Upskilling Yourself has Never Been More Critical

Upskilling yourself has never been more critical than now, whether that be to cope with what is happening in our world at the moment, 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 and where we do business and what that will look like not only now during lockdown but also in the future – the normal as we know it, is not going to be the same ever again.

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 who has now been confined to isolation through enforced social distancing, or you are the type of person that needs a structured environment to work within and 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 behavior (default traits and coping mechanisms), and how you respond to the environment you find yourself in now.

While some businesses and individuals 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. Some countries have even starting to come out of lockdown only to realise that there is no going back to the normal we knew but rather there is a new normal.

So how do you make the best of a 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 long-term tasks you would like to stop, areas you would improve or change, or new skills you want to acquire – whether that be personally and professionally.

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, finish your studies, learn a new skill or behaviour etc. This helps you to flesh out an action plan that helps to give you a sense of being in control of your life (vs 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.

If you’re looking for some guidance on how to do this exercise, download the free Discover Me template here. If you find yourself stuck, overwhelmed, or procrastinating and not sure where to start, download the Overcoming Procrastination tool here.

One key thing to consider is what is the world of the future 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.

As we’ve seen and experienced during this period, critical skill-sets that are being needed right now are the ability to be flexible, adaptable, resilient, and value-adding. Perhaps now is the time to do a Personal Development Assessment 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.

Self-development 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.

Now is the time where our leadership skills are being exposed in a big way, not only the decisions we are making but more importantly how we are showing up for our employees, clients, and service providers. 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.

We have been running both men’s and women’s personal growth and leadership development programs for the past 5 years with great impact, the  Womenology Masterclass for Women and the Mancave Mastermind Program for Men which may be of interest to you.

It’s ok to not be ok

In South Africa, we’re heading into our extended lockdown and for many, the cracks are starting to show. Between people having to work from home, juggle kids’ schoolwork, manage household chores and responsibilities, and on top of that work deliverables, the stress, anxiety, and fear are starting to rise.

The novel things that we’re keeping kids busy and entertained have now become potentially boring and kids may be starting to act out demanding to know why they can’t go back to school or play with friends. This is a great time to upskill your kids with essential life skills that will benefit them in their adult life.

If you are not following me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, you may have missed the tips and video clips we’ve been sharing on dealing with our mental and emotional well-being during this time. I’ve also created a handy e-guide providing steps that you can take to safeguard your relationship, manage your self-care, and keep social connections going during the lockdown period as well as lots of other tips and resources – you can download it for free here.  You can also view some of my video-clip tips here. If you, your family, employees, and organisation need assistance with additional support services to help reduce the impact of stress and anxiety over this period, please reach out to us.