The overarching goal of staff development is to maximize human potential. Subsets of this goal are to stimulate the realization that changing current attitudes and behaviors can be personally and professionally rewarding. To inculcate the understanding that satisfaction and growth comes from taking risks and being creative and proactive. To develop the attitude that learning and applying the results of learning for professional and personal development are challenging and rewarding.

These goals reflect a new paradigm for maximizing human potential through development, which instills the personal satisfaction and motivation to improve continuously and to apply new knowledge and skills. Immediate feedback can also be provided through peer-support networks. These networks consist of peers, discussion groups, and consultants. Peer networks reduce the threat associated with supervisor assistance and increase information credibility.