Not all that can be counted, counts.
Apr 23 / Dr. Nicki Spies
There is a famous quote:
“Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.”
How does this relate to our world today and the new normal which emerged due to the Covid-19 pandemic?
For many decades we often sacrificed our health in order to acquire wealth, just to have it completely turned upside down within weeks due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Which leaves me with the question:
What should really count? How do we look at the intersections of our lives and how we relate to these?
It is through this reflection that I derived at some of gifts that the pandemic and time of isolation brought us. Amidst the devastation of lost lives and economic catastrophe. For me, this time of heighten anxiety brought a deepened awareness of the interconnectedness of our world. What happens in Italy today will affect me here in South Africa tomorrow.
What the president of any one country decide to do regarding the Corona virus, will reflect in your and my life. The outcome of every country’s management of this virus, will spread to each and every corner of the world. Just as the virus spread within days through the international airports of the major cities of our global village.
What the president of any one country decide to do regarding the Corona virus, will reflect in your and my life. The outcome of every country’s management of this virus, will spread to each and every corner of the world. Just as the virus spread within days through the international airports of the major cities of our global village.
Close to home
Let’s look at how the different aspects of our well-being are interconnected: physical, mental, spiritual, relational, financial, intellectual, cultural and environmental. Not one of these aspects of our human state can operate in isolation. It will have an impact on all the other areas of our life.
Often, we think only of the negative impact, but how about if we turn our focus on that which is good in our life. If we focus on how wellness in these different aspects of our being can support those aspects that are suffering. For example, if our relationships are in a good place it can support us during financial difficulties.
When we feel emotionally safe in our relationships, we have the resilience to explore alternatives and to find innovative solutions for challenges. Identify what aspects of your life still holds joy for you. What supports you in this time of change? Our inner and external worlds are inter-connected. Each of these will impact each other for better and for worse.
At the moment most of us are having to organise our time and physical space in new ways. During this period of changed time allocation, it will serve us well to allot some time to reflect on how we connect to ourselves, but also to others.
Let us direct the gift of reflection towards how we engage with our work in order to create financial security. Let us not forego this incredible gift that this time of physical distance offer us.
Often, we think only of the negative impact, but how about if we turn our focus on that which is good in our life. If we focus on how wellness in these different aspects of our being can support those aspects that are suffering. For example, if our relationships are in a good place it can support us during financial difficulties.
When we feel emotionally safe in our relationships, we have the resilience to explore alternatives and to find innovative solutions for challenges. Identify what aspects of your life still holds joy for you. What supports you in this time of change? Our inner and external worlds are inter-connected. Each of these will impact each other for better and for worse.
At the moment most of us are having to organise our time and physical space in new ways. During this period of changed time allocation, it will serve us well to allot some time to reflect on how we connect to ourselves, but also to others.
Let us direct the gift of reflection towards how we engage with our work in order to create financial security. Let us not forego this incredible gift that this time of physical distance offer us.

In conclusion
I would like to leave you with the following questions:
What do you need to thrive instead of just survive? We have one life, let’s make the most of it. Make it count.
- What is the impact of your relationship with your work on your personal well-being?
- What affect do you have on the well-being of others?
- What is it that you need to address or change in order to enable well-being for yourself and those you work with?
What do you need to thrive instead of just survive? We have one life, let’s make the most of it. Make it count.
Dr. Nicki Spies
COUNSELOR | COACH | PUBLIC SPEAKER
About me
Applying my expertise as coach, counsellor, facilitator and researcher I create training and developmental modules for individuals and teams to maximise their personal and professional potential.
Outcomes
At the end of the session the attendee should be able to:
- Logon to LTS and understand the LTS environment.
- Trainee to create and update a Skills Review (SR = TSR + PSR)
- Reviewer to sign off a Skill Review (SR)
- Know the answers to some frequently asked questions (SRs)
- Know and can implement the necessary LTS user administration and user maintenance activities (Audience: all LTS users & Training office Administrator)
- Extract all the necessary LTS reports and use the correct functions to monitor timelines, open documents and compliance requirements on the system (Audience: Trainees, Managers, Training Office Administrator, Training Officer).
- How to transfer my historical information to LTS (Audience: Trainee & Assessor)
- ANA opening balances (rates & development needs) and capturing of core hours.
- Assessor review and sign off on LTS
Outcomes
At the end of the session each attendee should be able to:
First time logon to LTS
- Logon to LTS and understand the LTS environment
Skill Reviews
- Review and finalise a Skill Review (SR = TSR + PSR)
- Basic vs Advanced complexity levels
- Difference between the rating difference process and when to reverse an SR to the trainee
- Know the relevant PwC & ICAZ document timeline requirements and responsibilities of the different role-players (trainees and reviewers)
- Relevant reports to track progress
Assessment Needs Analysis (ANA)
- Prepare for the one-on-one discussion: the relevant process, and responsibilities of each role-player
- The one-on-one discussion and what needs to be finalised
- Understand when and why the need for development plans in the ANA
- Know the relevant PwC & ICAZ ANA timeline requirements and responsibilities of the role-player (trainees, evaluators and assessors)
- Understand the impact of skills / tasks signed off by the Assessor = COMPETENT
- How to measure a trainee’s progress on their training programme
- Relevant reports and checks if a trainee can be discharged from his/her ICAZ training program.
- ANA opening balances and core hours – how this will be transferred to LTS and relevance in the next ANA discussions.
Outcomes
Key outcomes of this session:
- PC2 and PC4, and what constitutes acceptable evidence for these 2 PC values in particular.
- The SAICA requirements around acceptable evidence for both the PC Values and the other professional skills.
- The SAICA decision trees and how to make the right selections when using them.
- Understand the difference between basic and advanced complexity levels.
Outcomes
At the end of the session the attendee should be able to:
- Logon to LTS and understand the LTS environment
- Create and Update a Skill Review (SR = TSR + PSR)
- Know the relevant PwC & ICAZ document timeline requirements and responsibilities of the role-player (trainees and reviewers)
- Create and finalise an ANA, the relevant process, and responsibilities of each role-player
- Understand when and why the need for development plans in the ANA.
- Understand the impact of skills / tasks signed off as COMPETENT by the assessor
- Know the relevant PwC & ICAZ ANA timeline requirements and responsibilities of the role-player (trainees, evaluators and assessors)
- How to effectively use your LTS reports to monitor your training programme
- Know when a trainee can be discharged from his/her training contract and LTS requirements regarding relevant evidence and documents.
- The process to transfer your monthly core hours to LTS and impact during the ANA discussion
Outcomes
At the end of the session each attendee should be able to:
First time logon to LTS
Skills Reviews
Reports and incomplete notifications
- Logon to LTS and understand the LTS environment
Skills Reviews
- Trainee to create and update a Skill Review (SR = TSR + PSR)
- Importance of PC- and Professional Skill evidence to be specific, positive and verifiable
- Reviewer to review and finalise a Skill Review
- Reviewer assign an overall rate and give an overall comment on trainee’s performance in the SR
- How to handle rating differences. Reviewer and trainee activities.
- What to do id PC- or professional skill evidence is not sufficient?
Reports and incomplete notifications
- Score Grid Reports: Summary of evaluation on competency framework
- Incomplete notifications (Automated & generated by administrator)
CA2025 Training
SAICA EAT: Formative and Summative Assessments
- Practical tutorial on how to submit formative assessments/LOR’s with specific focus on the role of the trainee and the role of the reviewer. Includes examples as part of the session.
- Demonstration of what the quality of the evidence submitted by the trainee must look like.
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