What’s your title? What’s your skill? Is it one or two things, or maybe three things? If so, you’re in trouble over the next 10 years.
The days of being a “plumber” or an “artist” are gone. No more and never again will a person be able to be just one thing and be successful. Now and moving forward, you must be multiversatile – capable of many things across many fields competently.
You already see it in the local business owner who is the accountant, the salesman, the customer service rep, the help desk, and the human resources department. But it’s not just for business owners anymore. Now it’s the regular guys. The $10/hr guys.
The guys who will get ahead will be the ones who learn to express their ideas in a blog, an audio clip or a video – even if they are not “writers” or “camera men”. The guys who will win are the ones who learn to setup a website, a hosting account, and a wireless network – even if they are not “programmers” or “network engineers”. The guys who will have more accounts, more sales and better reputations will be the guys using facebook, twitter, along with teleseminars and local conferences – even if they are not “social media consultants”.
As we go forward, titles are pointless. If you want to win, you must be bigger than any job title and be able to demonstrate the ability to cross a wide spectrum of skills that were never before required. The good news is if you do it now, you’ll still be with the pack or maybe even ahead of the pack – for a little while.
What are you doing to blow up your job title and explode with success?
Here’s 7 things you can do:
- Pick a friend in the company (or at another company) and cross train with them
- Learn twitter, facebook, blogging, or any other current technology
- Even if it’s not your job, pick a project, make it your own, and run with it.
- Learn more about leadership, sales, and/or marketing – you can’t go wrong with these skills!
- Get out – go to seminars, conference, workshops, and events.
- Become an expert on your business (not your job specialty)
- Become the in-house trainer on topics / skills.
// Edit // See Bernie Bay’s thoughts on the future of business and predictions on the next decade.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Justin – as a Virtual Assistant who is striving to stay on top of all that is happening in the Web 2.o (when do we get an upgrade to 2.1 or something?) I couldn't agree more with your post about needing to be more than a title.
I had a consultation with a new client today and she asked how I got into Social Media – I told her that when I first started as a VA I had no idea it even existed (though I was on LI and FB prior to starting my business). However, I quickly realized it was an easy and cost effective manner in which to become “known”. Of course my target market is primarily on Twitter so that is where I spend the majority of my time but I also realize that LI and FB need to be more “tapped” and that is part of my 2010 goals.
When my son had his 6th grade graduation last year I was pleased to hear the principal tell the kids that jobs that their parents have will not be around when they enter the workforce. Rather then will be entering the workforce in jobs that have not even been “invented” yet. (his word, not mine)
So true. Many many jobs still to be created as a result of this technological empowerment. Exciting times especially when you have a horse in the race like we do!
No question about it – job titles will become less relevant over time. There should be one mandate – do the things necessary to make us the best in the business.
But while the need for versatility is obvious, I worry somewhat about the perception of that versatility. Recruiters and hiring managers, for example, too often look for the obvious hire – and discount diverse work experience as result. Of course, these are the same people we hear complaining about the ability of their team to play outside of their comfort zone.
If I were to add to the list above, it would be to make sure that your manager does the first 7 things right alongside you.
No question about it – job titles will become less relevant over time. There should be one mandate – do the things necessary to make us the best in the business.
But while the need for versatility is obvious, I worry somewhat about the perception of that versatility. Recruiters and hiring managers, for example, too often look for the obvious hire – and discount diverse work experience as result. Of course, these are the same people we hear complaining about the ability of their team to play outside of their comfort zone.
If I were to add to the list above, it would be to make sure that your manager does the first 7 things right alongside you.
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