Taking Advantage of Training and Development Programs Will Help You Grow in Your Role

Taking advantage of training and development programs is one of the most effective ways to elevate your career. Whether it’s mastering a new tool, enhancing leadership skills, or staying ahead of industry trends, training empowers you to grow in your role and opens the door to new opportunities.

The five biggest reasons to take advantage of training that will help you grow in your role are the following:

Enhancing your skillset makes you more versatile and opens doors for new responsibilities.
Staying relevant in your field makes you an asset to your organization and helps you stay competitive in the job market.
Learning and applying new skills build confidence in your abilities, which leads to greater job satisfaction and engagement.
Training can make you a stronger candidate for promotions or leadership roles.
Networking can lead to valuable professional relationships, collaborations, and potential future opportunities.

Utilizing training and development programs will foster your growth in your role.

Enhancing your skillset makes you more versatile and opens doors for new responsibilities.

One of the best gifts an organization can affords its people is the opportunity for ongoing professional development. I often meet with the CHRO or L&D Team of organizations to help create their next year’s Learning Plan. One of the biggest tells that they are truly invested in what their people want is when they have a poll or survey asking for feedback.

One of my key clients, TotalEnergies, is notorious for providing their employees with the opportunity of ongoing professional development. I have had the pleasure of working closely with their Learning and Development Manager for over five years, and I always look forward to our EOY touchpoint meetings.

First, he polls the group on what they would like to see from a list of options. This gives him a good idea of what they want to keep, what wasn’t popular from last time, and what they’d like to see next.

When I am delivering one of these classes for TotalEnergies, I always begin by paying homage to Michael, making them aware of their great fortune for working for an organization that embodies a supportive company culture that cares so deeply about their opportunities for growth.

If every organization would pay as much attention to retaining their employees in this fashion, turnover would almost be non-existent.

When clients tell me they cannot get approval to offer their employees professional
development opportunities, I tell them, if they dare to be so bold, to ask their
HR leaders, “How much it is costing us to market, interview, and retrain new
hires to fill the shoes of team members who left simply for not feeling valued”?

Staying relevant in your field makes you an asset to your organization and helps you stay competitive in the job market.

I love attending Learning & Development conferences and tradeshows! It is quite literally the place to be to ensure I’m up to speed with the current trends.

In addition to showcasing our brand and services in the EXPO Hall, I take advantage of the keynotes, general sessions and various breakout rooms that L&D professionals flock to for staying relevant.

This last year at ATD, the buzz was all about AI and how it is seemingly taking over lots of different roles and depleting the need for certain paid services. During one of the breakout sessions, several attendees who specialize in e-learning shared their concern for the future of their organizations. Why pay companies to create what AI can do for a fraction of the fee?

But we all agreed that while AI can handle many repetitive or content-generation tasks, there’s still a vital role for skilled L&D professionals. Human expertise is essential in designing strategic learning experiences that align with business goals and foster real engagement.

AI-generated content may be cost-effective, but it often lacks the depth and customization that human experts bring to truly impactful learning experiences.

A good example of staying relevant in a field is seen in the career of Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook). As social media rapidly evolved, Zuckerberg didn’t rely solely on the original Facebook model. In fact, he continually adapted the platform to meet changing user demands and market trends. He led the company through major pivots, such as expanding into mobile technology, acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp, and, more recently, rebranding as Meta to focus on virtual reality and the metaverse.

By continuously learning about new technologies and shifting the company’s focus to align with emerging trends, Zuckerberg has kept Meta relevant in a highly competitive industry. This adaptability reflects a proactive approach to staying current in a rapidly evolving field, ensuring long-term relevance and growth.

Adapt, Evolve, Thrive: Stay Relevant in Every Step.

Staying relevant in your field is like keeping a compass calibrated on a journey. A compass must be adjusted to point true north despite changing conditions. Likewise, professionals need to continually realign their skills and knowledge to stay on course in a shifting landscape.

Learning and applying new skills build confidence in your abilities, which leads to greater job satisfaction and engagement.

I love watching people transform into confident speakers after they go through Fearless Presentations. Most of the time, people walk in quite nervous and a bit shy. By the end of the class, I get full eye contact, strong handshakes and deserving smiles as they walk out having conquered their fears of public speaking.

One lady that came through the class will always stay top of mind. In the beginning, she mostly looked down, never volunteered to go first, and was fairly disengaged in class discussions. By the end of the two days though, she was the first go. I didn’t have to put my hand to my ear at the back of the room to remind her to speak up, and she was smiling!

I literally watched her confidence grow and fears melt away as she learned a new skill that would ultimately land her in her new role at work.

Every new skill you learn is a step toward greater confidence and endless possibilities.

Another example of how learning and applying new skills builds confidence is the story of Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx.

Blakely started her career selling fax machines door-to-door, but she dreamed of creating a product that would revolutionize women’s shapewear.

Despite having no background in fashion or manufacturing, she dedicated herself to learning everything she could about fabric design, prototyping, and patenting. By acquiring these new skills, she gained the confidence to pitch her idea to manufacturers and retailers.

Her persistence paid off when she launched Spanx, turning her initial idea into a billion-dollar company. Blakely’s journey demonstrates how learning and applying new skills doesn’t just build. It also opens the door to achieving extraordinary success.

Learning and applying new skills is like charging a battery. Each skill you master fuels your confidence, powering you to achieve more.

Training can make you a stronger candidate for promotions or leadership roles.

As I like to tell people at the beginning of any class or seminar I teach, you’re all here because you refuse to stay idle. You aspire to be and do more.

We are a part of a very small population of the world called The Doers. We never plateau or stop sharpening our axes. That’s because all great leaders know that we must continue to learn, grow, and climb to be the very best that we can be.

I like to remind people that what they are about to learn, no matter the reason, is adding to their toolkit forever. Most of the time, people are taking these classes specifically to get a promotion or a new role. Regardless of how that pans out, you still have learned a new skill. And new skills add up!

Emily’s Growth Through Training

Emily worked as a software developer in a mid-sized company. While she excelled at her technical tasks, she noticed that leadership roles in her department often went to those with strong communication and project management skills—areas she felt less confident in.

Recognizing the gap, Emily signed up for a company-sponsored training program on leadership and team dynamics. The program included exercises on giving constructive feedback, managing timelines, and fostering collaboration. Emily not only gained new skills but also built her confidence in leading others.

Shortly after completing the program, Emily volunteered to lead a small project team. Her clear communication and well-organized approach impressed her manager and colleagues. When a managerial role opened a few months later, Emily’s name was at the top of the list.

This illustrates how targeted training can bridge skill gaps and pave the way for promotions, even in areas outside your current expertise.

Elevate Your Skills, Unlock Your Potential.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
— Benjamin Franklin

The knowledge and skills you gain will not only help you excel in your current role. They will also lay the foundation for long-term career success. Embrace each learning opportunity as a stepping stone toward unlocking your full potential and making a meaningful impact in your professional journey.

Networking can lead to valuable professional relationships, collaborations, and potential future opportunities.

It comes as no shock to anyone who knows me that I love meeting and talking to new people. Networking is definitely my jam! Most people have a social battery and I have always wondered exactly what that looks like.

I recently became a member of the Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter of Meeting Planners International through my partnership with the Arlington Convention Visitors Bureau. They host monthly opportunities to gather with all of the meeting and event planners who are members.

Not only do I get to showcase our CSR events to potential clients, but I get to build relationships and make friends with like-minded professionals all there for the same reason. Strong connections often open doors to opportunities.

While at one of the last mixers, I met a lady who owns a big venue for fun outings, and we became fast friends. My clients need a venue, and her venue needs events! So, we forged a plan to hit businesses in her area and tag team winning clients together.

It’s not what you know, but who!

A great example of networking is Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group. Branson built his empire by leveraging relationships and connections throughout his career.

Early on, he networked with musicians and producers to grow Virgin Records. Thus forging partnerships that helped him sign groundbreaking artists like The Rolling Stones.

Later, Branson cultivated connections with investors, political leaders, and influencers, which allowed him to expand Virgin into industries like aviation, telecommunications, and space exploration.

Branson’s approach to networking wasn’t just about business; his genuine interest in people and willingness to collaborate opened doors to opportunities that shaped Virgin Group’s global success.

This example highlights how building authentic relationships through networking can unlock opportunities across diverse industries.

Networking builds a web of connections that can guide and support your professional journey. It’s like connecting dots on a map. Each new relationship adds a point, and over time, those points create pathways that lead to unexpected opportunities and destinations.