The employees who take the time to make themselves better, more well-rounded people are the kind you want in the workplace. The same goes for the kind who take the time to use professional development resources.

If you want to be that kind of employee, where do you start? How do you find the resources, let alone the time to start?

We’ve figured out the first part for you. As for time, we suggest using your commute. Why not listen to something helpful?

Online Courses

You know how you can learn to code, to knit, to cook – learn how to do anything and everything online? Personal development isn’t an exception.

There are courses online to help you figure out your relationship with God to how to raise your kids.

If you don’t know where to start, take the time to browse the personal development sections of online course listings. What is Udemys course listing like? It’s more than your high school’s psychology 101 offerings.

Invest in yourself and get help guiding yourself through the personal development journey with an online course.

Books

With the internet, you have access to all the books that have ever been made, almost. Use those resources to rent or listen to a personal development book.

Audible or other book-on-tape sites have the latest in self-help and self-development classics.

What are you looking to improve on? There’s a book for that! Here are some suggestions of the most popular books of all time:

• How to Win Friends and Influence People
• The Power of Now
• The Power of Positive Thinking
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
• The Four Agreements
• The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

A lot of these books help you in your personal life and the workplace. If you’re a person in a professional setting, can you separate personal and professional development?

Podcasts

If you want to do some continuing education or learning but don’t have a book or course in your niche, look for a podcast. They’re the new books when it comes to people sharing their experiences and knowledge.

There’s a podcast for almost every niche since they’re easy to produce. If you can’t find one, start one! Become a professional development resource for other people online.

You can search Google for “My Niche Podcast” or go even broader with “Professional skills podcast”. You’ll find something if you dig hard enough!

If you find something you really like, clue your coworkers in. You can use it as a jumping off point to start meetings or use it as something to connect over.

Professional Development Resources

When you spend the time to better yourself as a person, it betters yourself as an employee. You’ll learn things about yourself and things that will improve your performance in your field.

You can’t have one without the other, they’re linked. Once you find professional development resources you really like or see some results, don’t keep it to yourself.

Let your coworkers in on the resource you found and tell your boss about the work you’re putting in. They’ll appreciate your commitment!

Want to take these books or podcasts with you on the road? Get travel tips here!