In a corporate environment that is more competitive than ever before, it is crucial to invest time and effort into constantly improving and developing the skills and knowledge needed in your industry, ensuring you remain up-to-date with changing trends and requirements to succeed in your chosen career.
Whether you choose to engage in continuing professional development (CPD) on your own accord or are offered the opportunity through your employer, successfully participating and completing CPD learning will ensure you remain a competent and proficient worker as you navigate and progress through your career.
What is Continuing Professional Development (CPD)?
Continuing professional development, or CPD, refers to the tracking and documenting of knowledge, experience, and skills that are gained through formal and informal methods as you work beyond your initial training. By engaging in CPD, you can augment and enhance your corporate abilities, improving your professional development.
The CPD process allows you to proactively manage your professional development on a continuous basis by giving you a structured and accurate tool to record, review, and reflect on everything you learn. By ensuring your skills and abilities extend beyond formal education, you can benefit from better efficiency and proficiency within your working skillset.
Training vs. Development
Although these terms are often used interchangeably, there is a clear distinction between training and development. Training is traditionally approached in a formal and linear manner and involves learning how to perform a specific skill or competence. It can be as simple as learning how to navigate a computer program or as complex as learning how to operate an aircraft.
Alternatively, development is often informal and has a wider application. It provides the necessary tools to cover a variety of skills and applications, paying close attention to competency and capability. The primary goal of development is progressing from basic know-how to a more complex and advanced understanding. Additionally, it can focus on expanding and improving transferable skills, such as organizing information, managing projects, and general leadership.
CPD Learning Types
There are three main types of CPD learning one can engage in. Most CPD requires a proactive approach: taking the necessary steps to equip yourself with the knowledge and skills your industry demands.
Structured, active CPD learning involves interactive study alongside active participation. It is a highly proactive approach style and can include attending conferences, workshops, seminars, and training courses related to your career development.
Reflective, passive CPD learning requires no forms of participation and instead focuses on a one-directional study method. These methods could include staying updated on industry news, listening to podcasts and interviews, or reading articles relevant to CPD.
Finally, unstructured, self-directed CPD learning covers any and all activities and methods you would complete on your own, such as reading necessary articles and publications, following relevant journals and magazines, and engaging with work by leading experts in your industry.
Regardless of what type of CPD learning you undertake, it is crucial to ensure it is accredited training. This will guarantee that the learning you receive meets the necessary standards and benchmarks established by the CPD Certification Service.
Key Benefits
One of the most appealing aspects of CPD is the ability to upgrade and improve your professional profile. This helps you mitigate the risk of skill gaps and allows you to access more specialized and advanced job opportunities. However, engaging in CPD can present numerous other benefits.
Knowledge Enhancement & Maintenance
Refreshing and improving your knowledge and understanding of certain skill-specific topics within your job will not only allow you to stand out from your fellow colleagues but can also motivate you to revisit and improve any skills that you may have let slip over the years. Incorporating these forgotten skills back into your working repertoire will allow you to produce higher-quality work.
With this increased expertise, you can elevate your effectiveness within your workplace, which can often lead to attractive opportunities for career progression. In addition, you can build stronger working partnerships with co-workers by using your increased knowledge and skillset to demonstrate your leadership skills and proactive attitude in the office by sharing everything you have learned with others.
Renewed Job Interest
Many people often find themselves becoming stagnant within their professions, ultimately leading to a loss of interest and motivation to remain engaged and hardworking. By undertaking CPD, you can access new skill areas and fresh knowledge that will reignite interest and engagement within your corporate role.
This renewed interest will help to keep you motivated, improve your productivity and efficiency, and increase your chances of promotion.
Changing Corporate Trends
The corporate world is constantly changing and evolving. After the global shutdown in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, which caused millions of people to revert to working from home, and the recent boom in AI applications and technology, business operations, software applications, and employee skills require massive adjustments to these extraordinary changes.
Staying updated on the leading trends in the corporate world is crucial to remain relevant and equipped to compete in highly competitive industries. Failing to do so can lead to your skills and knowledge becoming outdated and overlooked.
