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Tips to help you succeed

Members who take time to review their development needs in advance of selecting learning activities are more likely to put together a development plan that not only improves their performance in their current role, but can also help them move up the career ladder or take a sideways step into a role of greater interest to them.

By planning your CPD, you can identify the skills and knowledge that you require to achieve your professional development goals. Thinking about your CPD now also has the added advantage of allowing you to source the most relevant and cost-effective learning opportunities available at different times throughout the rest of the CPD year. You will find that when you space your activities out across the year, CPD is highly achievable and easy to manage, even for those of you with busy working lives.

Effective planning - where to start?

When planning CPD for the year ahead, an evaluation of the present can be beneficial. Consider where you are now and what you hope to achieve in the coming year. A little reflection can result in better choices in the future - did the activities you undertook last year meet your expectations?

When considering potential activity, ask yourself the following three crucial questions:

• will it help me provide a more effective service to clients?
• will I be able to better help my employer; for instance, by creating efficiencies, saving money or helping to identify new revenue streams?
• will it help me to become a more rounded professional?

Remember to avoid restricting yourself with misconceptions about what ACCA will find 'acceptable' as CPD.

Helping you to plan your CPD

PDM

ACCA's professional development matrix (PDM) has been developed to provide bespoke assistance to all members when planning relevant CPD. Acting as an electronic coach, the PDM will help you identify your preferred learning styles and the skills and knowledge you will need to perform in your current role or for a role you are interested in pursuing in the future.

The PDM does this by pulling together a number of tools and techniques, including prompting self-questioning about your training and development and by providing a wide range of member profiles that help you identify the specific knowledge, skills and responsibilities required of a particular role. It also assists you in building a personal development plan and encourages you to review whether the development you identified has helped you to achieve the desired outcome.

Specifically, the PDM can help you to:

• identify your CPD achievements to date
• clarify your present role and the knowledge and skills you require to be effective in your role
• identify potential changes to your role and the resulting CPD needs
• meet your CPD needs and individual learning style
• produce a personal development plan
• review your personal development plan and remind you to revisit the PDM at a future date.

ACCA Compass

ACCA Compass is an interactive tool that allows you to assess your level of experience and skill and compare this to a recommended market average for 20 different job titles. It allows individual members to undertake a competence self assessment process to encourage a more focused professional development, making it a perfect resource for the start of the CPD year.

The tool has been specifically designed for members and is one of a range of new CPD products and services ACCA is making available following feedback from members.

To start planning your CPD, log into myACCA to access the PDM and ACCA Compass.

For more information on CPD and your requirements, visit www.accaglobal.com/members/cpd