Game plan for growth: New beginnings in sport management
With the arrival of a new year, it’s often a time for new challenges. Whilst it’s an exciting time, it can be easy to feel a little overwhelmed. However, this year we want to help you focus and shine a light on why we should embrace this opportunity.
The growth mindset: Turning challenges into opportunities
Management within the sport and physical activity sector is ever evolving, with new practices, training and research taking place on a regular basis, and therefore it’s beneficial to keep up to date with the latest developments. The New Year is also a great time to look at personal growth, and to tune into an aspirational mindset to achieve professional and personal goals.
New beginnings can be powerful. As a manager or aspiring manager, by putting an emphasis on your own progression, you’ll not only open the door to new opportunities within your role, but you’ll be demonstrating your commitment to the development of your team.
The role of self-improvement in leadership
Taking the first step to self-improvement involves a level of self-reflection that usually involves assessing your current skills to identify strengths and key areas for improvement. By completing this type of evaluation, you can set the foundation for development and growth.
Continuous self-improvement can help managers and those aspiring to manage to inspire their teams and colleagues to adopt a similar mindset. As a result, by focusing on developing in your role as a leader you can help to build a stronger culture, by improving fundamental skills such as communication, motivation and the ability to make informed decisions.
But it can be difficult to work formal training around your busy schedule; that’s where the micro-credential pathway of learning in sport management comes in.
Micro-credential learning: A practical pathway
Following completion of a skill self-assessment, an individual wishing to improve their sport management competency may find that they possess skills and experience in certain areas, but lack in others.
This is something that is taken into account when considering the micro-credential pathway of learning for the Certificate of Higher Education in Sport Management, as Cardiff Metropolitan University will factor in any relevant prior learning and professional experience when awarding module completion.
Managers who have been in their role for a more significant length of time and are able to provide evidence of their knowledge, skills and any previous accreditation will receive up to 50% of the full qualification – three of the six modules in total.
Designed to suit the busy schedules of working professionals, the course was created to ‘plug the gap’ where there is a lack of management-specific training for individuals within the sport and physical activity sector. The flexibility of the micro-credential pathway empowers professionals to expand their knowledge while continuing their career, alongside personal commitments. With training delivered entirely online, learners can pick up their study in a location to suit them.
A personalised education journey
The Certificate of Higher Education in Sport Management is made up of six stackable modules, which means an individual can complete a single module and gain a standalone, professionally recognised qualification. The modules may be ‘stacked’ together to form the entire certificate, or the learner may choose to personalise their education and study only those necessary to meet the skills gaps that they are looking to fill.
To add the benefit of affordability into the mix, the major up-front cost of traditional courses is avoided when considering the price per module of the micro-credential option. Combine this with the availability of a payment plan and the accessibility increases further.
Balancing ambition and wellbeing
This new year, by taking an open approach to self-awareness, you could help to build resilience and nurture a growth mindset. But whilst ambition is a positive quality to possess, it is important to remain sustainable in your strategy for growth. That’s why the micro-credential learning pathway is the ideal fit for busy professionals as it offers the perfect balance between self-improvement and personal commitment.
By choosing to attain valuable skills to progress your career, you’ll be contributing to maintaining and developing your professional status – a key element of CIMSPA’s strategy that ensures the sport and physical activity sector’s workforce becomes professionally recognised by stakeholders and demonstrates credibility.
Find out more about micro-credentials
Apply now for Certificate of HE in Sport Management module