Bridging the Growth Gap: Professional Development Beyond the Role

Professional development is often a stated organizational priority, yet many frontline family care professionals experience growth primarily as becoming more effective in their current position. This webinar explores the gap between how leaders and frontline staff perceive professional development, career opportunities, and succession planning within family care teams. Drawing on national survey data from both audiences, participants will examine where leadership intent aligns with staff experience—and where important disconnects remain.

Through a dual-perspective lens, the session will compare views on coaching, career visibility, professional growth, and readiness for future roles. Participants will gain insight into how development is communicated, experienced, and measured across organizations, while exploring strategies that move beyond role mastery toward long-term career growth and engagement.

The discussion will focus on leadership practices that support growth beyond the current role, including personalized development planning, meaningful coaching, and intentional succession planning. The session will also explore how organizations can create pathways for growth even when career advancement opportunities are limited or non-linear, and how leaders can demonstrate a sustained investment in the future of their staff.

Learning Objectives 

• Interpret comparative data from frontline staff and leaders regarding professional development experiences
•  Recognize gaps between leadership intentions and employee perceptions of growth opportunities
• Identify leadership practices that promote career development beyond current role expectations
•  Evaluate how coaching, career conversations, and succession planning support future readiness
• Commit to at least one actionable strategy that strengthens professional growth and engagement