7 ways to upskill in a skills based economy
In today’s market, Covid-19 has disrupted the workplace like never before, and with that comes major adjustments for not only employers, but you too as an employee. We’ve had a significant shift into a WFH lifestyle, for some unfortunately missing out on work for an extended period of time and for others juggling home and work life, as one.
Just over two years from the beginning of the pandemic and we are now adjusting back into the office environment, and with that means a more connected team, visibility and growth. For others, it’s a complete change of industry due to sudden market changes, or a complete re-evaluation of what working looks like post-Covid.
It is in these unique times that we should be reflecting on career achievements and strengths, adapting to new demands and forward planning to future proof skills. It is now more important than ever to continuously develop skills as we enter into a skills based economy (more reading here on what a skills based economy looks like, by Forbes).
In my opinion, part of the journey to improving is not just having the skills, but also having confidence within ourselves to execute, and that is absolutely part of the development journey.
I gave it some good thought and decided to share with you 7 tips that I believe are crucial in bridging the skills gap for future success and confidence:
Know what you want: You have to know what you want to achieve in order to succeed. This is a time of self reflection, think about what your key strengths are, what motivates you and what you are genuinely passionate about.
Seek feedback: In order to develop yourself professionally, you will need to consistently seek feedback from your manager, peers, direct reports and stakeholders to identify key areas of strengths, along with areas that require development. There are a number of ways you can do this including; Key Performance Objective (KPO/KPI) discussions, feedback surveys, one-on-one meetings and by asking your manager, customers, or stakeholders directly. You can then use this feedback to develop a tool or a plan to actively work on making improvements where required. (Add this to your professional development plan).
How to bridge a personal skills gap: whether it is a leadership, behavioural or technical skills gap, the earlier you identify that gap, the quicker you can take action to improve that skill. Consider undertaking a course, workshop or training in relation to that particular skill. You could also ask your manager for one-on-one training if it is feasible. There are some great online resources that will assist you in upskilling, such as Udacity and LinkedIn Learning if you are looking at undertaking a short course.
Have career conversations early: if you are considering taking on increased responsibility, change of job or change in industry altogether, you need to have a conversation with your manager or someone directly from the relevant department. For natural career progression, speak directly to your manager and make them aware that you are considering a particular opportunity which aligns to your career objectives.
Remember, no application means that the hiring manager or recruiter has no idea that you are interested!
Work backwards from your career goal: consider the various positions between your ideal position and your current position. You might need to do some research to understand what kind of tasks, skills or achievements you will need to develop in order to reach your goal. This should form part of your ongoing professional development plan too.
Get involved in projects: this is a solid way to gain exposure within other departments that interest you. Reach out to the manager of a particular department or ask to be introduced to that department by a mutual contact. Ask about any current or upcoming projects that you could get involved in (ensuring your manager is also supportive). This is a great way to increase your profile and visibility within the business and a great way to network!
Validate your strengths: seek feedback from your manager, colleagues and stakeholders to better understand your strengths and weaknesses. This will not only guide you to further develop in key areas, it will also highlight your strengths therefore improving your confidence.
I hope there is at least one take away tip to support you in developing your skills and confidence.
Feel free to leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on the topic!
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