How Can You Prepare Your Clients for Any Future?

09/01/19

Sophia Symeou is the CEO and co-founder of INS Career Management, a specialist organisation providing practical people management solutions that align people, process and structure to create workforces for the future. In this article, an adaptation of Sophia’s presentation at the 2018 CDAA conference, she describes the importance of  attribute based learning to navigating the rapid change that characterises the 21st century world of work.

In the traditional model of career development, a person spends years learning a specific skill set then looks to get the right job to put it all into practice. The issue we are now facing with this approach, is that the employment landscape is changing faster and is more unpredictable than in any other time in history.

For example, in the time it takes to complete a 3-year marketing degree, your entry level role will likely be enabled by software that may not have been a part of your curriculum. This common journey will inevitably leave many of us behind as technology moves faster than education and relevant skills quickly become outdated.

Additionally, employer expectations of what jobs may entail will more than likely continue to change, and people need to stay on top of these changes to stay relevant. As a Career Development Practitioner, your purpose is to prepare your clients for a successful and sustainable career.

In my career, I have discovered that Attribute based learning goes well beyond technical skills. Learning that is Attribute focused helps your clients proactively prepare for change. It also breaks down their mental barriers as many people pigeon-hole themselves into a particular employment function, rather than consider how their skills can be transferable to other jobs, industries and new career paths.

At INS, we have identified the *8 Attributes and *8 Approaches that will see people through to a successful career journey, regardless of their chosen path. These 8 attributes teach a person about how to adapt to any situation and that their skills are transferable in many ways.

The attributes are:

*Adapted from Future of Jobs Report, World Economic Forum, January 2016

Attribute based learning goes well beyond a specific role. It helps people to be ready for change to increase their adaptability and advance beyond skills, technology and career trends. This learning can be implemented immediately, in any setting and more importantly in any workplace. 

Attributes transcend skills

The big question that many face is, will my job be needed in the future? How do you prepare your people for the real world, even if they work at tomorrow’s Blockbuster Videos? What are the attributes that are applicable to everyone in every role and what skills will go the way of the old world bowling alley pinsetter?

Highlighting the importance of attribute based learning will see your clients through times of change where their skills can become irrelevant or obsolete. Additionally, teaching people to use their attributes to see change as an opportunity instead of a threat, is vital to a successful future. Why be the cab driver protesting Uber when you can add it your service and make sure you still get a piece of the pie?

Attributes transcend technology

The current trend is to automate whatever we can. From driverless cars to self-serving check-outs, it’s clear that things are changing rapidly in the workplace. We must then ask ourselves, what and most importantly who, will be left standing? And if even a medical degree can be superseded by your smartphone monitoring your heart rate and blood pressure, who will possess the secret sauce to secured employment into the future?

The truth is, we don't know. But what we do know is that there are attributes we must possess to stay relevant in the workforces for the future, regardless of technology.

Attributes transcend trends

Developing Attributes will assist you to pivot with workplace trends whether you need to learn to work independently from home or adapt to new workplace structures. The new gig economy sees many people developing a different way of working such as having a  “portfolio career” or pursuing the life of a “digital nomad”.

So many of the workplace trends that many enjoy today, were unthinkable 10 years ago.

Today we can visit someone abroad and still dial into a meeting back at the office. We can structure our lives to only work 3-4 days a week. Attribute based learning teaches a person to roll with the punches and still be productive under any circumstances.

Success without a crystal ball

Attribute based learning prepares a person for any workplace, at any age, regardless of changes in technology, employment landscape or market trends. Every day we see examples of everyone, from school leavers to business leaders trying to anticipate the future to stay relevant. But the truth is, none of us can anticipate the future. No one knows what the new trends will be or what advancements in workplace operations will occur. What we do know, is that people who work on their transferable skills are well ahead of the pack in adapting to the ever-moving career landscape. They will step up, take their core attributes and apply them to whatever situation the future may hold.

With attribute based learning you will build the Workforce for the Future.