Doris

Let me be blunt about something that'll probably rub half of you the wrong way: most Australians are absolutely terrible at investing in themselves professionally. We'll drop $800 on a weekend in the Grampians without blinking, but ask someone to spend that same amount on communication skills training and suddenly it's "too expensive."
I've been tracking this phenomenon since 2007, and the numbers are staggering. Roughly 73% of Australian professionals haven't undertaken any formal development in the past two years. Yet these same people wonder why their careers have plateaued.
The reality? Your technical skills got you where you are. Your people skills will determine where you go next.
Why Most Training Programs Are Actually Brilliant (Despite What Your Cynical Colleague Says)
Here's an unpopular opinion that'll probably trigger some eye-rolls: most professional development programs deliver exactly what they promise. The problem isn't the training—it's the attitude people bring to it.
I remember sitting in a time management course in 2019, listening to some marketing executive complain about "basic content" while simultaneously checking her phone every three minutes. Same woman who later wondered why she didn't get much value from it.
The courses work when you actually work the courses.
Take emotional intelligence training, for instance. I was sceptical initially—seemed like corporate fluff. But after implementing just three techniques from a two-day workshop, my client retention improved by 40%. That's not motivational speaking; that's measurable business impact.
The Australian Advantage That We're Completely Wasting
Australian professionals have something unique: we're naturally collaborative and direct. It's a killer combination in global business. Problem is, we're not weaponising these strengths properly.
I've worked with teams in Singapore, London, and San Francisco. Our ability to cut through BS and get things done is legendary. But we're letting other markets overtake us because we're not systematically developing these natural advantages.
The Canadians figured this out years ago. They took their reputation for politeness and built entire industries around customer service excellence. What are we doing with our directness and practicality? Mostly complaining about professional development being "too American."
That's backwards thinking that's costing us opportunities.
The Three Investment Categories That Actually Matter
Not all development is created equal. After nearly two decades in this space, I've identified three categories that consistently deliver ROI:
Communication and Influence: This isn't about becoming a smooth talker. It's about getting your ideas heard and acted upon. The technical brilliant introvert who can't present their concepts effectively will always lose to the slightly-less-brilliant extrovert who can.
Leadership and Team Dynamics: Even if you never want to manage people, you'll need to influence them. Understanding team psychology and group dynamics is essential for anyone working beyond entry level.
Digital Literacy and Adaptation: The landscape changes every 18 months. Staying current isn't optional anymore—it's survival.Where Most People Get It Completely Wrong
The biggest mistake I see is treating professional development like a one-time vaccination. Attend one workshop, tick the box, done for the year.
That's not how it works.
Professional development is more like physical fitness. You don't go to the gym once and expect to stay fit forever. You build habits, maintain consistency, and adjust your approach as you evolve.
I personally allocate 3% of my annual revenue back into my own development. Some years it's formal courses, other years it's conferences or coaching.