#SkillsGaps for Millennial Leaders
In the “Mind the Skills Gap” series, professionals describe the skills they’re honing this year. Read the stories here, then write your own (use #SkillsGap in the body of your post).
An excellent post-series which I saw as an opportunity to publicly detail some of my actions for the year ahead. Hopefully, such a topic provides others with opportunities to reflect on the trends of skill development.
Five Skills to Leverage
Personally and professionally, 2015 was a brilliant year of development towards my overall, high-level vision as an ambitious millennial. From working on high-profile projects, building innovative business models, graduating with an award winning MBA, leading client, partner and internal teams… it all provides a solid platform to build on. The skills which to leverage in my upcoming year of further advancement are:
Leadership & Project Management
Being a leader of the Data Analytics/Innovation workstream of one Hewlett Packard Enterprise’ UK&I lighthouse deals gave an open reign to excel. An opportunity to both develop and demonstrate skills which had been learnt through my MBA. Direct sight of a number of partnerships and ‘mini-projects’ within the overarching proposition also gave an air of responsibility for ultimately a small team of people.
This kind of experience emphasises the importance of gaining skills around leading people and managing projects. A wide array of skills from resource management, communication, strategy-building and risk management to name a few. A responsibility for developing the graduate with our team is one which I look back on with fondness. Now not a desire but a necessity, to take these skills forward into any new role, such skills have offered a solid platform to build on
“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others” — Jack Welch
Strategy Formulation & Business Model Innovation
A skill taught and brought to life through my MBA studies. A skill sharpened through extensive experience in helping Financial Services to think different about the impact technology can have on their business. Practical experience applied by advising clients on how our ‘game changing innovation’ proposal (client’s words… not mine) fits into their business. Internal application of firstly understanding through primary research strengths and weaknesses of the Hewlett Packard operating model before proposing innovation programmes… then going ahead and implementing them.
A skill which for the year ahead, in times of vast technological and business-driven disruption will bode well with any client I work with. Strategy Formulation is a skill which evolves. One which cannot be assumed to mastery level given the constantly changing landscape. Business, Technology and Human Resource Strategy advisory is a vital part of both my future career and year ahead.
Public Speaking
Confidence in key in public speaking. So is communicating in the right way as is an appropriate audience. The message is also important I guess. Been given the opportunity to present my Thesis in-front of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Senior Vice Presidents, demonstrating Financial Services Innovations to C-Suite Clients, outlining Business Model Innovations to Client Directors and interviewing our Hewlett Packard Executive Committee for my Thesis is one way to become a master at Public Speaking. Add in Michael Port’s close-knit summit on ‘Heroic Public Speaking’ to pull together a solid skill development.
Moving forward, as with the other skills, Public Speaking is fundamental to my future career aspirations. The experiences passed my way this year have accelerated my education in Public Speaking. Teachings I will take forward and build-upon throughout my career. Whether delivering findings/outcomes to clients, leading employee broadcasts or giving keynote speeches… Public Speaking for any aspiring leader is undoubtedly fundamental.
Five #SkillsGaps to Develop
No-one is the ‘Complete Human’. We all have flaws. We may not able to identify them easily at times which is where a reflection period comes into play. The #SkillsGaps and areas which I believe I need to develop further are as follows:
NLP & Mindset
I see great importance in developing skills around reading people, expertly understanding dynamics within a room and been able to identify and relate specifically to peoples needs. Afterall, people buy from people. People employ people. People work with people. The World is not a selfish World. Everyone has their own agenda though. Therefore, I see a fundamental need to understand more about what motivates the people I work with and alongside.
In addition, from a personal perspective, having embarked on a journey of meditation using the Headspace App, I can positively relate to the need for meditation in building a strong mindset. It creates a calming influence. An calm which rubs off on friends, family and co-workers. An investment of time in ourselves provides with a chance to reflect. Through reflection we development and move forward. As you can likely see, a practice which can massively impact on our lives.
So a series of actions for me to complete throughout the next few months:
- Attend Google SIYLI (February Cohort in London)
- Research NLP Tools and Techniques
- Attend an NLP Practitioner Workshop
- Continue daily practices of HeadSpace
- Implement actions/practice from Chade-Meng Tan/Lewis Howes/Tim Ferriss books
“The moment we begin to laugh at our problems, we change chemically” — Dr Richard Bandler
Public Speaking
Public Speaking is a skill to master. Unlike Strategy, it is not one which requires adaptation and new education. Generally… once you have the skills and confidence, you have the ability to nail it.
Whilst identified as a strong skill developed over the last few years, for personal reasons this appears a #SkillsGap…
On 27th March 2016 I am getting married to my best friend. Naturally, I must give a speech to friends and family… something which I have NEVER done before. These are the people who will support me to the end of the World but also come down on me like a tonne of bricks to laugh when I mess-up. Naturally, the pressure is on!
In addition, I hope to move into an entrepreneurial space in this area towards the end of the year and so sharpen this skill is vital.
So a series of actions for me to complete throughout the next few months:
- Sign-Up and Attend ToastMasters
- Create an ‘Editorial Calendar’ and prepare sample content
- Write Wedding Speech
Leadership & Business Management
Two skills which generally go hand-in-hand and ones again which experience, situation and general economic environment dictates the need for adaptation (at least for the latter).
One of my biggest ambitions has been to operate my side-project in any area which I am passionate about. Similarly, my fiancé also has similar ambitions yet looks to me for guidance. This skill is all about making a vision real. Having never launched a start-up, it is clearly a skill to be developed. So this year for me is about taking that step-forward and fill in the Business Management #SkillsGap.
Naturally with Leadership, one can never be the perfect leader. It is a skill which even the World’s best leaders are continuously learning from others in how to better lead.
So a series of actions for me to complete throughout the next few months:
- Ensure assignments on projects with leader positions
- Continue active engagement with senior business leaders
- Solidify ideas and problems for a bootstrap budget
- Draw-in advice from experts to execute, developing MVP’s in the process
- Finish One Month courses
- JFDI!
About Stephen
Stephen Baines is a Senior Management Consultant and MBA currently working for Hewlett-Packard Enterprise and pursuing a number of external entrepreneurial ventures. The views within this post are explicitly those of Stephen and have no representation of any organisation Stephen represents. If you wish to contact Stephen, please contact him via LinkedIn or his Twitter handle (@baines1986).
Read more about Stephen at Stephen’s personal website
