When is it CPD & when should you say no?
Knowing Your Worth: The Importance of Saying No (Especially When It’s Outside of CPD)
As professionals, particularly in caring professions like dietetics, we often find ourselves being asked to give our time and expertise for free or at a significantly reduced cost. While the instinct to help is admirable, it’s essential to recognise the value of your skills and know when to say no —especially when what you’re being asked to do doesn’t qualify as Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Here’s why.
What Is CPD, and Why Does It Matter?
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is defined by CPD together as ‘‘the way in which you continue to learn and develop throughout your career. CPD is essential. It adds to your skills, knowledge, professional identity and ways of thinking so that you stay up to date and practise safely and effectively, now and in the future.’’
The goal of CPD is to:
Maintain and improve professional standards.
Enhance, develop or add knowledge and skills, and provide opportunities to initiate and reinforce best practice.
Keep professionals accountable for their development.
CPD can take many forms and includes: attending workshops, completing accredited training, study days or short courses, professional activity including being active in specialist groups, participating in peer discussions, mentoring or teaching, or engaging in reflective practice. However, CPD must have a clear learning outcome and contribute to your professional growth. Simply offering your expertise for free doesn’t automatically qualify as CPD.
The most important part of CPD is that it is individual and your learning should be relevant to the needs of your service users or your employer (or both) and used in your area of practice. There are many resources to help you identify what CPD is including on the BDA and HCPC websites.
Ask yourself, is it actually CPD?
Recently, I was asked to deliver a lecture for a UK University for free, as CPD. For many, writing & delivering a lecture will count as CPD however, when you are already a lecturer, it depends on the context and intent behind the activity. According to the BDA examples, mentoring and teaching counts as CPD, however the HCPC definition states that CPD should enhance your professional skills and knowledge and contribute to your development. So when is lecturing CPD?
When Lecturing Could Be CPD:
If you are delivering a lecture on a new or specialised topic that requires significant research, reflection, or skill-building.
If the activity allows you to develop or refine teaching methods, gain feedback, or explore innovative educational approaches.
If you document how the process has contributed to your learning or professional development.
When Lecturing Is Not CPD:
If the lecture is routine and based on existing knowledge without requiring further development.
If it’s part of your day-to-day responsibilities as a lecturer and doesn’t contribute to your professional growth.
If you're being asked to deliver a session outside your regular role, it’s important to evaluate whether it genuinely provides learning opportunities for you or if it’s simply unpaid work. In such cases, emphasising fair compensation aligns with professional values and helps prevent the expectation of providing expertise for free.
The Issue with Working for Free (when its not CPD)
When professionals, particularly dietitians, are asked to provide their expertise for free, it often comes under the guise of CPD or “giving back.” While it’s noble to give back to the profession or community, this expectation can be problematic for several reasons:
Undervaluing Expertise: When you offer your services for free, it can send a message that your time and skills aren’t worth paying for. This undermines not only your value but the profession as a whole.
Perpetuating Underfunding: Institutions—like universities—may continue to underfund dietetic programmes if professionals regularly step in to fill gaps without compensation. This creates a cycle where underfunding becomes the norm.
Professional Burnout: Dietitians are already a giving profession. Many of us volunteer for charities, professional bodies, and community initiatives. Adding unpaid work on top of this can lead to burnout, leaving us with less energy to excel in our paid roles.
Setting a Precedent: If you agree to work for free once, it sets an expectation that you’re willing to do so again. This can lead to more requests and difficulty setting boundaries in the future.
Know Your Worth!
Your time, skills, and expertise have value. You’ve invested years in education, training, and professional development to reach your current level of proficiency. Recognising your worth means:
Acknowledging Your Expertise: You’re a specialist, and your knowledge is the result of significant time and effort. It’s okay to expect fair compensation for sharing it.
Understanding CPD vs. Volunteering: True CPD enhances and develops your current professional skills and knowledge. If the activity doesn’t meet this definition, consider whether it aligns with your goals or values. Volunteering, while commendable, should be a choice—not an expectation.
Setting Boundaries: Saying no doesn’t make you unkind or unprofessional. It’s a way to protect your time and energy for opportunities that truly align with your career goals or personal values.
How to Say No Professionally
Declining an opportunity doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. Here are some ways to do it respectfully:
Express Gratitude: Thank the person for considering you. “Thank you for thinking of me for this opportunity.”
Be Honest: Explain why you’re unable to take it on. “Unfortunately, I’m unable to commit to this as it doesn’t align with my current priorities.”
Reaffirm Your Boundaries: Highlight the importance of fair compensation. “For specialist work like this, it’s important to ensure professionals are compensated for their time and expertise.”
Why Saying No Helps Everyone
When you say no to unpaid work, you’re not just protecting your own time and energy. You’re also advocating for the profession as a whole. Fair compensation:
Encourages institutions to allocate proper funding for essential roles.
Elevates the perceived value of dietitians and other professionals.
Helps create sustainable, high-quality programs and initiatives.
Final Thoughts
As dietitians, we’re inherently giving, and many of us already volunteer for national bodies, charities, and other causes - I have written a blog on why volunteer to share its value here. However, it’s crucial to distinguish between volunteering by choice and being expected to work for free. By recognising your worth and knowing when to say no, you not only protect your own professional boundaries but also contribute to a culture that values expertise and fosters growth. Remember, saying no can be just as powerful as saying yes.
Let’s continue to support each other, advocate for fair practices, and ensure our profession gets the recognition it deserves.
