Power Moves 20 Early in my career, laying out my yearly learning path used to be a very easy task. During the budgeting season, I’d look ahead to conferences I wanted to attend, pick one, and submit my budget request. I’d attend local SAE events to grow my local network. As with anything, the availability of quality educational opportunities has expanded. From free webinars to online communities, anyone can learn anything. Now, with AI at our fingertips, we can satisfy any curiosity on a whim. This challenges the concept of an annual professional development plan. So, how do we stay ahead, informed, and ready to ensure our members are also at the cutting edge of their industries? Identify Trusted Resources The oversaturation of content easily leads to decision fatigue. There are providers within our sector that are fail-safe. But stepping outside of our bubble opens an incredible and overwhelming world of information. Where do you even begin? Of course, asking AI is an option. Use it to help you cut through the clutter and identify resources for you. A sample prompt for your model of choice could be: “I am a Chief Communications Officer for an association representing the XYZ profession. I need to ensure that I stay ahead of trends related to AI, marketing, and membership development. Acting as my professional development coach, find 5–10 podcasts, websites, and thought leaders I should follow.” Ask AI to teach you about a subject. For instance, “Teach me about RAG. Remember...I am not a technical professional or an IT programmer, so we’ll need to use words that make sense to non-technical people!” DITCH THE ANNUAL PLAN A New Approach to Professional Development By Liz Peuster
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