Certification- Is it Really Value Added?
It seems certification of one kind of another has become a growth industry. My question and thought; is it really improving the quality of practitioner and services to clients? I look at it particularly in two arenas I feel somewhat comfortable in talking about- Coaching and Human Resources.
Both of these fields have much to do with interpersonal interactions and effectiveness. In particular the human resources field has disciplines and dimensions that are quite technical and compliance oriented. These areas require training and skills development.
I look at other areas and say that the ability to pass an examination does not guarantee the ability to communicate and build effective relationships.
I would say the same for "coaching". I think there are tools and processes and techniques to identify certain styles and development needs of people and organizations, but is that the complete picture?
Does a law degree and being admitted to the bar make you an effective counselor or litigator? Does an MBA really prepare you to lead an organization?
We write and study and discuss effective management and "leadership" ad nauseum. Does certification teach those skills or attributes?
I believe you can certify "competency" the achievement of completing a course of study, but that is not the same as effectiveness. What do you think? Should we use "certification" as a screen in non licensed professions?
Both of these fields have much to do with interpersonal interactions and effectiveness. In particular the human resources field has disciplines and dimensions that are quite technical and compliance oriented. These areas require training and skills development.
I look at other areas and say that the ability to pass an examination does not guarantee the ability to communicate and build effective relationships.
I would say the same for "coaching". I think there are tools and processes and techniques to identify certain styles and development needs of people and organizations, but is that the complete picture?
Does a law degree and being admitted to the bar make you an effective counselor or litigator? Does an MBA really prepare you to lead an organization?
We write and study and discuss effective management and "leadership" ad nauseum. Does certification teach those skills or attributes?
I believe you can certify "competency" the achievement of completing a course of study, but that is not the same as effectiveness. What do you think? Should we use "certification" as a screen in non licensed professions?
Labels: Certification, coaching, competence, Leadership, mastery
posted by Mark at New Paradigms LLC at
5:20 PM
6 Comments:
Depends on the certtification. As a recruiter I generally overlook certifications, unless it is specified by the client. In the Light Industrial industry, I would look at welders who are certified over those who are not, even though certifications are not mandatory. However, a certification from a sales seminar or training seminar for a particular product means little outside that particular industry (ie: sales certificate for a certain brand of copier). I also overlook achievements or bragging rights of what a candidate did at their last job, unless it can be confirmed by an outside source,(ie. saved company "X" $3 million by implementing their (candidates) idea without verification).
However, when I was in IT industry as a sales rep, certifications were extremely important in the eyes of the vendors. Being certified by a vendor was the only way you could sell their product in most cases.
Hi, Mark - thanks for a timely question.
On balance, I think that certifications which include the elements of professional education (degrees usually), validated experience (internships and supervised experiences), and verification of knowledge (a test of some type) tend to enhance the image of a profession and do much to insure that people practicing in an area have some consistent knowledge and skills. So, Yes, I do believe that certifications, such as PHR, SPHR and the various coaching credentials are helpful.
However, any certification, no matter how well planned and administered, is never more than verification that the person has met minimal requirements for a specific field or job. It does not identify the BEST practitioners, it just culls out those who think they do not need to demonstrate minimal competency.
I like the "grandfathering" that usually accompanies a new certification, where those who have practiced in the field for a long time, but may lack current educational credentials, can obtain their certification through an alternate path . . . as long as this is a time-limited and well-structured alternative.
I hope I don't come across as too rigid in this, but I have dealt with too many people who don't seem interested in actually learning about their chosen field and who resent being asked to demonstrate that minimal competence I earlier mentioned.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I hold the following current certifications: Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Missouri, National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Master Addictions Counselor (MAC).
I earned each one by taking the time to master the knowledge required and continue to learn and update my skills. The knowledge I have gained is helpful to me on a daily basis, I believe it makes me a better practitioner than if I were out there "winging it", and I take some small amount of pride in having professional recognition of my knowledge and demonstrated skills.
I believe that this has made me a more thoughtful and prepared practitioner.
John S.
Many good points here; but at the end of the day certification is merely a modernized expansion to the expertise one possesses; it is not an alternate to education or professional training.
I am a risk management consultant and still practice many old school principles. However as years progress, business evolves and it’s vital that those of us who possess veteran credentials remain current on updated procedures, laws and regulations relevant to our industries.
I acknowledge certification (regardless of the industry you practice in) to represent the effort of the individual that has taken the initiative to update their skills. In my opinion anyone who participates in professional learning experiences (including professional networking) exhibits a commitment to the industry they represent.
Great Topic!
To Your Success,
Donna Vestre
DVestre@SouthCoastRevenue.com
http://southcoastrevenue.com/aboutscrendorsements.html
It indicates at least the pursuit of personal improvement, and a value for learning. Some certifications present a higher level of challenge, and an extended curriculum. A review of certification requirements allows a better indication of the strength of the certification.
The application of the learning may be where the value is accessed. One can carry numerous symbols of success without the ability to implement or execute. The ability to discover and recognize the best applications of the learning is talent.
I make to myself every question you make in your post. I would answer No to every question.
Just to pick up one example(MBA). I can study 700 business cases. I wont be a different thinker for that. I might be able to integrate some knowledge learned through the MBA in my own processes, however I might not need it.
I can't find problem solving and TRIZ (google it) in BS.
Regards,
Great post as usually.
Ricardo
It indicates at least the pursuit of personal improvement, and a value for learning. Some certifications present a higher level of challenge, and an extended curriculum. A review of certification requirements allows a better indication of the strength of the certification.
The application of the learning may be where the value is accessed. One can carry numerous symbols of success without the ability to implement or execute. The ability to discover and recognize the best applications of the learning is talent.
In addition, management would benefit from a keen awareness of individual motivators and strengths, as an individuals' strengths coupled with motivation create powerful results. Certified or not, if the profile of a job is in line with the profile of the individual's behavioral traits, this powerful alignment may produce more results than having gone through a certification program.
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