Ring in the New Year by Investing in Your Team’s Professional Development

Happy New Year! Many of us have already reflected on the past year and begun identifying what will be different as we wipe the 2024 slate clean and hit a reset for new beginnings in 2025. People worldwide make resolutions every year, but only 4 percent follow through on these (Houltberg & Uhalde, 2019).   

The start of a new year presents the perfect opportunity to focus on your team’s growth and advancement. As a manager, one of the best ways to set your staff up for success in the coming months is to prioritize their professional development. Investing in training and continuing education for your employees benefits your team members as individuals and your organization as a whole.  

There is almost no limit to the potential of an organization that recruits good people, raises them up as leaders, and continually develops them. 

—John Maxwell 

In 2025, perhaps we can take Maxwell’s quote as the foundational statement for putting together that staff development plan. Whether it is someone new to the workforce or a long-time team member, studies have shown that employees want professional development, skills training, and educational opportunities (Bergeron, 2023). This development can consist of courses, attending conferences, earning certificates, participating in mentorship programs, and more. Contrary to popular belief, these do not have to break the bank and can even help increase profits and cash flow!  

Building critical hard and soft skills allows your team to improve at their jobs. It boosts their confidence, advances their careers, and helps them stay on top of industry trends and innovation. Creating a work environment that encourages learning has been shown to motivate team members as it communicates that the organization supports their personal and professional growth and that they are valued. Guess what? Research also shows that these employees are more likely to stay and not look for opportunities elsewhere (Gokulnath, 2023).  

So, as you set goals for the year ahead, prioritize professional development. Work with your human resources team to identify gaps in skills or identify those diamonds in the rough who, with a bit of support and development, can be a shining star. Developing from within creates a great work environment, helps reduce recruitment costs, and boosts overall retention within the organization. Yes, good news spreads fast!  

HFTP can be that resource to help you find learning opportunities that can be incorporated into your existing programs or in developing new ones. Our online courses, conferences, and other offerings are all reasonably priced to fit into most training budgets and help yield a strong ROI.  

Want to learn more about how to use what HFTP has to offer? Join us on January 28, 2025, for our webinar “Leveraging the HFTP Academy for Your Training Needs.”   

Investing in your people will pay dividends through enhanced performance, retention, and engagement. Let this year be one of learning and skills-building for your team by making professional development a central focus. The effort you put into helping your employees reach their potential will propel your organization forward and ahead of your competition.  

So don’t be a statistic; let HFTP help you be part of the 4% who keep their resolution and reap the rewards. 

Arlene Ramirez, MBA, CHAE, CHE, CHIA, CAHTA is the senior vice president, learning for HFTP. With over 25 years as a hospitality industry finance professional, she has broad expertise in multi-property business operations, resource optimization, contract negotiation, financial processes and controls and asset management. Her focuses are on streamlining operations, driving revenue growth, creating new efficiencies and building the bottom line.

References: 

• Bergeron, P. (2023). Employees Want Additional Opportunities for Career, Skills Development. Shrm.org.

• Gokulnath B. (2023, November 8). Why Is Staff Training Important? How to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Staff Training? - Hurix Digital. 

• ‌Uhalde, A., & Houltberg, B. (2019, December 27). How putting purpose into your New Year’s resolutions can bring meaning and results. The Conversation.