My five favourite professional development resources from 2024

As the year draws to a close, my Instagram feed is flooded with “Top 10 Favourites for 2024” posts. While it’s a little unsettling how fast time has flown, it also reminds me to reflect on my highlights from the year.

One thing I’ve focused on since graduating from university (with a helpful nudge from the Elm team) is committing to regular professional development (PD). So, I thought I’d share some of my favourite PD activities from the year.

If any of these resonate with you, consider adding them to your list and carving out time for PD before the year ends—or even making it a New Year’s resolution. As communications professionals, we rarely find extra time, so I’ve learned that we need to make time for PD. Ultimately, investing in your learning will make you a better communications professional.

Change Superhero: PowerPoint Infographics Course

I’m focusing on free PD options, as budgets can be tight, but if you’re going to invest in one paid course, this is it. If you regularly create PowerPoint presentations, infographics, and placemats or want to present information in a visually engaging way, this course is a game-changer. It opened up a world of functionality in PowerPoint that I had never known existed—there were so many “I didn’t know you could do that!” moments. It’s one of the most practical PD activities I’ve done, and I’ve consistently applied what I’ve learned throughout the year. Plus, it comes with some fantastic free templates.

Networking

As an introvert and chronic overthinker, I’m not a big fan of networking, but I can’t deny its value as part of PD. This year, I made a point to meet different communications professionals and learn about their career paths. While intimidating at first, everyone I met was welcoming and eager to share their insights. It opened my eyes to the wide range of opportunities in communications—everyone’s path is unique. With networking, I think finding a style that works for you is essential. One-on-one conversations feel less overwhelming and more meaningful to me. Networking isn’t just about career advice—it’s a great way to solve problems, generate ideas, and see things from fresh perspectives.

GovComms: The Future of Government Communication Podcast

I’ve listened to several communications podcasts this year, but GovComms by Content Group stood out. They have diverse, experienced guests, and the discussions highlight the breadth of roles in communications, particularly in government. As a graduate starting my career, I found it invaluable to hear how communications principles are applied in the public sector. Some standout episodes for me include:

• LinkedIn Mastery, Storytelling Secrets, and the Key to Social Media Success
• Olympic Communications: Preparing for Paris 2024 and Lessons from Tokyo 2020
• Mastering Social Media in the Public Sector with Roger Christie
• Mastering Public Communication Strategies, Leadership, and Campaigns

Webinars

I’m a big fan of webinars, especially when they’re free or low-cost. I’ve found LinkedIn to be an excellent resource for discovering webinars on various topics. Here are a few organisations I follow for their insightful webinars:

• Ethnolink: Ethnolink offers excellent content on multicultural communication and engagement. Their webinars are free and available afterwards on their site, Ethnolink Education. I’ve learned so much about engaging multicultural audiences, and their content is backed by research, data, and case studies, making it robust and informative.
• IABC (International Association of Business Communicators): IABC hosts webinars on various communications-related topics. Members can access free or discounted sessions, and I’ve found great value in some sessions hosted by the Queensland and Victoria chapters this year. I also recommend joining your local chapter (for my ACT friends, there is one in Canberra too!)

Death by Meeting – Patrick Lencioni (Book)

I picked up Death by Meeting after Mel recommended it on our Lifeline Bookfair post, and I’m so glad I did. The book offers insightful strategies for structuring meetings to make them more productive. Although it’s not explicitly communications-focused, the lessons have been invaluable, and I have no doubt I’ll take them with me throughout my whole career. What surprised me was how engaging the book is—Lencioni uses storytelling to convey his ideas, making a topic that could have been dry truly interesting. Who knew that restructuring meetings could make such a difference?

Like many of us, I’ve had moments when PD had to take a backseat to other priorities, but when I integrated it into my schedule, the benefits were undeniable. It brought fresh perspectives, expanded my skillset, and gave me tools that I’ve applied across my work. As we head into the final stretch of the year, I’m committed to keeping PD a priority, and I hope to carry this focus on learning into the future. Hopefully, you’ve found a resource here that resonates with you and can help support your own PD journey!