Development of skills starts by clarifying expectations

By Poul Langagergaard

Every organisation, department or institution should focus on the following questions: Mission: Why do we exist?
Vision and objectives: What are we aiming for?
Values: How can we achieve this?

What is expected of us as an organisation? External expectations (from the outside world) and internal expectations (from ourselves)? Are these expectations reasonable?

Once we have identified what is actually expected of our organisation, and held these expectations up against the specific skills that currently exist within the organisation, an image emerges:

An intersection between requirements and expectations - and the skills currently available. This overlap represents our strengths An area where we are currently ill-equipped to meet expectations. This represents our challenges

A common response is to rush to address the inadequacies and challenges, and minimise the weaknesses.

However, this is not necessarily the most productive approach and is discussed further in the section on Appreciative approach.

We often find that the best results come from focusing on the overlap, i.e. our strengths, and understanding what these are based on, and how we can work together to make them stronger.

Focussing on our strengths taps into positive energy that can be used to expand them.

Read more here.