18 Coaching World |
The 11 ICF Core Competencies assist us in developing a consistent and structured approach to our coaching assignments . They are particularly relevant when we coach clients to continue to be relevant for the future of work in the face of ever-present and fast-paced demographic , socioeconomic , geopolitical and technological changes and trends .
The following Core Competencies are particularly useful to ensure that we focus on the potential impact of these issues :
• Active Listening
• Powerful Questioning
• Creating Awareness
• Designing Actions
• Planning and Goal Setting
With these competencies in mind , it is relevant to examine the commentary that has been presented in recent years around general megatrends and the future of work .
World Economic Forum Future of Jobs
The January 2016 World Economic Forum ( WEF ) in Davos , Switzerland , focused extensively on what is being termed the “ Fourth Industrial Revolution ” and the future of jobs and skills . The WEF addressed various drivers of change under two broad categories , demographic / socioeconomic and technological , with the top five drivers under each being :
Demographic / socioeconomic :
• Changing nature of work , flexible work
• Middle class in emerging markets
• Climate change , natural resources
• Geopolitical volatility
• Consumer ethics , privacy issues
|
Technological :
• Mobile internet , cloud technology
• Processing power , big data
• New energy supplies and technologies
• Internet of Things
• Sharing economy , crowdsourcing
While technology is an important driver of change , the above highlights that as coaches we need to attend to wider trends in order to provide an all-around context for conversations with our clients .
Megatrends
Consistent with the WEF approach , various advocacy bodies , think tanks and professional associations are now addressing megatrends ( i . e ., trends extending out five to 20 years ) with relevance to particular countries , industries and / or professions . One such example is Tomorrow ’ s Digitally Enabled Workforce , a 2016 report from Australia ’ s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation ( CSIRO ).
The CSIRO report outlines six megatrends that will impact the work force :
1 . Exponential growth in technological change
2 . Porous boundaries as a result of digital technology and the rise of platform economics
3 . The increased need for an entrepreneurial mindset among workers
4 . Greater diversity of cultures and generations in the workplace
5 . A rising bar for skills
6 . Continued growth in service industries
The implications of these megatrends will be significant for individuals , companies ,
|
communities and government . The CSIRO report articulates that new skills and mindsets will be required for the future with a greater focus on education , lifelong training , digital literacy and STEM ( science , technology , engineering and math ) skills . Personally , I have also have observed that some commentators are suggesting there should be an “ A ” in STEM ( making it STEAM ) to reflect the importance of the arts .
These megatrends will require changes in attitudes and mindsets for coaches and our clients to remain agile and relevant in a dynamic labor market . The CSIRO report outlines several areas to focus on , including :
• Changing perceptions about job types as demographics and consumer needs and tastes change
• Addressing new business and employment models
• Reflecting the rise of the sharing and freelancing economies
As coaches , we need to be aware of these trends and implications to ensure that we are asking our clients the right questions .
Competencies for the Future
In 2014 , Korn Ferry released its updated Leadership Architect model with a new suite of 38 competencies required in the world of work today . These competencies can be used to design employment roles from entry-level individual contributors to senior executives in any organization .
Korn Ferry undertook significant research to identify the correlations between competencies and promotability by position level . At more senior levels , the top six competencies identified by Korn Ferry are :
|