In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast Chris and LACEr Chris Horton along with guest Anthony Nash, co-founder of Leadership Success, explore the role of leadership in enabling skills-based organisations (SBOs), focusing on how companies are adapting to prioritise skills over traditional job structures.
This podcast is part of our Becoming-skills powered campaign where we will be answering some of the BIG questions about skills approaches, from what the key foundations you need to get started, our quick start skills guide and much, much more to come.
What are skills-based organisations (SBOs)?
Anthony describes them as organisations seeking to decentralise work and decision-making while empowering employees to manage tasks more independently. This model is driven by a need for productivity, agility, and innovation, which are difficult to achieve in hierarchical, top-down organisations. By allowing employees to use a broader set of skills beyond their specific job roles, organisations can optimise talent deployment and increase satisfaction and effectiveness.
He argues that a strong organisational climate, built on trust and psychological safety, is key to the success of SBOs. Anthony advocates for a gradual, measured approach rather than implementing sweeping changes, stressing the value of starting with small pilot programs to test and refine before scaling up.
What challenges will you face when transitioning to an SBO?
A key challenge is the necessary mindset shift, particularly for middle management. Traditional management styles, centred on task supervision and control which can clash with the skills-based approach that encourages self-management and flexibility. Leaders will need to shift toward roles that prioritise coaching, mentoring, and supporting teams, rather than focusing on micromanagement.
Listen now to learn what role leadership plays in guiding organisations towards a skills-based approach – and follow our campaign for more skills insights.
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