Strategic planning improves your ability to adapt to changes and accomplish goals on time. In particular, stretch or impossible goals. Obtaining a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) designation may seem like an impossible goal. The right strategy can turn that impossible goal into a reality. Follow this 6 Step Strategy to your certification.
- Set a goal and make it SMART. A goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely is a goal that is more likely to be accomplished. For example, “achieve CSP certification by December 31, 2022.”
- Invoke the law of urgency. Start by submitting your application to the BCSP and, once approved, scheduling the exam. Paying for and scheduling the exam means you have skin in the game and increases your sense of urgency to begin studying. Registering for a certification workshop or purchasing study material increases your sense of urgency and skin in the game.
- Find an accountability partner. Anyone who has accomplished anything of significance had help. An accountability partner can keep you on task every step of the way. An accountability partner going through the certification process with you makes a great accountability partner. You might find an accountability partner in a certification workshop.
- Visualize success. Visualize the steps for preparing for the exam rather than focusing on passing the exam itself. By visualizing yourself doing what it takes to pass the exam, you will visualize the path to success. That means everything from applying to take the exam to scheduling study time every morning.
- Start small and progress. If it has been a while since you studied anything other than an OSHA regulation, then start small. Find a location with minimal distractions, schedule 5-10 minutes on your calendar, and study. Increase the time in 5-minute increments once a week, gradually increasing your study time to 1 hour per day.
- Celebrate successes, big and small. Did you finally apply to take the exam and were accepted? Then treat yourself. Did you complete a certification workshop? Treat yourself again. Passing the CSP is a big win. Now it’s time to treat yourself in a big way. I’ll leave that up to you.
Obtaining a CSP certification can feel like a time-consuming and impossible goal. As with any goal worth achieving, the right strategy improves your ability to accomplish that goal. Often, the first step is the hardest. Take the first step, write your goal down, and then share it with a colleague.
Have a question about BCSP certifications, a pre-certification workshop, or preparation materials? Reach out to one of our facilitators through NitoSolutions.com.
