CPD is giving my PR career a boost
CIPR member Matilda Adjoah described how she grew to love Continuous Professional Development and why she now finds it an invaluable tool for gaining new knowledge and widening her skillset…
Albert Einstein is said to have remarked, “education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think."
For me, this inspirational quote can directly relate to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and its role in ensuring that the skillset and capability of professionals are honed to enable them to remain proficient and relevant.
Generally, CPD is a term used to refer to the continuous training and development of professional knowledge and skills, with many professional bodies offering their members the opportunity of certified learning activities.
As a CIPR member, I must say that the CPD experience has been one of the most rewarding parts of my membership, alongside the PRogress mentorship program. Yet, I didn’t get hooked on CPD straight away. In fact, making the most of the opportunity didn’t come easy for me at the start.
Looking back, I wasn’t sure how it could progress my career. After all, I thought that the fact that I am a member of CIPR, other communication groups and accredited by the Institute of Public Relations Ghana should be enough for me to remain comfortable in my career.
I changed my mind after attending a webinar on why CPD matters. It gave me a new perspective on CPD’s benefits and compelled me to make the most of my CIPR membership.
Keeping up with change
The public relations industry is constantly evolving and there are lots of factors that have contributed in shaping the practice of the profession, among them social dynamics and technological advancement. I realised that I cannot rely on the trends and practices of yesterday and I certainly can’t pay the price of lagging behind in this ever changing sector. It’s imperative to evolve along to keep up in the industry.
I got hooked to CPD this year and I couldn’t stop – even when I had logged my minimum required 60 points. Without doubt, maximising my CPD has enabled me to stay ahead, and it has been nothing short of an amazing experience so far.
CPD has provided me additional skills, tools and a platform to engage in all manner of learning activities. These include participating in webinars on ethics and strategy, listening to podcasts on relevant communication topics, providing tools and committing myself to intense reading where I absorbed key findings in a range of interesting PR topics.
Not only have these learning activities helped me to develop but I’ve also enjoyed applying them professionally in the workplace.
CPD also offered me the opportunity to upskill and to reflect on the various activities I was engaged with in my working life.
Keeping abreast with current trends and learning new skills has not only resparked my ambition and renewed my commitment to develop personally and professionally, but it’s boosted my confidence too!
Logging your activity
The most exciting bit has come from logging all of activities as it makes me realise just how much knowledge I’ve gained. It involves highlighting the lessons I’ve learned and reflecting on my new skills – and above all I love seeing my CPD points topping up.
The privilege to learn and self-reflect helped me realise that I can be more than I am in this impactful profession. I have my sense of hope and purpose renewed and a desire to go for more.
The process is a commitment by me to improve my professional capabilities, build knowledge and hone my skills to keep up in this constantly evolving industry.
But CPD does not end here. It compels me to keep learning and I recommend that any professionals – in PR or otherwise – who want to shine look again at the enormous benefits that CPD can bring.
Matilda Adjoah is a public relations and communications professional at Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) in Ghana.
MyCPD is the CIPR's member exclusive CPD scheme. It provides a flexible framework for you to structure your professional development. With more than 1,800 learning activities to choose from, you’re in the driving seat. From virtual speaker events to free webinars, whitepapers and podcasts, choose what you want to learn about, how and when. Record your learning activities and collect points for each one. These points lead towards CIPR accreditation so you’ll be an Accredited Practitioner or even Chartered before you know it. Find out more.