CPD Points

CPD points: This link to the Chartered Institute of Public Relations describes what activities, engaged with in the right way, count as CPD points, in the PR sector. I think most industry sectors have a similar CPD points system. It is my opinion that most sector’s points systems miss the whole point of CPD entirely!

I do realise that the above is a harsh generalisation. In reality I am all for the measurability of a goal. I do think however that the professional development that is measured on way too narrow a spectrum. I don’t know about you, but in my 20s and 30s, I never felt I was encouraged to marry my personal development with my professional progression. Somehow, the CPD points system left a whole raft of my skills and capabilities, which could have really benefited my work life, un-named and un-used.

As I have grown old and wiser (?), I have found myself asking myself things like: “Did you survive the break-up of that relationship?” Yes! And the skills I took were: The tenacity to get up and go to work even though I was sleepless and grieving. I took the adaptability to relocate and to rebuild my life again. “Did you survive parenthood” Yes! Whilst it has been close call at times, from it I have taken the knowledge that I can be endlessly patient (at times), that I can be responsible, funny and entertaining. I learned that I can creatively problem-solve, resolve conflicts, and negotiate with the toughest of ‘bosses’. I discovered that I am a really hard grafter and will show up, day after day, even when the days feel dark.”Did you survive the death of your best friend in childhood?” Yes! And from this event I learned just how important it is to honour emotions and move through them. I learned to search hard to find the nugget of gold in the darkest to experiences.”Did you survive your own life-threatening experiences?’ Yes! And from it I took the knowledge that If I set my mind to it I can do anything. I took the knowledge that I am curious and questioning and the will investigate the options until I refine my own way through this. I discovered that I have courage and I developed great strategies for coping with really difficult times. “Did you survive living in 25 different locations in the first 20 year of your life?” Yes! And from this challenging journey I took the ability to read others and know just what is needed in all sorts of diverse situations, often without any words being spoken. I have become extremely good at contextualising people, places and things.  All of the above experiences have informed my life and developed my skills and capabilities hugely, and I now give myself CPD points for all of them.

Sometimes we may need to translate the learnings from personal experiences in order that they become the transferable skills recognised in a work context. This might be where the ‘sleep deprivation’ of motherhood becomes the ‘resilience’ needed in a challenging work-place.  What employer does not want the skills listed above? When work environment does not benefit from conflict resolution and self belief, the tenacity and courage, the negotiating skills and emotional resilience, the ability to research, question and problems solve? What career could not benefit from our honouring of the skills generated by our life experiences. When we take theses strengths into our professional roles, everyone involved in our work will benefit. What life experiences would you give yourself CPD points for? Remember to honour all you have achieved in your life. Take your personal development into your professional environment and you will flourish.

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