Mapping your skillsets

This activity is designed to help you identify your current abilities in relation to your passion or mission. You will also explore what the role looks like in the context of your mission, whether it is a role you are currently in or one you aspire to.

Workflow: The problem that you solve

Next, you will focus on your current role and describe the problem or value it provides. You will also create a list of activities or steps you take to solve that problem. For example, this could be a freelancer's workflow as a musician or a design thinking methodology used by a UX designer.

From A workflow to a skillset Matrix

Once you have a first pass workflow, share it with your team, specifically your leaders. Based on the strategic vision of the organisation, you can explore new opportunities for growth that serve both you and the organisation in the future. From this, you can start to identify new skillsets that you can work on, creating a clear idea of the knowledge you currently have and the target you will aim for in the future to become a more valuable professional. Use the Career-path mapping  exercises to track progress towards these new skills.

Constructing a personalised curriculum

3 Foundations of a curriculum

Every learning institution has three main controllable variables when facilitating the learning process: the learning material, the method of learning, and the educator/mentor.

These three elements will guide the development of your personalised curriculum:

1. Learning material: The material being learned plays a major role in the learning process. It should be relevant, engaging, and presented in a way that aligns with the learner's strengths.
2. Method of learning: The way in which the material is presented and the activities used to facilitate learning can have a big impact on how well the material is understood and retained. Different methods of learning, such as lectures, hands-on activities, and online courses, can be more or less effective for different learners and different types of content.
3. Educator/Mentor: The person responsible for facilitating the learning process, whether it is a teacher, mentor, or parent, can have a big impact on the success of the learning experience. A good educator is able to present the material in an engaging and understandable way, and is able to adapt their teaching style to meet the needs of the learners.

Given these three categories, take each skillset on your skills matrix and plan out a learning journey that will take you from your current knowledge to your target knowledge for that skillset. Consider what learning material and method of learning will be most effective for you, and identify a potential educator or mentor who can support you in this journey.

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External Experts

Staying up-to-date on industry trends and technological developments can help an organisation identify skills that may be in high demand in the future. Consulting with external experts, such as industry analysts or thought leaders, educators and freelance specialists, can provide valuable insights into skills that may be in high demand in the future, enabling the process of Role Forcasting.

Finally

Self-directed learning can be a challenging but rewarding process. To stay motivated, it is important to regularly review and adjust your personalised curriculum, celebrate your progress and accomplishments, and have a support system in place to keep you on track. Remember to be flexible and open to trying new things, and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.