The fast changing world we live in
Leaders are feeling the pressure of always being on. Every day there seems to be a new problem, and not a small one either. We live in rapidly changing times, where the only constant is change itself. The VUCA world, as it's been called, brings with it unprecedented levels of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Navigating this new landscape is a significant challenge for businesses and their leaders. Traditional working practices may no longer be enough to keep pace with the pace of change, and leaders must find new and innovative ways of working. In this blog post, we'll explore the agile skills-based workforce model and why it may be the key to future-proofing your business.
The Problem:
The traditional workforce model is built on a foundation of formal, narrowly defined jobs and job titles. Employees are typically recruited and promoted based on their job title and the job description that comes with it. Hierarchy and structure is important and solid. This approach may have worked well in the past, but in today's fast-moving world, it can be a significant impediment to growth and innovation.
The Solution:
A growing number of forward-thinking organisations are moving away from this model and adopting a new skills-based approach out of necessity. The skills-based workforce model is based on hiring employees based on their skills, capabilities, and interests. Instead of looking at job titles, leaders focus on the specific skills required for a particular project or task. This approach allows leaders to be more flexible in their hiring strategy, focusing on the needs of the business rather than the needs of the individual. It also allows for more diversity in the workforce, as businesses can tap into a wider pool of talent regardless of their formal job title.
One of the primary advantages of a skills-based approach is that it makes businesses more agile. Instead of being tied to rigid job descriptions and hierarchies, organisations can quickly adapt to changing market conditions and pivot in new directions. It also helps businesses to retain employees who might otherwise leave due to a lack of career progression. By focusing on an employee's skills and interests rather than their job title, businesses can offer more diverse and challenging work, making it more likely that employees will stay with the organization long-term.
The workforce is formed with a blend of talents, full time, part time, contractors, working on site, remote or in a hybrid way. Just like in the Avengers, when a problem needs fixing, a team assembles based on the right skills, at the right time, working in the right way. Matrix or agile teams are assembled, then disassembled and moved on to other projects. Leadership is based on team formation and team outcomes. You bring in people when you need them, meaning it can be more cost-effective than hiring people to stay in their lane on a full time basis. This approach allows organisations to scale up or down quickly depending on the needs of the business, avoiding the cost and complexity of maintaining a large, permanent workforce. It also gives businesses access to a wider pool of external talent, allowing them to bring in specialist skills when required.
Leaders need to upskill themselves to become agile and flexible leaders. They may have grown their skills in the old model, but need to let go of their hierarchy, command and control style. The GenZ and youngest Millennials are already mastered in flexible working and living and are already searching for roles that give them work life integration.
In conclusion, the skills-based workforce model is an innovative and forward-thinking approach to work that can help businesses thrive in a VUCA world. By focusing on skills, capabilities, and interests rather than job titles, organizations can become more agile, diverse, and cost-effective. It also offers more significant possibilities for providing challenging and fulfilling work to employees, leading to greater job satisfaction and retention. If you're a CEO or leader looking to future-proof your business, it's worth considering adopting a more skills-based approach to hiring and managing your workforce.
Lucy Barkas
Leadership and Team Development Coach