I am often asked whether I would ever consider linking the Progressive Managers’ training to an external qualification such as a management NVQ or similar.\u00a0 There are several reasons why I resist this.<\/p>\n
I work best with managers who are interested in developing their practice – not theory.\u00a0 Managers who want to make things happen and achieve outstanding results.\u00a0 Not managers who want to spend time sharing their thoughts on case studies and texts or preparing evidence of what they can do for an assessor.<\/p>\n
Most learning does not happen in the workshops that I run. It happens when people go back to the workplace and start to follow the recipes and routines that they have been taught.\u00a0 I know that what I teach is useful, practical and effective.\u00a0 I also know that the best results are obtained when managers take what I teach, apply it and then develop it based on their own experience, context and culture.\u00a0 It is only those that apply what I teach and learn from it that should be recognised.\u00a0 Not anyone who happens to show up for training.<\/p>\n
Why pay an awarding body or an assessor to make judgements about what you know and can do?\u00a0 Let your results speak for themselves.\u00a0 Focus on being recognised by your peers, reports and your boss as an outstanding manager who achieves outstanding results – both in terms of performance and people development.\u00a0 As long as you keep your CV up to date with clear descriptions of what you have achieved you will be as attractive to a future employer as any MBA.<\/p>\n
I know very few people that really trust management qualifications.\u00a0 Management qualifications are increasingly becoming devalued.\u00a0 The qualifications are poor proxies for what someone can actually do.\u00a0 Do any serious recruiters really pay much attention to whether you have an NVQ level 4 in Operational Management or not?\u00a0 Certainly not the ones that I talk with!<\/p>\n
This devaluation is partly because assessment, although expensive in time and effort, is very weak.\u00a0 Having a qualification is, in my experience, no guarantee that you can achieve results as a manager.<\/p>\n
The complexity of most management qualification structures does not help either.\u00a0 Nearly all have a ‘core and options’ structure that means Sherlock Holmes might struggle to understand from a qualification what you know and can do.\u00a0 Indeed in the UK if you look up management qualification there are over 400 recognised on the National Database of accredited qualifications<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now please don’t get me wrong.\u00a0 There are some great managers who have worked hard to get qualifications.\u00a0 The problem is that there are also many average and poor managers who have the same qualifications.\u00a0 If you want to make a positive difference and develop a successful career then focus on developing your practice – not picking up qualifications.<\/p>\n And if you are one of those good managers with the qualifications then don’t rely on the qualification to make you stand out from the crowd.\u00a0 Emphasise the responsibilities that you have held and what you have achieved in relation to those responsibilities.\u00a0 If you are a good manager then this will get you recognised by your bosses, peers and recruiters.<\/p>\n