Static Skill sets vs. Evolving skill sets: Navigating an ever-changing landscape ... Oh What To Do

The following is a brief introduction to the topic:

The skills needed to succeed in today's fast paced workplace are constantly evolving.?The days of a single set of skills being enough to secure a career for life are gone.?This brings up an important question: Is it better to be a permanent learner and have a dynamic skill set, or a specialist with a fixed skill set??This article will explore the pros and cons for each approach.

Static Skill sets: The Specialist Route

Benefits

1. Expertise?: By specializing, you can become an expert on a specific topic.
2. Recognition?As an expert you will be more likely to get hired for specific tasks or roles.
3. Job security: Having specialized skills can make you an indispensable person in a certain niche.

Disadvantages

1. Limited Flexibility?: Focusing on one skill set may make you less flexible to change.
2. Obsolescence?: A static skill set may become obsolete in a job market that is rapidly changing.

Generalist Route: Evolving skill sets

Benefits

1. Adaptability?Being a generalist allows you to easily adapt to different roles and tasks.
2. Diverse Job Opportunities: A broad skill set can lead to a variety of job opportunities.
3. Personal Development: Continuous learning leads to professional and personal development.

Disadvantages

1. Lacking Expertise?You may have a good grasp of many things, but you lack the depth and knowledge of a specialist.
2. Career Focus?: It can be hard to establish yourself as an expert in a particular field without specialization.

Striking the Balance

Many experts recommend a "T"-shaped skill set that combines depth of specialization with breadth of general abilities (the horizontal bar).?This approach has the best of both worlds. It provides both specialized knowledge and flexibility.

I remember my next employee from 30 years ago, who spoke about her husband who was very skilled at a particular piece of equipment.?He was a great guy and had been doing the same job for over 20 years.?This article is not about the unions nor does it have a message for unions.?My co-worker's husband lost his skills and marketability because his union was fighting to get a new contract. The CEO of this publicly listed company got tired of the argument, so he moved all of the jobs overseas.?She blamed this CEO who was again being pressured to increase wages by the union during a year when the company wasn't making money.?It's not that there's a message, but rather you wouldn't raise wages or expenses if you were losing money. What was at the core of this challenge is that a man who mastered a skill set was suddenly obsolete. The CEO's role is to run the business, while my coworkers' husband was responsible for developing himself. He subconsciously, if he wasn't consciously, chose to keep doing the same thing.?This is not criticism, but rather a description that reflects reality.?His skills weren't marketable anymore and we were not needed by any other companies.?He sat idle for over 20 years, assuming that his job would stay the same.?It is rare that companies or jobs stay the same for more than 20 years.?

The story highlights an important and complex facet of the job market. It is the vulnerability that comes from specialization in one skill set.?Specializing in one skill for a while can provide job security and stability, but it can also have a negative impact if an industry changes, or if jobs are relocated, like in the case of the husband of your co-worker.

This is a great example of a skill set that was once highly valued but has now become outdated.?It's easy to blame one party for another, whether it's a CEO who moved jobs or a union that pushed for higher wages. But the reality is much more nuanced.?The job market, technology, and business landscapes continue to change, and workers are caught up in the web.

It is important to continue developing your skills in order to stay marketable.?It is not that specializations are bad. But, it is that, even within a particular specialty, learning and adaptability is crucial.?Today's workers must prepare themselves for an uncertain and fluid future.

It's a harsh lesson that many workers face today, but also a warning: No job is guaranteed in perpetuity. And the responsibility of learning and adapting to change falls to the individual.

Applying QALMS:

When it comes to evolving skill sets, it is incumbent for leaders and ourselves to use a coaching framework to develop the needed skill sets going forward.

Questions: ask the following questions: what are you doing to evolve? What are you doing to raise your game to position yourself for the inevitable change and challenge coming?

Activities: What activities do you need to participate in to facilitate positive change?

Learning Projects: What weekly accountability actions are you gonna report to a body or to your boss to maintain continuity of the evolving skill set?

Motivator: How will an evolving, skill set serve your motivation of becoming whatever you want to become?

Supplemental coaching – what books or videos or courses are being attended to facilitate positive change and educate oneself

The conclusion of the article is:

In an age where technology and change are constants, the ability to adapt is the best option.?There is still a need for experts with static skill sets, especially in areas that require deep expertise.?It may be best to combine specialized knowledge and a willingness for adaptability and learning new skills.

Understanding the pros and cons of static and changing skill sets will help individuals make an informed decision about their career path that is in line with their goals and meets the needs of the modern workplace.

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