CPD – what’s in it for me?

The case for CPD [Continuing Professional Development] for me is clear, without CPD how can I be sure my knowledge is up to date and therefore the best I can offer my clients.

I’m often asked about the value and return on doing CPD. It’s hard to make a direct correlation from my CPD investment to my income. But my anecdotal experience is clear, I would not be where I am now, doing the work I do if I did not take time to learn and refresh my knowledge and expertise.

Following a path of CPD:
1. Puts me in charge of my career
2. Sets me clear learning goals
3. Helps me future proof my career
4. Constantly pushes me to be better
5. Opens my mind to new ideas and perspectives
6. Helps me meet and connect with new people
7. Gives me confidence and a sense of achievement
8. Shows my clients and colleagues I am serious about my work

If you want to progress your career, CPD is essential. But you need to be intentional about it, focus on what you need to do and love doing to get the best outcomes for you from your investment.

Here are my top tips on making your CPD work for you:

1. All about you

Think about your time, your work and your budget. Avoid comparing to others and what they do, make your CPD work for you and your situation. We are all different and at different stages of our careers and lives. What works for one of us, may not work for you.

2. Set your goals and plan

Create a plan to manage your CPD. Writing out your plan for the year ahead will help you achieve it, keep on track and review what you’ve done. Being intentional helps you keep on track to do what works for you – and not be distracted by the marketing of great events and more that may be interesting but not the best use of your time for your development plans. CIPR has a useful template to help you.

3. No budget, no problem 

There are many great events, conferences and courses that come with a price tag. But if you have little or no budget to spend, either at yours or your employer’s expense, do not let that be the reason you don’t ‘invest time’ in your development. There is so much great, freely available content and ways to develop your skills – you just need to commit and make time to learn. Check out the on-demand content from CIPR, listen to podcasts, read online articles and CIPR skills guides, borrow books, take advantage of discounts and schemes available for those on a budget, volunteer and get involved. You can learn from anywhere. Your CPD does not have to come exclusively from CIPR; you just need to demonstrate in your explanations what you’ve learned and how it will change your professional practice.

4. Keep on track

This is the part I often fall down on. Track your CPD as you go and it’s much less of a task to complete at the end of the year. And if you need encouragement, use some simple mind tricks to help you do it such as rewarding yourself for your work. For example giving yourself a treat or time out to do what you love in return for completing your CPD or adding to your CIPR log.

If you ever question ‘why invest in CPD?’, remember that if you don’t step forward, you’ll be in the same place. If you want to progress, keep doing great work, get a different job, earn more or get the promotion you’ve got your heart set on, only you can do it by learning and CPD helps you do that intentionally.

Katie Marlow is Director and Communications Consultant at Little Bird Communications and a mentor for the CIPR Progress Mentoring scheme.
 

CPD Kickstart Challenge

The CIPR CPD Kickstart Challenge is on! From Monday 28 November 2022, CIPR will bring you seven days of CPD tips, tools and top learning content. Find out more.

Image by Sanja Radin on iStock.