Investing in People
Professional Development and the Power of Learning
Summary
Associations are the ultimate people organizations.
We are communities that convene, shape, engage, and push for progress. One of the best ways to achieve healthy community, superior performance, and long-term outcomes is to invest in learning.
The purpose of this article is singular yet two-fold: to invest in our association staff’s professional development and to help create a learning-centric value proposition for our member communities.
To achieve a robust, engaged membership we need our members (and the organizations they work for) to care about and invest in learning. People and organizations that invest in learning are vibrant, prepared, and ready to tackle the future.
The product community is a product development learning community designed specifically for associations.
Our Most Important Investment
"The greatest job enrichment of all is your attitude. If you pay attention, listen, be accessible, open up and provide your people with as many special treatments and celebrations and learning experiences as you can, you'll be overwhelmed by the abundance of thinking all around you."
Jim Autry
Why invest in professional development? The reason is multi-faceted, yet starts and stops with a culture of care, connection, trust, and a desire for superior personal and organizational outcomes. Without these ingredients, it’s nearly impossible to achieve relevance, no less innovation.
The outcomes of this investment are manifest: a prepared team, stronger organization, healthy trust, and a shared concept of what it takes to win as an organization. Here are some additional reasons:
Enhancing skills and knowledge – Professional development enables people to acquire new skills, knowledge, and competence. This can lead to improved performance, increased productivity, and enhanced problem-solving.
Staying trend aware – The world is constantly evolving and professional development helps people stay up-to-date with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices. This can provide a competitive advantage and equip us to navigate what’s coming.
Improving engagement and retention – Investing in learning demonstrates a commitment to growth and career advancement. This can lead to higher levels of engagement, job satisfaction, and loyalty, reducing turnover and improving retention.
Developing leadership and succession planning – Professional development can be tailored to groom employees for future leadership roles. This supports succession planning and helps create a pipeline of skilled and prepared leaders.
Attracting and retaining top talent – Orgs that offer robust professional development are more attractive employers, making it easier to recruit and retain top talent. People value opportunities for growth and development.
Fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation – By investing in professional development, we can cultivate a mindset of continuous learning and growth. This can lead to a more innovative and adaptable culture.
Improving customer satisfaction and service quality – As people enhance their skills and knowledge, they become better equipped to deliver high-quality products and programming, leading to increased member satisfaction and loyalty.
Strengthening organizational agility and resilience – Teams that continuously develop their skills and knowledge are better prepared to navigate change, adapt to new technologies or market conditions..
By investing in professional development, organizations can realize significant returns in terms of improved employee performance, increased competitiveness, better talent acquisition and retention, and a more adaptable and innovative workforce, ultimately contributing to the organization's long-term success and growth.
Examples of Professional Development
“Like water, many decent individuals will seek lower ground if left to their own inclinations. In most cases you are the one who inspires and demands they go upward rather than settle for the comfort of doing what comes easily.”
Bill Walsh
There are lots of ways to learn; this article is not intended to be comprehensive. The most important thing is to ensure there are a mix of learning opportunities, both formal and informal.
Formal learning refers to structured educational programs or training. It typically involves:
A defined curriculum or syllabus
Scheduled classes or sessions
Qualified instructors or trainers
Assessments or evaluations
Recognized credentials or certifications upon completion
Examples of formal learning include academic degrees, training programs, professional certification courses, and structured online courses.
Informal learning is a more self-directed and experiential approach to learning. It occurs outside of formal educational settings and is often driven by an individual's interests, curiosity, or practical needs. Informal learning involves:
Learning from experiences, observations, and interactions
Self-study through reading, watching videos, or listening to podcasts
Participating in discussions, communities of practice, or mentoring relationships
On-the-job training or learning by doing
Seeking guidance and feedback from colleagues or experts
Examples of informal learning include on-the-job coaching, attending industry events or conferences, joining professional networks or communities, and engaging in independent research or self-study.
Effective professional development often combines elements of both formal and informal learning to cater to different learning preferences and needs, allowing people to choose the approach that best suits their needs.
Learning is Growth
“Fires can’t be made with dead embers.”
James Baldwin
Investing in learning is an investment in people, culture, strategic focus, and outcomes.
My favorite people to work with are my favorite people in general: they are caring and kind, honest and creative, curious and open, trusting and willing to be trusted.
My favorite people are serial learners and positive multipliers. They don’t care about politics or one-upping. They care about the common good.
They bust their asses yet understand boundaries. They are who you want to share a celebratory beer with. Our shared work is steeped in care. This is reason enough to invest in learning.
Remember, product-led growth fuels connection. Join the product community and flip your destiny.
About the Author
James Young is founder and chief learning officer of the product community®. Jim is an engaging trainer and leading thinker in the worlds of associations, learning communities, and product development. Prior to starting the product community®, Jim served as Chief Learning Officer at both the American College of Chest Physicians and the Society of College and University Planning. Please contact me for a conversation: james@productcommunity.us