When it comes to leadership and managerial roles, continuing education is the name of the game. This is something that 70% of professionals in leadership roles recognize since it gives them an edge and allows them to be good stewards of their companies. 

If you're trying to sharpen your leadership skills and impart great value to your enterprise, undergoing some continuing education will be well worth your while. We live in a time where you can enroll in courses online with a few mouse clicks, so you should always look for these opportunities to better yourself and grow your credentials. 

Below we'll dive into some words of advice on getting continuing education within your field so that you're the best professional you can be. 

1. Get Credentials That Are Actionable For You

It's important that you consider the type of certification you're getting whenever you undergo education opportunities. 

Rather than just gathering information, make sure that your training and education gives you tangible results. For instance, get a master's degree because it opens you up for a higher pay grade and opportunities, not just to explore a new subject and defer your student loans. 

In the world of professional continued education, look up the specific certifications that will give you an edge. you might be in a financial field, but getting a tax preparer certification can give you a pay raise of 35%. Likewise, getting portfolio manager certifications can give you an edge. 

The IT field is rife with continued education opportunities -- such as system engineer, CISCO, CISM or MCSE. These certifications not only build skill, they make you an authority throughout your organization. 

Not only should you be strategic in the certifications that you go after, instill that culture throughout the entire company. Make sure that you're setting your employees on the track to do the same. This way, you'll give incentives, while also strengthening the fabric of your organization as a whole. 

2. Make Continued Education A Regular Thing -- Not Just When You Need To Freshen Your Resume

The key to continuing your education is to make it a practice and not a remedy. 

If you're only going for new credentials when you're starting to feel left behind, it might be too late. Instead, create a culture where you're thoroughly immersed in your subject matter and industry so that learning more about it is a natural way of life. 

In the same way that geometry gets highly advanced due to its visual nature, a student will need a math tutor before building upon certain concepts. The same remains for professional goals and objectives, except getting left behind professionally can cost you your livelihood. 

3. Make Yourself Irreplaceable 

Finally, continuing your education is essential because it makes you a staple within your field. 

If you're employed by another company, staying on top of educational opportunities makes it so that you're first in line for a raise and last in line to be laid off. This gives you more options and versatility throughout the entire field since you'll end up in the top percentile for your job description. 

For instance, dental hygienists and probation officers are two fields with incredible job security, because the skills and knowledge are so specialized. 

The more you take yourself seriously as a professional, the more you'll want to acquire the skills that'll set you apart. Thankfully there are lots of institutions that can get you certified and give you the information that you need to chart your own path. 

Consider these tips and start looking for continued education opportunities that apply to your situation.