When it comes to our monthly list of tasks, CPD will be pretty low down, if it’s on there at all. For some of us, all that matters is ticking it all off at the end of the year in one big binge.
But CPD is topical! Stuff that you completed six years ago isn’t likely to be relevant any more and, if we’re being honest, rushing through it all at 11.46pm on New Years Eve is hardly conducive to a meditative, reflective learning experience.
So, for some accountability on an accountant’s ability, here are five lies we tell ourselves, and some tips to make CPD easier, more effective, and enjoyable. (No promises on the enjoyable aspect).
🗓️ 1. "This year, I’m going to spread it out and not leave it to the last minute.”
Every new year starts with the best of intentions. You’ve bought a gym subscription, you’ve deleted the takeaway app, and you’ve added "two hours of CPD” on every fourth Saturday.
Next thing you know, you’re listening to Mariah Carey and realising that you’ve got another 16 hours to complete and about three weekends of the year left.
There are two types of people in the world: self-disciplined strivers able to predict the next move, and you.
If that rings true, one of our Accountant’s Update Programmes might be up your street. We send you manageable chunks of CPD – two or three hours a month – and ensure you’re up to date with the latest trends in the industry. You still have to actually do it though. We can’t help you there.
🎯 2. "I’ll definitely choose a topic I’m excited about this time.”
Ideally, the CPD we do is relevant to us, and something we genuinely want to learn about. But when the clock starts ticking, being engaged in CPD feels like a luxury we simply cannot afford. We can end up clicking on a webinar about tax, even if we don’t touch the stuff!
But CPD isn’t all about the technical stuff – we can also focus on the kind of skills your career has been crying out for.
With content focusing on diverse topics like mental wellbeing, leadership, and communication, our catalogue goes beyond the technical. In fact, how you present information to other people is often the most important part of career progression, which is why our professional skills content is some of the most popular.
Being a better accountant isn’t always about using Excel the most efficiently, it’s a job where communication is key, and communicating is hard!
❓ 3. "It probably counts as CPD… right?”
We’ve all listened to a podcast at work, but trying to convince yourself that the podcast was work – that might be pushing it. And, when you’re pressed for time, the definition of CPD can become a pretty flexible one.
Look, just because the film’s called The Accountant doesn’t mean that it provides any lessons for how to conduct yourself in a work environment.
With accountingcpd, every activity is tracked, timed, and verifiably CPD. Whether you're learning about IFRS or improving your communication skills, you’ll have the records to prove it when the professional body comes knocking. You can even add CPD from external sources so you can just submit one document to your professional body!
⏩ 4. "I can speed through CPD and still tick the boxes.”
Webinars are great! We love webinars! What we’re less keen on is having one at double speed on a closed tab while you do something more fun, like write an email to your energy company complaining about a recent unexpected bill.
Only joking! Webinars are fun, and they’re often the best way for us to learn about the things we really need to learn about. They’re usually the most topical learning environments and, when the chat is bouncing, they can have a communal atmosphere, too.
A webinar is a part of a healthy CPD diet, but it shouldn’t be all of it. At accountingcpd, we get this. So, with our Annual Licence, you get access to live webinars, 15-minute learning bites, in-depth courses, and more. It’s CPD on your terms – meaningful, manageable, and relevant.
🎄 5. "I’ll do some CPD over the holidays.”
We can often enter the holiday seasons with unrealistic expectations. We might imagine spending it curled up with a festive drink, a flickering fire, and a soothing tax update webinar. However, when the in-laws make a surprise visit, this tranquil scene can quickly fall apart, and CPD is first to fall to the wayside.
If worst comes to worst, we’re still online through December. If it’s New Years Eve and you’ve got eight hours of CPD you need to complete, we’ll make sure you finish it all.
🧠 Final thought
That said, CPD doesn't have to be a chore or a last-minute panic – in fact, it shouldn’t! With the right tools and content, it can actually feel like part of your growth, not just a requirement.
By all means, let the gym subscription fail to renew, but keep CPD in your mind – if not for yourself, for all of us here at accountingcpd.
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