I was an arrogant know-it-all, working for an arrogant company and attending a professional development seminar with a handful of arrogant colleagues.

As the lawyer hired by the regional procurement association was doing her best to explain the concept of force majeure to the 20 procurements pros in the seminar room, my colleagues and I were doing our best impressions of Ridgemont High’s Jeff Spicoli in the back row. Gee, did we have fun challenging the instructor, making jokes, teasing the other students and treating the seminar as a way to escape the office and gain a couple of professional certification points.

I am still embarrassed by my behavior, many years later.

Professional development is more than gaining a degree, achieving a professional certification, completing a certificate program or just staying up to date about your industry. It is about taking personal responsibility for your actions and properly representing yourself, your company and your profession.

Our profession is rapidly changing, and we have a variety of ways to grow professionally. There are limitless opportunities for formal education, across all modalities and price points. Informally, articles, podcasts and videos are just a click away. And don’t forget to engage a mentor or two to help you in your career.

If I had taken the time to carefully look around the room, my arrogance would have been short-lived. There were others, a lot smarter, working for large manufacturing, service and medical centers trying to figure out the intricacies of contract law in a two-day program. The instructor, a high-powered local attorney, was engaging and smart, willing to share off-the-record legal advice for the price of admission. 

But I was too busy trying to trip her up with my cute questions to learn very much.

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 The instructor, a high-powered local attorney, was engaging and smart ... but I was too busy trying to trip her up with my cute questions to learn very much.

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My arrogance began with my company. In its defense, it was an excellent employer who allowed me to gain considerable experience in procurement, operations and logistics. The company supported professional development with a good blend of internal and external training, and I usually took advantage. But the employer had a cocky attitude as a market leader that permeated the organization and my department.

My procurement band of brothers and sisters enjoyed working together inside and outside of the office. I’d like to think we were an effective team but looking back our personalities were stronger than our performance. We did good work, but it could have been better. We were loud, and at times unprofessional, to suppliers and requisitioners alike.  

I fired suppliers for acting toward me the way I was acting toward them.

My own arrogance crept up on me. Typically staid, professional and respectful, I started to become someone I didn’t care for.  Flashes of my old self would appear from time to time, comfortable flashes. But then peer pressure would kick in and my arrogance returned.

The private admonishment by the seminar leader at the end of the first day of training was embarrassing. She said our group had no respect for education. And she was right. Those comments were humbling and caused some soul searching.

While several of my colleagues laughed about her comments over post-seminar beers, I admitted to substantial personal hypocrisy. I had recently been selected to join my company’s internal training faculty and was thrilled to do so. I enjoyed being in front of the room, working with colleagues from other departments that were interested and respectful. I enjoyed the flow of ideas and the discussion. That was the behavior I expected from my students and myself.

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I fired suppliers for acting toward me the way I was acting toward them.

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A large portion of my work portfolio these days is in training and development, working with companies on a variety of business subjects. For the most part, I find the students respectful and appreciative. That doesn’t mean I haven’t seen my share of arrogance, poor behavior and disrespect.

I sometimes see my old self, and I cringe.