What is your Upskilling style?
It really isn’t an option anymore. Upskilling is a necessity if you want to stay relevant in current times.
And it is not only technical or domain skills that we need to upskill on. As per a World Economic Forum report, the top skill groups that employers see as rising in prominence in the lead up to 2025 include groups such as — Critical thinking, Problem solving, Resilience, Stress tolerance, Flexibility and Active Learning.
The need for upskilling is here to stay and it is an ongoing process.
We all tackle upskilling in different ways. Here are 5 common types of upskilling styles:
- The ‘Make-a-dent-everyday’ type
There is so much to learn and there are unlimited avenues. So, let me catch a podcast, watch a video, read a book or browse through an article a day.
2) The ‘Get-it-in-writing’ type
What’s the fun in learning if you don’t get a formal stamp? So, I’ll go ahead and register for courses, complete them and accumulate certificates.
3) The ‘No-boundaries’ type
I learned everything within my field, but what if I’m missing something in an adjacent area? So, why limit myself to NFTs and Web3, when I can also learn about Neurotechnology and Nanobots? You get the drift.
4) The ‘Do-it-when-forced’ type
I hear upskilling is important and I know I need to get started. If my organization or manager thinks it is important, let them nominate or sponsor me for a training and I’ll do it.
5) The ‘Head-in-the-sand’ type
Well, other industries and other types of jobs might require upskilling, but my role doesn’t require anything new. So, I’ll continue to do my work that way I’ve always done it and I’ll leave my blinders on.
Does any of this ring a bell?
Which type can you identify with?
There is no right or wrong type, except the ‘Head-in-the-sand’ type which is a risky attitude to have. And the ‘Do-it-when-forced’ attitude doesn’t help either.
The need for upskilling is here to stay. Make it a part of your daily life.
My motto around this is that ‘A knowledge capsule a day, keep obsolescence at bay.’
Read books, subscribe to podcasts or video channels and follow people who share valuable content on social media channels.
