My New Year’s Resolution came to me at a recent manager’s meeting where I was reminded of the importance of professional development—both for our teams and for ourselves. So, in 2018, I resolve to be more intentional about practicing what I preach—that we all must be committed to doing what we can to learn and grow professionally.

As a manager, one of my biggest responsibilities is to encourage and foster professional development among my team. But sometimes it’s easy to forget to take advantage of the opportunities myself. Fortunately, CMB is deeply committed to the professional development of all its employees—across departments, from the top down. My team and I are equipped with a lot resources to help us grow—CMB hosts, encourages, and supports a variety of training and development interests—both the tactical development of skills and interest-based desires.

“Professional development” can mean many things. It’s not always about correcting for a specific problem or working to close the gap on a particular skill—nor does it necessarily have to be a formal training session or coursework. We can develop ourselves in a lot of ways. From conferences and networking events to free webinars, any opportunity for growth is constructive.

No matter how far into your career you are, there’s always room for learning, improving, and refining. So, in 2018, I encourage you to continue advocating for the professional development of your team—but don’t forget about yourself.

With that I’ll “walk the walk” and resolve to identify and take advantage of at least one professional development opportunity per quarter. Wish me luck!