?? The Skills-First Revolution: Transforming Careers, Cultures, and Companies ??
Jane Underwood
Senior Director Learning and Leadership Development | Driving Talent & Leadership Strategy for Business Growth
I recently had the pleasure of discussing the Skills-First Approach on the Learning Hack Podcast ???, exploring how the accelerating pace of change is reshaping career development and workforce planning. Reflecting on my career, I’ve witnessed firsthand the barriers created by rigid competency frameworks and traditional career ladders. A Skills-First Approach offers a transformative alternative—it empowers employees to build new skills, move cross-functionally across the business, and embrace the concept of squiggly careers.
Competency Framework Model - Challenges:
1? Lack of Flexibility: Competency frameworks often create rigid structures that can’t adapt to evolving business needs. This confines employees to static career paths and limits opportunities for growth.
2? Inhibiting Cross-Functional Movement: Traditional ladders restrict exploration of roles in other areas, hindering internal mobility—key to skill development in today's versatile workforce.
3? Focus on Static Skills Over Dynamic Abilities: Competency frameworks prioritize defined skills over adaptable ones like learning agility, stifling broader employee development.
4? Overlooking Emerging Roles and Skills: With rapid advancements, frameworks often fail to address emerging skills like AI or digital literacy, leaving companies at a competitive disadvantage.
5? Employee Engagement and Motivation: Perceived rigidity in career ladders can demotivate employees, causing them to seek growth opportunities outside the organization.
Enter Squiggly Careers:
A squiggly career is a dynamic and flexible approach to career development, encouraging lateral, diagonal, or even unconventional moves. This method enables individuals to:
Unlike traditional ladders, squiggly careers foster agility, engagement, and innovation, aligning personal aspirations with business needs.
Benefits of a Skills-First Approach:
A skills-first culture creates an agile, future-proof organization while fostering employee engagement and retention. Here’s how it transforms business success:
1? Agility in a Changing World: In a fast-paced environment, a skills-first strategy allows companies to redeploy talent quickly, responding to shifting priorities and market trends without disruption.
2? Enhancing Employee Engagement: When employees see clear pathways for growth, aligned with their aspirations, engagement levels soar. A LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report revealed that 94% of employees are more likely to stay at a company that invests in their career development.
3? Bridging Skill Gaps: AI-powered talent marketplaces match employees to opportunities based on their current skills and desired career trajectories, effectively addressing organizational skill shortages and enabling employees to upskill in real-time.
4? Maximizing Workforce Potential: Breaking down silos allows organizations to unlock hidden talent. Employees gain exposure to different roles, bringing diverse perspectives to teams, improving collaboration, and increasing productivity across departments.
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5? Driving Innovation and Inclusion: By democratizing opportunities through transparent talent marketplaces, organizations promote diversity and inclusion. This inclusivity fuels creativity and innovation, creating a competitive edge.
?? Statistic Spotlight: The World Economic Forum estimates that implementing a skills-first approach could add over 100 million people to the global talent pool across 18 major economies, showcasing its immense potential for addressing workforce challenges and unlocking talent.
How to Embrace a Skills-First Approach:
Cultivate a Skills-First Mindset: Foster a culture that prioritizes skills over job titles, creating a unified language for skills across the organization.
Identify Skill Gaps: Assess current and future skill needs to align workforce planning with strategic goals.
Leverage Technology: Adopt AI-driven talent marketplaces to match employees with opportunities, improve workforce planning, and close skill gaps effectively.
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My Recent Insights on Skills Strategy:
I recently facilitated a deep dive into this topic at the Inventiv - Learning Futures 'Executive Knowledge Exchange' in London. It was an enriching discussion with leaders on Bridging the Skills Gap at Scale to Create Future-ready Organizations. These conversations highlight the challenges and opportunities in embracing a skills-first strategy.
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Conclusion:
As businesses and roles evolve, the ability to adapt and grow through a skills-first approach is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. By empowering employees to navigate squiggly careers and fostering a skills-first culture, organizations can thrive in a competitive and ever-changing landscape. Let’s bridge the gap, harness talent, and build a future-ready workforce together.
?? What are your thoughts on adopting a skills-first approach? Have you experienced the benefits of squiggly careers or talent marketplaces in your organization? I’d love to hear your insights in the comments!
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#SkillsFirst #CareerDevelopment #SquigglyCareers #TalentMarketplace #FutureOfWork #EmployeeEngagement #LearningAndDevelopment #LeadershipGrowth #OrganizationalStrategy