7 Professional Development Activities You’ll Genuinely Look Forward To
The term “professional development” often conjures images of seminar rooms, networking mixers, and continuing education course lists. While these activities can certainly advance your career, they also often feel like, well, work.
That’s why we’ve created a list of seven professional development activities that are both enriching and enjoyable. Put a few of these on your PD calendar for the next few months, and you may just rekindle your passion for your chosen profession.
Photo by Marcos Luiz Photograph on Unsplash
1. Take Yourself on a Work Date
Wake up. Go to your laptop. Work. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.
Doing the same thing day in and day out isn’t very inspiring. So shake up your routine. After all, being open to new experiences has a clear link to increased creativity.
If you’re looking for something new to try, you could book yourself an office for a day in a downtown proworking space and go on a walk around the city during your lunch break.
Or you could up the ante. Take yourself on a work vacation and explore a new city. After unplugging for the day, see what the nightlife is like. Check out the best restaurants, theaters, or bars your chosen city has to offer.
You may be surprised at how much a change of scenery helps you see your work differently.
2. Be a Guest Lecturer at a Local College
Plenty of professional development activities involve taking classes – but what if you led one instead?
Check to see if any professors at your local college are looking for someone with industry experience to speak to their class (sometimes people put out general calls on Twitter). Once you find a fit, commit to a guest lecturing role and foster a relationship with that professor.
Academics frequently look for people who can offer real-life insight to add color to classroom lessons. Sure, a student might understand the basics of contract law, but you could deliver unique insights on how to handle the politics of redlining a doc a big client keeps pushing back on.
Lecturing over time doesn’t just connect you with a diverse array of young professionals; it establishes you as an authority in your field. And once you’ve reached this expert status, people come to you for opinions. You may even become a source for reporters, which can further build your credibility and yield more professional opportunities.
And if that weren’t compelling enough, the students you lecture – come graduation time – could be the very employees you hire to fill entry-level openings at your company. Consider that talent pipeline filled.
3. Read a Novel from the NYT Fiction Bestseller List
Professional development isn’t just about reading business-focused books (though we do have just the list for that). Sometimes you can grow as a professional by focusing on things other than your industry – like a can’t-put-it-down novel.
Reading fiction is a great professional development activity for two reasons:
It gives you an opportunity to fully unplug from your work and take a break. This is especially true if you read a physical copy and silence work notifications.
If you don’t know where to look for a great book, we recommend the NYT Fiction Best Sellers list. It’s curated regularly and is bound to cover at least one genre you want to read.
4. Send a Personalized Note to Someone Whose Work You Admire
Next time you read an article or LinkedIn post that has you pumping your fist and yelling “Yes, this person gets it!” to your computer screen, reach out to the writer.
You’ve likely shown appreciation for clients and your employees. So why not do the same when someone else’s work resonates with you? Sending these messages can validate fellow professionals and help you flex your gratitude muscle.
And being good at gratitude pays dividends: employees feel motivated when they’re recognized for their hard work. This is why knowing how to deliver tailored and positive feedback helps you nurture a productive – and healthy – work culture. Not only that, it makes you a better collaborator and teammate.
5. Add a New Podcast to Your Rotation
At Firmspace, we love making the most of our commutes. It’s one reason we’ve dedicated a section of our monthly newsletter to commute-friendly content (sign up here if that sounds interesting to you).
Adding a podcast to your rotation enhances your trips to work by offering another opportunity to learn. From the topical deep dives of The Daily to the serialized storyline of Nice White Parents, podcasts are an enjoyable way to stay on top of conversations happening around you.
6. Join Your Alumni Network
Plenty of professional development opportunities involve growing your network; what if you already have one that you can immerse yourself in?
Chances are you’ve received emails from your alma mater about alumni events.
Attend one. Checking out an alumni event gives you an opportunity to reconnect with former peers and professors and reminisce about the years you spent cramming for exams in the library at 2:00 a.m. or lounging on the quad.
If nothing else, it will let you see what your fellow alums are up to and give you a chance to feel some pride for their success.
7. Grab Drinks with Your Work Bestie
Building rapport with your coworkers is important. In fact, professionals with a best friend at work are more than twice as likely as those without to feel engaged.
Spending time together outside of work helps you build trust and establish an open channel of communication with your close work friend. This openness makes it easier to share new ideas, offer honest feedback, and collaborate on company-wide initiatives.
Getting to know the people you work with doesn’t just help engage you at work, either. As coworkers move on to new opportunities, those relationships broaden your network over time.
So, yes: grab a coffee or a few beers. And know that it will be great for your career.
The Best Professional Development Activities Remind You Why You Love Your Work
Professional development activities should be enjoyable. Sure, you could sit in an all-day seminar – but you could also have a laughter-filled conversation with someone you admire.
Finding activities that you enjoy – and places you can focus on them – will give you a much greater return on your time. Not only that, but you’ll want to integrate these activities into your routine.
Once you’ve reinvigorated your sense of purpose after finishing these activities, book a tour at your local Firmspace office and see how it helps you further channel your energy to your work.
Photo by Marcos Luiz Photograph on Unsplash