CPD Corner
Mark Gardin, PQS
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So why do you need CPD
o you think you do not need CPD? It reminds me of that TV show, So You Think You Can Dance. Ever watch it? Most contestants truly believe they have what it takes to be a star but in reality, more often than not, make spectacles of themselves on national TV. Back to CPD - let me guess, in your career you have done it all, seen it all and got the t-shirt that proves it. Actually, it is one of the most popular comments I hear from members. ‘I already sat on an affiliate or chapter board years ago, so why should I need to do CPD – that is for the new members.’ Or, ‘I run my own business and its doing great, I do not need CPD.’ Or my personal favorite, ‘I am happy just as a PQS or an estimator and my employer for the past 25 years likes what I do – no need for professional development to keep my job.’ I got lots more but it is summer and it is sunny outside. Lucky for our profession, construction is an industry of continual change and evolution. New technology, materials and equipment are rolled off assembly lines and put into the marketplace daily. Methodologies and labour practices are continuously improving to gain every ounce of productivity that result in higher profit margins on jobsites. Companies are always seeking competitive advantages by aligning themselves with corporate partners and joint venturing or dealing with mergers or takeovers. If we are not current or prepared for change, we are quickly left behind in a cloud of dust. So, you have been running your own business for many years and by all accounts it is very successful. Looking back, are you doing the exact same thing
with the exact same clients with the exact same people as you did when you started? Probably not. To survive, you had to adapt – whether it was changing your business to a new sector or type of construction; or through a great deal of effort, showcasing your skills to new clients to win them over; or mentoring and training new people because the people you once had left for greener pastures. And looking forward, these changes will continue and likely create more complexity for your business. Yet none of these adaptations would have been possible without your own personal continuous professional development. Or perhaps you are the one with the 25 year employer and everyone is happy. Not expecting change? Of the five construction firms that I worked for so far in my own career: one has new owners, one is bankrupt (long after I left), and two are no longer in business. (One owner retired and closed down the business and the other was closed down by the head office thousands of kilometers away.) Luckily for me, I had moved on before I was forced to find new employment. You may never be in a position to change employers or your
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employment, but in the event that you are, would it not be great to have a wide range of skills that would make you more marketable to find the next great job. And for the ones that already accomplished everything including sitting on one of the CIQS boards, first I would say thank you for volunteering to promote the great Institute that we belong to. Something was inside you that made you step up and accept a nomination to help CIQS. So why do you need CPD? Because you hold a prestigious professional designation and you belong to a professional association that is recognized as a leader in the cost profession in Canada and throughout the world. And a major reason why CIQS is a leader here in Canada and abroad is that it fosters and promotes life-long learning. My wife and I took dance lessons before we got married. No CPD points earned, but I can say there were a few life-long lessons that did keep with me - communication, trust and confidence. We had wonderful teachers who knew just when to separate us when things got a bit tense and we learned how to jive – even though she still steals the lead.
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Summer 2012 | www.ciqs.org | CONSTRUCTION ECONOMIST | 9
