The breakup that's been coming for some time!
Marcia Weekes-Spears
??Chief Executive Bubbologist ?? - Empowering Executive Teams with HR Strategy, Culture Transformation, and Relationship Systems Team Coaching.
After 20 years as a member and with a heavy heart I have broken up with the CIPD.
For some time, I haven't felt the governing body for HR has given the direction and standardisation I would expect. To say the CIPD was completely unprepared for the global response to George Floyd's death would be an understatement.
This has not been an easy decision but after debating the renewal of my subscription each May / June for as long as I can remember, this year I took the plunge. I can only describe a feeling of slight panic (what will people think now I'm no longer a member) and a sense of freedom but also emptiness.
I'd made the decision, but what now? How do I express how I feel about it and whom do I talk to about my decision?
My first "touchpoint" to talk to someone was when I called to cancel my subscription. This call certainly did not give me the closure I expected as the representative I spoke to didn't seem particularly bothered about the loss of a long term member. I left the call with a sense of anger! But what to do about it now? Well, those who know me well will not be surprised.
The next step was to write to the CEO. I was pleasantly surprised to receive a response later that evening, and we arranged to speak a couple of weeks later.
While being appreciative of the time given by the CEO of the CIPD, Regrettably the conversation failed to convince me to change my decision to revoke my membership. Subsequent communications took place with CIPD personnel, but they also only served to confirm my decision to leave.
So what now? Well, I could put ex-MCIPD behind my name now but can I be bothered to have the conversation with people to explain what happened and why? Does my lack of membership affect my working prospects? I hope not for the latter. I will continue to observe the CIPD from the sidelines to see what happens going forward. Who knows, I may reconnect!
It is my view that the CIPD hasn't sufficiently moved with the times. Do they require a change of focus to give the HR function the credibility and support it needs!?....Discuss!
Human Resources Director @ W Barcelona | Strategic Human Resources Leadership
4 年What does George Floyd got to do with your decision to leave the CIPD, Marcia. This was not clear at all in your post, yet you mention it.
Leadership team coach and content creator
4 年I can relate to this dissatisfaction with ‘professional’ institutes. And can feel a breakup coming. What hacks me off is having worked for years to achieve chartered status is if you decide not to pay the annual subs you lose the status and letters. All those years of training and you have to pay 400 quid a year to retain the acknowledgement of your personal and professional development and achievement irrespective of any other value gained or given for the payment. I think the qualification should be separated from the subscription and then the body might seriously consider providing members VFM Thanks Marcia Weekes you got me thinking.
Occupational Psychology | Talent | Organisational Development | Leadership & Learning
4 年Thanks for the candid feedback. HR is changing so rapidly and yes we need more innovators and thinkers in the area that may be able to push the boundaries on how the function can work better. I have seen some interesting research from the CIPD and their tools are very useful to me.
Founder and former C-suite exec | Building Bloom 3.0 - a platform for women to unlock their next level of leadership | Workshops and leadership coaching for teams and individuals | ex-Shazam, ex-bp Launchpad
4 年As someone who is inflicted with a healthy amount of imposter syndrome, when I stepped into my first full People leadership role a couple of years ago, I set about doing an online CIPD to give myself what I thought I needed to be successful. Whilst the course was useful to some degree, the first year of "membership" has been no different to all of the years before when I wasn't a member. So I also recently decided not to renew, and share a lot of your views Marcia Weekes. I am not sure the accreditation holds the value that it ever once did, and I can say for sure it won't make a jot of difference to not display your letters, there's enough power in Marcia Weekes ?