To certify or not, that is the question.
I’ve been asked the question “…why would I want to certify anyways, I’ve been in the profession for years.” My answer is simple…it is a matter of personal choice. I made that choice three times. During my first career I became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), years into my second career I became a Certified Quality Manager (CQM), and at the beginning of my third and current career I became a Certified Professional Facilitator. It is accurate to say that I believe in professional certifications. How about you? I would enjoy hearing your thoughts and experiences with professional certifications.
I consider myself priveleged to have been given the opportunity to experience the challenges and rewards of three careers. As I reflect on the reasons I chose to become certified, I realize that my motivations changed over time. I sense that is a reflection of my personal growth.
My story begins with my first career as an accountant. While married, raising a son and working as an accounting clerk, I decided to finish my college education at night school and earned a degree in Accounting. The sense of self-satisfaction from earning a degree was so strong that I immediately enrolled in the Masters of Accountancy program. What was I thinking? Continuing this grueling schedule was crazy, so I decided to take a short cut and instead enrolled in the Becker CPA review class to prepare to sit for the CPA exam. The class schedule and studying was much more demanding than college classes, but I knew the duration was shorter. In the end, I passed the CPA exam and earned my first professional certification which gave me the right to say that I had mastered a body of knowledge worthy of recognition. It boosted my self-esteem and confidence, and gave me the ability to progress in my Accounting career.
Several years later, I transitioned from Accounting to an Operations Support role which led to a career in Organizational Design, Quality and Change Management. Along the way, I had a manager who required all leadership staff to earn the CQM professional designation. I thought…”why me? I’ve been doing this stuff successfully for years – do I need to take the time to brush up on testing techniques and sit for exams? Okay, so it is a job requirement and I happen to like my job…I’ll do it.” I prepared and successfully passed the exam, but little did I know what would happen next. I became part of a larger community that encouraged and supported each other. The comradeship was instantaneous and the opportunity to share challenges and successes was an efficiency boost. I became part of a national group that was learning from each other and evolving the profession.
Continuing with my career, I was asked to lead a group of internal facilitators who would be facilitating teams to determine things like recognition and rewards systems, quality improvement processes and mission and value statements for their business unit. I decided to seek out a professional certification so that I could validate that I had the knowledge and credentials to lead this internal facilitation team. Through my connections in the quality arena, I was introduced to the Southeast Association of Facilitators and the International Association of Facilitators (IAF). I learned that the IAF was the only global, professional organization that offered a professional certification – the Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF). Talk about a rigorous certification process! To gain certification one must document education and experience, submit written evidence of understanding and applying competencies, and demonstrate through face to face facilitation and interviews. It was nerve racking, but I successfully passed.
I have since chosen the profession of facilitation – group collaboration, to improve the effectiveness of groups of people coming together- as my sole profession. No longer employed in corporate America, I am invited into all types of organizations to facilitate. I am passionate about promoting the profession of facilitation and about raising the awareness that the CPF professional designation exists. In addition, I serve as an IAF Assessor for candidates that want to become certified. It is accurate to say that becoming a CPF has opened the door to self-actualization.
This is the first in a series of articles that I will write about the International Association of Facilitators Foundational Facilitator Competencies. These competencies were developed over several years by IAF members with the support of facilitators from around the world. The competencies include the basic set of skills, knowledge, and behaviors that facilitators must have in order to be successful facilitating groups of people collaborating for a purpose. There are six competencies areas and several sub-competencies.
The Six Foundational Facilitator Competency Areas
A) Create Collaborative Client Relationships
B) Plan Appropriate Group Processes
C) Create and Sustain a Participatory Environment
D) Guide Group to Appropriate and Useful Outcomes
E) Build and Maintain Professional Knowledge
F) Model positive Professional Attitude
In the coming months I will take a deeper dive into the six competencies and share some experiences with you.
Are you interested in learning more about the competencies? My partner and I have developed and delivered training based on the competencies to our clients on-site and to the public. We have a three day, open to the public Facilitation Basics training session scheduled in Atlanta, March 29-31 and a pre-conference two day session scheduled in conjunction with the IAF North America conference in Chicago, April 20 -21. Click here for more information.
posted by Susan Peryam
Share/Save
06:36
Thank you for the article.
I guess the value of certification depends on the field you are in, as well as the company you work for. I currently work in the data communications field, where certifications are a dime a dozen. Because companies seem to value certs above actual experience, companies tend to end up stuck behind the eight-ball so to speak.
An example from personal experience. I have been in my field since the early eighties. I have helped design, as well as been certified in technology that have matured, yet by today’s standards they are considered out of date. Companies view someone who is certified in the new technology with the mind set “Well, they must understand it better”, when in fact they weren’t there to watch the technology grow and don’t understand what makes it work. They just know it does.
Also, certs are a mater of taking a test, which anyone can cram for and pass thanks to web sites like pass4sure.com. Here where I work, we developed a hiring process that consists of real world scenarios, which are presented during the interview process and ask the applicant how they would resolve it. We have passed up applicants with higher education (from PHD’s, to engineering certs such as CCNE’s), for others who lack certifications, yet can demonstrated a working knowledge, as well as have abilities in thinking outside of the box in problem solving. (Certs only cover what’s in the box). Production is up, and the payroll budget isn’t over bloated.
In short, from my experience, certifications are highly over rated.
Thank you for taking the time to read this,
Jason Norfleet
19:41
Jason – Thanks for your comment. As you say, I think it depends on your field. Your example certification in IT where products and technology change so quickly is an interesting one. As with anything, we need to read the label to find out more about what is involved in a certification – is it passing a test or is it demonstrating knowledge and understanding and acknowledging experience and practical application? Some certifications recognize a basic level of experience and knowledge rather than a master level that might incorrectly be assumed. For those of us many years of experience it can be a hard decision to step back to obtain a new certification. However, for new practitioners starting out it obtaining professional certification can be a valuable process including measurement criteria, coaching, peer review and a stepping stone in a new career.
07:37
I took part in the certification process only last year, after over 25 years in the business. I have no idea why I waited so long. I suppose that I felt I was getting along just fine without it.
To my surprise, I found that the entire process of taking the CPF assessment to be extremely valuable. I not only got to see other experts demonstrate their technique, but I had the opportunity to reflect on how I work in relation to the IAF competencies.
To anyone who is experienced and holding back, I urge you to jump in. It will enhance what you already know and teach you new things. You will also have the added advantage of knowing that you contributed to the important work of the IAF by supporting their certification efforts.
Happy facilitating!
Ingrid Bens
11:38
Jason,
Sounds like you have some rich background/experience that can never be replaced by a new kid on the block holding a certificate. The reason I like the IAF Certified Professional Facilitator designation is because it is the only certification for facilitators (group collaborators) offered by a professional organization, and one must have experience as well as knowledge that can be demonstrated in the written application, interviews and a practical to pass.
Thanks for reading and responding.
Susan
11:41
Ingrid,
I’m glad you are a CPF and a great supporter of IAF and the profession. As a CPF assessor I continue to learn new tools and techniques from candidates going through the certification process.
Thanks for reading and writing
Susan
06:20
Susan, thanks for this blog going and being extremely personable about the CPF process. I’m in the beginning stages of collecting the information needed to apply. The whole process looks intimidating (along with all of my other responsibilities). I’m determined to get through.
I want the certification because I want to learn some standards of practices and more creative ways to connect with participants and teams. I realize I can’t be prepared for everthing however I do believe in being prepared and connecting with others to learn better, more efficient ways of helping people (and all other things for a project to be successful). I also think the certification prepares everyone to operate on a platform of ethics. Accountability is important to me and I’m generally not the fly-by-the-hem-of-my-skirt kind of person.
So, thanks! I’m looking forward to working with you.
03:36
Susan,
Good luck with your CPF journey. Key to the certification process is understanding the foundational facilitator competencies. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your SEAF colleagues for assistance and follow my blog for more information.
Susan