Helpful summary
- Why you can trust us: Here at MentorCruise, we have helped dozens of professionals unleash their full potential. Mentors like Myke Metzger, Giuseppe Santoro, Aziz Mamatov, and Jordi Scharloo show how our mentorship programs can make your employees excel in performing their job roles.
- Why this is important: Familiarizing different professional development activities allows you to plan and organize events that help your teams stay competitive and complete their job more effectively.
- Action points: Learn this guide to find the best professional development activities that fit your team members' professional needs and business goals.
- Further research: We invite you to explore our personalized mentorship programs that can help your team members perform at their optimal level. You can also visit our blog and case studies to learn more about how our mentorship programs can positively impact your team’s performance.
Need help finding professional development activities?
Professional development activities can be a boon to your team’s performance. Not to mention, they’re a great way to increase company morale.
So, why aren’t you implementing them yet?
Here at MentorCruise, we understand the importance of continuous learning and development for professionals, and we're here to help your team make the most of it.
So, in this guide, we will share 10 effective professional development activities that will help your workforce perform at the highest level.
Why listen to us?
Our personalized mentorship programs have already helped professionals across several industries unlock their potential to perform better in their teams!
Some of our clients include professionals and employees of famous companies like Nike, Amazon, EA, and Netflix.
Our success stories, case studies, and client testimonials show how our platform can enhance the performance and productivity of your workforce.
If you are still on the fence, you might want to know that we have an average rating of 4.4/5 on Trustpilot, a 4.9/5 rating on Product Hunt, and hundreds of highly skilled mentors ready to impart their knowledge, expertise, and real-life experience in their respective fields.
What are professional development activities?
Professional development activities, also known as ProfDev activities are events that help professionals stay current with industry trends and improve their overall job performance.
In most cases, ProfDev activities include structured courses, workshops, informal networking, and self-directed projects. Each activity is meant to improve your team’s skills and knowledge.
Why are professional development activities important?
Here are five benefits of professional development activities for your business:
1. Enhanced employee performance
Professional development activities equip your employees and team members with new skills and knowledge that can directly enhance their ability to perform their roles.
This leads to increased productivity and efficiency in the workplace which is highly beneficial for the success of your organization.
2. Improved employee satisfaction and retention
Providing opportunities for professional development shows your team members that you, as their superior, are willing to invest in their growth and success. This can lead to higher levels of job satisfaction and increased loyalty in your organization.
3. Encourages innovation and adaptability
ProfDev activities encourage professionals to think creatively, adapt to new technologies and trends, and find innovative solutions to various job-related challenges.
This in turn effectively fosters a culture of innovation within the organization which offers numerous benefits, including a competitive advantage, increased work efficiency, enhanced customer relationships, and improved talent retention.
4. Boosts employee morale and engagement
Providing your team with various ProfDev activities can boost employee morale, a sense of accomplishment, and career progress.
This can make your team feel valued, leading to long-term success and sustainability for an organization.
5. ProfDev attracts top talent
A reputation for investing in employee development can make your business more attractive to top talents in your industry.
Potential employees are more likely to be drawn to organizations that offer opportunities for growth and development.
And now without further ado, below are the 10 activities for professional development that will bring out the best of your team.
10 professional development activities to do with your team
Here’s a list of ten professional development activities that your team can participate in to enhance their work performance:
1. Mentorship
Mentorship is a personal developmental relationship where a more experienced or knowledgeable person helps guide a less experienced or knowledgeable person.
In the case of workplace mentorship, the "mentor" gives advice, shares knowledge, and offers support to the “mentee” on how to properly perform their job in the company.
There are two types of mentorship, internal and external.
Internal mentorship
Internal mentorship typically occurs within an organization where both the mentor and mentee work. This mentorship is often structured and supported by the organization's HR department or a specific mentorship program.
In an internal mentorship, the mentor shares specific knowledge, including the organization's culture, processes, and politics. These insights can be invaluable in guiding new team members in how to perform their tasks and duties within the same company.
External mentorship
In an external mentorship, the mentor and mentee can be from different organizations, with different employers. Professional associations, informal networks, and online programs like MentorCruise often facilitate external mentorships.
At MentorCruise, we offer professionals a unique platform where they can connect with experienced mentors in their industry and related fields.
Our mentors can help your team navigate various professional challenges at work, set realistic career goals, and develop strategies for achieving them.
You can consider the case of Monica, and how our mentorship program enabled her to overcome her work challenge and keep up with the expectations of her team at Flutter. Another good example would be Clara and how she gained confidence at work with the help of her mentor Sandrina.
And guess what? MentorCruise also offers team mentorship programs that come with a 7-day free trial!
2. Online courses
The digital age offers endless opportunities for professionals to continue learning. The good thing about online courses is they allow professionals to learn new knowledge or gain new skills at their own pace.
Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn provide a plethora of online courses to enhance the skills and knowledge of your team.
3. Workshops and seminars
Allowing your employees and team members to participate in workshops and seminars is a great way for them to gain hands-on experience and insight into specific topics that can enhance their job resume.
These events are often interactive, allowing each attendant to ask questions and engage directly with experts and peers in their field.
For instance, someone who works in project management can attend workshops for effective project management where they can learn efficient ways for scheduling, budgeting, and team management.
For your employees working in the IT department, they can attend workshops and seminars about new technology, machine learning, AI, or coding.
Providing your team with relevant workshops and seminars will provide them with practical skills they can use to become more efficient and productive at work right away.
As a mentorship platform, MentorCruise also has mentors who can offer specific training sessions akin to workshop and seminar environments.
4. Professional certifications
Earning certifications can significantly enhance your team’s expertise, making them more effective and authoritative in their roles. You’re killing two birds with one stone by boosting employee confidence and proficiency at the same time.
For example, as a project manager, you can earn a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from a recognized provider which will showcase your expertise and commitment to project management.
The same is true for your other team members. As an employer or team manager, you can support employees in obtaining relevant professional certifications that can enhance their credibility and qualifications.
5. Networking events
Attending industry conferences, meetups, and other events can connect your team with like-minded professionals and industry leaders.
These events will give them access to invaluable information about the latest industry trends which can be beneficial for your organizational operations.
For example, consider sponsoring your tech crew in joining relevant networking events such as the annual Tech Connect Conference. This event is a gathering of various tech professionals from all over the globe, sharing insights, trends, and technologies.
6. Job shadowing
Job shadowing gives employees an opportunity to observe and learn from colleagues in different roles or departments.
This activity is especially useful to broaden your team’s understanding of the organization, and what their daily duties and workflows are like. It’s also the key to avoiding organizational silos.
For example, if you just hired a new software developer, you can ask them to “shadow” a veteran software developer in your team.
This experience can give them a real-time view of their role in your company and how to perform their task more efficiently.
7. Volunteering
This professional development activity for your team involves finding opportunities for your employees to gain work experience in low-pressure environments.
For instance, you can ask your team to offer their services to their local community and job fairs. By doing so, they will be able to gain real-life experience completing tasks related to their profession while contributing to a good cause.
Volunteering is a great learning experience that enhances personal growth and showcases your team and organization’s commitment to social duty.
8. Book clubs
Book clubs provide opportunities for learning, knowledge sharing, and critical thinking.
By reading and discussing books on various topics, employees obtain new insights and perspectives, build a culture of continuous learning within the organization, and foster team building.
Moreover, book clubs are accessible and flexible, allowing employees to participate at their own pace and choose books that interest them.
Additionally, running a book club is cost-effective, making it a valuable addition to an organization's professional development initiatives.
9. Peer teaching
Teaching others helps reinforce your employee’s own professional knowledge and skills. Not to mention, it can be an enlightening experience as it facilitates cross-departmental collaboration.
For example, if your team is composed of software developers, they can lead a coding boot camp at your company where they would teach newbies and other colleagues various programming languages.
This peer teaching experience can solidify their knowledge in their field, and improve their public speaking and leadership skills.
Peer teaching can also deepen the camaraderie between your team and their colleagues in your company.
10. Internal workshops and lunch-and-learns
Conducted by internal or external experts, internal workshops and lunch-and-learns are the perfect way to provide development opportunities while still using everyone’s time efficiently.
These sessions focus on topics relevant to your organization, offering your employees and team members valuable learning opportunities.
For instance, utilizing internal experts fosters collaboration and taps into existing knowledge within your workplace, while external experts bring fresh perspectives and industry trends.
Moreover, internal workshops and lunch-and-learn sessions are cost-effective, making them an attractive option for employers and managers seeking to provide ongoing training and development for their employees.
Best practices for creating professional development activities
When creating professional development activities for your team, consider these best practices:
1. Align activities with organizational goals
Ensure that the professional development activities you launch for your team align with the organization's overall goals and objectives. This ensures that your efforts are focused on areas that will benefit both your employees and the organization in the long run.
2. Tailor professional development activity to individual needs
Recognize that each team member has unique skills, interests, and development needs.
It’s your responsibility as a manager to offer a variety of activities and opportunities for employees to choose from based on their individual goals and aspirations.
This will allow them to commit and enjoy the full benefits of the activity.
3. Provide support and resources
Ensure that employees have the support and resources they need to participate in development activities. Don’t leave them stranded for help.
Examples of support include access to training materials, mentorship, or financial assistance for certifications.
4. Measure and evaluate
Regularly measure the impact of professional development activities on employee performance and organizational goals. Use this feedback to refine and improve future development efforts.
5. Promote continuous learning
Encourage a culture of continuous learning by offering a mix of ongoing development opportunities. This could include workshops, courses, conferences, or on-the-job training.
Streamline professional development with MentorCruise
Professional development plays a critical role in your team’s workplace performance.
With the ongoing changes in the modern-day workforce, ensuring that your team stays competitive in terms of skills and knowledge is a must to run a sustainable and successful business.
We gave you all the information you need to run an effective professional development program at your workplace. Now it’s your time to shine.
Now, if we could only pick one activity, it would definitely be mentorship. In our opinion, it’s the key to unlocking the full potential of your team.
With personalized mentorship tailored to the specific professional needs of your employees, MentorCruise can equip your team with the necessary skills and knowledge to help you achieve your business goals.
So what are you waiting for? Create a high-performing team of professionals with our team mentorship program at MentorCruise!
If you want to experience how our mentor can impact your team beforehand, we invite you to book a mentor for yourself with our free 7-day trial.