Suggested Steps for Employees:

1. Identify the Opportunity: Research and identify the specific professional development opportunity you want to attend. Consider how it aligns with your role, career goals, and the organization's needs. Identify sessions, events, and programs that you think will help you increase your productivity, efficiency, or knowledge.
2. Understand the Benefits: Clearly articulate the benefits of attending the program. Highlight how it will enhance your skills, contribute to your job performance, and benefit the team or organization. 
3. Tally your Potential Costs: Estimate the cost of attending the professional development opportunity including travel, food, session cost, and time away from work.
4. Quantify the Impact: Use data or examples to demonstrate the potential impact. For instance, mention how similar programs have positively affected other employees or teams.  Think about what the return on investment could be.
5. Address Potential Concerns: Anticipate any objections or concerns your manager might have. For example, create a plan on how your tasks will be handled while you are away.  Include how technology may easily keep you accessible, if necessary.  Be prepared to address them in your proposal. 
6. Think About How You Can Share Information:  Create a plan that articulates how you will share information you learned, action items, and/or fresh ideas learned at the conference with the rest of your team.  This may include notes from presentations or discussion groups, information on vendors you met, best practices, contact you made through networking, etc.
7. Create a Request: Draft a written request or email that outlines the program details, including dates, duration, and cost. Explain why it's relevant and how it will address specific skill gaps. 
8. Present Your Case:  Present your case confidently in a meeting or an email. Emphasize the value of the program and how it aligns with organizational goals.  Presenting your case in a meeting could be a better strategy as you would have the opportunity to address any confusion or concerns and answer any questions.

 Remember to customize the memo and budget worksheet with specific details relevant to your situation. Good luck with your professional development request!

 Source(s) 

1. What Makes an Effective Professional Development Program? 
2. 7 Ways to Encourage Professional Development - Indeed 
3. Effective Employee Development Starts with Managers 
4. 11 Ways To Improve Employee Development | Indeed.com 
5. What Are Professional Development Goals? 10 Examples - Coursera 
6. 4 Ready-to-Use Learning and Development Budget Templates 
7. Template For an Email Requesting Training Budget - Alison Blog 
8. Template: Professional Development and Training Request Letter 
9. Sample Request Letter For Training Approval: Free & Effective 
10. Free Budget Planner Worksheet - NerdWallet 
11. Professional Development Plan Template (with Completed Examples) 
12. The Product Manager's Guide to Using Your Professional Development Budget 
13. Get Your Boss to Pay for Professional Development | Sample Request Letter 
14. How to Write a Training Request Letter [Samples Inside]