How many training courses has your trusted consultant (accountant, translator, environmental consultant, marketing consultant, architect, etc.) attended since you met? Have you ever asked? You should.
Why do I say this? Because it is very important for a professional to keep up with the latest developments in the field at all times and to attend training courses. It matters both to the professional and to their clients. When you have to choose a professional, in any field, try to find out whether they keep improving: check whether their name and the list of courses they have attended appear on their website, on LinkedIn or on the websites of institutions. If this list is long, it means the professional constantly takes training courses on subjects that affect both their work and their clients. If you attend conferences, fairs, training courses and information days, you do not do so only to promote your business, but also to learn and keep informed.
If they belong to a professional organization, the professional is required to complete a certain number of training hours each year (it varies by organization) to continue practicing. Otherwise they are suspended and cannot exercise their profession.
A true professional keeps up with the latest developments and knows the prospects of the field in which they work, so they can easily compare themselves with colleagues and specialists in the field. They are a reliable help to clients, because they can offer all their experience together with the news from the industry, thus providing a complete and dependable service to those who request their services.
You must care about your clients. Always try to give them the best service and keep up with the regulations, news and procedures that may be of interest to those who need your services. For this reason you should take as many training courses as possible, in the widest possible range of fields.
Training courses help you grow, and both the profession and your clients benefit from that growth. Do not think of a list of courses as merely a list of “pieces of paper” the professional uses only to boast. Those “pieces of paper” can also be an advantage for you, if you know how to choose the best and most capable professional. See also how to pick a partner in 5 pitfalls to avoid when choosing the agency you work with.