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15 Professional Development Ideas, Topics & Activities

By: Grace He | Updated: September 07, 2023

This is a list of professional development ideas.

Professional development ideas refer to topics and activities for employees to improve their skills and advance their careers. This growth may help employees gain more confidence in their abilities and improve their contribution to the company. Example topics include workplace conflict resolution, communications, and critical thinking.

This concept is an employee engagement best practice and a worker engagement strategy .

This article includes

• professional development topics
• professional development activities
• professional development ideas
• professional development workshops
• personal development ideas for work

Here we go!

List of professional development topics

Companies invest in their workers’ education and training to keep up with the competition and increase profitability. A team with a fantastic work ethic, problem-solving abilities, amicability, effective job prioritizing, and the ability to adapt to new situations will record high productivity and success. Professional development ideas for work include:

1. The Art of Storytelling (Top Choice)

Persuasive storytelling is a valuable ability for every employee who has to inspire action. In The Art of Storytelling, participants will learn to share personal narratives that both inform and entertain their audiences.

The Art of Storytelling offers the following features:

• a 120-minute session led by an expert facilitator
• the five essential elements of a captivating story
• effective strategies and techniques to maintain audience interest
• dedicated practice time for participants to refine their skills
• in-depth feedback provided by the hosts

For added convenience, we will meet you at your preferred venue with all the necessary materials. If you want to have a lasting impression in the workplace, then knowing how you may exert your influence and advocate changes is crucial. Companies looking for professional development activities that help their staff share engaging narratives should consider The Art of Storytelling.

Learn more about The Art of Storytelling .

2. Environmental sustainability

Environmental sustainability means using natural resources wisely now so that future generations can still meet their needs without problems. Sustainably conscious workers consider the environmental impact of activities, products, and processes. Then, these individuals find ways to reduce negative effects on the environment.

Environmental sustainability includes reducing waste, conserving energy, using eco-friendly materials, and adopting renewable energy sources. Businesses can be more sustainable by using eco-friendly practices, like reducing waste and saving energy. Firms should also be ethical in their sourcing, get involved in community projects, and regularly check how they impact the environment and society. This process is essential for fighting climate change, preserving biodiversity, and ensuring a healthier planet for future generations.

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• bingo cards

3. Time management ideas

Employees will be more productive and less stressed by learning time management skills. There may be more time to attend conferences and other training events after finishing projects on time if all team members have excellent time management abilities. Time management skills also directly affect an employee’s work-life balance.

Professionally and individually, time management skills are essential. Improved time management is necessary to meet deadlines, manage your workload, and reduce stress. An excellent time management tool is an in-depth awareness of your habits and routines. This process starts by noting how much time you spend on different tasks each day. Afterward, determine the tasks you can outsource, procrastination tendencies, and utilize tools for workload prioritization.

Check out this list of books on time management .

4. Professional certifications

Professional certifications are credentials individuals earn once they have demonstrated a specific level of knowledge, skills, and competence in a particular field or industry. Professional organizations, industry associations, or certification bodies typically grant these certifications. Certifications serve as formal recognition of an individual’s expertise and can enhance career prospects. Examples include the Project Management Professional certification for project managers, the Certified Public Accountant designation for accountants, and the Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification for cybersecurity professionals. Earning professional certifications can validate one’s qualifications and often requires passing an examination and meeting specific experience or education requirements.

Professional certifications are a highly beneficial addition to any professional development plan. These courses provide proof of expertise and skill in a specific field or industry. These certifications often require difficult training and exams, ensuring that individuals have up-to-date knowledge and skills.

5. Communication skills

Communication is the lifeblood of every company. Lack of communication means there is no shared knowledge, ideas, or diversity among employees. As the economy shifts and becomes more unpredictable, most forward-thinking organizations are emphasizing the need to have employees who are proficient communicators. The most crucial goal is to create an environment that encourages open communication among all team members.

As part of the professional development course on communications, workers will learn vital skills such as:

• Teamwork: Handling group efforts, team-building events, and shared objectives. Employees will get to work as a team instead of focusing on individual contributions. Our perspectives, abilities, and expertise are all unique. You can take advantage of this detail by promoting a diverse approach to problem-solving.
• Clear writing: When it comes to interacting with customers and employees, effective digital communication is often the only viable option for today’s companies to prevent miscommunication.
• Active listening: Open communication with coworkers and superiors is effortless when employees learn to listen attentively and comprehend the viewpoints of all parties.
• Conflict management: The ability to deal with difficult situations professionally. The application includes handling salary negotiations, complaints, or the departure of employees.
• Discretion and confidentiality: These skills demand being trustworthy and fair in all interactions with coworkers, from the lowest levels of the organization up to the highest levels. You should always maintain a professional demeanor while dealing with sensitive or private material.

Career success relies on your ability to communicate effectively with coworkers. As part of your professional growth, you can learn strategies to strengthen communication with coworkers, supervisors, suppliers, and customers. You should learn to adapt your discussion depending on the individual’s attitude and how to communicate using multiple means, such as in person, via email, or over the phone. Knowing how to read and being aware of body language are essential for effective communication. Additionally, employees can use communication skills outside of the office, so working on these skills is among the top personal development ideas for work.

Check out this list of communication-building activities .

6. Conflict management and resolution in the workplace

In the workplace, disagreements are a normal part of the team development process and can be beneficial. Leaders and workers should manage conflict effectively so it does not negatively impact corporate operations or the team’s relationships. Understanding the other party’s viewpoint and coming up with solutions that benefit both parties is vital in conflict management. Taking a stand for what is morally correct and ethical might lead to conflict in the workplace.

A manager’s ability to deal with sensitive issues is crucial, and this training will help them learn:

• Proper communication in stressful circumstances and being courteous yet persistent to reach a peaceful resolution.
• Self-assessment of an issue to devise tactful solutions
• Vital qualities like self-discipline, fairness, understanding, tolerance, and empathy to handle difficult circumstances while also demonstrating a strong work ethic.

Managers that are proficient in these three areas will be able to cope with more complex problems that need collaboration, interpersonal skills, and clear communication.

Here is a list of conflict-resolution activities .

7. Financial literacy

Financial literacy is the ability to understand and manage your finances effectively. The understanding involves having the knowledge and skills to make informed financial decisions. Financial literacy encompasses a range of topics, from understanding personal finance basics like creating a budget to more advanced concepts like investment strategies. Employees may learn about budgeting, saving, investing, and planning for the future. Being financially literate  empowers individuals to make wise financial choices, achieve their financial goals, and secure their financial well-being.

Financial literacy is an important topic for professional development because it helps individuals make smart financial choices, both in their personal lives and at work. Being financially literate helps individuals manage their own money better and helps them assist with financial planning and decision-making at their workplace. In today’s complex financial world, financial literacy is crucial for career growth and financial security.

8. Performance evaluations

Most times, a manager’s role includes doing performance evaluations. Therefore, every manager should understand performance management for workers. This ability entails assessing your team’s members, grasping their qualifications and experience, and placing them in roles that make the most of their abilities. Performance management may also include addressing any performance issues, developing an improvement plan, and addressing any bad conduct occurring in the workplace.

Regardless of one’s position in a company’s hierarchy, providing and accepting constructive criticism is essential. Your professional career will benefit if you become more adept at giving assessments to workers. An effective appraisal or feedback shows your appreciation for their efforts and your desire to see team members flourish in the future and offers improvement tips.

Although a manager handles performance evaluation, employees may sometimes need to provide constructive criticism to their colleagues during peer review. Employees will learn more about how to give and receive constructive criticism as part of the professional development program.

Here are tips for giving employee feedback .

9. Flexibility

In today’s dynamic corporate environment, individuals must continually improve their skill sets and be able to adapt to ever-changing working conditions. Employees in today’s fast-paced corporate environment benefit from this area of professional development. However, adaptation to a new environment and training needs many resources.

Some techniques to promote employee flexibility in professional development include network support, cross-training, business trips to other offices, peer learning and knowledge exchange, and switching departments.

Almost all companies experience change or transition, but a successful change implementation relies on the cooperation of all workers and supervisors. As the manager, it may be beneficial for you to learn how to prepare your team for change better. In addition, you, as an employee, can learn how to effect positive change or how to prepare for negative change.

10. Better customer service

Customer service training is one excellent example of employee development activities. Your firm and its customers will benefit greatly from your efforts to improve your customer service competencies. Customer service skills include patience, understanding, empathy, adaptability, and calmness under pressure. Professional development in customer service can equip employees with the skills needed to deal with difficult clients or how to make a customer’s bad experience better. Examples of training activities include conflict resolution and de-escalation training and courses in emotional intelligence and active listening. These skills include empathy, clear communication, excellent work ethic, and thick skin.

Here is a list of books about customer service .

11. Leadership

As a manager or a senior executive, developing strong leadership abilities is a worthwhile investment of time and money. People’s self-esteem and career prospects may improve and benefit from formal leadership education. Successful leaders in your company are likely to have the following characteristics:

• Determination
• Team Management
• Strategy Development
• Decision-making

If you want to hold a management position one day, you will benefit from participating in professional development training on management. This training will help you better understand leadership styles and expectations. Employers also do well to invest in leadership development to ensure future managers are confident and ready to lead.

Here is a list of leadership skills .

12. Hard and soft skills

Hard skills often correlate with the employee’s position. These skills are important for talent acquisition, payroll administration, and disseminating ideas from upper management to lower-level staff. Digital technology eventually pushes you to develop even the most competent people in these disciplines, regardless of their expertise. Short and in-depth seminars and courses are the greatest ways to learn. Staff members are more likely to embrace shorter and concise training, and the relevance lasts longer.

Soft skills deal with the way you go about your job. Communication, listening, and time management are a few examples of the many critical soft skills in today’s workplaces. Employers prioritize soft skills when looking to fill open positions because they contribute to an employee’s success at work.

13. Human resources software

HR departments benefit significantly from different people management tools. Individual employees benefit from this form of software, which helps disseminate and organize their personal and professional data. Corporations are increasingly relying on technology to arrange their workers’ personal information. Learning this skill will help HR personnel learn to integrate HR software in your department. You will have an advantage over your competition if you have some software experience. Also, managing paperwork and communicating with staff will be easier if you use specialized software.

Check out this list of HR software .

14. Legal and compliance

Legal and compliance training can be a valuable professional development idea for individuals and organizations.   Legal and compliance refers to adhering to laws, regulations, and industry standards that cover various aspects of an organization’s operations. For instance, companies may need to follow employment laws, intellectual property regulations, contractual obligations, data privacy laws, and industry-specific regulations. Organizations must have systems in place to ensure that they meet these legal requirements and maintain ethical business practices. Failure to do so can result in legal consequences, fines, reputational damage, and other negative consequences.

It is important to stay updated on relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards. Professionals can minimize legal risks, ensure ethical business practices, and maintain their organization’s reputation. Training in legal and compliance matters can also lead to career advancement. This training equips individuals with the knowledge to navigate legal issues and make informed decisions that protect both their interests and their organization’s bottom line.

15. Talent management

To be an effective leader, you must be able to motivate and manage. An influential manager must encourage their employees to go above and beyond the call of duty, solve challenging issues, and establish a high-performance work environment. Impactful leadership may significantly influence productivity and staff morale, ethics, and company-worker relations. Managers can improve their people management skills by addressing their emotional quotient, ensuring team collaboration, promoting effective communication and transparency, and learning empathy.

The importance of professional development

Professional development is honing your abilities and collecting more knowledge. These skills can help you succeed in your current position and even help you get a promotion or a new role in the future. Therefore, it is critical to engage in ongoing professional development throughout your career to stay updated in your field. Professional development comprises degree programs, certifications, training courses, seminars, or finding a career mentor.

Regardless of their individual skillset, specialty, or emphasis, all personnel benefit from ongoing professional development ideas. As employees’ duties and responsibilities evolve, they must adapt and grow. Soft skills are just as vital as hard talents. Organizations gain as much, if not more, from ongoing learning as do their workers.

Learn more about the importance of professional development .

Professional abilities tend to interconnect, and when you work on one skill, you are sure to enhance the others as well. Even if your primary goal is to improve your general skills, you may still advance your career by upskilling.

If you want to succeed in your career, you need to like what you do. Without this commitment, motivating others to do better will be difficult. Therefore, it is crucial to discover the satisfaction of learning new things and improving your job skills. You will be able to recognize your strengths and limitations more easily. Implementing a professional development program will help you and your employees develop, learn, and become better people.

For more references, check out training and development books  and career books .

We also have a list of the best corporate workshop ideas for employees .

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FAQ: Professional development ideas

Here are some frequently asked questions about professional development ideas.

What are professional development ideas?

Professional development ideas refer to specific training topics and activities for employees to improve their skills and advance their careers.

What are some good professional development ideas for work?

Good professional development ideas for work include management skills, communication, and performance management.

How do you hold professional development workshops for employees?

You can hold professional development workshops by performing a needs assessment to determine what areas require upskilling. You can then devise the training approach, perhaps through one-on-one or group sessions.

Author: Grace He

People & Culture Director at teambuilding.com. Grace is the Director of People & Culture at teambuilding.com. She studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, Information Science at East China Normal University and earned an MBA at Washington State University.

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People & Culture Director at teambuilding.com.

Grace is the Director of People & Culture at teambuilding.com. She studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, Information Science at East China Normal University and earned an MBA at Washington State University.

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35 Professional Development Topics to Get Inspired

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What professional development topics do you need to focus on in your organization or your life?

If you’re like most leaders, you’ve probably thought about this question. A lot of times, people don’t take time to think about what they can do or learn from others in their organization that will help them become better at their job.

Whether that’s managing people more effectively or finding new ways to grow as a leader. But there’s no reason to not always look for opportunities to grow.

As someone who has dedicated their life to learning and pursuing personal development, I’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll cover 35 professional development training opportunities that you or your team can engage in to become more effective at work and in life!

What Is Professional Development?

Professional development is a lifelong process of learning new skills and improving existing ones. It’s about learning about new topics that you didn’t know before, and it can be done in many different ways, including through formal training, on the job, and independent study.

The Importance of Varying Professional Development Topics

It’s important to note that professional development is not a one-size-fits-all. It’s important to find topics that are relevant to you, your team, your organization, and your industry.

For example, if you focus on business strategy and leadership skills for one year, then consider adding technical training and customer service skills the next.

The more variety you can offer in your professional development plans , the more likely everyone will find something that interests them.

Now let’s get to the 35 professional development topics for you or your team.

Communication

Renowned leadership expert John C. Maxwell emphasizes the importance of communication by stating, ‘Effective communication is not just about talking, but rather about understanding and being understood.’

It’s important that you and your team communicate effectively . It’s a skill that can be learned and improved, just like any other. When it comes to communication, several components are essential for successful exchanges:

• Listening skills
• Active listening
• Body language (nonverbal cues)

See Related: 14 Communication Barriers: How To Overcome Them (2022)

Leadership Development

Leadership is a skill, not a title. It is an art, not a science. It can be exercised by anyone, regardless of their position or title. From the CEO down to the person who sweeps the floors, leadership can be exhibited by all.

Give everyone an opportunity to develop their leadership skills and your team will be better off for it. The best way to develop leadership skills is by giving people the opportunity to lead.

Allow them to make decisions on their own and provide feedback after each one. This will give them an opportunity to learn from their mistakes, as well as experience the benefits of making good choices.

Renowned author and leadership expert Stephen Covey reminds us that ‘Leadership is a choice, not a position.’

See Related: How to Be a Highly Successful Introverted Leader

Mentoring Others

According to a survey by the American Society for Training and Development, 71% of Fortune 500 companies have implemented mentoring programs as part of their talent development strategy. This highlights the recognition of the significant benefits of mentoring in professional growth.

Mentoring is a form of professional development that involves helping someone else learn, develop, and improve their skills. It can be a one-on-one relationship or group activity.

It’s different from coaching in that mentoring focuses on teaching other professionals to help them grow while coaching focuses on giving advice about how to solve specific problems.

Mentorship can be formal or informal, depending on your needs and goals for the project at hand.

For example, if you need help learning about new technology for your industry but don’t have time for face-to-face meetings with an expert before starting your job search process (or after), online mentorship may be ideal for you!

Effective Delegation

Renowned management consultant Brian Tracy once said, ‘Delegation is one of the most important skills you can develop. It allows you to multiply your effectiveness and accomplish more in less time.’

If you’re a manager or leader, delegation is essential. It’s a way to assign tasks to others in your organization and allow them to take on more responsibility.

Effective delegation can also help you become more efficient because it frees up your time for other responsibilities.

Delegation is one of the most important skills for a manager or leader because it allows you to delegate tasks that are either too easy or difficult for you.

For example, if there’s someone in your organization who knows how to use a new software program better than you do, delegating this task could save you hours of work over the course of an entire project.

See Related: How To Empower Others To Do Great Things

Brainstorming Techniques

Brainstorming is a super effective group activity that’s been used for a long time to come up with awesome new ideas and find solutions to problems. It’s helpful in pretty much any situation where you want to think up new ideas or solve issues.

The idea behind brainstorming is that no idea is a bad one—every idea is good and worth considering.

During a brainstorming session, it’s important to create a relaxed environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. This way, you can have an open discussion that leads to unique and creative solutions.

The main idea is that there are no bad ideas, so everyone can share their thoughts without worrying about being judged.

Brainstorming is also great for building teamwork. When people work together to come up with new ideas, they learn to trust each other more, communicate better, and understand how each person thinks. This helps the team work together more effectively in the long run.

Business mogul Richard Branson once said, ‘Brilliant ideas are often born in a moment of spontaneous teamwork.’

Building Trust in the Workplace

According to a study by the Great Place to Work Institute , high-trust organizations experience 50% lower turnover rates than their low-trust counterparts.

This highlights that trust is not only important for individual relationships but also has a significant impact on overall organizational performance.

Trust is a key component in all relationships, including the workplace. You can’t have a good relationship with your coworkers or supervisor if you don’t trust them.

Trust is important because it allows you to feel confident that the people around you are going to do what they say, how they say it, and when they say it.

If there isn’t trust in the workplace, team members may be reluctant to share ideas or information with each other.

Improving Confidence

As motivational speaker Zig Ziglar said, ‘Confidence is not “they will like me”. Confidence is “I’ll be fine if they don’t”.

Being confident is a learned skill. The ability to ask for help, admit mistakes, and say yes or no are all things that we can practice and become more comfortable with.

Confidence can be built over time by taking on new challenges and successes until you feel increasingly sure of yourself in situations where you might have been unsure before.

Just as it takes time to build muscle by lifting weights, it takes time for your mind to learn how to be confident in itself. There are no shortcuts!

Workplace Ethics

Workplace ethics are a topic that’s often overlooked in professional development, but it can be an important part of your team’s culture.

Let’s break it down: Ethical behavior is about following moral principles and values in our everyday lives. It’s important not just for following the law but also for how we treat other people, especially at work where our actions might be hidden from the public.

Ethics in the workplace can make a big difference in how we work together and build a positive environment. Here are some examples of ethical behavior at work:

• Be honest and open: Always tell the truth, share information, and don’t try to deceive others.
• Show respect and empathy: Treat your coworkers with kindness, listen to their thoughts, and appreciate their input.
• Be fair and treat everyone equally: Give everyone the same opportunities and don’t discriminate based on things like gender or race.
• Take responsibility: Admit when you make a mistake, learn from it, and be responsible for your actions.
• Keep information private: Protect sensitive details and respect the privacy of your coworkers and clients.
• Follow rules and policies: Stick to your organization’s guidelines, industry standards, and laws to maintain a high ethical standard.
• Avoid conflicts of interest: Recognize when your personal interests might affect your professional judgment and handle those situations carefully.

Financial Development

Financial development is a topic that’s practically guaranteed to get your employees talking. The truth is, we all have financial questions and concerns and we want to be able to discuss them with someone who knows what they’re talking about.

Your team will benefit from learning more about the following topics:

• Financial literacy
• Investing in retirement accounts (Roth IRAs and 401(k)s)
• Insurance policies like home and auto insurance, as well as life insurance

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. It’s an important skill for leaders, but it’s also critical for success in any aspect of life. Emotional Intelligence can be broken down into the following topics:

• Recognize your own emotions. This means knowing when you’re feeling happy, sad , angry, frustrated, or another emotion. And why you’re feeling that way?
• Recognize other people’s emotions by observing their facial expressions and body language. Listening closely to what they say about how they’re feeling. Asking questions about how someone is feeling (instead of assuming). Using empathy toward someone who seems upset. Suggesting options instead of making judgments (e.g., instead of saying “You shouldn’t be so sensitive,” try saying “I wish things were different.”).
• Manage your feelings by understanding their causes (e.g., recognizing that being late has nothing to do with me being unprofessional). Recognizing that our emotions are fleeting and not permanent. Pay attention to what we’re feeling, rather than acting on impulse. Take action (e.g., getting up and walking away) if you feel like a situation is becoming too heated or stressful.

As renowned psychologist and author Daniel Goleman stated, ‘If your emotional abilities aren’t in hand, if you don’t have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can’t have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far.’

Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution is a skill that can be learned by anyone. It’s more than just learning how to talk through problems. It’s also about listening and finding solutions together, rather than assuming you have all the answers.

Conflict management is about finding common ground between people with different perspectives, so they can work together toward a common goal. It’s about problem-solving and communication. Knowing how to express yourself clearly, understanding what other people want or need from you, and making sure everyone feels heard during discussions.

Productivity

Productivity is a big word that means different things to different people. For some, productivity is about getting more done in less time. For others, it’s being able to balance work and personal life in a way that makes you happy.

One thing we can all agree on is, that the only way to achieve those goals is by managing your time effectively. If you want your team members (and yourself) to be more productive, then they need to learn how to manage their time effectively and set goals for their projects within their respective teams.

You can teach them how by explaining the importance of setting goals. Not just personal ones but also team goals. So everyone knows where they’re going next with their projects. Make everyone understand that they don’t have to tick off every single task on their list daily. Instead, they should consistently work towards completing the most important tasks at any given moment.

See Related: 8 Tips to Improve Your Multitasking Skills and Get More Done

Negotiating

One of the skills you can learn is how to negotiate. Negotiation is a great skill for both personal and professional development because it improves your ability to get what you want from others.

Asking for what you want is an important part of negotiating , but listening to what others want is also key. As negotiation expert William Ury said, ‘Listening is the oldest and perhaps the most powerful tool of all in the negotiation arsenal.’ Often, people are willing to sacrifice their own needs if they see the other person’s commitment and capability to create a win-win situation by meeting halfway.

Learning about the needs of another person will help you understand why they have certain responses or behaviors, which helps with understanding their point of view and communicating effectively with them in general.

Team Leadership

Team leadership is a crucial skill to possess in today’s fast-paced and competitive world. As a team leader, you play a pivotal role in shaping the success of your team, and ultimately, the organization as a whole. Mastering the art of team leadership requires a delicate balance of soft skills, technical expertise, and a deep understanding of human psychology.

Motivating and inspiring your team is a key component of being a successful team leader. This involves understanding the individual needs, strengths, and aspirations of each team member, and aligning them with the organization’s overall goals.

By fostering a positive work environment, recognizing achievements, and providing opportunities for growth, you can empower your team to reach their full potential.

Effective delegation of tasks is another essential aspect of team leadership. This entails assigning tasks based on the skills, aptitudes, and workload of each team member, ensuring that everyone has a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities.

By doing so, you can ensure efficient use of resources, prevent burnout, and maintain a high level of productivity.

Employee Relations

Employee relations is the process of managing and improving relationships between employees and their employers. Improving employee relations can enhance this crucial part of business success, leading to increased productivity, efficiency, and workplace profitability.

The following are some examples:

• When an employee does not feel included in decision-making processes at work, it may lead to feelings of resentment or unhappiness with their situation. The result is that they will not be as motivated as they could be if they felt like they were being heard. To combat this issue, you can implement an open-door policy where anyone on staff has access to speak with you about any issues that arise during their workday. This shows them that you care about them as an individual instead of just treating them like another cog in a machine as many companies tend to do!
• If your company implements specific policies without clear explanations, it’s likely people won’t comply with those rules. So, ensure you provide clear clarifications when making changes.

Organizational Change Management

Organizational change management (OCM) is the process that organizations use to manage change within the organization. OCM is different than change management, which focuses on personal behavior and attitudes during organizational changes.

OCM plays a vital role in guaranteeing the successful implementation of changes without employees’ or stakeholders’ resistance. Moreover, it prevents issues related to morale, productivity, and employee engagement after executing the change.

Helping people adapt to their new roles within the system of an organization through training programs or other methods like mentorship opportunities for those who may feel lost because of a job function shift due to restructuring efforts within their company’s leadership structure.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion have become key topics in the workplace and for good reason. They can help a company reach its full potential by leveraging the unique talents of people from different backgrounds and experiences. This, in turn, helps attract top talent and retain it for long-term success.

Diversity and inclusion unequivocally offer benefits. They boost innovation, enhance decision-making through the inclusion of diverse perspectives, foster employee engagement as people feel integral to the system, decrease turnover rates as employees feel appreciated, and elevate customer satisfaction levels due to positive experiences with your brand.

To keep your company on top of its game, you will want your team to be as informed as possible on best practices for creating a diverse workplace. First things first, what do we mean by diversity? Diversity is not just about race or gender.

It’s also about having different experiences and perspectives on things like age. A 29-year-old may see something different from his 57-year-old colleague. Some other categories are:

• religion/spirituality/nonreligious belief system
• sexual orientation/gender identity/expression
• socioeconomics status

Social Media Strategy

Social media platforms are a great way to connect with customers, but they can also be used to share content and build trust . A social media strategy is all about using social media as a marketing tool.

• Share information: Social media is an excellent channel for sharing valuable content that your audience can use. By sharing relevant, useful information regularly on your business’s Facebook page or Twitter account, you’ll establish yourself as an authority in your industry and help educate potential customers about your product or service.
• Build trust: A strong social presence helps companies build rapport with current and potential customers by creating brand advocates. When people see real humans behind the company name, this naturally builds trust between them and when someone trusts a brand enough to share it with their friends and colleagues via word-of-mouth marketing, that’s huge!
• Promote your brand: The most successful brands on social media are those who actively promote themselves while engaging with their followers (customers). You should also know how much time you’re willing to spend on maintaining these accounts. If you have multiple employees managing different accounts across different platforms then make sure they each have clear guidelines in place so there’s no confusion when responding to messages from fans/customers/followers etcetera!

Data Analysis

Data analysis is one of the most important skills for a business to have. It’s how you know what’s happening in your business and how you make decisions about where to focus your efforts.

But what exactly is data analysis? At its most basic level, it’s just the act of pulling data out of the various places it lives in a company (usually spreadsheets or databases) so that you can then use that information to make better decisions.

You can use data analysis in many different ways. If you want to understand customer behavior, if your goal is sales growth or retention, or even operational efficiency, data analysis can help achieve those goals.

Presentation Skills

Presentation skills are an essential part of being successful in business. Your ability to get your point across in a clear, concise, and convincing way will be vital for you to progress in your career.

There are several ways that you can practice this skill:

• Practice your presentation out loud, alone or with someone who is willing to listen.
• Record yourself practicing and then watch it back (either on video or audio). Carefully listen for any stumbling points and keep trying until you eliminate them.
• Get feedback from other people by asking them what they thought about the content of your presentation and how you presented it (they don’t necessarily have to tell you what they liked).

Public Speaking

As a professional, you’ll likely encounter several situations that require public speaking. These might include giving presentations, speaking at meetings, or even standing in front of an audience as part of your job responsibilities.

Regardless of the scenario, it’s important that you know how to effectively prepare for and deliver speeches so that they make an impact on listeners. You can improve your public speaking skills by taking a course in presentation skills.

This will help you learn how to effectively create and deliver presentations. You should also practice your speech ahead of time so that you’re comfortable with it when the time comes for delivery.

See Related: 9 Public Speaking Tips to Beat Those Nerves

Problem-Solving

Problem-solving is a skill that can be learned and developed. If you want to improve as a problem-solver, it’s important to understand that there are different types of problems and different approaches for how to resolve them.

• The first type of problem is called an analytical problem. These are the things that you look at logically and come up with a solution based on what makes sense from an objective point of view. Examples include navigating construction zones or ordering pizza over the phone.
• The second type of problem is called an adaptive problem. These are more about intuition than logic, and require creative thinking in order to find solutions that work well but aren’t necessarily what you’d expect or consider “rational.” Examples include designing software without knowing exactly how it will function or getting through airport security while running late for your flight.

Goal Setting

In order for goal setting to be effective, you’ll need to know what you want and what you’re willing to do in order to get it. Goal setting is one of the most important things you can do to make sure you’re successful in life. Below there are three tips for successful goal setting:

• Clarifying your purpose will help you set priorities and focus on what’s important.
• Writing down your goals will help them become more concrete, which can make it easier for you and others around you (and yourself) to keep track of them as they progress through the pipeline of development.
• Once defined, create a timeline that estimates how long each milestone will take. You may even want to break down certain tasks into smaller chunks so they become manageable goals within themselves!

Negotiation Skills

Negotiation skills are a necessary part of all jobs, whether you’re negotiating a salary with your boss or getting a raise. Negotiating on your own behalf is also important in your personal life, whether it’s asking your landlord to get an apartment with a balcony or negotiating the price of a car.

Negotiation experts can tell you that the key to successful negotiation is not just knowing what you want and being able to ask for it, it’s also being able to be open-minded when someone else makes their own requests.

This means pushing back if there are any red flags (like if they’re asking for something unreasonable), but also considering other possibilities that may benefit everyone involved.

Negotiation experts will tell you that there are two things you should never do. Give up too soon and let them walk all over you! If an employer asks for something unreasonable during negotiations, don’t be afraid to say no!

If someone wants something from you during personal negotiations, don’t agree just because they asked nicely. Remember that these situations require careful thought before making decisions so both parties can feel satisfied with their end results.

Increasing Creativity/Innovation

In our increasingly competitive world, creativity and innovation are essential skills for both individuals and teams to possess in order to stand out from the crowd. If you’re looking to build these skills within yourself or your team members, consider implementing some of the following activities:

• Have your team members create a list of 10 ideas on a given topic. Then, have them vote on which idea is their favorite and why.
• Get everyone in your organization to write down an innovative solution to a problem or challenge you’re facing at work.

Resilience is the ability to adapt and bounce back , even in the face of adversity. Resilient people have a positive mindset and are able to recognize their own strengths and weaknesses. They don’t feel entitled to success or think they’re better than others.

If you want to develop resilience, you can start by setting short-term goals that are specific and achievable. These goals should align with what’s important to you. Whether it’s saving up for a nice vacation, making time for family activities, or getting ahead at work.

Resilience involves more than just thinking positively . It also means being willing to make changes in your life when necessary. The ability to change course is an important part of resilience because it shows that there’s no single path that works for everyone. Instead, it takes individualized approaches based on your own personal experiences.

Building Teamwork

Teamwork is essential for success, but it’s not always easy.

A team is a group of people working together to achieve a common goal. It usually consists of people with different skills and roles who work together toward a specific objective or project. A good team can help you get more done, faster, but that doesn’t happen overnight. It takes practice!

Teams can be small or large, formal or informal. They have various purposes: some teams are dedicated to projects for specific tasks (e.g., setting up a new office) while others are ongoing groups (e.g., marketing department).

See Related: Why is Teamwork Important in the Workplace? 7 Reasons

Dealing with Change

Change is a constant in life, so you should start getting used to it. Change can be good or bad, depending on the situation.

You and your team will have to learn how to deal with change if you want any chance at success in your career. Fortunately, there are many resources out there that can help you do just that! Here are some tips:

• Be open-minded about change
• Stay flexible during times of transition
• Adapt quickly if necessary

Interpersonal Skills (for example, active listening)

Interpersonal skills are a critical part of our careers, yet many people take them for granted. There’s no doubt that good leadership and communication skills will help you advance in your career, but what if you don’t have any? In this section, we’ll explore some great tips and strategies on how to improve your interpersonal skills so that you can be a better leader.

We’ve all had those moments when someone made us feel like their conversation partner was more like an audience member than someone with whom they were having a meaningful exchange.

We may be nodding along as the other person speaks or even sharing our own thoughts on the matter at hand.

But we’re not really connecting with them or truly listening to what they have to say and it shows.

Active listening, however, is much more than just paying attention. It’s about being fully engaged in what someone else is saying and having empathy for their feelings as well as yours.

When done correctly (and consistently), active listening will help improve your relationships at work by making sure everyone feels heard and valued.

Performance Management

Performance management is a process by which an organization tracks and assesses the performance of its employees based on their goals, objectives, and personal development. It gives you a chance to recognize employees for their achievements, identify areas where they could improve, and set up relevant training opportunities to help them achieve more.

In short, it’s important because it helps connect your company’s vision with its day-to-day operations through a structured system that can be shared across teams. This means everyone involved knows what success looks like and how they can contribute towards achieving it.

In addition, by making sure every employee gets regular feedback on how well they’re doing and offering guidance as needed, you’ll ensure that no one falls through the cracks or gets stuck in a rut at work.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Cross-functional collaboration is the practice of collaborating across your company’s functional silos, such as marketing, sales, and product development. It can help you build a better team by sharing knowledge and resources.

Cross-functional collaboration helps you solve problems faster because people from different areas bring different perspectives to the table. It also helps you innovate faster because people from different areas see opportunities for improvement where others might not see them at all.

Finally, cross-functional collaboration allows your team members to make better decisions since they are able to combine their knowledge with other teams’ knowledge to come up with innovative solutions that no one else could have anticipated before they had this conversation together in person (or via video chat).

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is a highly sought-after skill in today’s world, as it enables individuals to approach problems and situations with a clear, objective, and analytical mindset.

Possessing strong critical thinking skills can significantly enhance your performance and value in the workplace, as well as improve decision-making in various aspects of life.

The key components of critical thinking include:

• Discerning between facts and opinions: This involves distinguishing between objective information and subjective viewpoints, allowing you to make well-informed decisions based on solid evidence rather than assumptions or biases.
• Identifying and analyzing problems: Critical thinkers can quickly recognize issues that need to be addressed and break them down into manageable components. They can then analyze each aspect to determine the underlying causes and potential solutions.
• Logical thinking: This skill enables you to evaluate information and arguments in a structured manner, identifying logical connections and inconsistencies. Logical thinking helps ensure that your conclusions and decisions are grounded in reason and rationality.
• Decision-making: Critical thinking enhances your ability to weigh the pros and cons of various options and make informed choices that align with your goals and values.
• Effective communication: The ability to clearly and concisely articulate your thoughts, ideas, and reasoning is a vital aspect of critical thinking. This skill is essential for collaborating with others, persuading stakeholders, and presenting your findings.
• Gathering and analyzing information: Critical thinkers are skilled at researching and collecting relevant data, as well as critically evaluating its reliability and accuracy. This skill allows you to make well-informed decisions based on a comprehensive understanding of the available information.

The importance of critical thinking extends far beyond the workplace, as it equips individuals with the tools to navigate complex personal and professional situations with confidence and clarity.

By fostering critical thinking skills, you can improve your ability to make sound decisions, overcome challenges, and ultimately, lead a more fulfilling and successful life.

Time Management

Time management is a huge part of professional development. It’s also something that we all struggle with at one point or another, no matter our profession.

Here are some ideas to help you manage your time better:

• Use a calendar! There are many different kinds out there. Paper, digital, and even phone apps. Find one that works for you and stick with it!
• Use a to-do list. Again, this can be paper or digital but it will help keep you on track if you have a lot going on in your day-to-day life. The key here is to get into the habit of checking off items as they get completed so that way when someone asks how things are going, there’s always something new from which they can learn about what’s working well for those around them (and maybe not so well).
• Make sure to leave time for breaks. A 10- to 15-minute break every 60 minutes is a good rule of thumb. Your brain needs time to rest and recover from the mental strain of processing information.

Personal Organization

Organization skills are important. You can’t be effective if you don’t know where things are or how to access them when needed. If you have trouble organizing your space, keep it simple by creating a system that will work for you and sticking with it.

You can use color-coded files for projects and tasks, label containers for items such as office supplies and tools so that they’re easy to find when needed and put up signs or labels on doors or cabinets to make sure everyone knows where everything is.

See Related: What is Six Sigma: Everything You Need to Know About it

Creating a Productive Workspace

This is the best way to start creating an area where you can stay productive all day long. When working from home or in a shared office space, it’s important to ensure your workspace feels as much like yours as possible. So that you feel comfortable working there.

This can be difficult if you have to share it with other people but hopefully, by following these tips, you’ll be able to create an environment where everyone can work efficiently and productively.

• Make sure your workspace is well-lit. If you’re working during the day, try to make sure that you have a lot of natural light coming in and that any overhead lights are dimmed. If it’s dark outside, then use lamps or overhead lights with low-wattage bulbs. This will help keep your eyes from getting tired.
• Make sure the space is clean and tidy. You don’t want to be surrounded by clutter when you’re trying to work, so make sure you clear everything away before starting your day.
• Organize all of your supplies so that you know where everything is and it will be easy for you to find them when needed. This includes things like pens/pencils, paperclips/staples, etc.

Leadership Development Initiatives: Shaping the Future of Effective Leadership

Leadership is a crucial element in any organization’s success. Effective leaders not only inspire their teams but also drive innovation, improve productivity, and create a positive work environment.

To foster and nurture these indispensable skills, organizations rely on leadership development initiatives. These initiatives are designed to enhance existing leadership skills, cultivate new ones, and ultimately shape the future of effective leadership.

The Importance of Leadership Development Initiatives

Leadership development initiatives play a significant role in building a strong leadership pipeline within an organization. They provide current and aspiring leaders with the necessary tools, knowledge, and experiences to become effective leaders. Such initiatives are essential for various reasons:

1. Succession Planning and Talent Development

Leadership development initiatives ensure that there is a robust pipeline of leaders within the organization. By identifying and developing potential leaders, companies can maintain continuity and prepare for future succession needs. These initiatives also promote talent development, ensuring that employees have an opportunity to grow and progress within the organization.

2. Enhancing Leadership Skills

Leadership is not innate for everyone; it requires constant learning and development. Leadership initiatives provide individuals with the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills.

These programs offer training on crucial aspects such as effective communication, strategic thinking, decision-making, and conflict resolution. By focusing on these skills, leaders can become more proficient in handling different situations and driving positive change.

3. Fostering Innovation and Collaboration

Innovation and collaboration are key drivers of organizational success. Leadership development initiatives encourage leaders to embrace an innovative mindset and nurture a culture of collaboration.

These initiatives provide leaders with the tools and techniques to create an environment that fosters creativity, encourages risk-taking, and promotes cross-functional collaboration.

Effective Leadership Development Initiatives

To ensure the success of leadership development initiatives, organizations should consider the following key elements:

1. Customization and Tailored Approach

Every organization is unique, with its own set of challenges and goals. Therefore, leadership development initiatives should be customized to align with an organization’s specific needs.

A tailored approach ensures that the program addresses the organization’s unique leadership requirements and focuses on targeted skill development.

2. Continuous Learning Opportunities

Leadership development should not be a one-time event. It should be an ongoing process that provides continuous learning opportunities for leaders at all levels.

Incorporating various learning methods such as workshops, seminars, coaching, and e-learning can help leaders develop their skills continuously and stay up-to-date with evolving leadership practices.

3. Mentorship and Coaching

Mentorship and coaching are invaluable components of leadership development initiatives. Pairing experienced leaders with aspiring leaders provides a platform for knowledge transfer and practical guidance. Mentorship and coaching relationships allow leaders to learn from the experiences of others, seek feedback, and gain insights into their own leadership styles.

4. Performance Evaluation and Feedback

Regular performance evaluation and feedback are essential in leadership development initiatives. It allows leaders to identify areas for improvement, track their progress, and receive constructive feedback from their peers, subordinates, and mentors. This evaluation process helps leaders set goals, measure their growth, and make necessary adjustments to their leadership approach.

The Future of Leadership Development Initiatives

The future of leadership development initiatives will be shaped by the changing business landscape and technological advancements. Here are a few trends that are likely to have a significant impact:

1. Digital Transformation

Advancements in technology will continue to influence leadership development initiatives. Online platforms, virtual reality simulations, and artificial intelligence-driven tools will provide leaders with immersive and personalized learning experiences. Digital platforms will enable leaders to access training resources anytime, anywhere, making leadership development more accessible and flexible.

2. Emphasis on Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence, the ability to identify and manage emotions in oneself and others, is increasingly recognized as a key leadership trait. Future leadership development initiatives will place a greater emphasis on developing emotional intelligence skills. This focus will enable leaders to build stronger relationships, foster a positive work culture, and effectively manage diverse teams.

3. Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion will be integral to leadership development initiatives in the future. Organizations will prioritize developing leaders who can effectively lead diverse teams and navigate multicultural environments. Leadership programs will incorporate diversity training to promote inclusivity and enable leaders to leverage the strengths of a diverse workforce.

In conclusion, leadership development initiatives are crucial for building a strong leadership pipeline and shaping the future of effective leadership. Organizations that invest in these initiatives can create a culture of leadership excellence, foster innovation, and drive success in an increasingly competitive business landscape. By customizing programs, focusing on continuous learning, embracing mentorship and coaching, and leveraging technology, organizations can ensure that their leaders are well-equipped to navigate the challenges of the future.

Tips For Choosing the Best Professional Development Topics

Ready to level up your professional development game? Choosing the right topics for professional development is crucial for building the skills and knowledge you need to excel in your career. In this blog section, I’ll share some valuable tips to help you select the best topics for your growth. Let’s dive in!

Identify Your Goals and Needs

Before diving into the vast sea of professional development activities and topics, take a moment to reflect on your goals and needs. What skills do you want to enhance? What knowledge gaps do you want to fill? Aligning your professional development goals with your career aspirations will guide you in selecting the most relevant topics.

Stay Current and Relevant

The professional landscape is constantly evolving, and it’s essential to stay up to date with the latest trends and practices. Look for topics that are current, and relevant, and address the challenges or trends in your industry. This will ensure that the knowledge and skills you gain are applicable and valuable in your field.

Seek Expert Advice and Recommendations

Don’t embark on your professional development journey alone! Seek advice from mentors, colleagues, or industry experts. They can provide valuable insights and recommend topics that have helped them in their careers. Learning from the experience of others will help you make informed decisions.

Assess Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Take an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses. Identify areas where you excel and areas where you could use improvement. Choosing professional development topics that target your weaknesses will help you fill the gaps and become a more well-rounded professional.

Consider Your Learning Preferences

We all have different learning styles. Some thrive in classroom settings, while others prefer self-directed learning. Consider your learning preferences when selecting development topics. Decide whether you prefer online courses, workshops, webinars, conferences, or other modes of learning. By choosing a format that matches your learning style, you’ll enhance your learning experience.

Embrace Diversity and Broaden Your Horizons

Don’t limit yourself to topics within your direct line of work. Explore diverse subjects that can broaden your horizons and help you develop a multidisciplinary skill set. Look for topics outside of your comfort zone that can bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to your work.

Seek Opportunities for Networking

Professional development isn’t just about acquiring knowledge; it’s also an excellent networking opportunity. Look for topics that provide networking opportunities, such as conferences or workshops. Building connections with like-minded professionals can open doors to new collaborations and career opportunities.

Follow Your Passion

Lastly, don’t forget to follow your passion! Choose topics that genuinely interest you and align with your interests. When you’re passionate about a subject, your motivation and enthusiasm for learning will soar, making the professional development journey more enjoyable and rewarding.

By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll be able to select the best professional development topics that align with your goals, cater to your learning preferences, and ignite your passion. So, get ready to embark on a journey of growth and continuous learning – one topic at a time!

Finding Professional Development Courses

Choosing the right professional development courses can feel overwhelming. But by following the simple steps outlined below, you can easily find the courses that will help you grow professionally.

Set Your Career Goals

First, know what you want in your career. This helps you choose courses that match where you want to go. Whether you aim to get better in your current field or try something new, setting clear goals guides your course search.

Look for Accredited Programs

Choose courses from accredited places. Accreditation means a course meets high standards and is respected by employers. Accredited courses can also give you credits needed for professional certificates.

Online vs. In-Person

Think about how you want to learn. In-person courses let you learn hands-on and network. Online courses give you flexibility, allowing you to learn anytime, anywhere. Many respected places offer quality online courses too.

Check Course Details

Look closely at what the course offers. Make sure it teaches things that will help you now and in the future. Pick courses with practical skills and projects that beef up your portfolio.

Read Reviews

See what others say about the course. Reviews and stories from past students can tell you a lot about a course’s real value. Use forums and LinkedIn to find honest opinions.

Consider Cost

Think about how much you can spend. While learning is important, it shouldn’t empty your wallet. Check if your job offers money for courses or if the course offers scholarships or payment plans.

By following these simple steps, you can find professional development courses that fit your goals, learning style, and budget. The right course will not just teach you things, it can open doors to new opportunities, networks, and career growth.

This is just the start of what you can do to improve your team . The best thing to do is start small and build your confidence and success in one area before moving on to the next. By doing this, you will feel much more confident as a leader and be able to communicate with your team more effectively.

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Need a good presentation topic? Here are hundreds of them.

Get your team on prezi – watch this on demand video.

Anete Ezera November 04, 2022

If you’re looking for good topics for presentations, you’ve landed on the right page. In this article, you’ll find plenty of good presentation topics, tips on choosing the most suitable presentation topic for you, and essential design elements to make your presentation a success. 

Many factors go into an excellent presentation. You need to have confident body language and engage your audience to hold their attention. You also need eye-catching visual aids like images, data visualizations, GIFs, and others (all of which you can find in Prezi ), not to mention a great opening to grab attention and a strong closing line to stay memorable. However, the most essential aspect of your presentation is the topic. It’s the core of your presentation, so it has to be strong, insightful, attention-grabbing, and appealing to yourself and your audience in order to evolve into a successful presentation everyone will love. 

How to choose a good presentation topic

There are millions of topics you could create a presentation on, but what defines a good presentation topic? If you’re struggling to either come up with a good topic for a presentation or you can’t decide between multiple ones, here are a few questions you should ask yourself before choosing a topic. 

What’s the goal of your presentation? 

When you’re choosing a presentation topic, consider the meaning behind it. Ask yourself what the purpose of talking about this topic is, and what you want to say about it. Whatever topic you choose to present, the conclusion needs to provide a takeaway or lesson you want to communicate to your audience. A meaningful goal will make your presentation more memorable.  

Are you interested in the topic?

If you’re not interested in the presentation topic, others won’t be curious either. Interest, enthusiasm, and passion enrich your presentation and are noticeable when presenting. Interest shines through and inspires others to find the topic as fascinating as you do. Think about the last time you saw someone sharing something they were passionate about – their excitement drew people in to pay closer attention to what they were saying. 

When choosing a topic, you need to find it or a particular angle of it interesting for yourself. For example, perhaps you’re not a pop music enthusiast, but you’re passionate about studying cultural phenomena. In this case, you can talk about pop music’s influence on early 2000s youth culture. 

Will your audience find this topic relatable? 

While you have to find the topic you’re presenting interesting, you also have to think about your audience. When choosing a subject, consider your audience’s background in terms of demographics, interests, culture, and knowledge level about the topic. Think about what others will find fascinating and relevant, so they’re not bored or confused during your presentation.

Do you have prior experience or knowledge about this topic?

Personal experiences are always great to share in a presentation, providing your unique perspective for anyone listening. While you can easily prepare your presentation based on a quick Google search, it won’t make the same lasting impact on your audience. Choose a presentation topic you have some prior knowledge about, or have an interesting opinion you can share with others. It’ll make your presentation more engaging and memorable.

Ideas for good presentation topics

It’s not easy to come up with a good presentation topic from scratch. It’s much easier to get inspired from other good presentation topics to build your topic on. Whether you’re looking for presentation ideas for work, about me presentation ideas, unique or easy presentation topics, you’ll find them all here.

Without further ado, here are some good presentation topics to choose from or get inspired by.

Presentation topics about social media

• The role of social media in portraying gender stereotypes
• How social media impacts our body image
• How social media shaped Gen Z 
• The most significant differences between the Facebook and TikTok generations
• The negative effects of social media
• The positive impacts of social media 
• The effects of social media on behavior 
• How social media impacts our physical (or mental) health
• How social media has shaped our understanding of mass media
• Should we teach about social media in schools?
• The rise of social media influencers
• How AR Instagram filters impact our self-image
• How to go viral on social media?
• The origins of social media echo chambers
• Social media as a news outlet

Author: Ish Verduzco

Presentation topics about movies

• How movies influence our understanding of good and evil
• Beauty standards represented in movies
• How female characters are depicted in Hollywood movies
• How horror movies and global fears have developed through time
• The adverse effects of romance movies
• How movies have changed our understanding of the Western culture
• Charlie Chaplin and the silent movie era
• The globalization of culture: Hollywood vs. Bollywood
• The psychology behind the music in films
• The ethics of using animals in movies
• Social media’s influence on the film industry
• The history of filmmaking
• The role of color in movies
• The cultural impact of romance movies
• How are gender stereotypes depicted in Hollywood movies?

Author: Cinto Marti

Presentation topics about music

• The impact of pop music on beauty standards
• Should digital music be free for everyone?
• The psychology behind the music in advertisements 
• The effectiveness of sound therapy
• Can music inspire criminal behavior?
• The psychological effects of metal music
• The origins of K-pop
• How does music influence our understanding of the world?
• Can music help in the learning process?
• The positive effects of classical music
• The history of hip hop
• Why is music education essential in schools?
• The psychological benefits of playing piano
• Can anyone become a famous musician?
• The role of music in fashion

Author: Prezi Editorial

Presentation topics about health

• The link between food and mental health
• Inequality in the healthcare system
• Myths about healthy practices
• Simple practices that help you stay healthy
• Health education in schools: Should it change?  
• Toxic positivity and mental health
• The impact of superfoods on our health
• The psychology behind unhealthy eating habits
• Sex education in schools: Why should we have it?
• How to trick yourself into getting better: The placebo effect
• How to strengthen your immune system
• How to tell if someone is depressed
• The health benefits of regular exercise
• The impact of junk food on mental health
• Stress-caused diseases

Author: Prezi Education Team

Presentation topics about human psychology

• What is social depression?
• What triggers panic attacks?
• The impact of testosterone on aggressive behavior
• How to overcome social anxiety
• Differences in the functioning of the brain of a child and adult
• The impact of violent video games on children’s brain development
• How does the use of social media influence our attention span?
• How to overcome childhood trauma
• The influence of marijuana on the human brain
• How does behavioral therapy work
• The psychology behind fame
• The causes of personality disorders
• The differences in brain functioning between men and women
• What happens in therapy sessions?
• The psychology of substance abuse 

Presentation topics about self-development

• The impact of exercise on productivity
• How to deal with stress
• How to deal with procrastination
• The positive effects of meditation
• Why new–year’s resolutions don’t work
• How to overcome bad habits
• The impact of negative thoughts
• The negative effects of self-criticism
• The role of creativity in self-development
• Benefits of journaling
• How to learn something fast
• How to be mindful
• The importance of curiosity 
• How to become more self-aware
• Why it’s essential to spend time with yourself

Author: Nir Eyal

Presentation topics about education

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of online education?
• The positive effects of a gap year
• Should university education be free?
• Inequality in education access
• How language learning benefits brain development
• Emerging gender issues in education
• The importance of socialization in school
• School bullying and student development
• The benefits of reading 
• Is the education system broken?
• What you don’t learn in college
• The link between education and brain development
• The history of schools
• The gender gap in STEM
• The connection between equality in education and economic growth

Presentation topics about culture

• Is graffiti a form of art or street vandalism? 
• Cultural diversity in the workplace
• The impact of culture on gender roles
• The issue with orientalism
• Are humans the only species that has culture?
• How do different cultures view death? 
• The ethical issues of pop culture
• The impact of culture on personal development
• Sexism in different cultures
• The impact of globalization on local cultures
• The viral spread of the #metoo movement
• The history of subcultures
• The problem with romanticizing toxic relationships in movies
• 90s pop-culture influence on fashion trends
• The evolution of cultural psychology 

Author: Devin Banerjee

Presentation ideas for work

• What it’s like to be a digital nomad?
• How to deal with workplace conflicts
• The secret to a productive day
• How to set achievable goals
• The importance of diversity in a workplace
• The positive effects of creative thinking at work
• How to give constructive feedback
• The characteristics of a valuable team member
• Inequality and the glass ceiling
• Racial discrimination in the workplace
• Work habits of different cultures
• How is work perceived in various countries?
• Technological development and the future of work
• The importance of a healthy work/life balance
• The rise of health problems in office work

Author: Charles Huang

Presentation topics about hybrid work

• The positive effects of hybrid work on work/life balance
• Is hybrid work the future work model? 
• How to stay connected in a hybrid work model
• The challenges of hybrid work nobody talks about
• How to stay productive when working from home
• The social effects of hybrid work
• The economic impacts of hybrid work
• Case study: Hybrid work model in [company]
• What causes Zoom fatigue?
• The problem with online meetings
• Is hybrid work better than remote work?
• How to develop a close relationship with colleagues in a hybrid work model
• What kind of company culture is best for a hybrid work model?
• Is hybrid work sustainable?
• Cybersecurity consideration for hybrid working

Author: Barbie Brewer

Presentation topics about public speaking

• The importance of body language in public speeches
• How to appear confident when you’re not
• How to become a better orator
• The use of eye contact in public speaking
• Breathing exercises that will calm you down before public speaking
• The benefits of public speaking
• Ways to improve public speaking skills
• How to leave a great first impression on stage
• How to engage your audience during a public speech
• How to best structure your public speech
• How to end your presentation speech
• Can anyone learn to be good at public speaking?
• How to prepare for a public speech
• What not to do right before a public speech
• How to address a controversial topic in a public speech  

Author: Prezi Team

Presentation topics about entrepreneurship and leadership

• The main principles of a good leader
• The impact of leadership skills on professional performance
• The mistake every entrepreneur makes
• How to successfully lead a cross-cultural team
• How to celebrate inclusivity in a diverse team
• What are the common personality traits of a successful entrepreneur?
• The impact of entrepreneurship on the global economy
• The characteristics of a leader
• The most common challenges of entrepreneurship
• Can anyone learn to become a successful leader? 
• What affects new venture growth?
• The psychology of leadership
• What is crowdsourcing? 
• The benefits of being an entrepreneur
• Common mistakes leaders make

Author: Jill Sinclair

Presentation topics about technology

• The rise of technological development
• Is technology addictive?
• Should we use drones for military and non-military purposes?
• The sustainability of electric cars
• What are deepfakes?
• Limitations of AI machines
• The future of programming
• Ethical issues of AI
• The future of AR in business
• How VR can be used in the medical field

Author: David Vandegrift

Sales presentation topics

• How to make a cold email intro
• What is sales enablement?
• How to build better relationships with customers
• The best way to improve pipeline management
• Coaching via verbal and written role-play
• How to plan cold calls
• What’s a deal-breaker for most customers? 
• All about personalized coaching
• How to manage objections
• How to close more deals
• How to keep your prospects engaged
• Effective sales communication strategies
• How to conduct a competitor analysis
• The most valuable sales skills
• What soft skills do you need to become a successful sales rep?

Author: Cindy McGovern

Easy presentation topics

• Benefits of daily exercise and how to incorporate it into your routine
• Simple and nutritious meal recipes
• Tips for improving time management and productivity
• The importance of recycling
• The history of a local landmark or festival
• Ways to reduce stress
• Exploring different types of renewable energy sources and their impact on the environment
• The basics of budgeting and saving money for future goals
• The benefits of social media for professional use
• Tips for overcoming stage fright
• How to start a meditation practice
• The impact of technology on modern society
• The basics of personal finance
• The health benefits of a plant-based diet
• The history of Earth Day

Good how to presentation topics

• How to create a successful social media marketing strategy
• How to give a persuasive presentation
• How to create effective and engaging content for your blog
• How to discover your strengths and weaknesses
• How to use project management tools to increase productivity
• How to make the most out of boring meetings
• How to build a personal brand
• How to conduct effective market research
• How to use data analytics to improve decision-making
• How to improve your decision-making process
• How to write a winning proposal
• How to create a visually stunning presentation
• How to manage stressful situations at work
• How to make friends as an adult
• How to network at work events

About me presentation ideas

• My journey to becoming who I am today
• My passion for [insert topic or activity]
• My career aspirations and goals
• My travels and adventures around the world
• My hobbies and interests outside of work/school
• My role models and influences
• My strengths and weaknesses
• My favorite books, movies, and TV shows
• My proudest achievements and accomplishments
• My favorite childhood memories
• My family and friends
• My education and academic background
• My volunteer and community service experience
• My personality traits and values
• My vision for the future and how I plan to achieve it

Author: Adam Grant

Student presentation ideas

• The history and evolution of video games
• The history and cultural impact of tattoos
• The impact of social media on body image and self-esteem
• The effects of globalization on local cultures and economies
• The role of education in promoting social justice and equity
• The ethical implications of autonomous weapons in warfare
• The impact of mass media on society and culture
• The causes and effects of deforestation on biodiversity and climate change
• The history and cultural significance of dance in different parts of the world
• The psychology of addiction and recovery
• The impact of the gig economy on labor rights and job security
• The history and impact of feminism on gender equality
• The benefits and drawbacks of renewable energy sources
• The impact of colonialism on indigenous cultures and identities
• The role of technology in promoting global connectivity and intercultural understanding

Author: Edward Quinn

Informative presentation topics

• The science of sleep: How to get a restful night and improve your wellbeing
• A journey through the history of the internet
• Exploring the potential of AI in our world
• Climate change: Understanding the challenge, seeking solutions for a sustainable future
• How new technologies are shaping the future of food
• Understanding the psychology of money for financial success
• The power of a story: How storytelling captures hearts and minds
• Mastering the art of negotiation in every interaction
• The science of happiness: Unlocking the secrets to a more fulfilling life
• The power of mindfulness for a more present and peaceful YOU
• Understanding cybersecurity threats and protecting yourself online
• Exploring the potential of virtual reality for a more immersive future

Author: Andrew Davis

How to create a good presentation 

If you know what you want to present on, it’s time to create an impactful presentation that grabs everyone’s attention. Presentation design plays a crucial role in how your presentation is received and remembered. To stand out and leave a memorable impact on your audience, create a Prezi presentation. Instead of a linear, slide-based presentation, offer an engaging and dynamic storytelling experience to your audience. Breathe life into your presentation with motion, zoom, and spatial relationships. When creating your presentation, consider the following three essential elements: 

Visuals play a significant part in presentation design. They evoke emotions, make a memorable impact, and give more context to the story. Not to mention, 65% of people are visual learners , so visual aids are helpful when explaining a complex topic. 

In your presentation, include different types of visuals, such as images, videos, GIFs, and stickers, all of which you can find in Prezi’s content library. When selecting your visuals, consider what’s relevant and brings additional value to the story. Only add what’s meaningful and necessary. A video or image at the right place and time will enrich the viewing experience and make your presentation more memorable. 

The layout of your presentation is the structure of your story. It’ll help you introduce the topic, intrigue your audience, and unfold the layers of your topic one by one until you disclose your main arguments and summarize the presentation. A good presentation layout has a hierarchical, chronological, or logical flow that leads the viewer from start to finish. 

If you’re creating a Prezi presentation, you can create a dynamic storytelling experience by experimenting with your layout. Instead of going from slide to slide, you can zoom in and out of topics and experiment with different shapes, animations, and effects that draw the viewer into your story world. Here’s an example of a Prezi presentation with a great storytelling layout:

Author: Lydia Antonatos

Data visualizations can elevate your presentation from being a good one to a great one. By providing data behind your arguments, you’ll appear more trustworthy and confident in your audience’s eyes. 

Add charts, graphs, interactive maps, and more to your presentations with Prezi Design. You can choose from a wide selection of charts and maps to illustrate your data. With interactive elements, you’ll be able to engage your audience and make a memorable impact. 

Engaging visuals, a well-structured layout, and relevant data visualizations will provide a great starting base to create a memorable presentation. Discover other tips and tricks that make your presentation effective and capture people’s attention. 

Prezi AI for presentation success

If you already have a clear presentation style in mind or plenty of time for creation, fantastic! But what if you only have a day or less or you don’t know where to start? Enter Prezi AI . It’s your assistant for streamlining the presentation creation process. Here’s how Prezi AI leverages the power of artificial intelligence to turn you into a presentation pro:

Effortless design from scratch

Ditch the blank page anxiety with the AI presentation maker . Simply provide a title or outline, and Prezi AI will generate a visually appealing draft presentation in seconds. It’s like having a built-in design assistant ready to brainstorm with you.

Smarter text, stronger impact

Prezi’s AI text-editing tool helps you perfect your message in seconds. It analyzes your content, suggesting improvements for readability and conciseness.

From bullet points to animations

Let’s face it, static bullet points can put even the most dynamic presenter to sleep. Prezi’s AI animated slides maker transforms your text into captivating visual stories. Choose from formats like flowcharts, animated lists, or zoom reveals to keep your audience engaged.

Perfect for busy presenters

We all know the struggle – a million tasks on your plate, and a looming presentation deadline. Prezi AI can help you save valuable time! With AI assistance, you can generate presentations faster, focus on refining your content, and present with the confidence that comes from knowing your presentation looks polished and professional.

Design help

Don’t worry if you don’t have an eye for design. Prezi AI provides the tools and guidance to create presentations that impress visually.

With Prezi AI, crafting presentations is easy, allowing you to focus on delivering your message with impact and leaving your audience engaged and inspired. Explore what’s possible with Prezi A I today!

Learn more on how to turn your presentation topic into a stunning presentation with AI:

Final thoughts on selecting good presentation topics

Choosing a topic for a presentation isn’t easy. When selecting a topic, think about the goal of your presentation, your interests, and knowledge about the topic, and whether or not your audience will find it relevant and interesting for them. Also, get inspired by other topics that’ll help you figure out what you want to talk about. Lastly, when creating your presentation, consider the impact of visuals, layout, and data visualizations. To simplify the creation process, try Prezi AI or follow the step-by-step process of making a presentation with helpful tips and resources.

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120 Presentation Topic Ideas Help You Hook Your Audience

Updated: August 15, 2024

Published: August 09, 2023

Cooking is easy. The puzzle is figuring out what to eat. As soon as you know that, you can get started. The same holds for presentations. The sooner you can whip up a good, informative, and catchy topic, the easier the rest of the process becomes.

Pick a good topic that resonates with you and your audience to set a strong foundation. But select the wrong topic, and it becomes difficult to connect with your audience, find mutual interests, or hold their attention.

So, let’s learn how to develop thought-provoking and relevant topics for your presentations. You’ll also find some best practices to make your presentation memorable.

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Everything you need to become more comfortable and effective during your next presentation, including:

• Free Guide on Best Practices
• PowerPoint Presentation Templates
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Table of Contents

How to Choose a Great Presentation Topic in 5 Steps

120 presentation topic ideas, 5 presentation tips.

4. Choose an appropriate presentation style.

There are many ways to present a topic. Your personality, the topic at hand, and your audience’s personas will help you determine which style would best fit you and your audience.

Select a presentation style that will communicate the main idea clearly and have a lasting impact on your audience.

For instance, explore a freeform style presenter by Sir Ken Robinson.

5. Engage with your audience.

Work on your presentation skills to make a strong connection with your audience, get through to them and leave a mark.

Think of the presenter as the link between the topic and the audience. A strong or a weak presenter can make a difference between a presentation being a thriving success or a boring failure.

Hone your skills by engaging and interacting with your audience. Make them feel like a part of the presentation and not just spectators. 70% of marketers have found presentations with interactive content to be more effective than those without.

Here are a few ways you can make your presentation interactive:

• Start your speech with uncommon questions to your audience. Involve them from the get-go, like ask to raise their hands if X.
• Make eye contact to build credibility and show confidence. Don’t stare at your slides or notes. Smile occasionally and talk to the audience directly.
• Have an active and confident body language. Don’t stand in the same place the entire time. Move around the stage.
• Don’t be monotonous. Speak as you would to a colleague — with enthusiasm.
• Ask close-ended questions in between to keep the audience engaged without losing time. Address them using their names to keep things interesting.
• Share personal experiences and stories that your audience will find fascinating and relatable.
• Practice thoroughly before you present so you’re fluent with the material and delivery.
• Energy and excitement can be quite contagious. Make sure you exude enough to spread some to your audience.

Feeling Inspired Yet?

Now you have all the right ingredients for choosing amazing topics and a hundred ideas to drive inspiration from. So, go ahead and start cooking presentations that will blow your audience away.

Don’t forget to choose a super-relevant topic and add meaty information. Do it with excitement to make it enjoyable for you and your audience. Best of luck!

Don't forget to share this post!

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17 Professional Development Topic Ideas

As a college instructor and communication expert with extensive nonfiction and educational writing experience, Mary shares tips and advice related to a wide variety of topics.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

Keeping a list of topic ideas on hand can be helpful for numerous professional development based tasks. You can use these topics for company newsletters, department meetings, employee evaluations, and conference presentations, for example.

General Topic Ideas

These topics are all general enough that you can come up with lots of sub-topic ideas that are specific to your company and industry.

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1. How to Be an Effective Team Member

This can apply to small work teams, entire departments, or even your company as a whole. Give tips for working together to ensure that the entire team functions well and that all team members are realizing their potential.

2. Effective Time Management Tips

Managing time effectively can increase productivity and lower stress in the workplace. This topic can also relate to helping employees reach a better work/life balance .

3. Preparing to Step Up to a Management Role

Most employees strive for promotions that will eventually lead to a role in management. Discuss various steps that employees at all levels can take to prepare themselves for management positions within the company.

4. Working With a Mentor

Mentors often become lifelong friends and collaborators. Address how to find a mentor within your industry, discuss what to expect from this relationship, and explain how it can benefit both parties both short and long term.

5. Creative Problem Solving

Encourage employees to "think outside the box" when it comes to common problems or issues that arise within your business. Give examples of past employee innovations that have become part of your everyday workflow or company policy. Make sure they know who to approach with ideas and suggestions for solving problems.

6. Goal Setting Techniques

Setting professional goals can help employees get organized and give them a clear vision of where they want to go within the company. Company-wide goals can encourage productivity. Explore various techniques to set attainable goals for short-term projects and long term growth.

7. Cultivating Skills to Grow as an Informal Leader

Many people are looked to as leaders within a company or department even if they aren't officially part of the management team. Encourage all employees to learn leadership skills in their areas of expertise and offer a variety of resources that they can explore to further hone these techniques.

8. Developing the Ability to Influence Other People

Being a positive influence is important no matter where you are in the company's hierarchy. Influential people are more likely to be promoted and to have their voices heard. Sharing techniques to develop this important skill is a great way to empower your employees.

9. Tips for Making Effective Presentations

This can cover everything from presenting safety tips to new employees to making a boardroom presentation or delivering a presentation at a national conference. Give advice and guidance for planning, practicing, and putting together something that will be effective and memorable.

10. Streamlining Office Procedures

No one likes to get bogged down in office procedures that seem redundant and may be outdated. Offer suggestions for making procedures easier, faster, and more efficient for all employees from the bottom up.

11. Conflict Management Skills

Conflicts arise even in the most successful and employee-centric businesses. Learning how to handle these conflicts is important not only for those in leadership roles, but for all employees. Provide relevant information from your company's policies, and offer scenarios with solutions to illustrate how different types of conflicts can be handled by all parties involved.

12. Persuasive Communication Skills

Persuasive communication applies to a number of different situations and people. Leaders can use these skills to help keep their teams focused and on-task. Those in sales need to know how to be persuasive to woo clients and finalize deals. Employees may wish to present ideas to supervisors and request changes or improvements. Explore the various ways that persuasive communication skills can be used and honed.

13. Getting Comfortable in Public Speaking Situations

Fear of speaking in public is very common. Whether it's a simple presentation to fellow employees or a speech given to a large gathering at a conference, tips for being more confident and comfortable in front of an audience can be enormously helpful.

14. Criteria for Cultural Competence

Cultural competence can vary between industries and even between individual businesses. Define what it means for your company and explain the criteria that you are meeting to achieve it. For a larger conference presentation, explore ways that your industry as a whole can strive to raise the cultural competence bar.

15. Diversity and Inclusion in the Modern Workplace

Explore ways that employers, those in leadership roles, and all employees can support diversity and inclusion. Discuss how diversity can benefit a business, and how inclusion can make all employees more comfortable (and therefore happier) in the workplace.

16. How to Express Appreciation to Co-Workers

There are lots of appropriate ways to express your appreciation to a co-worker, but likewise there are many methods that may not be such a good idea. Explain the difference with examples, and highlight some great, simple ways for employees to let co-workers know that they are appreciated.

17. Dealing With Difficult Customers Effectively

Making a difficult customer happy can be trying even for the most patient and level-headed employee. Offer actionable tips for diffusing a difficult situation and keeping things under control while at the same time ensuring that the customer walks away feeling positive. Give examples of different types of customers and methods for dealing with them when they become difficult.

Choose Timely and Relevant Topics

No matter what you're using these topics for, they can be most effective when they are timely to what is happening within your business. When you focus on topics that are relevant, you're sending an important message to your employees that you care about helping them grow and develop just as much as you care about sharing events, announcements and policy changes with them.

15 Training Presentation Topics to Upskill Your Team

Training employees is essential for company growth. It’s not a secret that skilled workers bring in the most value to the business and constant training is key in the development of these talents. But which are the best training presentation topics for your team? And how to deliver them efficiently in your corporate e-learning program?

At 24Slides, we design thousands of decks for companies worldwide so, I’ve put together 15 of our most popular presentation topics for employee training and development. Plus, you’ll find amazing training presentation designs you can draw inspiration from.

How to Make the Best Use of Presentations for Online Employee Training?

Presentations are no longer a synonym of dull text blocks on a white background. Nowadays, you can create a wholly immersive experience with your slides and that’s what makes them one of your most powerful tools for corporate training. Before we dive into our presentation topics, let me show you some ways you can leverage PowerPoint for eLearning :

• A good design enhances your team’s learning

When doing remote training, it’s common to stuff your slides. After all, you won’t be there to deliver your speech and employees need to have everything on display. But, who wants to read overloaded PowerPoints? To avoid a tedious learning experience, use the power of design to guide your participants . You can incorporate icons next to relevant ideas, use a harmonic color palette so your texts don’t blend with your backgrounds, or add headlines to build content hierarchy. Here are some examples:

• Multimedia elements to boost engagement

PowerPoint allows inserting everything from images and videos to animations and audio into one presentation. And these last two elements have grown in popularity for eLearning. For instance, animations and transitions make your training presentation less rigid and add up to their flow. Regarding audio, voice narrations work as the perfect complement to remote training. However, if you’re going to use an LMS (Learning Management System), I recommend that you first double-check that it lets you import PowerPoint animations, audio, and other special effects.

• Templates for brand alignment

You probably give multiple workshops for your employee training and development program. This means you have to create a presentation for every session - which, according to our survey, takes an average of 4 hours a week . And chances are you’re not the only specialist who gives training in the company. Then, how to make this process go smoothly for everyone? A library of branded presentation templates can be your answer. Companies all over the world already use template libraries to take away the tiring task of making PowerPoints from scratch. This assures all your business presentations stay on brand - every single time!

• Shareable resources

Surprisingly, few people know that PowerPoint allows exporting one’s slides as JPG images, PDF files, and even MP4 videos. This opens up a whole range of possibilities for the additional material you can offer to your participants . For instance, you can easily create a PDF guide for a complex process you mentioned in your presentation. Or what about making a short training and development video? You can add some transitions to your slides and export them as a video . All these extra materials you create help employees interact with your key topics and make them memorable long after the training is over.

As you can see, presentations go hand in hand with effective corporate eLearning, but how much you can really cover in them? Keep scrolling to find superb training presentation topics.

Constant training offers numerous benefits to the business such as improved employee advocacy, increased team productivity, and job satisfaction - just to name a few. So, go beyond the traditional onboarding and get ready to upskill your team all year long. Here I’ve compiled 15 presentation topics you can employ for employee training and development:

1.- Time Management and Productivity

2.- Leadership Development for Young Professionals

3.- Women in Leadership

4.- OKR Goal Setting

5.- Communication in Remote Teams

6.- Keeping a Healthy Work-Life Balance

7.- Employee Mental Health

8.- First Aid Training

9.- Construction Safety

10.- Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

11.- Corporate Sustainability

12.- Digital Transformation

13.- Data Security Awareness

14.- Customer Service

15.- Product Onboarding

Check them out in detail below! I’ve grouped them into 6 business areas and included popular training presentation templates by 24Slides - in case you want some inspiration.

Employee Development

Time management , for example, is something that everyone in the company can benefit from - independently of their role. From the time-blocking method to the Impact Effort Matrix , there are countless techniques and tools you can share in a time management and productivity training program.

Leadership is key for professional growth but it encompasses a long trail of skills that takes time to master. This means potential leaders are likely to have different training needs depending on which stage they’re at. To work this out, give a fresh twist to the worn-out leadership topic by focusing on your team’s profiles. Talk about leadership development for trainees or leadership skills for executives . You can also address the gender gap in business and provide training for women leadership .

With the rise of remote work , we all need to develop and strengthen our digital skills. This adds up engaging and current topics on which to train employees. For example, effective communication in digital environments , goal-setting for remote teams , online collaboration tools , and more.

Employee Health and Well-Being

Another way to empower your team is to encourage good work-life balance practices. And employee well-being programs are great to help your team cope with stress and do something about it. For instance, how to keep a healthy diet or an active sports life are topics for training and development that your employees would appreciate.

But employee well-being doesn’t only involve the physical aspect. Mental health is also key for a rewarding life. So, address mental health in the workplace and talk about how the company can provide the team support if they ever need it.

Team Safety

A safe workplace is a company’s responsibility to its employees. But when it comes to the industrial engineering sector, team safety takes on a whole new level. If your team works in construction, electrical installations, or excavations, a safety orientation is not enough. The company must carry out constant training on the best safety practices , proper equipment usage, and even evacuation plans .

Another training presentation idea every business should implement is first aid . This is the type of training one hopes to never use, but it’s a must to be prepared. Tell your team how to react in case of an emergency in the office and how to assist colleagues until medical help arrives.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Socially responsible companies use the power of business to do good and part of this is integrating social and environmental concerns into their practices. As one of the main company’s stakeholders, employees should be aware of how their work and actions contribute to the business’ CSR goals . Along the way, they’ll also learn how to be more socially responsible citizens in their communities.

Corporate social responsibility encourages inspiring and engaging training for employees. For instance, you can launch a recycling program and motivate your team to go green. Another fitting training and development presentation topic for CSR could be diversity and inclusion in the workplace .

In the digital era, personal data has become the new oil and consumers demand businesses to be transparent in how they collect and handle their information. But it goes further than that, customers also want companies to up their efforts for keeping their data safe and secure . And as you can imagine, employee training is key in this process.

Security awareness training could be a good start to help your team understand their role in protecting the company and customers’ data.

Digital transformation also requires employees to be trained on cloud computing and technologies to perform at their highest level.

Sometimes organizations put all their attention on product onboarding for customers but leave out one of the most important people who need to get that experience: Employees! Especially the teams that work directly selling it or talking about it.

So, before launching new products, make sure to power everyone from marketing and sales to customer service and customer success with product knowledge training .

Level Up your Corporate Training with Custom Presentations!

After going through these presentation ideas for employee training, I’m sure you already caught an exciting topic to work on.

If you liked any of the slides in this article, click on them for a free download. You still need to do some editing but they’ll save you hours of layering shapes on PowerPoint.

But if you need a training presentation on-brand that TRULY captivates your audience, you might want to learn about 24Slides’ presentation design services . We help businesses all around the world elevate the impact of their corporate presentations. Plus, our designers are experts in presentation design and branding so rest assured you’ll get the professional slides your training deserves .

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21 Top Professional Development Topics For Teachers Now

Home » Education » 21 Top Professional Development Topics For Teachers Now

• By Vicki Davis
• February 12, 2022
• Subscribe to the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast

Any time we have a break, educators need to get some rest so that we can be our best. However, our professional accreditation requirements are still on track and need to be renewed, as we have to learn and up our abilities. As I look to listen to educators, here are 21 hot topics that I think we should consider including in our personal PD. They fit into the categories of SEL, digital instruction, engagement/management, and leadership. 

Also, remember to apply these 5 Simple Principles for Improving Teacher Professional Development as you select your topic and method of delivery.

Advancement Courses

Advancement Courses sponsored this blog post. All opinions are my own. If you enroll in any of the courses mentioned in this post, use the code cool15 to receive 20% off of your course. Search Courses Now or see my recommendations below.

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored blog post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Recently, while discussing the next steps for schools this fall with two instructional designers in the webinar “10 Ways to Move Learning Forward”, we identified ten considerations for school. (I’ve embedded the webinar below for you to review.) Many of the topics below were part of that conversation, including Social Emotional Learning (SEL) . 

As a result of this webinar and some research of my own, I compiled this list which I hope will serve as a quick menu for you and the teachers at your school to select summer professional development that will help you grow and learn. I've also included courses from this blog post sponsor, Advancement Courses that meet the criteria for each topic.

Social-Emotional Learning

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is right at the top of the list for many of us. We have to relate to educate. To better relate, we have to understand where students are emotionally so that we can connect with them , get them any extra help they might need, and move them forward.

SEL isn’t about manipulation it’s about human connection; and of all the things we need to do, connecting with one another and regulating ourselves emotionally is right at the top of the list. Let's look at some areas we can all improve.

1. Student Mental Health (Including Anxiety and Depression)

Understanding mental health is more important than ever. Recently, I had to educate myself on the current trends in helping students who are anxious, depressed, worried, or just need guidance about the future. 

Research note: As Wall (2021) indicates, there is a definite connection between trauma and student behavior as well as student learning. In her qualitative study, she found that when schools meet this challenge head-on, student achievement increased and behavioral challenges decreased. (WALL, C. R. G. (2021). RELATIONSHIP OVER REPROACH: FOSTERING RESILIENCE BY EMBRACING A TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH TO ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. JOURNAL OF AGGRESSION, MALTREATMENT & TRAUMA, 30(1), 118-137.)

Understanding student mental health can also help us with others who we meet in our world today. Students need us to understand them so we can teach them. These courses will give you a start.

Courses about Student Mental Health

Strategies for Addressing Student Anxiety – With the strategies and interventions you learn in this course, you will be able to create a classroom environment where students can successfully cope with stressors and instead focus on learning.

Helping Children Overcome Depression – Using the resources and strategies from this course, you will be able to support your students struggling with depression to help them redirect their thinking and pursue academic success in spite of the challenges they’re facing.

2. How to Reach Students Who Have Experienced Trauma

You nor I can know or understand what children have experienced in this time of challenge and upheaval. So, we have to learn how to reach and teach students who have experienced trauma. We don’t need to know what it is, but we do need to recognize that the trauma is there. In my experience, I’ve found that assuming that students have experienced trauma of some kind is more likely than assuming that they haven’t.

Helping Students Overcome Trauma – In this course, you will explore the different types of trauma and how they affect students’ behavior and academic performance. You’ll learn how to identify conditions such as PTSD and how to help students through natural and healthy grieving processes. In addition, you’ll explore strategies for proactively coping with trauma, including creating student-led support groups and peer counseling programs, getting students involved with community outreach programs, and partnering with local and national organizations focused on processing trauma. With the resources and techniques from this course, you will be equipped to create a program that helps your students heal and thrive in spite of life’s hardest griefs and tragedies.

3. How to Connect to Students and Understand Their Emotions (SEL)

Teachers around the world are using mood check-ins, emotional temp checks , and other methods for connecting. Even when connecting at a distance instead of in person, we can all benefit from learning some skills to connect with students on an emotional level, even while delivering classroom instruction.

SEL Courses

Assessment Strategies for SEL – In this course, you’ll get up to speed on current practices in SEL, including the history and legislation that has propelled it to the forefront of our educational focus. You’ll explore emotional intelligence models and various methods for collecting data, so you’ll be equipped to decide which instruments are right for your school or district to measure SEL growth. In addition, you’ll create practical tools such as rubrics for teacher observation, surveys for self-assessment reports, and data collection checklists and notes for interviews. Finally, you’ll choose your last lesson to either explore the long-term economic and social value of SEL instruction so you can encourage your school or district to invest in this important movement or discover the ways you can easily implement SEL instruction and assessment into your current routine. 

Creating Meaningful Relationships and Setting Boundaries with your Students In this course, you will examine the fundamental strategies involved in building meaningful relationships and setting boundaries with your students. You’ll learn foundational concepts of interpersonal relationships, learner-centered instruction, the role of the teacher as a facilitator and advisor, the impact of the learning environment on the development of meaningful relationships, authentic learning, and inquiry-based teaching. In addition, you’ll cultivate techniques for establishing good rapport while maintaining healthy boundaries, even with hard-to-reach students.

4. Engaging Students Online Who Are Experiencing Anxiety

Some students are not yet ready or cannot return to in-person learning. It can be more challenging to engage these students online. Skills for online engagement with students who are experiencing anxiety (and trauma) can be especially helpful for educators struggling with student disengagement in online classrooms.

Student Anxiety in Online Learning – In this course, you’ll analyze anxiety brought about by technology immersion as an overactive fight–flight–freeze survival response. Based on information systems research, you’ll explore the concept of “technostress” and its triggers, how to spot it in your students, and how it impacts learning. You’ll examine common mistakes in addressing anxiety, as well as how to work with parents to help students through technostress and when to reach out for additional help. Finally, you’ll learn traditional best practices and digital solutions available to students to offset some of the anxiety they’re experiencing.  

5. Better Relating to Parents

Now more than ever, parents and teachers need closer partnerships if we’re going to help children. However, how do educators relate to parents, as many parents have also experienced trauma? Developing and improving parent communication plans and understanding how to better connect with parents will help educators help students even more, particularly if those students are learning from home.

Courses About Improving Parent Relationships

Partnering with Parents for Student Success – According to Dr. Susan M. Sheridan (n.d.), “Research shows that when a partnership approach between parents and teachers is evident, children’s work habits, attitudes about school and grades improve. They demonstrate better social skills, fewer behavioral problems and a greater ability to adapt to situations and get along.”  As educators, we want what’s best for our students! It is our job to establish, foster, and maintain productive relationships with parents so that our students can be successful.

Forming Community Partnerships to Access Educational Resources – In this course for school leaders, you will explore methods for seeking out and partnering with community members to gain a variety of resources for your school. You’ll learn from other school leaders who have successfully built a network of contacts and resources, and develop strategies to help you do the same in your community. In addition, you’ll learn how to create a well-balanced presentation of your schools’ current needs to energize community members to get involved.  By the end of the course, you’ll have a practical plan to drive more educational opportunities for your students through the power of community partnerships. 

6. Self-Care for Educators

Teachers have to rest to be their best. Additionally, educators have to be healthy and whole in order to rise to the monumental tasks laid upon them in classrooms today. We must learn to have good health and wellness so we can be better classroom teachers tomorrow. If your school lets you take such a course, I think most of us would benefit.

Self Care Courses

Achieving Work-Life Harmony in Teaching – During the course, you will develop strategies and practices to apply immediately in your practices as you assess your stress and its causes, as well as implementing new rituals and routines that ease distress through understanding the concept of resilience.

Self Care Strategies for Teachers – You will learn techniques for how to stop absorbing stressors, manage challenging situations, build long-term self-care strategies for all areas of your life, and track your progress through a series of somatic and emotional self-evaluations. This course gives you the opportunity to invest in yourself so you can build a more grounded, inspired, and sustainable career in education.

7. Home/School Life Balance Strategies

When school and online learning follow you everywhere, teachers and students need to learn balance. Additionally, as students are completing instruction and asking questions 24/7, educators need to know how to balance and set healthy boundaries to continue teaching effectively in the long term. If more educators cannot establish firm home/school life balance strategies, then I sadly predict that we will see many more incredible educators leave the profession.

Work and Life Balance Courses

Creating Work-Life Harmony in Teaching – Using the techniques from this course, you’ll be able to create a personalized set of practices that will help you maximize what’s most important in your personal and professional life.

Becoming a Calm, Happy Teacher – The techniques will help you create more life balance so that you can cultivate more well-being for yourself and your classroom. The strategies will not only help you be more engaged, present, and fulfilled as a teacher, but you’ll also apply your learning to your classroom and your students.

Online and Digital Instruction

As we work to instruct students in blended learning and online classrooms, we should continue to update our abilities to instruct students in digital spaces.

8. Online Instructional Engagement

Students are ghosting. In fact, sometimes students who turn on their cameras are the exception. How can teachers engage students when they cannot require students to turn on their camera? How can teachers in classrooms engage students in the digital platforms used to supplement and personalize learning? These are the questions of the hour right now for educators everywhere.

Courses to Improve Online Engagement

Engaging Students in Online Learning – Using the tools from this course, you’ll be able to plan fun and interesting online instruction that meets a variety of learning needs. 

Fostering Student Interaction in Online Learning – Using the best practices from this course, you will be able to help increase student-to-student engagement and foster a greater love of learning.

9. Online Assessment

Assessment must respect learners, provide actionable feedback, and motivate. Sometimes this feels like a Herculean task, but there are best practices to help all of us get better at assessment. When you take time to improve assessment, students can improve their learning.

Courses About Online Assessment

Jumpstarting Online Assessments – By incorporating dynamic, engaging online assessment into your class, you will be able to help your students navigate the online learning space and achieve the same standards as a face-to-face classroom. 

Designing Online Assessments for Students – Using the techniques from this course, you’ll be able to incorporate online assessments in your class in a way that makes sense for your context and that will help your students learn and grow on a deeper level.

10. Student Accountability in Online Learning

How can educators hold students accountable while still respecting individual family situations? Student accountability is a hot topic this year, but it’s not a new topic. Best practices already exist for holding students accountable in a way that motivates them. We can all improve in this area.

Student Accountability in Online Learning – In this course, you’ll learn to harness the power of authentic learning experiences to help students see how their learning is meaningful and connected to the real world. You’ll learn the importance of developing students’ executive functioning skills to foster independent learning and investigate ways to create classroom spaces and curricula that are inviting and engaging. In addition, you’ll explore ways to get families involved and build support systems that empower students to learn.  Finally, you’ll assess your school and classroom practices to ensure they are equitable for all learners, and that they motivate students to achieve their highest potential. Using the techniques from this course, you’ll be able to put students in the driver’s seat by teaching them to manage, measure, and be excited about their own learning. 

11. Education Technology Accessibility for All Students

Many technology tools require teacher customization in order for all students to access the content. Additionally, other tools limit the accessibility for those who learn differently or have physical challenges. Accessibility is another hot topic that also relates to equity and inclusion in the digital classroom. We all must improve the accessibility of our digital content.

Courses About How to Make EdTech Accessible

Accessibility in the Digital Classroom – By the end of this course, you’ll have the knowledge and tools you need to create or modify digital learning materials to be more accessible to all students

Equity in the Digital Classroom – By the end of this course, you’ll have a roadmap for how to avoid the pitfalls of online learning and plan an equitable learning experience for all your students. 

12. Fun Learning Strategies for Engaging Students Who Have Been Disengaged (Game-based Learning)

We can play games and learn with digital games and activities that engage learners in the face-to-face and online classrooms. Level up and have fun while learning with courses that help you improve your ability to play games, learn, and teach at the same time.

Game-Based Learning

Let’s Play! Creating a Playful Classroom – Using techniques from this course, you will transform your classroom into one that is meaningful, relevant, and most of all, fun!

Level Up! Student Achievement Through Gamification and Game-Based Learning – By the end of this course, you will be equipped with strategies for creating and selecting educational games that are best suited for your content, your grade level, and your students’ unique interests and needs.

Topics for Every Classroom: Online and Face-to-Face

13. how to help students who have been disengaged by learning gaps.

Learning gaps are the hot topic of the moment as schools and teachers wrestle with the reality that some students will return to school behind by a whole grade level — or more. What does a teacher do when a student isn’t even on the first page of this year’s textbook? The traditional problems of helping students who are behind is magnified by the struggles with student engagement during the pandemic. Helping students progress quickly is the challenge facing schools everywhere.

Summer Learning Strategies: Combatting the Summer Slide — This course offers tools that teachers can quickly and easily implement so that their summer learning suggestions are ready to go long before the end of the year nears. During the course, you’ll learn how to increase motivation through student choice and get parents involved so they can support student learning even in the midst of summer travel and vacation plans. You’ll also see how you can set up e-mail templates so you can stay in touch with students and parents without having to compose e-mails over the summer. 

14. Reaching Every Student Through Differentiation.

If teachers continue to use the same approach for every student, some learners will disengage. Differentiated instruction is one of my favorite methods to help students learn and engage with content as I use technology. This topic will benefit teachers in face-to-face and online classrooms everywhere.

Differentiated Instruction – In this course, you will master the skills necessary to effectively differentiate instruction for optimal achievement by all students. You will learn how to identify individual students’ needs and learning styles, and create activities and tiered lessons that will meet those needs. You will cultivate different strategies for grouping students, arranging your classroom, and using cognitive approaches that help students take ownership of their learning.

15. Equity and Inclusion

Including and engaging all students is vital to helping every child thrive. Courses in cultural sensitivity and inclusion can help educators everywhere bring everyone into the learning.

Courses on Equity and Inclusion

Fostering Cultural Awareness and Inclusivity in the Classroom – After participating in this course, you’ll be able to approach instruction with an awareness of your own biases and will be more adept at fostering inclusion and better meeting the needs of your learners. 

Implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies – Whether you’re looking to make your classroom and lesson plans more culturally inclusive or start a school wide initiative, this course will give you the tools you need to be truly inclusive, culturally responsive, and capable of understanding and reaching all children.

Cultural Diversity in the Digital Classroom – By the end of this course, you’ll have practical, meaningful strategies and ideas to become more culturally responsive in a digital learning environment and help your students feel more included and motivated even when they’re physically far apart. 

16. Helping Special Needs Students Succeed

Students who struggle to learn and have special accommodations require adjustments for teachers, particularly in online classrooms. However, there are methods to make it easier for educators to reach every child. 

Courses to Help Special Needs Students

Communicating with Parents of Students with Special Needs – Using the tools and techniques from this course, you will be able to cultivate a positive, caring relationship with your students’ families and effectively share their progress so you can work together toward their child’s success.

The General Educator's Guide to Special Education – With the strategies and best practices from this course, you will be equipped to better serve students with disabilities regardless of your grade, subject area, or teaching context.

Cultural Competency in Special Education – By the end of this course, you will have the self-reflection and pedagogical skills you need to continually grow and respond to the needs of your special education students.

17. Classroom Management

For me, the concepts I learned in Harry Wong’s The First Days of School changed my classroom for the better. If behavior is a problem, often learning better classroom management techniques can help teachers provide students with more opportunities for success. I know that better classroom management has helped me.

Courses to Help Teachers Improve Classroom Management

A Well-Managed Classroom for 21st-Century Educators – With the tools and techniques from this course, you’ll be able to build a thriving, positive learning environment for your students—and for you. 

Curbing Disruptive Behavior – Using the proven, practical solutions from this course, you will be equipped to take back control of your classroom—starting today.

Classroom Management for Online Learning – By the end of this course, you’ll be able to confidently build and manage an online classroom to maximize learning for all students.

18. Digital Citizenship and Self-Control for Students Using Technology

Appropriate online behavior, online safety, and personal privacy are all topics for students to master as they move to learning that is strongly technology-enhanced. Self-control has also loomed as a vital issue. Digital citizenship topics can help students and teachers get on the same page and create a safer online space.

Digital Citizenship Courses for Educators

Developing 21st – Century Skills in a Digital World – With the knowledge and techniques from this course, you will be equipped to support your students in developing the 21st-century skills they need to succeed in our tech-focused world and workforce.  K-5 or 6-12

Respect, Educate, and Protect: Cultivating Digital Citizenship in 21st-Century Learners – Using the techniques from this course, you will be able to instill in your students' important 21st-century skills and empower them to use technology in a safe and responsible manner throughout their lives.

Teaching Media Literacy in a Post-Truth World – From the design of the learning environment to expectation setting and more, it’s critical to create an environment in which all students, regardless of their opinions or background, have an opportunity to fairly express their thoughts.

Teacher Leadership and School Health

19. how to retain excellent teachers at your school.

Teachers (and substitute teachers) are becoming scarce. The best schools will retain and attract the best teachers. Administrators and teacher leaders need to understand the techniques to do this and help their school succeed.

Recruiting, Retaining, and Reengaging Excellent Teachers – By investing your time in this course, you will be able to proactively build and keep a great staff for years to come, saving yourself time and headaches down the road. 

20. Effective Instructional Coaching Techniques

Whether online or face-to-face, all of us teachers (me included) can improve. However, instructional coaching can be done in a way that either fosters improvement or resentment. Learning effective instructional coaching techniques is essential for those empowered to help teachers level up their pedagogical approaches.

Creating an Effective Instructional Coaching Program for Your School –  By investing your time in this course, you will be able to proactively build and keep a great staff for years to come, saving yourself time and headaches down the road. 

21. Teacher Leadership and Helping Teacher Cohorts Progress Together

Teachers can create powerful learning communities as they band together to progress and learn with one another. Effective schools create nurturing Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and use other techniques to help teachers level up and learn together. Learn the techniques and develop plans to help your school improve.

Teacher Leadership and Learning Courses

Teachers as Leaders – With the knowledge and techniques from this course, you will be able to sharpen your leadership skills so you can better serve your colleagues and improve your team, school, and district.

The Seven Domains of Teacher Leadership – By the end of this course, you’ll be equipped to make a meaningful impact on your school’s improvement efforts and create a more equitable learning environment for your students.

Maximizing Teacher Success Through Small Group Collaboration – Using the techniques from this course, you will be able to form and manage productive, growth-oriented groups for better collaboration among your peers. 

Pick A Course and Make Progress

I recently shared how I selected my summer professional development and which course I’ll begin taking in June. I like Advancement Courses because they have practical outcomes and give me six months to complete the work. Remember to use my offer code COOL20 to receive 20% off your course registration.

Let’s do this!

This blog post is sponsored. When a blog post is marked as a “sponsored post,” the company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to edit and post. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this per the Federal Trade Commission’s  16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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Vicki Davis

Vicki Davis is a full-time classroom teacher and IT Director in Georgia, USA. She is Mom of three, wife of one, and loves talking about the wise, transformational use of technology for teaching and doing good in the world. She hosts the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast which interviews teachers around the world about remarkable classroom practices to inspire and help teachers. Vicki focuses on what unites us -- a quest for truly remarkable life-changing teaching and learning. The goal of her work is to provide actionable, encouraging, relevant ideas for teachers that are grounded in the truth and shared with love. Vicki has been teaching since 2002 and blogging since 2005. Vicki has spoken around the world to inspire and help teachers reach their students. She is passionate about helping every child find purpose, passion, and meaning in life with a lifelong commitment to the joy and responsibility of learning. If you talk to Vicki for very long, she will encourage you to "Relate to Educate" or "innovate like a turtle" or to be "a remarkable teacher." She loves to talk to teachers who love their students and are trying to do their best. Twitter is her favorite place to share and she loves to make homemade sourdough bread and cinnamon rolls and enjoys running half marathons with her sisters. You can usually find her laughing with her students or digging into a book.

I would love to improve my learners’ reading skills. Please help

Here is a post on reading stamina – https://www.coolcatteacher.com/5-ways-to-build-reading-stamina/ – you can also search “reading” in the search box.

It is so important to understand mental illness and trauma to even begin to understand how we as educators can reach the children who suffer from them. I love that the first few things you listed were about mental illness, trauma, relationships, and even taking care of ourselves as teachers. Its so easy to get bogged down in work and overlook things like that even without meaning to, but true learning can not happen without focus on those topics!

These teacher professional development topics are important because they improve classroom dynamics and enhance student well-being. They enable teachers to have a significant impact on a variety of students while encouraging participation and peer development.

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200 topics for 10-Minute Presentations

As a presenter, having a selection of concise and captivating topics is key to a memorable 10-minute presentation. These 200 topics are designed to inspire and engage, ensuring your next presentation is a hit!

• The Importance of Time Management
• Tips for Effective Communication Skills
• The Power of Positive Thinking
• Understanding Body Language and Nonverbal Cues
• The Basics of Mindfulness and Meditation
• How Renewable Energy Is Shaping the Future
• The Impact of Globalization on Cultures
• A Beginner’s Guide to Personal Finance
• The Role of Social Media in Today’s Society
• Overcoming the Challenges of Public Speaking
• The History of the Internet and Its Evolution
• The Science Behind Healthy Eating Habits
• The Significance of Emotional Intelligence
• The Art of Negotiation in Business and Life
• The Effects of Climate Change on Our Planet
• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
• How Volunteering Benefits Both You and Society
• Understanding the Basics of Blockchain Technology
• The Impact of Fast Fashion on the Environment
• Exploring the World of Virtual Reality
• The Evolution of Telecommunication
• Why Cultivating Creativity Matters
• Mental Health Awareness and Stigma Reduction
• The Effects of Sleep on Performance and Well-being
• Strategies for Effective Conflict Resolution
• An Overview of World Religions and Philosophies
• The Pros and Cons of Remote Work
• The Growth of E-commerce and Online Shopping
• Achieving Work-Life Balance in a Busy World
• Basic First Aid Skills Everyone Should Know
• The Rise of Autonomous Vehicles
• An Introduction to Sustainable Living
• The Importance of Biodiversity Conservation
• How to Set and Achieve Personal Goals
• The History and Culture of a Country of Your Choice
• The Role of NGOs in Global Development
• How to Develop Leadership Skills
• The Benefits of Learning a Second Language
• Exploring the Moral Implications of Genetic Engineering
• Understanding the Basics of Economics
• The Future of Space Exploration
• The Impact of Tourism on Local Communities
• The Role of Education in Empowering Women
• The Importance of Protecting Wildlife
• The Psychology of Advertising
• How to Maintain Mental Fitness
• The Historical Significance of the Olympic Games
• The Social and Economic Effects of Urbanization
• The Rise of Cybersecurity Threats
• The Revolution of 3D Printing
• The Elements of a Successful Entrepreneur
• The Ethical Issues Around Animal Testing
• The Influence of Music on Society
• Dealing with Peer Pressure in Adolescence
• The Benefits and Challenges of Multiculturalism
• The Science Behind Memory and Learning
• The Importance of Art in Education
• The Future of Jobs and Automation
• An Overview of Quantum Computing
• The Debate on Gun Control in the United States
• The Importance of Coral Reefs to Marine Ecosystems
• Exploring the Concept of Universal Basic Income
• Understanding the Stock Market for Beginners
• The Role of Technology in Modern Education
• The Journey of Coffee from Bean to Cup
• Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle
• The Cultural Significance of Traditional Festivals
• The Health Effects of Tobacco and Alcohol
• The Basics of Photography and Composition
• How to Manage Stress and Anxiety
• The Benefits of Urban Green Spaces
• Understanding the Human Immune System
• The Importance of Reading in Personal Development
• The Impact of Artificial Light on Sleep Patterns
• The Science of Happiness
• The Consequences of Plastic Pollution
• How Social Movements Shape History
• Exploring Alternative Energy Sources
• The Principles of Sustainable Agriculture
• The Myths and Realities of Dieting
• Understanding Digital Privacy and Security
• The Phenomenon of Mass Media Influence
• Coping with the Loss of a Loved One
• The Effect of Video Games on Cognitive Skills
• The Importance of Interpersonal Skills in the Workplace
• The Basics of Intellectual Property Rights
• The Challenges of Global Poverty
• The Relationship Between Exercise and Mental Health
• The Significance of the United Nations in Global Affairs
• Understanding Intercultural Communication
• Exploring the Deep Ocean and Its Mysteries
• The Increasing Importance of Big Data
• How to Create a Successful Youtube Channel
• The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
• The Story of Human Evolution
• The Future of Genetic Testing and Personalized Medicine
• The Effect of Automation on Employment
• The Role of Animals in Therapy
• The Implications of Virtual Currency
• The Benefits and Limitations of Smart Home Technology
• How to Create an Effective Résumé
• The Importance of Critical Thinking Skills
• An Introduction to the World’s Major Political Systems
• The Rise of Drones and Their Applications
• The Effects of Social Isolation on Health
• The Role of Cryptocurrencies in the Financial Market
• Understanding the Causes of Global Food Insecurity
• The Concept of Minimalism and Simple Living
• How to Build and Preserve Digital Reputation
• The Anomalies of the British Monarchy System
• The Art of Storytelling and its Significance
• The Rise of Veganism and Its Impact
• The Psychology of Color in Marketing and Branding
• The Influence of Celebrities on Public Opinion
• The Growing Problem of Electronic Waste
• How Digital Assistants Are Changing Our Lives
• The Importance of Maintaining Online Etiquette
• Exploring the Current State of Electric Vehicles
• The Future of Wearable Technology
• The Connection Between Diet and Chronic Diseases
• The Art and Science of Beer Brewing
• The Mystery of Black Holes
• The Significance of Water Conservation
• The Fundamentals of Cryptography
• The Relation Between Stress and Physical Health
• The Role of Citizen Journalism in the Media Landscape
• The Dangers of Antibiotic Resistance
• The Social Impact of Podcasting
• The Use of Drones in Agriculture
• The History and Significance of the Nobel Prize
• The Changing Landscape of Book Publishing
• The Growth of Telemedicine and Its Future Implications
• The Debate Over Net Neutrality
• The Basics of Augmented Reality
• The Dynamics of Group Behavior
• The Phenomenon of Procrastination and Strategies to Overcome It
• The Importance of Bees to the Ecosystem
• Understanding the Circular Economy Model
• The Psychological Effects of Social Media Use
• The Power of Microfinance in Developing Countries
• The Growing Trend of Digital Nomadism
• The Social and Political Impact of Graffiti and Street Art
• The Benefits of Adopting a Plant-Based Diet
• The History of the Computer and its Evolution
• The Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture
• The Potential of Smart Cities to Transform Urban Living
• The Controversy Surrounding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
• The Tradition of Tea Drinking Across Cultures
• The Challenges of Overpopulation
• The Importance of STEM Education for the Future
• Understanding the Gig Economy and Freelancing
• The Philosophy of Stoicism and Modern Life
• The Cultural Impact of Reality TV Shows
• The Role of Meditation in Cultivating Inner Peace
• The Threat of Melting Polar Ice Caps
• The Ethics and Implications of Cloning
• The Benefits of Team Sports in Personal Development
• The Exploration of Mars: Possibilities and Challenges
• The Science of Food Preservation Techniques
• The Role of Trade Unions in the Modern Workforce
• The Resurgence of Podcasts as an Information Medium
• The Relationship Between Fashion and Identity
• The Importance of Urban Wildlife Habitats
• The Impact of Driverless Cars on Society
• The Psychology Behind Consumer Choices
• The Role of Microorganisms in Our Ecosystem
• The Rising Trend of Telehealth and E-Health
• The Influence of Architecture on Human Behavior
• The Role of the World Bank in International Development
• The Growing Use of Biometrics for Security
• The Science and Art of Wine Tasting
• The Benefits of Public Transportation Systems
• The Connection Between Literature and Society
• The Potential of Hydroponic Gardening
• The Role of Online Education in Learning
• The Cultural Phenomenon of Superheroes
• The Importance of Historical Preservation
• The Art of Precision in Watchmaking
• The Psychology of Leadership and Authority
• The Connection Between Climate and Agriculture
• The History and Evolution of Jazz Music
• The Role of Play in Child Development
• The Impact of Nanotechnology on Medicine
• The Effects of Overfishing on Marine Environments
• The Importance of Adventure Tourism
• The Future of Robotics in Daily Life
• The Health Benefits of Yoga Practice
• The Influence of Digital Marketing on Consumer Behavior
• The Mechanics of Tectonic Plate Movement
• The Complex World of International Trade Agreements
• The Implications of Self-Driving Technology on Logistics
• The History of Women’s Suffrage Movement
• The Importance of Open Source Software
• The Relationship Between Air Pollution and Respiratory Health
• The Influence of Classical Music on Modern Composers
• The Role of Bioplastics in Reducing Pollution
• The Sociology of Fashion and Trends
• The Frontier of Brain-Computer Interfaces
• The Power of Social Entrepreneurship
• The Cultural Significance of Culinary Traditions

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10 Presentation Ideas for Learning & Development Teams

Many learning and development presentation topics are standard across companies : leadership development, cultural competency and diversity appreciation, sexual harassment prevention, and onboarding. If you’re looking to expand your offerings, here are some presentation ideas to consider.

Training Topic Presentation Ideas

1. professional communication.

Different generations have different norms regarding what’s appropriate when communicating in a professional environment. Standards also vary by industry, company, and mode of communication. A primer on your company’s expected standards of written, email , text, and verbal communication will help get everyone on the same page. Address the basics but also touch on points like whether proper punctuation is expected in texts if emojis are appropriate in emails, and what fonts are ideal for your digital signature.

2. Giving and Receiving Feedback

Whether it’s a manager who regularly does performance evaluations or a new team member coming up on their 90-day review , every employee needs to know how to give and receive feedback appropriately.

3. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and regulate one’s emotions and to recognize and respond appropriately to the emotions in others. An emotionally intelligent staff naturally cultivates a healthy workplace environment. Presentation ideas around this topic include self-assessments to identify one’s level of emotional intelligence and exercises to improve it.

4. Public Speaking

Even if a job doesn’t technically involve public speaking, nearly every employee could benefit from public speaking skills. Whether it’s speaking up to present an idea in a staff meeting, making a sales pitch to a small group of executives, or giving an end-of-year team status report, speaking confidently in public is an important skill.

5. The Intergenerational Workplace

There are many ages represented in most workplaces, each with its own set of norms, expectations, values, and assumptions. Most employees need a little help to view employees of a different generation as an asset rather than a liability, so HR presentations focused on navigating the intergenerational workplace can be very helpful.

6. Customer Service

Everyone needs customer service skills, even if they’re not dealing directly with customers. Help employees understand who their “customer” is (even if it’s an internal team) and how they can demonstrate top-notch customer service in every interpersonal encounter.

7. Digital Literacy

No matter how tech-savvy an employee is, there’s always room for improvement. Presentation ideas include screen-capture tutorials of a software or technology tool using a presentation maker, social media training, or email management. 

Grit is a modern buzzword, but most people don’t have a clear understanding of what it means. Presentation ideas to encourage grit in your employees include goal-setting, perseverance, internal motivation, and re-framing failures for a positive purpose.

9. Change in the Workplace

Change is hard. It’s hard if you’re the one trying to initiate it, and it’s hard if you find yourself the “victim” of it. HR presentations on workplace change can help make the process smoother and more successful for everyone involved.

10. Influencing the Workplace Culture

Even if an employee isn’t a manager, they affect the overall workplace culture. Conduct presentations on being a positive influence, recognizing toxic employees, and how to cultivate a workplace environment that’s healthy and enjoyable for everyone.

HR Presentations Using a Visual Communication Platform

Make your learning & development presentations pop with Powtoon ! Make training videos , whiteboard doodles, animated presentations, or screen recordings with ease using their user -friendly presentation maker. Create a video from scratch or choose from thousands of professionally designed templates and take your storytelling to the next level with customizable animated characters. Sign up for free!

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• Alternatives

Top 14 Professional Development Topics to Boost Your Career | 2024 Reveals

Jane Ng • 14 January, 2024 • 8 min read

Looking for essential professional development topics? You're not alone. To keep up with the constantly changing job market, it's important to focus on improving your skills and advancing your career. 

In this blog post, we'll explore 14 key professional development topics that can propel your career forward. Whether you're a seasoned professional seeking a boost or a newcomer eager to lay a strong foundation, these essential topics are the stepping stones to unlocking your full potential.

Table Of Contents 

What is professional development, #1 - leadership skills, #2 - communication skills, #3 - managing effective meetings, #4 - emotional intelligence.

• #5 - Self-management Skills
• #6 - Critical Thinking 

#7 - Conflict Management and Resolution

#8 - time management.

• #9 - Giving Constructive Feedback At Work

#10 - Networking and Relationship Building

#11 - negotiation skills, #12 - project management, #13 - mentorship and coaching.

• #14 - Digital Literary 

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Professional development is a proactive and ongoing process of learning, acquiring new skills, and refining existing ones to enhance one's career. It is the intentional effort to grow and excel in your professional life, regardless of your career stage. 

Professional development includes a wide range of activities:

• Formal education: This can include taking courses, attending workshops, or obtaining a higher degree.
• Informal learning: This can include reading books and articles, attending professional conferences, or participating in online learning communities.
• Mentorship: This can involve working with a more experienced professional to learn the ropes and advance your career.
• Networking: This can involve building relationships with other professionals in your field.
• Self-directed learning: This can involve setting personal goals and learning new skills on your own.

Professional development goals are to not only meet the current demands of your job but also to position yourself for future opportunities and challenges.

Professional Development Topics

Here are the top 14 professional development topics:

Good leadership skills are the secret sauce that transforms a good professional into a great one. It's not just about telling people what to do; it's about inspiring, motivating, and guiding a team toward success. 

Whether you're leading a project or an entire department, developing leadership skills is about understanding people, making decisions, and fostering a positive work environment where everyone can thrive.

Communication skills are the superheroes of the professional world. Being able to express yourself clearly, whether in writing or speaking, is essential for success. 

Have you ever noticed that it's not only what you say but how you say it that matters? Well, understanding your audience is the key to delivering your message effectively. Mastering communication skills enhances collaboration, prevents misunderstandings, and helps you articulate your ideas in a way that captivates and persuades you. 

Professional Development Topics for communication skills include

• Effective Communication In The Workplace
• Active Listening Skills At Work
• Interpersonal Skills Examples

Meetings – they can be the heartbeat of productivity or the bane of existence. Knowing how to manage effective meetings is a crucial professional skill. From setting clear objectives to keeping discussions on track and ensuring everyone's voice is heard, have a good meeting is about turning meeting time into meaningful outcomes. It involves the skill of maximizing the value of each passing minute.

Ever wish you had a sixth sense for navigating the complexities of workplace relationships? That's where emotional intelligence comes in. It involves grasping and effectively handling both your own emotions and those of others. Developing emotional intelligence helps you build strong connections, navigate conflicts with grace, and create a positive work environment where everyone feels understood and valued.

In addition, 75% of managers consider emotional intelligence and self-management skills crucial for promotions and raises, according to a Niagara Institute study . By 2030, the demand for these skills is predicted to grow by another 26%.

#5 - Self-Management Skills

Being a professional isn't just about managing projects or teams; it's also about managing yourself. Self-management skills involve understanding your strengths and weaknesses, setting goals, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. It's about staying organized, motivated, and resilient in the face of challenges. Mastering self-management is the key to a sustainable and fulfilling career.

#6 - Critical Thinking

What is critical thinking? In a world flooded with information, critical thinking is the compass that helps you navigate through the noise. It's about questioning assumptions, analyzing situations, and making informed decisions. 

Critical thinking is the skill that separates good professionals from exceptional ones. It's the ability to connect the dots, see the bigger picture, and approach challenges with a strategic mindset.

Conflict is inevitable in any workplace, but mastering conflict management is an art that can turn tension into growth. It's about understanding the root causes of conflicts, addressing them proactively, and finding solutions that benefit everyone involved. Developing conflict resolution skills is not about avoiding conflicts but turning them into opportunities for positive change and collaboration.

Time is money, they say, and in the professional world, it couldn't be truer. Time management is the superhero skill that helps you juggle multiple tasks without dropping the ball. It involves defining time management , setting priorities, creating realistic schedules, and avoiding the pitfalls of procrastination. Mastering time management ensures that you meet deadlines, reduce stress, and make the most out of your work hours.

#9 - Giving Constructive Feedback at Work

Feedback is a gift, they say, but giving constructive feedback is an art. It's about providing insights that help others grow without demotivating them. Whether you're a team leader or a colleague, knowing how to deliver feedback effectively is essential. It's the skill of turning critiques into opportunities for improvement and fostering a culture of continuous growth.

Professional Development Topics for giving feedback skills include

• How To Give Feedback Effectively
• Examples of Feedback For Colleagues
• Manager Feedback Examples
• Receiving Feedback Without Getting Defensive

“In the professional world, it's not just what you know; it's also who you know”. Networking and relationship building are the keys to unlocking opportunities and creating a strong professional support system. It's about cultivating genuine connections, both within and outside your organization, and leveraging those relationships for mutual benefit. 

Mastering business networking skills opens doors to new collaborations, mentorships, and career advancements.

Life is a negotiation , and in the professional realm, negotiation skills are your secret weapon. Whether you're closing a deal, discussing terms, or resolving conflicts, knowing how to negotiate effectively is a game-changer. It's about finding common ground, understanding the needs of all parties, and reaching agreements that satisfy everyone involved. Mastering negotiation skills ensures that you can navigate the twists and turns of the business landscape with finesse.

Professional Development Topics for negotiation skills include

• Negotiation Skills Examples
• Principled Negotiation
• Types of Negotiation

Projects are the building blocks of progress in any organization, and project management is the scaffolding that holds it all together. It involves planning, executing, and monitoring projects to ensure they meet their goals on time and within budget. 

Mastering project management is about being the captain of your ship, steering it through the complexities of tasks, timelines, and teams toward successful completion.

Ever wished you had someone to guide you through the twists and turns of your career? That's where mentorship and coaching come in. It's not just about having someone more experienced show you the ropes; it's also about being a guide to others. Mentorship and coaching are about sharing knowledge, providing support, and fostering growth – a two-way street that benefits both the mentor and the mentee.

#14 - Digital Literacy

In a world dominated by technology, digital literacy is a must-have skill. It's about understanding and using digital tools, staying updated on technological trends, and navigating the digital landscape with ease. 

Digital literacy is not just for IT professionals; it's a skill that enhances efficiency, communication, and collaboration across all industries. Mastering digital literacy ensures that you're not just keeping up with the times but staying ahead of them.

Investing in professional development is essential for anyone who wants to advance in their career. By continuously learning and growing with professional development topics, you can ensure that you have the skills and knowledge you need to succeed.

AhaSlides can help you get the most out of your professional development by providing you with the tools you need to create engaging and interactive meetings and training sessions. Crafting visually stunning and accessible presentations, gauging understanding and engagement through interactive polls and quizzes , facilitating brainstorming and collaboration with innovative tools, and receiving real-time feedback from participants. AhaSlides elevates your professional development experience, making it more effective and enjoyable. Take a look at our public template library today!

What is a good professional development topic?

Good Professional Development Topics: Leadership Skills, Communication Skills, Managing, Effective Meetings, Emotional Intelligence, and Self-management Skills.

What should be included in professional development?

• Training: workshops, courses, seminars, online learning
• Mentorship: guidance and support from experienced professionals
• Networking: building relationships with other professionals
• Self-directed learning: reading, research, independent projects

What are the topics of professionalism in the workplace?

Topics of Professionalism in the Workplace: Communication, Time Management, and Emotional Intelligence.

Ref: Growth Tactics | Indeed | edapp

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22 Professional Development Topics for Your Training Program

Your company’s success rests on your employees. They are the ones working on every step of your productive process. But the process is more than a transformation of an input into an output. It includes several aspects of your company — its culture, its relationship between employees, and the way it communicates with the customers. 

Training programs have one goal: to improve productivity. And you can reach this goal from two different angles. You can either improve your team’s technical skills, or you can work on their professional development. Professional development includes skills that apply to all employees, regardless of role.

These skills seldom translate into a direct productivity boost. But it’s easy to see how they could benefit your bottom line. If your team is experiencing frequent conflicts, you will notice their productivity plummet. Who wants to put effort in an hostile environment? That’s when hosting a conflict resolution workshop will yield better results than any technical training.

So, we interviewed professional development experts to find out the best topics for employee training programs. We included a wide selection of subjects so that you can pick the ones that best fit your company. 

Effective Communication Skills 

Communication is the mother of all skills. And poor communication is the mother of many issues. 

How many bottlenecks have you seen happen because of a basic misunderstanding? A misinterpreted email or a vague instruction can snowball into delays, errors, and conflicts within your organization.

Clear and effective communication is essential in the workplace for several reasons. It fosters transparency, builds trust, and promotes collaboration among team members. 

When communication is lacking or ineffective, it leads to confusion, frustration, and decreased morale. Which slows down productivity and the achievement of organizational goals.

Team Building and Collaboration

Your company is a collection of people working towards a shared goal. As such, it’s crucial they work well together like a unit. And that’s what professional development on the topic of team building and collaboration aims to teach.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. You can start with a 20 minutes game session to promote teamwork as a fun team activity. Here are 3 slide decks you can start with:

If you want to more hands-on team building ideas, there is no shortage of activities you can host . 

Project Management Fundamentals

Project management isn’t the prerogative of project managers. In today’s dynamic work environment, it’s growing in importance for employees across all levels and roles. 

Take tasks such as delivering a client presentation, launching a new product, or organizing a company event. All these are common employee duties that require project management skills. 

Incorporating project management fundamentals into your training programs improves your employees’ efficiency. Beyond efficiency, these skills foster better decision-making, enhance team collaboration, and aid a more agile response to unforeseen challenges. 

Personal Finance Management

Personal finance might seem out of place on this list. But employees with financial literacy understand budgeting, saving, and managing debt. They can create better retirement planning and make informed decisions about workplace benefits like health insurance.

Imagine an employee facing a sudden financial emergency due to poor financial management. They're overwhelmed by mounting debt. They struggle to make ends meet. And they worry about their financial future.

As a result, their productivity at work begins to decline. They're distracted, stressed, and unable to focus on their tasks. Deadlines are missed, and quality of work suffers.

Personal finance training helps you avoid these scenarios. This type of training improves employees' financial well-being. And better finance management means reduced stress, increased happiness, and less absenteeism.

Personal Branding and Professional Image

Your employees are a vital part of your company. The way they conduct themselves affects your company’s image . 

An employee who gets riled on social media sends a bad message about your organization. But one who cultivates a solid professional image contributes to your brand's reputation.

Your employees are ambassadors of your company’s values and culture. Their behavior influences how clients, partners, and the public perceive them. And, by extension, your own branding.

The return on investment in personal branding training is great. Your employees learn to manage their reputation, offering them better career prospects. Your company boosts its brand perception among stakeholders.

Networking and Relationship Building

Deals live or die by the quality of your business relationships. An employee of yours chatting with a CFO at an industry event could lead to a partnership. But for that to happen, your employee has to know about networking and relationship building.

For this type of training, you can start with getting people used to ask basic questions. For example, have them practice with a deck like this one:

‍ You can then move onto the intricacies of relationship building, with topics like active listening and relationship management techniques. 

Employees good at networking will make more deals fall into your lap. And they might even get top talent from other companies to become interested in joining your company.

Stress Management and Resilience

Stress is a constant in today’s world. It’s not a question of whether it’s there, but how much, and how to deal with it. 

Stressed employees do not perform at their job. And can you blame them? They feel the pressure mounting as their life feels like a set of walls closing in on them.

Hosting seminars on stress management equips employees with tools to deal with the stress. It helps them keep their cool under pressure and focus on their job. Resilience helps them bounce back from setbacks and come back ready to work.

Presentation and Public Speaking Skills

Let’s face it: the thought of presenting can make even the most seasoned professionals quiver. Yet, conveying ideas persuasively in front of an audience is an invaluable skill. 

Imagine one of your team members is about to present a project update to the entire department. It’s their time to showcase months of hard work. The room is filled with peers, managers, and maybe even a couple of executives. 

A polished presentation is a stepping stone for future opportunities. It can convey the hard work that went into the project, and win the team's respect and recognition. But an unprepared, stammering presenter will have the opposite effect. The project will seem confusing, or worse, negligible. 

Conflict Resolution and Negotiation Skills

Sometimes, tensions rise among people at the office. It's expected, and you can't do anything to prevent it. But you can lower their impact by training your team in conflict resolution. Effective conflict resolution transforms potential breakdowns into breakthroughs. 

Take, for example, a scenario where two departments clash over resource allocation. It's a common occurrence that, if not addressed, could lead to block a critical project. There are two possible outcomes: either the situation escalates to HR, or the departments solve it themselves. 

The former is not ideal, as it takes time and attention from HR. The latter is the preferred solution, and you can promote it with proper training.

Negotiation and conflict resolution go hand in hand. These skills foster a culture of collaboration and mutual respect in the workplace. As a result, you reduce conflict, boosting productivity.

Ethics and Integrity in the Workplace

Ethics are integral to your company's culture, as they inform the way your organization sets up and conducts deals. 

Consider the case of a sales rep who discovers a flaw in a product right before closing a major deal. They face a choice: hide the flaw and make the sale, or disclose the truth and risk losing the deal. 

With a strong ethical foundation, the decision is clear. The rep opts for honesty, the deal goes on hold, but the company’s integrity remains intact. The client’s trust is deepened, leading to a better long-term relationship.

Including ethics and integrity in your training program helps you build a brand. One that speaks to your company's values, and that builds trust among stakeholders. 

Change Management and Adaptability

The market is a dynamic force that changes often. How your team responds to change can either become a catalyst for growth or a stumbling block to success.

The cemetery of flagship products that have turned obsolete is ever-growing. Myspace, Internet Explorer, and Blockbuster are but a few gravestones serving as warning. Companies that cling on the old ways do not last long in the marketplace. Those that embrace the challenge, however, reap the benefits of their efforts. 

Change management and adaptability training teaches employees to embrace new challenges. These training paths create a workforce that thrives on innovation and embraces the new. They ensure that when the winds of change blow, your company doesn’t build walls but windmills.

Coaching and Mentoring Skills

In-house mentoring is an underused resource in many organizations. Each one of your employees comes with a unique set of skills. Skills that they could teach to their peers. But it's often the case that they don't feel confident in their teaching abilities. 

Young professionals often brim with potential, but they don't know how to navigate the corporate ladder. A seasoned mentor could help these new professionals integrate in the workplace. The mentor helps the mentee set clear goals, develop new competencies, and build confidence.

Plus, investing in these professional development topics creates a tighter community. People get to see their colleagues as helpful teachers, not mere coworkers. The result is a more relaxed and productive workplace.

Time Management Skills

While the phrase "we all have 24 hours in a day, it's how we use it" sounds trite, it is true. And that's why time management is a solid pick for a professional training topic. 

Consider a marketing team juggling several campaigns. Scatter gun approaches lead to missed deadlines and half-baked strategies. Time management skills help them set realistic timelines, balance workloads, and ensure each campaign gets the attention it deserves.

Time management correlates to productivity. Teams that are good at it are more productive than teams that aren't. You can — and should — empower your employees to make the most of every minute. That way, when the clock ticks, they’re not racing against it—they’re in sync with it.

Tech Skills

In a world where digital is the new default, tech skills are no longer optional; they’re essential. It’s the difference between a workforce that’s future-ready and one that’s stuck in the past.

A common scenario is a company buying a new CRM without training their customer service reps on how to use it. It plays out as you'd expect: the reps fumble through calls, notes get lost, and customer satisfaction takes a nosedive. Now, flip the script. The same rep, trained in the software, handles queries like a pro, data is organized, and customers feel heard.

While the example is extreme, similar situations arise daily on a smaller scale. Buying a new software takes a credit card swipe; learning to use it takes time, which you can't buy.  

That's what makes investing in tech skills a winning play. It ensures that every employee, regardless of their role, has the digital dexterity to use technology to their advantage.

Legal and Compliance Skills

Legal and compliance skills save your company from expensive violations. 

For example, your HR department handles sensitive employee data. Without a solid grasp of privacy laws, they risk breaches that could erode trust and invite legal action. But with proper training, they manage data with care, protecting the company’s and employees’ privacy.

This topic applies to all employees, not only to those working in the legal department. Mistakes can slip past them, or they might have lots of work to do. With compliance training, however, you lower the risk of skimping regulations.

Customer Service Excellence

Some companies consider customer service an afterthought. Ever contacted support and got bounced around like Asterix in The Place That Sends You Mad? Or felt like the customer service rep couldn't help you solve your issue? 

Customer leaving with a negative impression of customer service can cost you business. A negative review often causes other people to distrust your company. That's why developing customer training programs is important for some organizations. 

The goal of these professional development programs is to instill a customer-first mindset. They turn every support ticket into an opportunity to build a relationship. 

A well-serviced customer is one who will tell about their good experience to their peers. You too can tap into this opportunity, with 92% of people trusting recommendations from their friends .

Data Literacy

Data often feels like a buzzword in modern business jargon. We collect massive amounts of data, we have data-driven marketing, and we take data-driven decision. But are we using this deluge of data properly?

That's what hosting professional development workshop around data literacy entails. Data literacy is the compass that guides businesses through the sea of information.

Training your team in data literacy is about empowering them to interpret, analyze, and make decisions based on data. It’s not the prerogative of analysts or data scientists. Every department, from marketing to HR, can use data to drive strategy and innovation.

Take a product manager sifting through customer feedback. With data literacy skills, they can spot trends, quantify feedback, and pick what aspects of the product to improve first. 

Data holds plenty of insights into the market and how your business is faring. And data literacy serves as a vehicle of understanding these insights.

Diversity and Inclusion

Sensitivity training is a must in the modern multicultural work environment. Offices have people from all walks of life, but most are oblivious of others’ struggles. 

It can happen that an insensitive joke gets thrown around with no intent to offend. Yet, it can — and often does — offend someone who feels targeted by it.

These situations cause tension in the workplace. Tensions that could escalate to the point where Human Resources get involved, which diverts their attention from other activities. 

Or consider a design team brainstorming for a new product. With a diverse and inclusive team, you get a plethora of ideas that cater to a wider audience because the team reflects that audience. 

You can get started in this type of training with this deck:

Investing in professional development in diversity and inclusion is sure to improve your company’s culture and unlock new ways of reaching its target audience.

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions. It helps handle interpersonal relationships with empathy and good judgment.

An example of the impact of EI is a manager dealing with a high-stress project. High EI helps them keep their cool and support their team throughout the project. Without any training, they could break under pressure, which could prove fatal. A manager who disregards the team's ideas and needs risks dooming the project to failure. 

That's what makes emotional intelligence a solid professional development topic. It fosters a workplace where empathy and understanding are as valued as technical skills. It helps you create a culture where employees feel supported and understood. Which can lead to increased loyalty and productivity.

Health and Wellness

Your employees are at risk of burning out in the hustle of deadlines and meetings. And a burned out employee is not performing on the job. 

Health and wellness training nurtures the well-being of employees so they can bring their best selves to work. This training can cover a range of topics, from ergonomic practices to mental health awareness. 

It’s about creating a workplace that recognizes the importance of physical health, offers strategies for stress management, and supports mental well-being.

Consider an employee who’s feeling burnt out. With access to wellness resources, they can learn techniques to manage stress, find balance, and recharge. Or think of a team that starts each meeting with a mindfulness exercise, setting a tone of calm focus for the work ahead.

By incorporating health and wellness into your training program, you’re not just investing in your employees’ productivity; you’re investing in their overall quality of life. You’re sending a message that you care about them as individuals, which can lead to increased job satisfaction and loyalty.

Creative Problem Solving

Creative problem solving is vital for navigating the complex challenges that arise in the workplace. It enables teams to avoid conventional thinking and devise new solutions to grow the company.

Creative problem solving equips teams with the tools to turn obstacles into opportunities. It teaches them to question assumptions and to explore a range of possibilities. This approach can turn a routine project into a launchpad for breakthrough ideas and initiatives.

Training your team in creative problem solving cultivates a company culture of innovation. It empowers your employees to chart a course for success that others might miss. And in the fast-paced world of business, that’s a competitive edge that can make all the difference.

Sustainability Practices

Ever heard of the term "greenwashing"? It's when a company pretends to be environmentally friendly, but it doesn't act that way. 

Investing in sustainability practices lets your company walk the talk. It fosters a culture of respect for the environment, while keeping your organization profitable. Sustainability practices are the compass that guides a company towards a future where business success and environmental stewardship aren't mutually exclusive. 

Examples include reducing waste, going paperless, or optimizing energy use. These activities are good for the environment and for business. Better energy use reduces your expenses. Going paperless lowers confusion. Reducing waste means reducing consumption, which saves cost.

Consider a manufacturing team that learns to reduce material waste. This not only cuts costs but also decreases the environmental footprint. 

Sustainability is a great topic for professional development. It optimizes resource consumption, setting a standard of ethical business. You’re preparing your company to thrive in an economy where consumers and partners favor businesses that focus on sustainability.

Wrapping Up

Investing in professional development future-proofs your company. You're teaching your employees new skills that they will use to perform at their job. But also, you will show you care about your employee's well-being. In turn, they will view your company more favorably, reducing turnover.

But professional development also serves to build up your company culture. It shows your commitment to your team's professional growth. And how you care about creating an environment that nurtures not just the professional but the personal growth of every individual. 

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What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

• Carmine Gallo

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

• Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

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Professional development topics to skyrocket your career in 2025

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Professional development and training are essential for your career growth. Learning new skills through professional development programs and courses will help you further your career, increase your earning potential, and help you stay on top of your field.

But how do you know which exact skills to develop? Worry not - in this article, you will find a lot of professional development topics and ideas to further your career. From mastering leadership, cultivating customer service skills and enhancing teamwork to effective goal setting and remote work essentials, you will find lots of professional development activities and courses to upskill.

This list will be helpful for HR managers, too. Data shows that 94% of employees tend to stay longer with a company that invests in their professional growth, so educational technology integration is a great strategy to boost retention.

How to use this article? Click on the professional development topic category that interests you (management skills, workplace environment skills, etc.) and jump straight to the list of courses you can take.

Why invest in professional development activities?

If you are wondering "Do I need professional development topics?", here are some reasons why it can benefit your career:

• Build specific skills. If you lack specific work-related skills, professional development workshops or courses can help you acquire them. Short-term courses don't take much time so you can combine training programs with work. Plus, as students collaborate throughout the learning process, they develop hands-on, practical skills they can instantly use at work.
• Advance your career. Professional development can help you acquire new competencies and move into more complex roles. By leveraging active learning strategies, you can develop professionally faster and increase your chances for promotion.
• Expand your network. Professional development activities typically attract individuals who are ambitious and driven to succeed in their careers. Thus, you can meet new people and network actively, which can lead to new professional opportunities.
• Boost job performance. As you boost your skills in management, communication, and problem-solving, you complete professional tasks faster and more efficiently, which translates to increased performance and recognition from managers.

Today, you can take online courses or workshops on the desired professional development topic with little or no investment. Plus, most platforms show student progress and even issue certifications. Below, we'll look at the specific ideas for professional development.

65 Professional development ideas for every job

Management and leadership.

Management and leadership are among the most popular professional development topics for corporate training and individual learning. Such training is beneficial if you plan to land a management or leadership role in the future. It teaches you such valuable skills as emotional intelligence, overseeing and mentoring the team, and making informed decisions that drive the success of the company. Plus, you will master strategic planning and compliance with the company's procedures, while acquiring the ability to view situations from diverse perspectives.

If you hesitate about what exact training programs to add to your personalized learning plan to master leadership skills, here are the most popular ones across a variety of industries:

• Delivering Performance Appraisals
• Emotional Intelligence for Leaders
• Mastering Change in the Workplace
• Building Trust and Influence
• Delivering Constructive Feedback
• Leadership Style and Strategies
• Preparing to Get Into a Management Role
• Financial Management for Leaders
• Strategic Planning and Visionary Leadership

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Poor communication has many negative consequences for business. It leads to misunderstandings, project delays, increased conflicts, and low efficiency. Advanced communication skills are valued across many industries and not only in customer-facing positions. If you want professional development but don't have a particular goal in mind, start by refining your workplace communication skills.

There is a variety of online and in-person courses that offer project-based learning, promote student engagement, and help each individual student use effective communication strategies. Here are the professional development ideas for your inspiration:

• Active Listening Skills
• Public Speaking and Presentations
• Effective Verbal Communication
• Communication Strategies: Presenting with Impact
• Giving Effective Presentations
• Written Communication for Professionals
• Emotional Intelligence / EQ
• Effective Negotiation
• How to Express Appreciation to Co-Workers

Communication skills can add value to your resume if you describe them persuasively. Learn how to feature interpersonal skills on your resume .

Diversity, Inclusion, and Cultural Competency

To achieve success in today's multicultural environment, you need to be able to interact with and understand people from diverse cultural backgrounds. These trainings promote social emotional learning, helping students overcome cultural differences while increasing their cultural sensitivity and awareness. You will learn effective communication strategies when dealing with people from varied backgrounds. As a result, you'll be able to thrive in diverse work environments and mitigate cross-cultural challenges.

As an HR, you'll want to invest in corporate training in cultural competence if you have a multicultural team or clients from varying backgrounds. Thus, you'll promote workplace efficiency and minimize conflicts and misunderstandings. Here are the key topics for professional development activities:

• Celebrating Diversity and Practicing Inclusion
• Harassment Awareness and Prevention
• Cultural Competency
• Creating Inclusive Environments
• Microaggressions & Bias Awareness
• Diversity and Inclusion in the Modern Workplace

Personal Development

Personal development goes hand in hand with career growth. Employees who constantly refine their skills and improve personally and professionally eventually bring better value to the organization. As for the company, if employees develop and take on responsibility, companies can promote them from within and save money and time on finding new employees and onboarding them.

Personal development encourages students to work smarter and gain a deeper understanding of their field of work. If you are looking to grow as a professional and stay resilient in the corporate landscape, here are the topics for you:

• Critical Thinking
• Goal Setting and Achievement
• Persuasive Storytelling
• Becoming a Valuable Team Member
• Career Advancement
• Financial Literacy
• Networking and Relationship Building
• Increased Employee Engagement
• Industry Knowledge and Trends
• Ongoing Learning and Adaptability
• Encouraging Retention
• Personal Reflection and Assessment
• Mentorship and Coaching
• Creative Problem-Solving Skills
• Goal Setting Techniques
• Building Emotional Resilience
• Mindfulness and Stress Management

Curious about what skills modern employers value above all? Check out the top 10 skills for every profession to add to your resume today.

Customer and Client Relations

Training in customer service and relationship-building is essential for sales representatives, business development managers, support reps, and similar roles. You can learn how to instruct the client on using your product or service, help them make an informed choice, and feel supported and appreciated. Effective client relations training will bring you a higher salary while increasing brand loyalty and customer satisfaction.

However, such training is essential even if you don't work with customers directly so you can make internal decisions with a final consumer in mind. Here are some helpful professional development topics in this area:

• Enhancing the Customer Experience
• Dealing With Difficult Customers Effectively
• Customer Service Skills
• Sales Techniques
• Customer Journey Mapping

Technical and Analytical Skills

Strong analytical skills are important in the variety of industries. They equip students with specific tools and software skills to handle professional tasks faster and more effectively. Moreover, building analytical skills engages students to use new perspectives in their work and find innovative solutions.

If you lack specific technical skills to excel at your job, it's high time that you took the training and increased your productivity:

• Project Management
• Research and Analytical Skills
• Marketing Strategy Development
• Advanced Excel Skills
• Data Analysis and Interpretation
• Google Suite Training Course
• Understanding and Utilizing AI in Business

Time and Productivity Management

Strong time management skills enable you to make the most of your time. By learning time management, you can prioritize tasks, manage your workload effectively, and achieve more with less effort. Moreover, you will maintain a healthy work-life balance and take better care of your mental health.

If you are constantly overwhelmed with tasks and miss deadlines, then these professional development topics are your best choice:

• Effective Task Management Systems
• Streamlining Office Procedures
• Time Management Techniques
• Overcoming Procrastination and Resistance
• Continuous Improvement and Self-Reflection

Workplace Environment and Skills

Thriving in a workplace environment, both in-person and online, is also a skill. If you know how to navigate common challenging situations at work, manage expectations, effectively communicate, and have developed teamwork skills, you'll eventually become a top employee. Plus, after such training, you'll show better results in the next formative assessment.

Here are the specific topics that might be of interest:

• Workplace Conflict Resolution and Mediation
• Performance Management
• Teamwork Enhancement
• Conflict Management in Remote Teams
• Remote Work Best Practices

Other Essential Skills

The skills below are the building blocks of a successful, fruitful career. They allow you to manage your public image, develop your personal brand, and think critically at all stages of your career. Mastering them will help you navigate the professional world easier and achieve your goals. Here are the professional development ideas:

• Digital Literacy
• Digital Citizenship Education
• Building a Personal Brand
• Critical thinking
• Continuous Learning.

Where can you develop new professional skills and competencies?

Now that you know what topic for professional development interests you, it's time to decide where and how you'll learn those skills. Today, learning opportunities are limitless, so choose the one that works best for your schedule and learning style:

• In-Person Workshops and Seminars. Find experts in your area who lead in-person sessions focusing on building specific skills. Such trainings are typically rich in information and practical exercise and help you gain knowledge faster.
• Online Courses and Webinars. Various learning platforms allow you to study at a comfortable pace and are accessible from everywhere. There are countless courses on hard and soft skills, and all you need is a little time and a stable internet connection.
• Conferences and Networking Events. Industry events are the best place to catch up with industry news, new technologies, and the best practices. Attending industry conferences and events can be an invaluable source of new information for your career growth.
• 1:1 Mentoring and Coaching. Working with a mentor or coach is a must-have if you want to grow fast. A coach will help you draft a professional development plan, help define specific steps for achieving your goals, and what training to take to move further in your career.
• Self-Directed Learning Activities. In 2024, you can find the abundance of information on the topic of your interest online. Explore recent research in your area, read books, articles, and use discussion with your peers as a source of inspiration.

The best online resources to upskill

Online courses are the most popular way to upskill for work. They offer everything from a two-hour seminar on effective teamwork strategies to a year-long course on learning a new profession. Some courses are paid, but many are also available for free. If learning online at a comfortable pace is your choice, grab the list of digital platforms for professional development:

Coursera offers online courses from top universities and companies. There are both short online courses and specialized degree programs, including leadership skills, personal development, and mental well-being. Their courses feature interactive exercices, homework assignments, and group learning opportunities. You can study for free, or pay to get a certificate.

edX is the platform that can boast its collaborations with top universities like MIT, Harvard, and Berkeley. They offer the abundance of professional development courses in computer science, engineering, business, humanities, and personal growth, to name a few. Their courses feature video lectures, quizzes, and discussion forums for comprehensive, in-depth learning.

This platform is popular for its affordable courses. Their courses are taught by industry experts, entrepreneurs, and educators to improve students' academic outcomes, and cover a variety of subjects, from technology to creative skills. Udemy offers super flexible courses to support students in learning even if you only have ten minutes a day.

LinkedIn Learning

The LinkedIn learning platform features a wide range of courses and tutorials on most skills from the list above. Their advantage is that their courses are tailored for professional development to help you advance your career, gain new skills, and stay competitive in the job market. Their courses feature projects and exercises to help you enhance your skill set and ensure effective professional development training.

Considering a new career move? Get expert help with your resume

As you add recent professional development training and courses to your resume, consider updating other sections as well. At ResumePerk , we prepare competitive resumes for every professional, ensuring that the resume content, formatting, and style present you most effectively. We will also tailor the resume to your target job to increase your chances for consideration. Order a resume update today with a 15% off!

Our experienced writers can create a powerful resume suitable for each position. However, you may also request a specific resume depending on the job you are applying for, thus it will be tailored individually for your profession:

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10 Tips to Present What You Learned from a Professional Development Program

Completing a professional development course is an accomplishment and you can share that value when you return to work.

Jessica A. Kent

You’ve just returned to your workplace  after attending a professional development program , and you’re eager to implement what you’ve learned into your daily work life.

But that doesn’t have to be where it ends — you can share your learnings with others to help enhance their skills, too. There’s one added step after a professional development program that many may not consider: Presenting what you learned at that training session to your colleagues. 

Not only can this help you better articulate what you learned, but your actionable takeaways can elevate your colleagues and improve your workplace.

“Upon returning to your organization one feels empowered to share the new knowledge and skills acquired during the experience,” says Jill Abruzese Slye, instructor of “ Communication Strategies: Presenting with Impact ” at Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education. “This also fosters relationship building and practicing effective communication.”

If you’re wondering why it’s important to present what you learned at a professional development program and how to do so effectively through a great presentation, here’s where to start.

Why Presenting What You Learned at a Professional Development Program is Important 

Professional development programs are a great opportunity to improve your current skills or learn new ones, and come in many forms and topics . These skills can help you do your work more efficiently, better serve customers, clients, or stakeholders, and potentially set you up for future promotion.Because a professional development program provides value to you and your workplace , take the opportunity to tell your team about what you learned so they can reap that value as well.

How to Prepare During Your Program

Following these steps will not only help you remember and apply what you learned, but you’ll also have a list of talking points and resources ready to go for your presentation.

• Take notes during your program 
• Take pictures or screenshots of any relevant presenter slides
• At the end of your program, review your notes and highlight key takeaways
• Create a list of action items from those key takeaways
• Note quotes, best practices, or other actionable advice the instructor gave
• Make a list of tools or resources suggested by the instructor

Prepare With 6 Elements of a Great Presentation

When you return to your workplace from your professional development program, you may be asked to present, or you can offer to present. Whatever the format — a large presentation to staff or a small overview at your team meeting — use your notes and prep work to prepare your presentation. Be mindful of the  following elements:

1. Keep your audience in mind

“It is always important to be well organized and consider your audience’s thoughts, feelings, or ideas about what you are going to present,” Slye explains. “Especially when introducing new ideas within an organization or team, it is important to consider the ‘what’s in it for them.’ If you are persuading your colleagues to jump in and make changes, getting a gauge on where they stand can be helpful in your approach to implement change.”

2. Start with an overview of the program and its topics

Give a summary of the professional development program you went to, who the instructor was, and where it was held to lay the groundwork for your audience.

3. Explain why you wanted to attend

Tell your audience the reason for enrolling in the program and consider what need or problem you were looking to solve with that particular training. This can include learning a new skill to expand your role or addressing a gap in your knowledge. 

4. Provide insights and actionable takeaways from the program

Your presentation should focus on the three to five most important  takeaways you learned, as well as how you can apply those takeaways to your daily work life. These key points will be what your audience takes away with them and puts into action in their work. 

5. Use storytelling and examples from the program

If there were stories or examples that clarified a point or visualized an action or takeaway, retell it to your audience. For example, if you went to a training that utilized a story from the Hero’s Journey that connected the dots for you, share that story with your team, too.

6. Create a great PowerPoint

Don’t just plan what you’ll communicate, but how you’ll communicate it. Create a PowerPoint to show during your talk. Make one slide per key takeaway, add any visuals that may help your audience understand the concepts better. Don’t  add too many words — keep it simple and easily digestible! 

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4 Things to Avoid During a Presentation

Now that you’ve prepared for your presentation and have included the key elements you need, here’s what to avoid:

1. Don’t make assumptions

Don’t assume everyone is going to be as enthusiastic for change as you are,” advises Slye. “I suggest taking one or two ideas, or thoughts and presenting them, rather than come in with a list that could be overwhelming to your audience.”

2. Avoid busy slides

As you compile your PowerPoint, avoid listing all your talking points on the slide. This may be helpful to you, but it can be distracting to your audience as they try to read all of your points instead of listening to you. Instead, put one key takeaway or action item on one slide, and let your speech tell the story.

3. Avoid sharing everything

It takes a bit of skill to extract key takeaways from something that we learned. You may be tempted to explain every bit of your training — including what the location was like, who you ran into, or what was served for lunch — but instead, focus on three to five items you learned from that training. This will be more interesting and actionable for your audience. 

4. Avoid going over time

You may have a lot of great content to present. But if you’re only allotted five or 10 minutes at a staff meeting, make sure you prepare your content to fit in the time allotted.

Preparing for Presenting Virtually vs. In Person

Much of the same prep work will apply whether you’re presenting in person or through a virtual setting. However, engagement and energy will be different in front of a virtual audience. 

In person, you can make eye contact, feel the energy of your audience, and see their reactions as you present. With a virtual audience, it’s difficult to  make eye contact or read their energy, and you may even be presenting to a blank screen. Because of the energy shift, you may not feel as enthused or excited while presenting, but know that despite the energy of the Zoom room, your content can still help others apply new ideas and best practices to their work.

To prepare for a virtual presentation, make sure that your technology works, your video and microphone are clear, and you have a non-distracting background behind you. If possible, present in an area that absorbs sound — a room with a rug and lots of furniture if presenting from home — so your voice won’t echo. Know ahead of time how to share a presentation through the video conferencing tool you’re using, and decide if you’ll encourage listeners to ask questions in the chat.

Presentation Tips and Best Practices

Finally, don’t forget to employ public speaking best practices. 

“Use a well-structured outline, consider the thoughts, feelings, or ideas of your audience, and tap into your sense of success and accomplishment when sharing this information,” says Slye. “For example, use your non-verbal communication skills to exude confidence while also listening to your audience’s response.”

Other best practices include:

• Making eye contact with your audience
• Having a confident stance and a firm, clear voice, which will help build your credibility
• Slowing down your talking speed and enunciating clearly 
• Using your note cards as “ shorthand reminders ,” not as a script
• Practicing your presentation — remember,  nervousness is normal !
• Taking questions at the end from your audience
• Offering to send the slides to your audience so they can use them as a resource

Next Steps: Better Presenting with “Communication Strategies”

A professional development program can be a great opportunity for professional growth and teach you something valuable you can pass along to your colleagues. If you’re looking for more ways to grow professionally and become a better presenter, “ Communication Strategies: Presenting with Impact ” can give you the tools and practice to do just that.

For business professionals at all levels of experience, this two-day on-campus program will enhance your communication skills through oral presentations and small group activities. You’ll walk away knowing the guiding principles of effective presentations, new confidence in your presenting abilities, and more insight into your personal leadership and communication style.

If you’re ready to take the next step in growing your communication and presentation skills, register today .

Explore all Professional & Executive Development Courses

About the Author

Jessica A. Kent is a freelance writer based in Boston, Mass. and a Harvard Extension School alum. Her digital marketing content has been featured on Fast Company, Forbes, Nasdaq, and other industry websites; her essays and short stories have been featured in North American Review, Emerson Review, Writer’s Bone, and others.

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TED Talks presentation skills you can use

Are you looking to make a great impression in an interview, in a talk, or during a meeting? Even if you are a confident and grounded person, it can be difficult to convey your intention when you are put on the spot. Thankfully, TED Talks presentations offer a great deal of insight, with tips we can use at work every day. Here are some ideas that you can use.

Before listing some of the most-loved presentation tips from TED Talks, keep in mind that the best way to learn is to actually watch what people do in the series. Better yet, read over these suggestions, and then watch the lecturers to see how they use their pointers. Use a pen and notebook to take notes on what you like about their presentations. By reading and internalizing these ideas as well as observing how they are applied, you are sure to be able to reproduce the excellent methods you see.

Here are some ways you can present yourself just like a TED Talks pro:

1. Eat well. What eating well means will certainly vary extensively from person to person. Adults know how and what to eat and which ingredients help their mind work the best. If you’re unsure, do a trial run the week before. Prepare a healthy meal, eat, wait an hour, and then practice your speech. Do you feel energized? Can you think clearly? This is a great way to experiment with an ideal food regimen. If you don’t know what foods to eat, try a high protein, low carb meal. For many people, strong proteins help sharpen their minds, whereas heavy carbs can weigh their bodies down and cause fatigue.

2. Burn stress. Another activity to do before getting on stage or sitting down for a meeting is engaging in some high cardio exercise. Go for a run or use machines at a local gym. Get your heart rate soaring (in a healthy way, slowly building up and releasing afterward) for at least 20 minutes. This is likely to increase dopamine and help you feel relaxed and happy.

3. Emergency plan. Ideally and most likely, all will be well, and you’ll make a grand speech and a grand exit to match. But what if you don’t? What if you have bad luck, the technology fails, you have a non-preventable crisis that morning, or you just wake up and feel low in energy that day? Weeks before the big day, arrange a detailed backup plan to help protect your TED presentation skills. This may involve hand-written notes, backup technology, or another speech altogether. Whatever it is, make sure it’s a process you would feel comfortable with. Imagine the worst day you’ve ever had and then devise a plan that would save you from that potential day.

4. Be real. It’s important to impress, to practice, and to be professional. But it’s also just as important to show yourself as an authentic person who is taking a chance by revealing your ideas to a respectable audience. This is one of the many essential TED presentation skills. To put it another way, you can choose to display yourself as an authentic professional, someone who has experience as an employee but also as a person. One way to do this well is to offer a story from your personal life, but to also mention your professional life within it (or vice versa). For example, “When I was volunteering for a local NGO, my best friend told me…” This reveals you as both a person and a worker. People relate to that. If you can share this, while being emotional (without overdoing it), you’re on the right track.

5. Speak slowly. This may sound quite simple, but the reality is that some people quicken their speech when they are nervous. There are a number of downsides to this. First, the audience may not be able to decipher what you say clearly enough. Second, even if your listeners can hear you, you may not be speaking with a profound emphasis when you discuss meaningful ideas that should be deeply expressed. Third, when you speak quickly, you lose those extra seconds which may be important for you to think, to pause, to survey the room, and to make eye contact, as well as to think on your feet if a question is posed. Finally, when you speak quickly, you lose out on the time you need to breathe deeply. This means that your heart rate may quicken, and you may begin to sweat and lose focus. If you’re out of breath, you’ll have a harder time using your TED Talks communication skills.

6. Think rhetorically. One of the best ways to engage a listener is to propose a question you truly do not know the answer to. How easy is it to answer an easy question or to make an introductory remark, and then fill the remaining time with the various solutions to that idea? Regardless of how creative your solutions are, if you’re responding to a question you are already know the answer to, it’s likely that your audience has answers to it also. Phrase a question that’s unthinkable to respond to, or a problem you know can never be completely resolved. Hopefully, the rhetorical question will also have some emotion to it, some yearning, or some hopefulness.

7. Answer queries. Rarely, but sometimes, people will propose challenges or queries to you while you’re in midst of a lecture. Never tell a participant who dares courageously to speak up to wait until after you’re done speaking to receive an answer. Be diplomatic instead. Stop your train of thought, stand still a moment to consider, and then give a concise but thoughtful response. This conveys respect to your participant, and it also furthers the dialogue, gets people interested, and helps you expand on your idea. Come to think of those questions as helping rather than hindering your speech. Such inclusive behavior will encourage others to take your words seriously, even if they question them all the same.

8. Take your time. One way TED Talks presentation skills famously create attention and drama is when speakers take luxurious pauses between climactic moments. Distilling thoughts—breaking them down in such a digestible way—can be indispensable for speakers and listeners. Listen to TED Talks speeches to get a sense of how this is done.

9. Watch your body. Many TED Talks speakers don’t stand perfectly still as they speak, but nor do they rummage back and forth across the stage in a nervous frenzy. Rather, consider taking a few steps forward to create emphasis or look left or right to gradually survey the room. Always maintain eye contact and distribute it across the audience evenly. This will help the audience connect with you and with your words, without becoming distracted by significant movements.

10. Have a message. Although this may seem relatively obvious, it can be so easy to generate a discussion without a climax that keeps people thinking. It’s important to leave the audience with food for thought, and with a way that they too can exercise their independent thinking. Do they agree or disagree with the ideas you provided? If they agree, what can they do about it? How can they follow your team’s example, make the world a better place, or improve on their work-life balance? Leave a message that is both utilitarian—a call to action—and that also leaves an emotional flavor. When you move people, they are likely to remember you and to take action.

TED Talks communication skills

There is a lot we can learn from the TED Talks communication skills of today, and we should be thankful that we live in a time when such knowledge, confidence, and wisdom is available to us via people who have worked hard to try to develop their communication skills. The best way to make yourself into a sophisticated speaker is by practicing, by working on your confidence, and by establishing healthy routines. Review the TED Talks presentation skills tips regularly and watch their educational videos. Very soon, it will be you standing in center stage.

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Professional Development That’s Relevant Now

In the midst of a pandemic, staff needs for professional development are different. Here are some ideas for delivering PD that’s on the mark.

This year has required a delicate balance of direct and indirect support, with many school leaders asking themselves, “How much professional development is too much?” and “How do I know what people need and deliver it meaningfully?”

Amid shifting learning models, boiling levels of burnout, and constant unknowns, I’ve landed on the following strategies for professional development that help me and my team stay focused.

Ask Your Sources

As educators, we lean into elevating student voice and choice in their learning. The same approach can be applied to our own professional development. Prior to returning to school in August 2020, my school offered multiple listening sessions for staff and asked three questions:

What questions do you have about the hybrid/distance learning format?

What tools/tech do you need to be successful?

What support would be helpful in the coming months?

In response to the answers we received, we realized that the professional development we had done before the pandemic would no longer work. This year, we incorporated PD playlists (an adaptation of playlists for students) so that teachers could differentiate their own learning by picking activities that would enhance their classroom practices.

To help with social distances and learning in person and remotely, we used a flipped schedule in which introductory videos were front-loaded a week ahead. To give teachers time to experiment with technology tools as if they were students, we offered meetings using some of these tools, such as Nearpod . But we also made sure there was unscheduled time during professional development events so that teachers could play with new tech tools or explore new classroom strategies.

Asking our teachers what they really needed to be successful during the year and then tailoring the professional development to their needs changed the dynamic of our professional development dramatically: We went from throwing darts at the wall, hoping one of them would stick, to precision throws aimed right at a target.

Save Resources to Save Sanity

There is a ton of professional development information coming at teachers every day, and given the volume of information they receive, it can be hard to remember when it came, where it came from, or who sent it. In a year of moving among in-person, hybrid, and remote settings, having a single hub for resources and support for teachers, such as professional development presentations and tips for using certain tools, is essential to minimize everyone’s cognitive load. For us, that’s a shared digital notebook (a OneNote notebook ).

The digital notebook is a repository where staff throughout the school can share resources with each other; that way, they have a single go-to resource for new instructional approaches that is housed with other professional development materials. Staff can search tabs by committee, pages for dates of meetings, or keywords to locate resources.

To help teachers find specific resources, the school’s instructional coaches offer weekly synchronous office hours on our distance learning day for teachers to log in and ask questions. All questions asked are important and relevant, so they are also stored in the digital notebook.

Through the meetings during office hours, we have learned all sorts of things, such as the fact that an email we thought was crystal clear was actually quite muddy. By having checkpoints with coaches, teachers can ask the questions we didn’t see coming and help us to clearly communicate changes in ways that everyone hears and understands.

Also, every week, we publish a newsletter with not just professional development resources but tech tips and sanity savers for staff, plus answers to reflection questions we posed via Padlet , Flipgrid , Google Surveys, and Twitter.

The Importance of Fun

Community among school staff is more essential this year, and nothing builds community like fun, so during our professional development time, our middle school staff played. With masks on, social distancing, and time throughout the day, teachers could sign up for short sessions to complete a total of 90 minutes of play-based professional development . We found that learning, even in a professional development context, doesn’t exclude laughter.

We played heated variations of games like rock-paper-scissors and completed a 10-minute yoga session guided by an online instructor. Staff played at workstations around the building, including one that addressed the importance of brain breaks so that we could better lead students through brain breaks in the classroom . We also took sensory-based breaks with Play-Doh, dice, and other manipulatives found around the school. We even incorporated a March Madness basketball shooting contest that brought together the accomplished basketball players on our staff with the novices.

Include Elements of Self-Care

There is no perfection in a pandemic, and solutions are not found in silos. Over and over again, I’ve seen it in myself and in others: The moment you want to retreat is the moment you need to stand up and ask for help.

While much of our professional development has had a focus on student social and emotional learning, our counselors made sure to incorporate staff SEL into every session. From 5-minute activities for staff brain breaks to reviewing signs of secondary trauma in teachers , incorporating staff wellness as part of professional development isn’t just nice—it’s necessary.

Revisiting professional development this year came out of necessity. It’s clear now, after these adjustments, that our professional development is now more relevant, timely, and meaningful for everyone.

• Open access
• Published: 26 August 2024

Evaluating panel discussions in ESP classes: an exploration of international medical students’ and ESP instructors’ perspectives through qualitative research

• Elham Nasiri   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-0644-1646 1 &
• Laleh Khojasteh   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-6393-2759 1  

BMC Medical Education volume  24 , Article number:  925 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

This study investigates the effectiveness of panel discussions, a specific interactive teaching technique where a group of students leads a pre-planned, topic-focused discussion with audience participation, in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses for international medical students. This approach aims to simulate professional conference discussions, preparing students for future academic and clinical environments where such skills are crucial. While traditional group presentations foster critical thinking and communication, a gap exists in understanding how medical students perceive the complexities of preparing for and participating in panel discussions within an ESP setting. This qualitative study investigates the perceived advantages and disadvantages of these discussions from the perspectives of both panelists (medical students) and the audience (peers). Additionally, the study explores potential improvements based on insights from ESP instructors. Utilizing a two-phase design involving reflection papers and focus group discussions, data were collected from 46 medical students and three ESP instructors. Thematic analysis revealed that panel discussions offer unique benefits compared to traditional presentations, including enhanced engagement and more dynamic skill development for both panelists and the audience. Panelists reported gains in personal and professional development, including honing critical thinking, communication, and presentation skills. The audience perceived these discussions as engaging learning experiences that fostered critical analysis and information synthesis. However, challenges such as academic workload and concerns about discussion quality were also identified. The study concludes that panel discussions, when implemented effectively, can be a valuable tool for enhancing critical thinking, communication skills, and subject matter knowledge in ESP courses for medical students. These skills are transferable and can benefit students in various academic and professional settings, including future participation in medical conferences. This research provides valuable insights for ESP instructors seeking to integrate panel discussions into their curriculum, ultimately improving student learning outcomes and preparing them for future success in professional communication.

Peer Review reports

Introduction

In the field of medical education, the acquisition and application of effective communication skills are crucial for medical students in today’s global healthcare environment [ 1 ]. This necessitates not only strong English language proficiency but also the ability to present complex medical information clearly and concisely to diverse audiences.

Language courses, especially English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses for medical students, are highly relevant in today’s globalized healthcare environment [ 2 ]. In non-English speaking countries like Iran, these courses are particularly important as they go beyond mere language instruction to include the development of critical thinking, cultural competence, and professional communication skills [ 3 ]. Proficiency in English is crucial for accessing up-to-date research, participating in international conferences, and communicating with patients and colleagues from diverse backgrounds [ 4 ]. Additionally, ESP courses help medical students understand and use medical terminologies accurately, which is essential for reading technical articles, listening to audio presentations, and giving spoken presentations [ 5 ]. In countries where English is not the primary language, ESP courses ensure that medical professionals can stay current with global advancements and collaborate effectively on an international scale [ 6 ]. Furthermore, these courses support students who may seek to practice medicine abroad, enhancing their career opportunities and professional growth [ 7 ].

Moreover, ESP courses enable medical professionals to communicate effectively with international patients, which is crucial in multicultural societies and for medical tourism, ensuring that patient care is not compromised due to language barriers [ 8 ]. Many medical textbooks, journals, and online resources are available primarily in English, and ESP courses equip medical students with the necessary language skills to access and comprehend these resources, ensuring they are well-informed about the latest medical research and practices [ 9 ].

Additionally, many medical professionals from non-English speaking countries aim to take international certification exams, such as the USMLE or PLAB, which are conducted in English, and ESP courses prepare students for these exams by familiarizing them with the medical terminology and language used in these assessments [ 10 ]. ESP courses also contribute to the professional development of medical students by improving their ability to write research papers, case reports, and other academic documents in English, which is essential for publishing in international journals and contributing to global medical knowledge [ 11 ]. In the increasingly interdisciplinary field of healthcare, collaboration with professionals from other countries is common, and ESP courses facilitate effective communication and collaboration with international colleagues, fostering innovation and the exchange of ideas [ 12 ].

With the rise of telemedicine and online medical consultations, proficiency in English is essential for non-English speaking medical professionals to provide remote healthcare services to international patients, and ESP courses prepare students for these modern medical practices [ 13 ].

Finally, ESP courses often include training on cultural competence, which is crucial for understanding and respecting the cultural backgrounds of patients and colleagues, leading to more empathetic and effective patient care and professional interactions [ 14 ]. Many ESP programs for medical students incorporate group presentations as a vital component of their curriculum, recognizing the positive impact on developing these essential skills [ 15 ].

Group projects in language courses, particularly in ESP for medical students, are highly relevant for several reasons. They provide a collaborative environment that mimics real-world professional settings, where healthcare professionals often work in multidisciplinary teams [ 16 ]. These group activities foster not only language skills but also crucial soft skills such as teamwork, leadership, and interpersonal communication, which are essential in medical practice [ 17 ].

The benefits of group projects over individual projects in language learning are significant. Hartono, Mujiyanto [ 18 ] found that group presentation tasks in ESP courses led to higher self-efficacy development compared to individual tasks. Group projects encourage peer learning, where students can learn from each other’s strengths and compensate for individual weaknesses [ 19 ]. They also provide a supportive environment that can reduce anxiety and increase willingness to communicate in the target language [ 20 ]. However, it is important to note that group projects also come with challenges, such as social loafing and unequal contribution, which need to be managed effectively [ 21 ].

Traditional lecture-based teaching methods, while valuable for knowledge acquisition, may not effectively prepare medical students for the interactive and collaborative nature of real-world healthcare settings [ 22 ]. Panel discussions (hereafter PDs), an interactive teaching technique where a group of students leads a pre-planned, topic-focused discussion with audience participation, are particularly relevant in this context. They simulate professional conference discussions and interdisciplinary team meetings, preparing students for future academic and clinical environments where such skills are crucial [ 23 ].

PDs, also known as moderated discussions or moderated panels, are a specific type of interactive format where a group of experts or stakeholders engage in a facilitated conversation on a particular topic or issue [ 22 ]. In this format, a moderator guides the discussion, encourages active participation from all panelists, and fosters a collaborative environment that promotes constructive dialogue and critical thinking [ 24 ]. The goal is to encourage audience engagement and participation, which can be achieved through various strategies such as asking open-ended questions, encouraging counterpoints and counterarguments, and providing opportunities for audience members to pose questions or share their own experiences [ 25 ]. These discussions can take place in-person or online, and can be designed to accommodate diverse audiences and settings [ 26 ].

In this study, PD is considered a speaking activity where medical students are assigned specific roles to play during the simulation, such as a physician, quality improvement specialist, policymaker, or patient advocate. By taking on these roles, students can gain a better understanding of the diverse perspectives and considerations that come into play in real-world healthcare discussions [ 23 ]. Simulating PDs within ESP courses can be a powerful tool for enhancing medical students’ learning outcomes in multiple areas. This approach improves language proficiency, academic skills, and critical thinking abilities, while also enabling students to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders in the medical field [ 27 , 28 ].

Theoretical framework

The panel discussions in our study are grounded in the concept of authentic assessment (outlined by Villarroel, Bloxham [ 29 ]), which involves designing tasks that mirror real-life situations and problems. In the context of medical education, this approach is particularly relevant as it prepares students for the complex, multidisciplinary nature of healthcare communication. Realism can be achieved through two means: providing a realistic context that describes and delivers a frame for the problem to be solved and creating tasks that are similar to those faced in real and/or professional life [ 30 ]. In our study, the PDs provide a realistic context by simulating scenarios where medical students are required to discuss and present complex medical topics in a professional setting, mirroring the types of interactions they will encounter in their future careers.

The task of participating in PDs also involves cognitive challenge, as students are required to think critically about complex medical topics, analyze information, and communicate their findings effectively. This type of task aims to generate processes of problem-solving, application of knowledge, and decision-making that correspond to the development of cognitive and metacognitive skills [ 23 ]. For medical students, these skills are crucial in developing clinical reasoning and effective patient communication. The PDs encourage students to go beyond the textual reproduction of fragmented and low-order content and move towards understanding, establishing relationships between new ideas and previous knowledge, linking theoretical concepts with everyday experience, deriving conclusions from the analysis of data, and examining both the logic of the arguments present in the theory and its practical scope [ 24 , 25 , 27 ].

Furthermore, the evaluative judgment aspect of our study is critical in helping students develop criteria and standards about what a good performance means in medical communication. This involves students judging their own performance and regulating their own learning [ 31 ]. In the context of panel discussions, students reflect on their own work, compare it with desired standards, and seek feedback from peers and instructors. By doing so, students can develop a sense of what constitutes good performance in medical communication and what areas need improvement [ 32 ]. Boud, Lawson and Thompson [ 33 ] argue that students need to build a precise judgment about the quality of their work and calibrate these judgments in the light of evidence. This skill is particularly important for future medical professionals who will need to continually assess and improve their communication skills throughout their careers.

The theoretical framework presented above highlights the importance of authentic learning experiences in medical education. By drawing on the benefits of group work and panel discussions, university instructor-researchers aimed to provide medical students with a unique opportunity to engage with complex cases and develop their communication and collaboration skills. As noted by Suryanarayana [ 34 ], authentic learning experiences can lead to deeper learning and improved retention. Considering the advantages of group work in promoting collaborative problem-solving and language development, the instructor-researchers designed a panel discussion task that simulates real-world scenarios, where students can work together to analyze complex cases, share knowledge, and present their findings to a simulated audience.

While previous studies have highlighted the benefits of interactive learning experiences and critical thinking skills in medical education, a research gap remains in understanding how medical students perceive the relevance of PDs in ESP courses. This study aims to address this gap by investigating medical students’ perceptions of PD tasks in ESP courses and how these perceptions relate to their language proficiency, critical thinking skills, and ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders in the medical field. This understanding can inform best practices in medical education, contributing to the development of more effective communication skills for future healthcare professionals worldwide [ 23 ]. The research questions guiding this study are:

What are the perceived advantages of PDs from the perspectives of panelists and the audience?

What are the perceived disadvantages of PDs from the perspectives of panelists and the audience?

How can PDs be improved for panelists and the audience based on the insights of ESP instructors?

Methodology

Aim and design.

For this study, a two-phase qualitative design was employed to gain an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of PDs from the perspectives of both student panelists and the audience (Phase 1) and to acquire an in-depth understanding of the suggested strategies provided by experts to enhance PPs for future students (Phase 2).

Participants and context of the study

This study was conducted in two phases (Fig.  1 ) at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS), Shiraz, Iran.

Participants of the study in two phases

In the first phase, the student participants were 46 non-native speakers of English and international students who studied medicine at SUMS. Their demographic characteristics can be seen in Table  1 .

These students were purposefully selected because they were the only SUMS international students who had taken the ESP (English for Specific Purposes) course. The number of international students attending SUMS is indeed limited. Each year, a different batch of international students joins the university. They progress through a sequence of English courses, starting with General English 1 and 2, followed by the ESP course, and concluding with academic writing. At the time of data collection, the students included in the study were the only international students enrolled in the ESP course. This mandatory 3-unit course is designed to enhance their language and communication skills specifically tailored to their profession. As a part of the Medicine major curriculum, this course aims to improve their English language proficiency in areas relevant to medicine, such as understanding medical terminology, comprehending original medicine texts, discussing clinical cases, and communicating with patients, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals.

Throughout the course, students engage in various interactive activities, such as group discussions, role-playing exercises, and case studies, to develop their practical communication skills. In this course, medical students receive four marks out of 20 for their oral presentations, while the remaining marks are allocated to their written midterm and final exams. From the beginning of the course, they are briefed about PDs, and they are shown two YouTube-downloaded videos about PDs at medical conferences, a popular format for discussing and sharing knowledge, research findings, and expert opinions on various medical topics.

For the second phase of the study, a specific group of participants was purposefully selected. This group consisted of three faculty members from SUMS English department who had extensive experience attending numerous conferences at national and international levels, particularly in the medical field, as well as working as translators and interpreters in medical congresses. Over the course of ten years, they also gained considerable experience in PDs. They were invited to discuss strategies helpful for medical students with PDs.

Panel discussion activity design and implementation

When preparing for a PD session, medical students received comprehensive guidance on understanding the roles and responsibilities of each panel member. This guidance was aimed at ensuring that each participant was well-prepared and understood their specific role in the discussion.

Moderators should play a crucial role in steering the conversation. They are responsible for ensuring that all panelists have an opportunity to contribute and that the audience is engaged effectively. Specific tasks include preparing opening remarks, introducing panelists, and crafting transition questions to facilitate smooth topic transitions. The moderators should also manage the time to ensure balanced participation and encourage active audience involvement.

Panelists are expected to be subject matter experts who bring valuable insights and opinions to the discussion. They are advised to conduct thorough research on the topic and prepare concise talking points. Panelists are encouraged to draw from their medical knowledge and relevant experiences, share evidence-based information, and engage with other panelists’ points through active listening and thoughtful responses.

The audience plays an active role in the PDs. They are encouraged to participate by asking questions, sharing relevant experiences, and contributing to the dialogue. To facilitate this, students are advised to take notes during the discussion and think of questions or comments they can contribute during the Q&A segment.

For this special course, medical students were advised to choose topics either from their ESP textbook or consider current medical trends, emerging research, and pressing issues in their field. Examples included breast cancer, COVID-19, and controversies in gene therapy. The selection process involved brainstorming sessions and consultation with the course instructor to ensure relevance and appropriateness.

To accommodate the PD sessions within the course structure, students were allowed to start their PD sessions voluntarily from the second week. However, to maintain a balance between peer-led discussions and regular course content, only one PD was held weekly. This approach enabled the ESP lecturer to deliver comprehensive content while also allowing students to engage in these interactive sessions.

A basic time structure was suggested for each PD (Fig.  2 ):

Time allocation for panel discussion stages in minutes

To ensure the smooth running of the course and maintain momentum, students were informed that they could cancel their PD session only once. In such cases, they were required to notify the lecturer and other students via the class Telegram channel to facilitate rescheduling and minimize disruptions. This provision was essential in promoting a sense of community among students and maintaining the course’s continuity.

Research tools and data collection

The study utilized various tools to gather and analyze data from participants and experts, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the research topic.

Reflection papers

In Phase 1 of the study, 46 medical students detailed their perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of panel discussions from dual perspectives: as panelists (presenters) and as audience members (peers).

Participants were given clear instructions and a 45-minute time frame to complete the reflection task. With approximately 80% of the international language students being native English speakers and the rest fluent in English, the researchers deemed this time allocation reasonable. The questions and instructions were straightforward, facilitating quick comprehension. It was estimated that native English speakers would need about 30 min to complete the task, while non-native speakers might require an extra 15 min for clarity and expression. This time frame aimed to allow students to respond thoughtfully without feeling rushed. Additionally, students could request more time if needed.

Focus group discussion

In phase 2 of the study, a focus group discussion was conducted with three expert participants. The purpose of the focus group was to gather insights from expert participants, specifically ESP (English for Specific Purposes) instructors, on how presentation dynamics can be improved for both panelists and the audience.

According to Colton and Covert [ 35 ], focus groups are useful for obtaining detailed input from experts. The appropriate size of a focus group is determined by the study’s scope and available resources [ 36 ]. Morgan [ 37 ] suggests that small focus groups are suitable for complex topics where specialist participants might feel frustrated if not allowed to express themselves fully.

The choice of a focus group over individual interviews was based on several factors. First, the exploratory nature of the study made focus groups ideal for interactive discussions, generating new ideas and in-depth insights [ 36 ]. Second, while focus groups usually involve larger groups, they can effectively accommodate a limited number of experts with extensive knowledge [ 37 ]. Third, the focus group format fostered a more open environment for idea exchange, allowing participants to engage dynamically [ 36 ]. Lastly, conducting a focus group was more time- and resource-efficient than scheduling three separate interviews [ 36 ].

Data analysis

The first phase of the study involved a thorough examination of the data related to the research inquiries using thematic analysis. This method was chosen for its effectiveness in uncovering latent patterns from a bottom-up perspective, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of complex educational phenomena [ 38 ]. The researchers first familiarized themselves with the data by repeatedly reviewing the reflection papers written by the medical students. Next, an initial round of coding was independently conducted to identify significant data segments and generate preliminary codes that reflected the students’ perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of presentation dynamics PDs from both the presenter and audience viewpoints [ 38 ].

The analysis of the reflection papers began with the two researchers coding a subset of five papers independently, adhering to a structured qualitative coding protocol [ 39 ]. They convened afterward to compare their initial codes and address any discrepancies. Through discussion, they reached an agreement on the codes, which were then analyzed, organized into categories and themes, and the frequency of each code was recorded [ 38 ].

After coding the initial five papers, the researchers continued to code the remaining 41 reflection paper transcripts in batches of ten, meeting after each batch to review their coding, resolve any inconsistencies, and refine the coding framework as needed. This iterative process, characterized by independent coding, joint reviews, and consensus-building, helped the researchers establish a robust and reliable coding approach consistently applied to the complete dataset [ 40 ]. Once all 46 reflection paper transcripts were coded, the researchers conducted a final review and discussion to ensure accurate analysis. They extracted relevant excerpts corresponding to the identified themes and sub-themes from the transcripts to provide detailed explanations and support for their findings [ 38 ]. This multi-step approach of separate initial coding, collaborative review, and frequency analysis enhanced the credibility and transparency of the qualitative data analysis.

To ensure the trustworthiness of the data collected in this study, the researchers adhered to the Guba and Lincoln standards of scientific accuracy in qualitative research, which encompass credibility, confirmability, dependability, and transferability [ 41 ] (Table  2 ).

The analysis of the focus group data obtained from experts followed the same rigorous procedure applied to the student participants’ data. Thematic analysis was employed to examine the experts’ perspectives, maintaining consistency in the analytical approach across both phases of the study. The researchers familiarized themselves with the focus group transcript, conducted independent preliminary coding, and then collaboratively refined the codes. These codes were subsequently organized into categories and themes, with the frequency of each code recorded. The researchers engaged in thorough discussions to ensure agreement on the final themes and sub-themes. Relevant excerpts from the focus group transcript were extracted to provide rich, detailed explanations of each theme, thereby ensuring a comprehensive and accurate analysis of the experts’ insights.

1. What are the advantages of PDs from the perspective of panelists and the audience?

The analysis of the advantages of PDs from the perspectives of both panelists and audience members revealed several key themes and categories. Tables  2 and 3 present the frequency and percentage of responses for each code within these categories.

From the panelists’ perspective (Table  3 ), the overarching theme was “Personal and Professional Development.” The most frequently reported advantage was knowledge sharing (93.5%), followed closely by increased confidence (91.3%) and the importance of interaction in presentations (91.3%).

Notably, all categories within this theme had at least one code mentioned by over 80% of participants, indicating a broad range of perceived benefits. The category of “Effective teamwork and communication” was particularly prominent, with collaboration (89.1%) and knowledge sharing (93.5%) being among the most frequently cited advantages. This suggests that PDs are perceived as valuable tools for fostering interpersonal skills and collective learning. In the “Language mastery” category, increased confidence (91.3%) and better retention of key concepts (87.0%) were highlighted, indicating that PDs are seen as effective for both language and content learning.

The audience perspective (Table  4 ), encapsulated under the theme “Enriching Learning Experience,” showed similarly high frequencies across all categories.

The most frequently mentioned advantage was exposure to diverse speakers (93.5%), closely followed by the range of topics covered (91.3%) and increased audience interest (91.3%). The “Broadening perspectives” category was particularly rich, with all codes mentioned by over 70% of participants. This suggests that audience members perceive PDs as valuable opportunities for expanding their knowledge and viewpoints. In the “Language practice” category, the opportunity to practice language skills (89.1%) was the most frequently cited advantage, indicating that even as audience members, students perceive significant language learning benefits.

Comparing the two perspectives reveals several interesting patterns:

High overall engagement: Both panelists and audience members reported high frequencies across all categories, suggesting that PDs are perceived as beneficial regardless of the role played.

Language benefits: While panelists emphasized increased confidence (91.3%) and better retention of concepts (87.0%), audience members highlighted opportunities for language practice (89.1%). This indicates that PDs offer complementary language learning benefits for both roles.

Interactive learning: The importance of interaction was highly rated by panelists (91.3%), while increased audience interest was similarly valued by the audience (91.3%). This suggests that PDs are perceived as an engaging, interactive learning method from both perspectives.

Professional development: Panelists uniquely emphasized professional growth aspects such as experiential learning (84.8%) and real-world application (80.4%). These were not directly mirrored in the audience perspective, suggesting that active participation in PDs may offer additional professional development benefits.

Broadening horizons: Both groups highly valued the diversity aspect of PDs. Panelists appreciated diversity and open-mindedness (80.4%), while audience members valued diverse speakers (93.5%) and a range of topics (91.3%).

2. What are the disadvantages of PDs from the perspective of panelists and the audience?

The analysis of the disadvantages of panel discussions (PDs) from the perspectives of both panelists and audience members revealed several key themes and categories. Tables  4 and 5 present the frequency and percentage of responses for each code within these categories.

From the panelists’ perspective (Table  5 ), the theme “Drawbacks of PDs” was divided into two main categories: “Academic Workload Challenges” and “Coordination Challenges.” The most frequently reported disadvantage was long preparation (87.0%), followed by significant practice needed (82.6%) and the time-consuming nature of PDs (80.4%). These findings suggest that the primary concern for panelists is the additional workload that PDs impose on their already demanding academic schedules. The “Coordination Challenges” category, while less prominent than workload issues, still presented significant concerns. Diverse panel skills (78.3%) and finding suitable panelists (73.9%) were the most frequently cited issues in this category, indicating that team dynamics and composition are notable challenges for panelists.

The audience perspective (Table  6 ), encapsulated under the theme “Drawbacks of PDs,” was divided into two main categories: “Time-related Issues” and “Interaction and Engagement Issues.” In the “Time-related Issues” category, the most frequently mentioned disadvantage was the inefficient use of time (65.2%), followed by the perception of PDs as too long and boring (60.9%). Notably, 56.5% of respondents found PDs stressful due to overwhelming workload from other studies, and 52.2% considered them not very useful during exam time. The “Interaction and Engagement Issues” category revealed more diverse concerns. The most frequently mentioned disadvantage was the repetitive format (82.6%), followed by limited engagement with the audience (78.3%) and the perception of PDs as boring (73.9%). The audience also noted issues related to the panelists’ preparation and coordination, such as “Not practiced and natural” (67.4%) and “Coordination and Interaction Issues” (71.7%), suggesting that the challenges faced by panelists directly impact the audience’s experience.

Workload concerns: Both panelists and audience members highlighted time-related issues. For panelists, this manifested as long preparation times (87.0%) and difficulty balancing with other studies (76.1%). For the audience, it appeared as perceptions of inefficient use of time (65.2%) and stress due to overwhelming workload from other studies (56.5%).

Engagement issues: While panelists focused on preparation and coordination challenges, the audience emphasized the quality of the discussion and engagement. This suggests a potential mismatch between the efforts of panelists and the expectations of the audience.

Boredom and repetition: The audience frequently mentioned boredom (73.9%) and repetitive format (82.6%) as issues, which weren’t directly mirrored in the panelists’ responses. This indicates that while panelists may be focused on content preparation, the audience is more concerned with the delivery and variety of the presentation format.

Coordination challenges: Both groups noted coordination issues, but from different perspectives. Panelists struggled with team dynamics and finding suitable co-presenters, while the audience observed these challenges manifesting as unnatural or unpracticed presentations.

Academic pressure: Both groups acknowledged the strain PDs put on their academic lives, with panelists viewing it as a burden (65.2%) and the audience finding it less useful during exam times (52.2%).

3. How can PDs be improved for panelists and the audience from the experts’ point of view?

The presentation of data for this research question differs from the previous two due to the unique nature of the information gathered. Unlike the quantifiable student responses in earlier questions, this data stems from expert opinions and a reflection discussion session, focusing on qualitative recommendations for improvement rather than frequency of responses (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The complexity and interconnectedness of expert suggestions, coupled with the integration of supporting literature, necessitate a more narrative approach (Creswell & Poth, 2018). This format allows for a richer exploration of the context behind each recommendation and its potential implications (Patton, 2015). Furthermore, the exploratory nature of this question, aimed at generating ideas for improvement rather than measuring prevalence of opinions, is better served by a detailed, descriptive presentation (Merriam & Tisdell, 2016). This approach enables a more nuanced understanding of how PDs can be enhanced, aligning closely with the “how” nature of the research question and providing valuable insights for potential implementation (Yin, 2018).

The experts provided several suggestions to address the challenges faced by students in panel discussions (PDs) and improve the experience for both panelists and the audience. Their recommendations focused on six key areas: time management and workload, preparation and skill development, engagement and interactivity, technological integration, collaboration and communication, and institutional support.

To address the issue of time management and heavy workload, one expert suggested teaching students to “ break down the task to tackle the time-consuming nature of panel discussions and balance it with other studies .” This approach aims to help students manage the extensive preparation time required for PDs without compromising their other academic responsibilities. Another expert emphasized “ enhancing medical students’ abilities to prioritize tasks , allocate resources efficiently , and optimize their workflow to achieve their goals effectively .” These skills were seen as crucial not only for PD preparation but also for overall academic success and future professional practice.

Recognizing the challenges of long preparation times and the perception of PDs being burdensome, an expert proposed “ the implementation of interactive training sessions for panelists .” These sessions were suggested to enhance coordination skills and improve the ability of group presenters to engage with the audience effectively. The expert emphasized that such training could help students view PDs as valuable learning experiences rather than additional burdens, potentially increasing their motivation and engagement in the process.

To combat issues of limited engagement and perceived boredom, experts recommended increasing engagement opportunities for the audience through interactive elements like audience participation and group discussions. They suggested that this could transform PDs from passive listening experiences to active learning opportunities. One expert suggested “ optimizing time management and restructuring the format of panel discussions ” to address inefficiency during sessions. This restructuring could involve shorter presentation segments interspersed with interactive elements to maintain audience attention and engagement.

An innovative solution proposed by one expert was “ using ChatGPT to prepare for PDs by streamlining scenario presentation preparation and role allocation. ” The experts collectively discussed the potential of AI to assist medical students in reducing their workload and saving time in preparing scenario presentations and allocating roles in panel discussions. They noted that AI could help generate initial content drafts, suggest role distributions based on individual strengths, and even provide practice questions for panelists, significantly reducing preparation time while maintaining quality.

Two experts emphasized the importance of enhancing collaboration and communication among panelists to address issues related to diverse panel skills and coordination challenges. They suggested establishing clear communication channels and guidelines to improve coordination and ensure a cohesive presentation. This could involve creating structured team roles, setting clear expectations for each panelist, and implementing regular check-ins during the preparation process to ensure all team members are aligned and progressing.

All experts were in agreement that improving PDs would not be possible “ if nothing is done by the university administration to reduce the ESP class size for international students .” They believed that large class sizes in ESP or EFL classes could negatively influence group oral presentations, hindering language development and leading to uneven participation. The experts suggested that smaller class sizes would allow for more individualized attention, increased speaking opportunities for each student, and more effective feedback mechanisms, all of which are crucial for developing strong presentation skills in a second language.

Research question 1: what are the advantages of PDs from the perspective of panelists and the audience?

The results of this study reveal significant advantages of PDs for both panelists and audience members in the context of medical education. These findings align with and expand upon previous research in the field of educational presentations and language learning.

Personal and professional development for panelists

The high frequency of reported benefits in the “Personal and Professional Development” theme for panelists aligns with several previous studies. The emphasis on language mastery, particularly increased confidence (91.3%) and better retention of key concepts (87.0%), supports the findings of Hartono, Mujiyanto [ 42 ], Gedamu and Gezahegn [ 15 ], Li [ 43 ], who all highlighted the importance of language practice in English oral presentations. However, our results show a more comprehensive range of benefits, including professional growth aspects like experiential learning (84.8%) and real-world application (80.4%), which were not as prominently featured in these earlier studies.

Interestingly, our findings partially contrast with Chou [ 44 ] study, which found that while group oral presentations had the greatest influence on improving students’ speaking ability, individual presentations led to more frequent use of metacognitive, retrieval, and rehearsal strategies. Our results suggest that PDs, despite being group activities, still provide significant benefits in these areas, possibly due to the collaborative nature of preparation and the individual responsibility each panelist bears. The high frequency of knowledge sharing (93.5%) and collaboration (89.1%) in our study supports Harris, Jones and Huffman [ 45 ] emphasis on the importance of group dynamics and varied perspectives in educational settings. However, our study provides more quantitative evidence for these benefits in the specific context of PDs.

Enriching learning experience for the audience

The audience perspective in our study reveals a rich learning experience, with high frequencies across all categories. This aligns with Agustina [ 46 ] findings in business English classes, where presentations led to improvements in all four language skills. However, our study extends these findings by demonstrating that even passive participation as an audience member can lead to significant perceived benefits in language practice (89.1%) and broadening perspectives (93.5% for diverse speakers). The high value placed on diverse speakers (93.5%) and range of topics (91.3%) by the audience supports the notion of PDs as a tool for expanding knowledge and viewpoints. This aligns with the concept of situated learning experiences leading to deeper understanding in EFL classes, as suggested by Li [ 43 ] and others [ 18 , 31 ]. However, our study provides more specific evidence for how this occurs in the context of PDs.

Interactive learning and engagement

Both panelists and audience members in our study highly valued the interactive aspects of PDs, with the importance of interaction rated at 91.3% by panelists and increased audience interest at 91.3% by the audience. This strong emphasis on interactivity aligns with Azizi and Farid Khafaga [ 19 ] study on the benefits of dynamic assessment and dialogic learning contexts. However, our study provides more detailed insights into how this interactivity is perceived and valued by both presenters and audience members in PDs.

Professional growth and real-world application

The emphasis on professional growth through PDs, particularly for panelists, supports Li’s [ 43 ] assertion about the power of oral presentations as situated learning experiences. Our findings provide more specific evidence for how PDs contribute to professional development, with high frequencies reported for experiential learning (84.8%) and real-world application (80.4%). This suggests that PDs may be particularly effective in bridging the gap between academic learning and professional practice in medical education.

Research question 2: what are the disadvantages of pds from the perspective of panelists and the audience?

Academic workload challenges for panelists.

The high frequency of reported challenges in the “Academic Workload Challenges” category for panelists aligns with several previous studies in medical education [ 47 , 48 , 49 ]. The emphasis on long preparation (87.0%), significant practice needed (82.6%), and the time-consuming nature of PDs (80.4%) supports the findings of Johnson et al. [ 24 ], who noted that while learners appreciate debate-style journal clubs in health professional education, they require additional time commitment. This is further corroborated by Nowak, Speed and Vuk [ 50 ], who found that intensive learning activities in medical education, while beneficial, can be time-consuming for students.

Perceived value of pds relative to time investment

While a significant portion of the audience (65.2%) perceived PDs as an inefficient use of time, the high frequency of engagement-related concerns (82.6% for repetitive format, 78.3% for limited engagement) suggests that the perceived lack of value may be more closely tied to the quality of the experience rather than just the time investment. This aligns with Dyhrberg O’Neill [ 27 ] findings on debate-based oral exams, where students perceived value despite the time-intensive nature of the activity. However, our results indicate a more pronounced concern about the return on time investment in PDs. This discrepancy might be addressed through innovative approaches to PD design and implementation, such as those proposed by Almazyad et al. [ 22 ], who suggested using AI tools to enhance expert panel discussions and potentially improve efficiency.

Coordination challenges for panelists

The challenges related to coordination in medical education, such as diverse panel skills (78.3%) and finding suitable panelists (73.9%), align with previous research on teamwork in higher education [ 21 ]. Our findings support the concept of the free-rider effect discussed by Hall and Buzwell [ 21 ], who explored reasons for non-contribution in group projects beyond social loafing. This is further elaborated by Mehmood, Memon and Ali [ 51 ], who proposed that individuals may not contribute their fair share due to various factors including poor communication skills or language barriers, which is particularly relevant in medical education where clear communication is crucial [ 52 ]. Comparing our results to other collaborative learning contexts in medical education, Rodríguez-Sedano, Conde and Fernández-Llamas [ 53 ] measured teamwork competence development in a multidisciplinary project-based learning environment. They found that while teamwork skills improved over time, initial coordination challenges were significant. This aligns with our findings on the difficulties of coordinating diverse panel skills and opinions in medical education settings.

Our results also resonate with Chou’s [ 44 ] study comparing group and individual oral presentations, which found that group presenters often had a limited understanding of the overall content. This is supported by Wilson, Ho and Brookes [ 54 ], who examined student perceptions of teamwork in undergraduate science degrees, highlighting the challenges and benefits of collaborative work, which are equally applicable in medical education [ 52 ].

Quality of discussions and perception for the audience

The audience perspective in our study reveals significant concerns about the quality and engagement of PDs in medical education. The high frequency of issues such as repetitive format (82.6%) and limited engagement with the audience (78.3%) aligns with Parmar and Bickmore [ 55 ] findings on the importance of addressing individual audience members and gathering feedback. This is further supported by Nurakhir et al. [ 25 ], who explored students’ views on classroom debates as a strategy to enhance critical thinking and oral communication skills in nursing education, which shares similarities with medical education. Comparing our results to other interactive learning methods in medical education, Jones et al. [ 26 ] reviewed the use of journal clubs and book clubs in pharmacy education. They found that while these methods enhanced engagement, they also faced challenges in maintaining student interest over time, similar to the boredom issues reported in our study of PDs in medical education. The perception of PDs as boring (73.9%) and not very useful during exam time (52.2%) supports previous research on the stress and pressure experienced by medical students [ 48 , 49 ]. Grieve et al. [ 20 ] specifically examined student fears of oral presentations and public speaking in higher education, which provides context for the anxiety and disengagement observed in our study of medical education. Interestingly, Bhuvaneshwari et al. [ 23 ] found positive impacts of panel discussions in educating medical students on specific modules. This contrasts with our findings and suggests that the effectiveness of PDs in medical education may vary depending on the specific context and implementation.

Comparative analysis and future directions

Our study provides a unique comparative analysis of the challenges faced by both panelists and audience members in medical education. The alignment of concerns around workload and time management between the two groups suggests that these are overarching issues in the implementation of PDs in medical curricula. This is consistent with the findings of Pasandín et al. [ 56 ], who examined cooperative oral presentations in higher education and their impact on both technical and soft skills, which are crucial in medical education [ 52 ]. The mismatch between panelist efforts and audience expectations revealed in our study is a novel finding that warrants further investigation in medical education. This disparity could be related to the self-efficacy beliefs of presenters, as explored by Gedamu and Gezahegn [ 15 ] in their study of TEFL trainees’ attitudes towards academic oral presentations, which may have parallels in medical education. Looking forward, innovative approaches could address some of the challenges identified in medical education. Almazyad et al. [ 22 ] proposed using AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance expert panel discussions in pediatric palliative care, which could potentially address some of the preparation and engagement issues identified in our study of medical education. Additionally, Ragupathi and Lee [ 57 ] discussed the role of rubrics in higher education, which could provide clearer expectations and feedback for both panelists and audience members in PDs within medical education.

Research question 3: how can PDs be improved for panelists and the audience from the experts’ point of view?

The expert suggestions for improving PDs address several key challenges identified in previous research on academic presentations and student workload management. These recommendations align with current trends in educational technology and pedagogical approaches, while also considering the unique needs of medical students.

The emphasis on time management and workload reduction strategies echoes findings from previous studies on medical student stress and academic performance. Nowak, Speed and Vuk [ 50 ] found that medical students often struggle with the fast-paced nature of their courses, which can lead to reduced motivation and superficial learning approaches. The experts’ suggestions for task breakdown and prioritization align with Rabbi and Islam [ 58 ] recommendations for reducing workload stress through effective assignment prioritization. Additionally, Popa et al. [ 59 ] highlight the importance of acceptance and planning in stress management for medical students, supporting the experts’ focus on these areas.

The proposed implementation of interactive training sessions for panelists addresses the need for enhanced presentation skills in professional contexts, a concern highlighted by several researchers [ 17 , 60 ]. This aligns with Grieve et al. [ 20 ] findings on student fears of oral presentations and public speaking in higher education, emphasizing the need for targeted training. The focus on interactive elements and audience engagement also reflects current trends in active learning pedagogies, as demonstrated by Pasandín et al. [ 56 ] in their study on cooperative oral presentations in engineering education.

The innovative suggestion to use AI tools like ChatGPT for PD preparation represents a novel approach to leveraging technology in education. This aligns with recent research on the potential of AI in scientific research, such as the study by Almazyad et al. [ 22 ], which highlighted the benefits of AI in supporting various educational tasks. However, it is important to consider potential ethical implications and ensure that AI use complements rather than replaces critical thinking and creativity.

The experts’ emphasis on enhancing collaboration and communication among panelists addresses issues identified in previous research on teamwork in higher education. Rodríguez-Sedano, Conde and Fernández-Llamas [ 53 ] noted the importance of measuring teamwork competence development in project-based learning environments. The suggested strategies for improving coordination align with best practices in collaborative learning, as demonstrated by Romero-Yesa et al. [ 61 ] in their qualitative assessment of challenge-based learning and teamwork in electronics programs.

The unanimous agreement on the need to reduce ESP class sizes for international students reflects ongoing concerns about the impact of large classes on language learning and student engagement. This aligns with research by Li [ 3 ] on issues in developing EFL learners’ oral English communication skills. Bosco et al. [ 62 ] further highlight the challenges of teaching and learning ESP in mixed classes, supporting the experts’ recommendation for smaller class sizes. Qiao, Xu and bin Ahmad [ 63 ] also emphasize the implementation challenges for ESP formative assessment in large classes, further justifying the need for reduced class sizes.

These expert recommendations provide a comprehensive approach to improving PDs, addressing not only the immediate challenges of preparation and delivery but also broader issues of student engagement, workload management, and institutional support. By implementing these suggestions, universities could potentially transform PDs from perceived burdens into valuable learning experiences that enhance both academic and professional skills. This aligns with Kho and Ting [ 64 ] systematic review on overcoming oral presentation anxiety among tertiary ESL/EFL students, which emphasizes the importance of addressing both challenges and strategies in improving presentation skills.

This study has shed light on the complex challenges associated with PDs in medical education, revealing a nuanced interplay between the experiences of panelists and audience members. The findings underscore the need for a holistic approach to implementing PDs that addresses both the academic workload concerns and the quality of engagement.

Our findings both support and extend previous research on the challenges of oral presentations and group work in medical education settings. The high frequencies of perceived challenges across multiple categories for both panelists and audience members suggest that while PDs may offer benefits, they also present significant obstacles that need to be addressed in medical education. These results highlight the need for careful consideration in the implementation of PDs in medical education, with particular attention to workload management, coordination strategies, and audience engagement techniques. Future research could focus on developing and testing interventions to mitigate these challenges while preserving the potential benefits of PDs in medical education.

Moving forward, medical educators should consider innovative approaches to mitigate these challenges. This may include:

Integrating time management and stress coping strategies into the PD preparation process [ 59 ].

Exploring the use of AI tools to streamline preparation and enhance engagement [ 22 ].

Developing clear rubrics and expectations for both panelists and audience members [ 57 ].

Incorporating interactive elements to maintain audience interest and participation [ 25 ].

Limitations and future research

One limitation of this study is that it focused on a specific population of medical students, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other student populations. Additionally, the study relied on self-report data from panelists and audience members, which may introduce bias and affect the validity of the results. Future research could explore the effectiveness of PDs in different educational contexts and student populations to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the benefits and challenges of panel discussions.

Future research should focus on evaluating the effectiveness of these interventions and exploring how PDs can be tailored to the unique demands of medical education. By addressing the identified challenges, PDs have the potential to become a more valuable and engaging component of medical curricula, fostering both academic and professional development. Ultimately, the goal should be to transform PDs from perceived burdens into opportunities for meaningful learning and skill development, aligning with the evolving needs of medical education in the 21st century.

Future research could also examine the long-term impact of PDs on panelists’ language skills, teamwork, and communication abilities. Additionally, exploring the effectiveness of different training methods and tools, such as AI technology, in improving coordination skills and reducing workload stress for panelists could provide valuable insights for educators and administrators. Further research could also investigate the role of class size and audience engagement in enhancing the overall effectiveness of PDs in higher education settings. By addressing these gaps in the literature, future research can contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of PDs as a valuable learning tool for students in higher education.

However, it is important to note that implementing these changes may require significant institutional resources and a shift in pedagogical approaches. Future research could focus on piloting these recommendations and evaluating their effectiveness in improving student outcomes and experiences with PDs.

Data availability

We confirm that the data supporting the findings are available within this article. Raw data supporting this study’s findings are available from the corresponding author, upon request.

Abbreviations

Artificial Intelligence

English as a Foreign Language

English for Specific Purposes

Panel Discussion

Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

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L.KH was involved in writing the proposal, reviewing the text, analyzing the data, and writing the manuscript. E. N was involvedin designing the research and collecting and analyzing the data. Both authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Our study, entitled “Evaluating Panel Discussions in ESP Classes: An Exploration of International Medical Students’ and ESP Instructors’ Perspectives through Qualitative Research,” was reviewed by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS). The IRB reviewed the study on August 14th, 2024, and determined that formal ethics approval or a reference number was not required. This decision was based on the fact that the research posed minimal risk to participants and focused solely on their educational experiences without involving any intervention or the collection of sensitive personal data.

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Nasiri, E., Khojasteh, L. Evaluating panel discussions in ESP classes: an exploration of international medical students’ and ESP instructors’ perspectives through qualitative research. BMC Med Educ 24 , 925 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05911-3

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05911-3

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