Professional trends come and go. Some we are happy to kick to the curb, others we hope are here to stay! This year we’ve seen a few shifts that make the workplace more progressive and competitive. These trends are geared toward improving the employee and, in turn, improving the business.

Here are three trends in workplace professional development that you should take full advantage of to end the year strong.

1. Learning in the Workplace. From peer-to-peer lunch and learns to employer education credits, it’s clear companies are interested in giving their employees the opportunity to learn new things and put them into practice at the workplace.

   Businesses and industries are constantly evolving, and companies must invest in education for their people to maintain a competitive edge. Think about how quickly the internet has changed how we operate. It’s changed everything from the way we look for jobs to the ways we communicate with team members. New standards evolve all the time, and your company needs you to be the best of the best.

2. Flipped Decision Making: Bottom-Up Approach. When organizations function top-down, the decision making happens at the top and gets relayed from director to manager, and manager to the team. We’ve seen this flip to a bottom-up approach. Employees lowest on the corporate ladder are empowered to voice their opinions and suggestions on company matters, essentially shifting decision making to the bottom instead of from the top. This works well because those with the most up-to-date information can make quick decisions without the delay that bureaucracy often entails.

3. Coach for Leadership, Not Management. There’s a push to train employees to lead rather than manage, and we couldn’t be happier about it. Why? Because managers assign—leaders inspire. Leaders raise others up to put the best people in the right seats of the company. That’s good news for anyone looking for a job. It’s not about completing a to-do list, it’s about doing a great job.

Staying on top of trends while navigating a job hunt can be challenging. If you’re looking to make a career change, we’d love to connect.

Our team at The Wilbanks Consulting Group helps everyone from high schoolers to seasoned professionals identify and achieve their career goals.