Our March topic is "Personal Development IS Professional Development".

Amy Modin was 3 months into a self-defense class, a “newbie”, when she recognized that she had a talent for coaching and guiding. She was watching a brand-new participant struggle through a drill – the class was silently waiting on her to finish. Instinctually, Amy started jogging next to her and dropping to her knees with her to complete the push up sets, even though Amy was exhausted from her own work. In a low voice, Amy would push her into the next rep, informing her that she could finish what was feeling impossible.

Classic professional development looks like credentials, degrees, conference attendance, and association membership (i.e. networking). These help us to be competent in our profession – maybe even excel in it! But are we overlooking those “other” activities in our journeys that can indicate strengths and talents that might contribute to our career development? Maybe even recognize something that needs to be worked on?

Let’s have lunch together and share experiences of our professional development. Amy challenges you to bring an out-of-the-box experience to share with the group. Let’s give each other something new to think about. After all, isn’t opening our minds part of development in itself?