Technical to Management

You are finding yourself ready to move from a technical specialist to a managerial or supervisory role.

• Identify development activities from the Leadership/Management and Communication categories of the Skill Development Activities.
• Seek out project management and team leadership roles in current position to apply skill development ideas.
• Discuss your career goals with your manager to gain support and resources.
• Take first level supervisory and management training courses offered in your company or at a local college/extension program.
• Print out and complete the Individual Development Plan to put your plan in writing.

Administrative to Management

You have achieved a high level of competence in your current work and believe you have potential for managing and leading others.

• Review your Skill Development Plan and Core Skill Wheel to evaluate specific skills and skill sets you need to develop.
• Identify Management/Leadership and other development activities from the Skill Development Activities
• Look for ways to develop management skills on-the-job.
• Discuss your goals with your manager and ask for projects or assignments that have a management/leadership component.
• Take first level supervisory and management training courses offered in your company or at a local college/extension program.
• Print out and complete the Individual Development Plan to put your plan in writing.

Generalist with No Specialty

You may be performing such a wide variety of tasks that you may be at a disadvantage if you need to market yourself into a new area or position. A specialty may increase your competitiveness and marketability.

• Review your Core Skill Wheel to identify 3-4 preferred skills that you would like to build and strengthen.
• Identify specialty areas that have the greatest applicability to the future of your organization and the field.
• Create a plan of action that uses key skills in new specialty areas.
• Re-evaluate your skill base in 6 months and one year to check your progress.
• Print out and complete the Individual Development Plan to put your plan in writing.

Overly Specialized

Your work has become too specialized and limited. This may ultimately reduce your potential for growth and advancement.

• Identify skills from your Personal Skill Profile, Core Skill Wheel and Skill Development Plan that you would like to develop to expand your skill base.
• Identify skill development activities from the Skill Development Activities.
• Seek opportunities to use your skills in new content areas, cross-functional areas or other departments.
• Ask for new projects and assignments to extend your skills into new areas.
• Print out and complete the Individual Development Plan to put your plan in writing

Underperforming

You recognize that you are performing below your potential.

• Examine your Core Skill Wheel to examine if you are using your preferred skills in an optimal way.
• Evaluate if your work emphasizes use of your Minor Role skills from the Personal Skill Profile.
• Look at the Skill Development Plan to identify skills that would offer challenge and potential growth.
• Identify skill development activities from the Skill Development Activities.
• If your position is not a good skill fit, begin exploring options in related departments that would draw on your preferred skills and motivate you to perform at a high level.
• Print out and complete the Individual Development Plan to put your plan in writing.

Reached a Plateau

Your work does not offer you the challenges it once did. You want to continue to grow in new ways.

• Use your Personal Skill Profile to identify skills you would like to play down (Minor Role) and those that would offer a source of challenge and development for you (Core Skill Wheel and Skill Development Plan).
• Identify skill development activities from the Skill Development Activities.
• Consult your manager and customers to gain their viewpoint of your job. By redefining your work based on feedback, you may add new challenges to your work.
• Explore cross-functional, lateral and upward moves in your department and others that would offer new growth opportunities.
• Identify the skills and aspects of work that you like and delegate less desirable aspects to others. Seek new assignments/project that offer challenge.
• Review your Core Skill Wheel and Skill Development Plan to determine if a managerial position is a fit with preferences.
• Print out and complete the Individual Development Plan to put your plan in writing.

Skill Incompatibility

Your work may use skills in which you are competent but not the skills that give you energy and satisfaction when you use them.

• Compare the skills used in your current position with those listed on your Personal Skill Profile and Core Skill Wheel.
• Identify those skills you would prefer using.
• Identify skill development activities from the Skill Development Activities
• Look for opportunities (assignments, projects etc.) that draw on Major Role skills or those listed in the Core Skill Wheel.
• Print out and complete the Individual Development Plan to put your plan in writing.

Skill Overuse/Burnout

If you are performing highly repetitious, routine and procedural work for extended periods or doing work that does not offer variety or new skill challenges, you may experience burnout.

• Identify aspects of your work that energize you and seek more of these challenges.
• Determine those skills that are being overused and try to balance out the work by using more preferred skills.
• Evaluate the parts of your work that are routine or repetitious and brainstorm ways to eliminate or reduce it.
• If a change is needed, refer to SkillScan's Suggested Career Options to generate new ideas and activities for skill development.
• Conduct research on positions that promise a greater variety and challenge

Greater Earnings Potential

Your future earnings growth is below your expectations and needs.

• Compare the skills used in your current position with those at higher salary levels.
• Explore positions in your organization that fit your Core Skill Wheel and have greater earning potential.
• Identify the skills and knowledge you would need to acquire to make a transition to a higher paying position.
• Identify skill development activities from the Skill Development Activities.
• Seek opportunities in your current position including projects or new assignments to begin developing the necessary skill sets.
• Identify training programs and classes to acquire the necessary knowledge-based skills.
• Develop self-promotion skills to assist you in selling yourself in the resume, in interviews, performance appraisals and salary negotiations.
• Print out and complete the Individual Development Plan to put your plan in writing.