In a session of the Just About Managing Programme and the Be The Best You Can Be training course, I initiate a discussion about continuous professional development.
At first the discussion can be a bit stilted.
Often my trainees start with a quite rigid view of what CPD means. When we start the discussion it tends to involve certificates and formality. Yet with encouragement, we can find ways to develop ourselves and our teams in so many interesting ways if we just reflect for it for a few moments.
At first the discussion can be a bit stilted.
Often my trainees start with a quite rigid view of what CPD means. When we start the discussion it tends to involve certificates and formality. Yet with encouragement, we can find ways to develop ourselves and our teams in so many interesting ways if we just reflect for it for a few moments.
Professional development tips
With a bit of prompting we generate lots of other ideas; reading or listening to a leadership book, watching a TED talk, taking 10 minutes in a team meeting to discuss a new topic.
At it's most successful CPD is not a one off course, but a daily approach to learning. It will give an example to your team and colleagues to help foster a culture of development where all can learn and grow and help each other.
At it's most successful CPD is not a one off course, but a daily approach to learning. It will give an example to your team and colleagues to help foster a culture of development where all can learn and grow and help each other.
Management and leadership books
When I set up the senior management team at Sense Community services, every team meeting took a different chapter from Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People which stimulated discussion and team bonding.
I would also recommend;
- One Minute Manager (and the rest of the series) by Ken Blanchard. You can read a book in less than an hour and it effectively distils the essence of good management.
- Drive by Daniel Pink an entertaining and thought-provoking exploration about motivation which will encourage you to think about how you manage and what you delegate.
- Eat that Frog by Brian Tracey which is a classic Time Management book that is still relevant today.
I would also recommend;
- One Minute Manager (and the rest of the series) by Ken Blanchard. You can read a book in less than an hour and it effectively distils the essence of good management.
- Drive by Daniel Pink an entertaining and thought-provoking exploration about motivation which will encourage you to think about how you manage and what you delegate.
- Eat that Frog by Brian Tracey which is a classic Time Management book that is still relevant today.
TED talks
There are a lot of great TED talks available on YouTube. Personally I find any talk by Simon Sinek insightful.
On the job experience
I also know people who job swap half day with colleagues or even different organisations.
At Focus Birmingham all senior managers spent 1/2 day per year shadowing a front line staff member in another department. The Low Vision Director spent an afternoon with one of the fundraising call centre staff. This helped build a mutual respect and friendliness across the organisation and the Director learnt additional telephone skills.
At Focus Birmingham all senior managers spent 1/2 day per year shadowing a front line staff member in another department. The Low Vision Director spent an afternoon with one of the fundraising call centre staff. This helped build a mutual respect and friendliness across the organisation and the Director learnt additional telephone skills.
Training courses
Then, there's training away from the job.
Coaching and mentoring
More recently I've observed that mentoring and individual coaching are becoming more popular.
A number of my clients hire me for a two or three session to tackle a particular skill or experience issue. I've recently been helping a senior manager improve their presentation skills.
If you have the time, I'd like to hear about your favourite ways to develop your most valuable asset. You.
A number of my clients hire me for a two or three session to tackle a particular skill or experience issue. I've recently been helping a senior manager improve their presentation skills.
If you have the time, I'd like to hear about your favourite ways to develop your most valuable asset. You.
