If you’re a business owner, you probably have a plethora of day-to-day responsibilities. However, it’s important to set aside time for professional development as well: Doing so can only help you stand apart from your competition. This article lists several effective ways you can develop professionally.

Keep Learning

Whether you’re a high school dropout or hold a Ph.D., there’s always more to learn. Consider taking courses—whether online or in-person—that spark your interest. Even if you take a course that doesn’t seem directly related to your business, it may give you fresh ideas and a new perspective from which to approach problems. If you’re concerned about spending money on learning instead of pumping it back into your business, check out The Muse’s list of 50 affordable professional development classes.

Start (or Keep) Writing

Another strategy for professional development is to write and publish your thoughts. For instance, if you maintain a blog, writing down your ideas can help you clarify them. Furthermore, if people are able to comment, they can point out which parts of your writing are clear and which parts need work. An additional benefit is that frequently publishing work online is a way to engage your business’s community.

Work on Your Public Speaking

Much like writing regularly, working on your public speaking is another worthwhile professional development avenue. Doing so will improve your ability to communicate with employees and customers alike. If you’re not sure where to start. Inc.com lists nine different public speaking resources here.

Earn Certifications

There is virtually no downside to earning certifications: If you already have the knowledge required for certification, then obtaining the certification will just give you an easy way to prove it to customers. If you don’t have the knowledge, then you’ll learn new skills as you work toward earning the certification. Either way, you benefit.

For more ideas on how to grow as a business leader, take a look at Acquisition Capital Solutions’ other blog posts.