Transferable Skills? Well Transferring them is also a Skill.

Having worked in organizational consulting for several years, I recently expanded my practice to include developmental coaching. To this end, I held a public webinar.

This was my first virtual delivery to a global audience.

The most significant learning for me was how delivery within the virtual space is a learned skill. My otherwise engaging delivery skills did not automatically transfer into the virtual space and required conscious and deliberate effort prior to the webinar.

Surprise surprise: Being able to transfer skills from one space to another is also a (learned) skill.

In the economic environment today, where agility is required, being able to transfer skills from one role and industry to another is a crucial skill that we all need. It CAN be learned but it is not as straight forward as that. It's like discovering that a favourite recipe doesn't work when you substitute ingredients. There is almost always a learning curve that comes with it.

Case in point: when I learned breastfeeding. It wasn't the rosy natural thing that I thought it would be and both me and my child had to go through lots of tears and effort into learning how to make it into that. Its not that I did not prepare for the arrival of my first child. I set up a nursery, meal prepped for the postpartum period, did antenatal and child health and first aid courses among other things; but one thing that I did not expect I would need to learn and prepare for, was breastfeeding.

I eventually learned it. With the support from my husband who understood that I needed to keep trying, help of friends who did not tell me what to do rather what helped them, supplements and medication to increase my medically diagnosed low supply, pumping (pumping, and more pumping), and MOST importantly advice and reassurance from the angels called Lactation Consultants.

I went on to exclusively breastfeed by week 3, and continued to do it for the next two years and four months.

That learning curve, and the results, became much more efficient because I was able to tap into the systems around me: seeking the support of family and friends, and seeking the guidance of an expert coach and consultant.

Much the same way, whether it is learning a new skill, learning how to transfer an existing skill into a new space, or even learning how to nurture a natural strength (that you knew or didn't know) you possess - all of these come with effort and a learning curve.

Having the right circumstances, support, and guidance can make this learning curve much easier (in terms of the time and effort that we put into it), and more productive. Some common developmental milestones in life that we assume will come naturally to us (but they don't) include:

• Parenting - whether first time, or navigating the ever-changing stages of child-rearing 

• Career movement - whether its starting a new role, or moving upward into a new role towards leadership and management

• Interpersonal communication - do you actually get out of your communication what you intended to, or do you walk away feeling unheard? We have all been talking since toddlerhood, but does that skill grow with us or do we need to nurture our ways of communication?

Remember, skill development and skill transferability is an ongoing journey and learned skill. By embracing challenges, seeking support, and investing in your growth, you can unlock your full potential. As a developmental wellbeing coach I can help you navigate these developmental milestones.

What was a skill that you thought would transfer naturally but did not? Drop a comment to chat some more.

If you want to know more about developmental wellbeing, book a discovery call now.