Posts Tagged ‘CPD’

One of the most common reasons why people don’t invest in developing themselves is a lack of budget. Yet in truth there are many low cost ways to develop yourself that cost little or nothing, such as:

1. Borrowing a book from the library, reading it and implementing one or two ideas.
2. Signing up for free newsletters.
3. Attending a professional association CPD event.
4. Shadowing someone senior in the organisation.
5. Taking on responsibility for a project.

So what else would you add to the list? Why not leave a comment with your ideas?

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps accountants and health professionals to achieve success and realize their professional potential through being highly effective leaders and managers. For more information and to sign up for his free audio e-course click here

If you are a professional, continuing professional development is not just desirable but an essential part of your membership.  After all would you like to have an out of date surgeon perform your operation, gas fitter install your central heating or mechanic service your car? 

 

When people think of CPD they often get stuck in the old way of thinking of attending a course. Truth is there are huge range of options which are low or no cost, such as:

 

1. Subscribing to podcasts
2. Signing up for newsletter updates
3. Subscribing to a professional journal
4. Listening to audio CD programmes
5. Attending teleseminars
6. Participating in webinars
7. Signing up for free or low cost e-courses
8. Attending professional association local events
9. Reading books which you buy or borrow from the library
10. Taking on additional responsibilities at work
11. Shadowing a more senior member of the organisation
12. Taking a secondment

 

At the end of the day, even if you have little or no budget available there are still many CPD opportunities available to you.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps highly rated professionals become great leaders and managers.  For more information click here 

Over the years I have come across many accountants and professionals who did exceptionally well in the early stages of their career only to hit a glass ceiling all too quickly.

The truth is in my experience a professional qualification or an MBA merely gets you in the door.  What determines how far you go in the longer is at least in part to making your professional development count.  So how can you make your professional development count?

Get a handle on your strengths and development needs

Until you know what you do well and what needs development, it is impossible to put in place your personal success plan.

Focus on the long term

Be clear about what the end game is and what you will need to achieve the ultimate goal.

Don’t restrict your approaches to professional development

It has never been easier to access development opportunities.  Too often people think just about expensive training courses and if budgets for training are cut say there is no funding.  There are plenty opportunities for low and no cost training and development, it is just a matter of seeking it out.

Remember your needs change

Don’t view professional development planning as being a task and finish exercise.  See your plan as a live rolling document that is updated as new needs arise.

Bottom Line – If you are serious about your career you need to make your professional development count.

Ask most managers and leaders about continuing professional development and one of the things that they are likely to say is that they are lacking time to do it.

While reading the newspaper the other day I came across an article based on research by KPMG which staggered me.  Why?  The reason was that the research had found that people were spending 3 hours and 45 minutes on average per day watching TV!  That equates to something in the region of 26 hours a week and over a 100 hours a month.

Even using a fraction of this time to do some continuing professional development could make a difference.  For example you could:

• Listen to a podcast
• Read a newsletter
• Go to one professional association CPD event
• Study for another qualification

Take note of how much of your free time is spent on front of the TV and see what you could do instead to develop yourself as a manager or leader.