What is your strategy to support and encourage employees’ professional development?

"As team manager, I received approval from our board of directors to use a small percentage of my annual budget to pay for costs associated with team members' professional development activities. When I discussed the matter with my team, they indicated they would be interested in attending conferences and workshops related to nonprofit administration. I agreed with this idea and set up a rotation. Each team member would attend a conference once every two years as well as local workshops twice a year. The team eagerly availed themselves of this opportunity, and it increased their knowledge and skills as well as their desire to continue doing this work."

"In my role as a human resources director, I want to encourage employees to pursue opportunities for professional development, and we have some resources reserved for that express purpose as an organization. I plan and coordinate all of our in-house professional development programs, which include regular e-learning workshops, presentations from community leaders and nonprofit professionals, panel discussions, and more. I believe this is a consistent way to build skills and stay updated on industry trends, new technology, and best business practices."

There is a myriad of ways to go about offering this kind of support, from e-learning to attending conferences. Be specific about how you have leveraged professional development to strengthen your team as a whole.