A Brief History of Competencies
Competencies have been around as a concept for centuries. We can trace them back to the medieval guilds, where apprentices learned skills by working with a master. The idea of competencies as we know them today was first proposed by David McClelland (1973). McClelland was asked by the United States Foreign Service to develop new methods for predicting successful job performance. He developed competencies for each position as well as interview questions to measure these competencies. Today many Fortune 500 and small companies alike, use competencies to hire, develop, and retain their best people.
So, what are competencies? They refer to a cluster of related knowledge, skills, abilities, or other characteristics defined in terms of the observable behaviors needed for success. Competencies provide a common language that helps to define what a person must be able to know and do to be successful. They describe observable behaviors and should answer the question, “how do I know it when I see it”?
The Future of Competencies
The need for competencies will continue to grow as the world of work continues to rapidly evolve. Automation, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and nanotechnology are just some of the technological advances that are changing our way of work. As advances in technology and automation eliminate some jobs, while creating new opportunities, certain competencies will become more critical and valuable. Those competencies that can be considered more “soft-skills” or transferable behaviors that apply to a variety of jobs will become the currency of the future. Here are seven competencies that will allow employees to succeed now and in the future:
- Innovation: One thing that technology is not likely to replicate is our ability to think outside the box and to generate new and creative ideas to address the needs of today and tomorrow. No matter the industry or specific job this is one competency that will always be in demand.
- Problem Solving: The problems we face are becoming more complex. The ability to define a problem and identify the solutions needed to solve them is critical to the future world of work.
- Collaboration: The way in which people work together or collaborate is changing. Collaboration is no longer limited by face-to-face connections or geographical boundaries. However, there will always be a need to work well with others from diverse backgrounds in order to reach shared goals.
- Adaptability: As technology and the world of work continue to evolve being able to deal with changing and uncertain situations is critical.
- Communication: Being able to clearly get your point across and to share ideas and information with others has always been an important competency. The method we use to get our point across is likely to continue to evolve, so it is important to be able to communicate clearly no matter the method or circumstances.
- Client Centric: People who can put the customer first and deliver quality customer service to people both within and outside the organization will be able to thrive in any industry.
- Self-Awareness and Awareness of Others: Being able to recognize and understand our emotions and empathize with others is critical to collaboration and especially critical for leaders as they support their employees to learn and thrive.
The future world of work is bright and ever-changing but with the right competencies, employees can continue to thrive and succeed. To learn more about these competencies and other competencies needed now and in the future, visit Perennial Talent.