Building an Inventory of Skills:

There's one sure way to survive, and even thrive, in an era of restructuring, reorganization and recession: develop an inventory of skills.

We're in "the age of talent", according to management guru Tom Peters. The key competitive advantage in coming years will be the skills of the labor force. It's up to you to make sure you have the skills to communicate effectively, cooperate constructively and operate competently. Here's how to start building your own inventory of skills:

Build a strong foundation... Your personal management skills are more important than ever before. Make sure you have a solid foundation of skills such as time management, decision-making, problem-solving and interpersonal communication.

Take a regular inventory... Each year, evaluate which skills you already have and which you still need. Develop a plan to gain the skills you lack.

Be flexible... Specialist are out; generalists are in. To succeed in an environment of teams and projects, you have to be comfortable working in a variety of situations.

Today's job consists not only of doing it, but also thinking about it. Each of us is now responsible for our own career development. Don't wait for someone else in your organization to evaluate your personal development.

By constantly adding to your inventory of skills, you can enhance your personal productivity and your value to your organization.

               (Excerpt from Priority Management™ LearningLink™)