The Importance of
Upskilling By Paula Quinsee
Upskilling yourself has never been more critical than now , whether that be to cope with what is happening in our world , or to cope with what the world is going to look like in a few months ( or years ) from now . We ’ re having to re-look how we do things , not only now during lockdown , but also in the future , because the normal as we know it , is likely not going to be the same ever again .
Live Well
If you are a more cautious decision-maker , who likes to assess and analyse all your options and data available to you first before making a decision , or you are the type of person who does not cope well with an ever-changing environment , you may well be feeling challenged and overwhelmed at the moment . On the other hand , if you are the type of person that is more extroverted and thrives on social interaction , but has been confined to isolation through enforced social distancing , or you are the type of person that needs a structured environment to work within and you don ’ t have much structure in place now , it would be normal if you were feeling agitated and overwhelmed .
Naturally , this will no doubt be having an impact on your emotional indicators ( stress levels ) and reactive behaviour ( default traits and coping mechanisms ), and how you respond to the environment you find yourself in now . While some people might still be getting to grips with remote working , processes , policies and change , others have settled into some form of routine and are beginning to cope with their new reality . However , some people have starting to come out of lockdown , only to realise that there is no going back to the ‘ normal ’ we knew before , but rather there is a new normal .
Surviving the Crisis Situation
Upskilling yourself does not only have to mean professional skills . Find some quiet time to sit down and jot down any short- , medium- and longterm tasks you would like to finish , areas you would improve in or change , or new skills you want to acquire – whether that be personally , professionally , in your relationships , or in terms of health and fitness .
This can range from adjusting to working in confinement , establishing a routine to keep the kids on track with their learning and entertained while schools are closed , stopping smoking , finishing your studies , learning a new skill or behaviour , or more . This helps you to flesh out an action plan that helps to give you a sense of being in control of your life , versus life happening to you , and the ability to be prepared and proactive rather than waiting for the right time or the right moment . The right moment is the moment you take that first step .
One key thing to consider is what the world of the future is going to look like in your current job or role , and how do you not only remain relevant when we get out of lockdown , but also add value going forward ? If you are facing the risk of being a company casualty due to the financial impact on your business , then now more than ever , you need to be proactive in upskilling , reinventing yourself and finding new opportunities to step into .
Time to Adapt
As we ’ ve seen during this period , critical skillsets that are needed right now include the ability to be flexible , adaptable , resilient and value-adding . Perhaps now is the time to do a personal development assessment
( PDA ) to understand where your
strengths lie , your core competencies ( i . e . flexibility , adaptability , managing change and risk ) and whether you have the capacity to develop these traits . Selfdevelopment is something everyone should be taking seriously right now , because skills , knowledge and insights are the one thing you can take with you wherever you go .
Also , now is the time when our leadership skills are being exposed in a big way , not only in the decisions we make , but more importantly , how we are showing up for our family , friends , colleagues , clients and teammates . The world is seeking leaders that are empathetic , compassionate and generous with their time , insights , knowledge and bringing together collective strengths . Now more than ever is the time for us to collaborate , innovate and build our future together .
Paula Quinsee is a relationship and life coach , Tedx speaker and author of Embracing Conflict and Embracing No . She is a passionate advocate for healthy relationships and personal transformation , and works with both individuals and companies to better understand our relationship patterns , communication and conflict styles , emotional behaviours and traits , and how to have healthier human interactions in both our personal and workplace worlds . More info at www . paulaquinsee . com .
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