It’s that time of the year again. The evenings are drawing in, the children are back in school, and there’s a definite chill in the air signalling the end of summer. As we enter the final few months of the year, it’s time to turn our attention towards completing any outstanding work before the Christmas break and yes, that also includes CPD.
“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of minds to think.” – Albert Einstein
Continued Professional Development is still viewed by many as arduous, boring, or unnecessary. We’ve all sat through lengthy staff training sessions, struggling to pay attention whilst willing the hands on the clock to move just that little bit faster. But CPD does not have to be tedious.
Professional and personal development should not be about repeating what you already know year in and year out
Professional and personal development should not be about repeating what you already know year in and year out. Refreshing and enhancing your knowledge and understanding of certain skill-specific topics not only improves your workplace productivity and efficiency, it also demonstrates to your employer that you are committed to your role and are therefore well-placed to provide a better service to clients.
It comes as no surprise that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to learning. Wherever you are in your career now and whatever you want to achieve in the future, your CPD should be seen as an investment that you make in yourself.
CPD allows us the opportunity to open ourselves up to new knowledge and skill areas, essentially ensuring that we continue to be proficient and competent in our professions while also furnishing us with essential skills that could help career progression. Most training courses that Searchlight offers are available at introduction, intermediate and advanced level, so no matter what your current skillset, there is a course or training package suitable for your development needs.
While the minimum number of required hours may seem daunting (15 hours or 35 hours for Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) members) the reality is that most staff regularly achieve and exceed this target. The key is to ensure that all learning undertaken is recorded. Keeping up with industry news through reading industry journals or magazines and engaging in relevant podcasts all count towards CPD.
Be sure to speak with your managers to help you define clear goals – What is it you want to achieve? An effective T&C plan will help you identify gaps in your knowledge and allow you to fully reap all the benefits that CPD has to offer.
The long and short of it is, don’t neglect your CPD. Take the time to invest in yourself, develop your skillset and reap the rewards. After all, there are only 3 months left of 2021!
If you need help and advice on how to develop an effective training plan for your organisation or would like to know more about our online or face-to-face training offering, please email: training@ssluk.net
