One of my Google Reader Subscriptions is Harold Jarche’s blog. (You can tell from his banner what he’s all about.) On October 19, he was interviewed by Robert Paterson, who recorded their discussion as a podcast. [If you want to listen to the podcast]
Jarche and Paterson spoke about the changing nature of work: its Increased complexity; the Impact of automation (robotics eliminates jobs); and the Trend toward outsourcing (using labor at the cheapest rate). Work that has become more important includes: Creativity, Development of New Ideas, and Problem Solving ability. (These spring from that ever-increasing complexity.)
Another change is that we will most likely not remain in our present positions or be with our current employer for the balance of our working lives due to: uncertainty, volatility, innovation, evolution. Work is changing and evolving. Jarche quotes Louis Pasteur: “Chance favors the connected mind.” And training alone is not the answer. Jarche has observed: “Training is a solution looking for a problem” and believes that we get 5% of our skills from training and the rest from informal learning. He also notes that “Learning is not dependant on teaching” and advocates the practice of ‘free-range’ learning.
 |
| http://www.jarche.com/wp-content/uploads/ 2012/09/pkm-innovation1.png |
Jarche compares Training with Apprenticeship:” learn the rules – craft - then break the rules – art.” Using this model, he advocates using the studio as your classroom and the guild as your network. (the studio being where clusters of people who know aggregate and the guild being your PLN) Jarche believes that, to be successful, you need to become a “knowledge artisan” and uses the example of a short-order cook (who can keep many meals being prepared simultaneously) with the mindless fast food chain kitchen. He says that we should not be concerned about developing a fan club (Facebook) but, rather, a tribe (a unique group of like-minded people). In addition, he advises “Grow your own network outside of work” and observes that “You are as good as your network.” Get connected with your ‘community’.
In his 10/23 post on innovation, Jarche observed: “Knowledge artisans of the post-industrial era are beginning to retrieve old world care and attention to detail, but they are using the latest tools and processes in an interconnected economy…. Their distinguishing characteristic is seeking and sharing information to complete tasks…. Knowledge artisans not only design the work, but they can also do the work. It is not passed down an assembly line. Many integrate marketing, sales and customer service with their creations. To ensure that they stay current, they become members of various ‘guilds,’ known today as ‘communities of practice’ or ‘knowledge networks.’”
“We are told all the time by politicians is that we can all get jobs again, if only we get the training. We are so captured by the hope of a job that we believe this too. But what is really going on is that the world of paid work has changed. It's no longer about them it is about US! And what we have to do to do well in this new reality is to learn how to take charge of ourselves.” (Paterson) In the podacast, Paterson and Jarche agree: “The jobs will NOT come back!” The workplace is constantly evolving and changing. As Jane Hart observes: “despite the training you have received in your job, you may well find you have fewer marketable skills than when you started. It is said that the ½ life of a skill is now about 5 years, so unless you have been proactive about acquiring new knowledge and skills on your own, you could even find yourself at a disadvantage in the marketplace.”
Here is a synopsis Jarche’s advice for keeping yourself competitive in today’s workscape in his own words:
§ “Learn REAL skills – not just how to make it in an organization
§ Learn how to have a network – in the job world we don’t have them – many of us don’t know anything about this if we have had a job – so start now
§ This must be diverse and be about your interests
§ Put yourself OUT THERE
§ You are as good as your network
§ Think of yourself as a Freelancer for Life – and so always nurture your network no matter what – avoid getting lulled into a sense of false security”
The trick is to find what Dave Pollard refers to as your ‘sweet spot’. The ‘sweet spot’ is represented visually by the intersection of the three areas:
- Your purpose / opportunities / what you care about;
- Your gifts / skills / what you are uniquely good at; and
- Your passions / interests / what you love to do.
 |
| by Oscar Ramos [see Belsky article] |
Per Jarche, “You have to have all three.” You can read more about the ‘sweet spot’: Pollard’s book; his essay “Why Now Is the Best Time to Start Your Own Business”; his own blogpost >; or Belsky’s “Finding Your Own Sweet Spot”.
Following Jarche’s advice, I see this Web 2.0 course as a step toward my becoming a “knowledge artisan” by diversifying my skill set and broadening my workplace perspectives by zeroing in on my own ‘Sweet Spot”!
References:
Belsky, Scott. "Finding Your Work Sweet Spot: Genuine Interest, Skills & Opportunity." 99U | Insights on Making Ideas Happen. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://99u.com/tips/7003/Finding-Your-Work-Sweet-Spot-Genuine-Interest-Skills-Opportunity>.
Hart, Jane. "The Future Belongs to Those who Take Charge of their own Learning." Learning in the Social Workplace. N.p., 29 Oct. 2012. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/blog/2012/10/29/the-future-belongs-to-those-who-take-charge-of-their-own-learning/>.
Jarche, Harold. "Innovation is Not a Repeatable Process." Harold Jarche | work is learning & learning is the work. N.p., 23 Oct. 2012. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://www.jarche.com/2012/10/innovation-is-not-a-repeatable-process/>.
-----. "Taking Charge of your own Development." Harold Jarche | work is learning & learning is the work. N.p., 21 Oct. 2012. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://www.jarche.com/2012/10/taking-charge-of-your-own-development/>.
Paterson, Robert. "Taking Charge of Your Own Development - Podcast with Harold Jarche." Robert Paterson's Weblog: Looking Beneath the Surface. N.p., 20 Oct. 2012. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://smartpei.typepad.com/robert_patersons_weblog/2012/10/taking-charge-of-your-own-development-podcast-with-harold-jarche.html>.
Pollard, Dave. Finding the Sweet Spot: The Natural Entrepreneur's Guide to Responsible, Sustainable, Joyful Work. VT: White River Junction: Chelsea Green Publishing, 2008. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. <http://books.google.com/books?id=fGrreIwMPaEC>.
-----. "Six Steps to Natural Enterprise: A Synopsis of “Finding the Sweet Spot”." How to Save the World. N.p., 9 Oct. 2008. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. < http://howtosavetheworld.ca/2008/10/09/six-steps-to-natural-enterprise-a-synopsis-of-finding-the-sweet-spot/>.
-----. "Why Now Is the Best Time to Start Your Own Business." Powell's Books | Original Essays. N.p., Oct. 2008. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://www.powells.com/essays/davepollard.html>.
No comments:
Post a Comment