It’s impossible to know everything. You cannot be an expert in every aspect of your job or the work of your department. So what is a reasonable expectation for the level of expertise you should bring to your work?
I know a lot of leaders would fundamentally disagree with me, but I’m going to set the bar fairly low on this one, with a caveat. I prefer to work with individuals who bring robust “soft skills” to the job as opposed to folks who walk in the door on day one with all the hard skills they need for their work.
The fact is, business is dynamic. Everything is in flux. You can’t count on your existing skills for a long period of time. As the market, industry, competition, etc. change, we all need the ability to adapt at the same pace. Often we need to pioneer that change ourselves. This is how we stay ahead of the curve and contribute as real players in the industries we serve.
What is the ideal skillset that I prefer my team to bring to the table?
I can adamantly say, RESOURCEFULNESS!
If you are interested, capable and resourceful, I have faith you can figure out just about anything. So be resourceful. Bring curiosity and the willingness to learn. That is how job candidates and team members alike earn my respect.
I don’t need you to have all the answers. I need you to figure it out and be honest when you transfer your knowledge. Arrogance has no place in the Smart Self culture. And if you don’t know but you pretend you do, that is false confidence (a.k.a. arrogance).
The key to employee success
Inquire, research and share your learning. I believe this is the key to employee success in today’s competitive and dynamic market.
Admitting you don’t know something critical to your work, researching it and sharing your learning requires that you admit you don’t know it all. It takes humility. It takes faith in your ability to strive and succeed.
The playing field isn’t level today anyway because everyone isn’t learning at the same pace. Embrace it and internalize that expertise is not a destination. Be an expert in learning!