-to-day working environment and is undertaken with no choice but to keep learning. Payroll is a prime example.

Through Continuous Professional Development (CPD) any learning can be applied to the workplace and all types of learning are of equal importance. Shadowing a colleague, attending staff meetings, keeping pace with changes in software or procedures are all examples of workplace learning. CPD activity also continues through the forms of learning identified via professional development above.

Why not take five minutes out of your day to consider the professional development that you undertake and log it on your PD record — you may be surprised!

Liz Lay is associate director of Learning & Development at the Institute of Payroll Professionals, see www.payrollprofession.org for more information