The rhythm of skill development
Gregory Ronczewski leads the design of the TeamFit platform
When someone asks "what do you do", the name of your job role or project role allows you to quickly answer this question. There is no need to dive into the details to explain what it takes to fill your role. What we often miss is that this role sits on top of many layers of roles, projects, people and all sorts of experiences that make it possible for o do our jobs. We adjust quickly to new environments by adding new skills required by the fast moving professional landscape. Sometimes our new role is really challenging. Sometimes everything fits well and to our surprise we excel. What is hard to others seems natural and easy.
As we move through life, every skill, every experience built layer after layer makes us who we are. Everything matters. Skills that are very distant suddenly connect and power new skills from a totally different domain. At TeamFit we pay close attention to Complementary and Associated Skills. Similar to principles of cognition, skills have many "shortcuts" connecting and helping us so we can get better at what we do. TeamFit's skill recommendation technology helps you to uncover those hidden gems and make new connections between your skills.
Let's look at few examples. If you study music, play an instrument solo or with a group, you develop a whole range of skills that come really handy in very different environments. Playing music together is far more about listening to the others then concentrating on your own performance. You need to have divisible attention not only to control your left and right hands but also to follow your team. Rhythm is the key. Now, rhythm is also the key component when it comes to designing interactions. Fast, fast, slow, slow slow. Team-based projects, regardless of the domain, will benefit from members who understand principles of how seemingly unimportant "bits" contribute to the overall success - a natural behaviour in any music ensemble.
Language skills, apart from being handy in all sorts of social situations, really shine when it comes to solving wicked problems. A skillful translator needs to zoom out and find the overall meaning of the text, the underlining message that is often hidden from the word-to-word translation. Then dive back into the details of the syntax. This in and out rhythm, going from the big picture and then close up, is an important skill in itself. Good translators have the skill to uncover connections that are not visible to others. Learning a new language also forces you to a rather uncomfortable position when you feel lost and unable to communicate. Overcoming those moments train you to be prepared and not be afraid of new things, like learning a new scripting language.
Architects possess visualization skills which give them an insight into how to translate a 2D flat drawing into a 3D environment. Almost everything now is done with help of CAD software and many studios are using VR technology to fully "experience" a 3D space. Skills that architects take for granted offer incredible value when it comes to designing virtual spaces, interactions and online platforms. Creating interactions for a complex enterprise software is quite similar to planning an airport of a subway station.
On TeamFit we are seeing more and more 'multi-career profiles.' The days when a person could start a career from a junior position and move through all the steps in a linear progression are mostly gone. The modern world requires us to be nimble, able to change and switch paths. Don't be afraid of the new and unknown. The key to success is to use your whole potential. Starting a new chapter in your professional live doesn't mean that past roles fade away. On the contrary, past roles are a kind of skill repository. The role may be over, but the skills are alive and worth looking at. TeamFit is a great tool to gather all your skills. Look at the pattern of the whole, then filter them down to specific areas. Look at other people with similar job roles. Compare and see differences, gaps and trends.
We don't think about our professional live in terms of skills, but really, our skills are why we are hired. Understanding your skills is the key to navigating your career and unlocking your potential.
